3rd Oct. 1814: A little London season

Edward grinned. "Ah. I see one little secret has not yet come to light. Major Vickery, allow me to introduce you to the most noble Viscount Gywdyr. His grandfather is the Earl of Parham."

Willoughby nodded. "An honour to meet you." He had a pleasant smile.

"I will not take long unless you would like to come with the horse as well." He had begun to guide the animal towards his white mare. His mount looked askance at him and the state his trousers and boots were in. She shook her head in disapproval.

He would take the horse back, unless he would have been in luck and either the 'shamed man' would have returned or, atleast had been sensible enough to send someone to take the horse.

Vickery blinked. What?! How had a cavalry trooper suddenly been raised to the peerage - or rather, why had a scion of a noble house elected to serve in the ranks?

He recovered himself with aplomb, and gestured Emma forward. "In that case, my lords, allow me to introduce in turn my sister, Miss Emma Vickery."

Emma gave him a small frown - she was still mounted where they were all on foot, but inclined her head, in lieu of being able to offer a curtsy.

"Emma, may I introduce my lord the Viscount Torrington, the son of the Earl of Gleve? He was our Engineering officer in Spain. "

Edward bowed.

"Miss Vickery. A pleasure to finally meet you. Your brother often spoke of you."

Trooper Fraser, in the process of leaving, a bit awkwardly touched his head and with a murmured "Ma'am ..." edged around the group towards his own horse.

Emma smiled. "Then it was either all flattery or very much exaggerated. He has often spoke of you as well, my lord."

"If the things he tells about a beloved sister are exaggerated, I shudder to think what he will have said about me."

Edward returned the smile with a measure of confidence he would not have had five years back. Then he stepped back and took the reins of the abandoned horse to allow Vickery to introduce Willoughby, or rather Lord Gywdyr, in turn.

"Why, nothing but the truth, of course. He is always trustworthy, except I fear his judgement may be a little partial where I am concerned." She gave her brother a fond look as she spoke, and nodded in greeting as he introduced Lord Gywdyr.

Willoughby inclined his head to Emma, greeting the lady. He had repeated the curtuous:" It is a pleasure to meet you, miss Vickery." He offered a slight apology for the appearance which was far from the sort that should be presented before a lady.

"Likewise, my lord," Emma replied, doing her best to ignore the fact that he was fully clothed yet dripping wet in a public place. She leaned down a little, lowering her voice. "If I may be allowed to give a little advice, your lordship should certainly get into some dry clothes as quickly as possible - standing around while soaked through will not be healthy."

"Certainly a good advise. It leaves us only with the question of this wretched horse."

Edward considered.

"I will have to find my sister, as well. She was conversing with Lady Helen Winwood when I left her ... ironically so that she could do so without Mr. Bromwell. Are you staying with your grandfather or have you taken lodgings, Wil ... Gywdyr?"

Edward nearly had slipped there - it was so easy in this company to slip back into the old way of adressing the younger man.

"I suppose, if your sister is here also, then one of us could take it back while his sister remains in the company of the other lady?" Vickery suggested. Really polite society could be so tiresome at times, especially after the... informality of the Peninsula. "Unless we descend in force upon the hiring stable, and I do not suppose that will go unremarked."

Apart from that, he was not sure what could be done; certainly neither Trooper Fraser nor Willoughby - Lord Gywdyr - were in any state to go anywhere other than direct to their respective lodgings to change into dry clothes.

"Certainly."

He frowned.

"Would you know my sister? Otherwise it will fall to you to restore the horse, I'm afraid."

"A sound advice, madame." Willoughby agreed as well though he considered who could take the horse to the renting stables. "...My grandfather had come to London recently, yes. I am staying with him at the moment." He nodded smiling. "I can offer to take the horse to the stables of course, though I might need to make haste after to change. The clothes are beginning to cool in a day that is far from generous with warmth."

"If you should have time and inclination, should we perhaps meet for second breakfast afterwards?", Edward suggested.

"I am afraid I do not know your sister, but if she would not mind the imposition, I will return as quickly as I may," Vickery said, quickly coming to a decision.

"She certainly wouldn't. Shall we meet you at Grosvenor Gate again? I believe it would be most convenient for all."

"Yes. I think that would likely be best." He sighed. "I do not supposed any one has something that could be adapted to a leading rein? Unless we can manufacture one from the remains of his tack, I fear I will have to lead both this animal and Brandy on foot."

It might have been quite unintentional, but Willoughby had felt momentarily ignored, both for the offer he had made, and for his presence. Taking it in stride he straightened again, and stroked the rented animal's flank before walking to his front. He took the cut reins , judging the length that remained after the leather had been split. He had made a few adjustments then braided them together so that it would have been easier to hold, the end tucked into a loop and then slid in under one of the coils on the length, and bound again.

"It shall not be as secure as one would wish, " He then said politely. "But it is better than nothing." And looked at Vickery. "If you would prefer to remain with your company, I can take care of the horse." Unsure whether the invitation extended to him, he did not inquire about the time of the meeting just then. It would be rude to assume that he was invited, more so if it meant that he would thus 'invite himself in' and they could not but become rude to refuse him or else suffer the company they had not been in want of.

They, Henry, Helen and Bella, had been chatting pleasantly for a little while unaware of the commotion happening elsewhere in the park. Helen observed her brother's attitude toward Bella with approval. The war changed him for the better, he was calmer, more respectful, more thoughtful and has abandoned what he used to think of as his duty to flirt with every female he met.

'George seems to have forgotten about us,' said Henry, forgetting about the honorific. 'He said he had to write an urgent letter, but that he would come and find us.'

'Henry, you have spent an entire fortnight in his company, you can stand to wait a little.'

'I suppose you right... Ha! Speak of the devil!" Henry grinned, looking over her shoulder. 'Let's ride and meet him.'

Helen turned and looked behind her, to see George in his scarlet uniform, upon the massive thoroughbred he'd bought recently, some yards away. She turned to Bella, 'If Lady Isabella finds it convenient.'

"To meet Colonel Hunter? Certainly it is convenient!"

Bella smiled gleefully and nearly bounced in the saddle.

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Torrington raised his eyebrows, letting his gaze pointedly fall to Willoughby's wet feet.

"You better get changed. I refuse to share breakfast with somebody who will cough! Or don't you want to come and share Peninsular reminiscences?"

His tone was light and teasing.

Willoughby had a pleasant, polite and genuine smile appear on his face, clearly having been able to hide the gladness at being intended to come as well. "Certainly. I will do my best to be changed quickly and prevent the need to cough." He said and held onto the knotted reins for a moment longer. "What time then?..and.. it is at Grosvenor Gate, correct?" He inquired additionally, just to be sure.

His mare seemed more interested now in nibbling at the grass, but did not think to try straying away from them, quite content with the company, less so with the prospect of wet feet pressed against her sides.

Torrington thought things through.

"I will need to accompany my sister home, I think, and Vickery might want to do the same, unless the ladies would prefer to make other arrangements, so we also might meet up after that. It would give you a bit more time. Where should we go? One of the clubs? Or might I invite you to join me in my new home? My father has insisted that I open up my grandmother's house while I am in London."

His mouth twisted a bit.

"I think he hopes having more then a set of rooms might make me stay in town and not hurry off to Ireland."

"I think your home would certainly be preferable to White's, especially if the ladies would be amenable to joining us," Vickery replied, looking up at Emma who nodded in agreement.

"I believe that if we are to come calling, my sister should like to change her clothing for something more suitable than a riding habit," he added, with an amused look. "I daresay we could be there in an hour, unless you need longer to make the place presentable?"

Their trio rode forward, Henry waving at George as they approached.

'Good morning, Lady Helen, Henry,' George turned his gaze on the young lady who'd accompanied them to greet him. Helen immediately introduced them.

'It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Isabella,' he said, his smile slow and sincere.

"It is all quite fine for me." He said, knowing that if he needed directions he could also inquire, and that he would have gladly seen the new home that Torrington had been given. Another time he could invite as well, though there was a general lack of a lady, to play one that received guests.