Nearly instantly my plans to ride the bicycle were thwarted. Everyone withdrew to the drawing room, taking tea and some of the cookies I had stolen earlier. Emma must have heard the arrivals, figured out that everyone would need a moment of relaxation after the trip, and prepared the tea for that precise reason. That was Emma, prompt, prepared, and filled with forethought. If I didn’t love her to death, it would drive me insane.

I noticed that Ms. Northrop marked the prepared tea as well, she had probably been waiting to berate Emma. It seemed that lately, she was waiting to swoop in and harangue any of the servants at any moment. If Father were here that would never be allowed, but then, if Father were here many things would be different. Robert and Annie had been preparing to wed for years, but Roberts medical studies had been a higher priority up till now. Combined with Fathers absence, and other issues, they would have been happy to remain unwed for years still.

Everyone settled down for a spot of tea, while mine was quaffed the moment attention had drifted away; I was prepared to exit the conversation as soon as possible. My plans hadn’t counted on Annie leaving her room. Entering the room, she performed according to her training. Smiling with her head held high she paused at the entrance to the lounge before stepping into the room. The Colonel, of course, pulled himself to his feet without hesitation, bowing at the waist stiffly, his hand held white gripped on his beloved cane. Even while he strained to bend at so low an angle, he made every appearance that it was a simple maneuver. Annie managed to smile at his action even as small lines crinkled at the edges of her eyes. I could tell she knew what the act had cost the Colonel in pain, but then, the man had fought a battle with a bullet in his leg, he was familiar with both suffering and duty. Requesting he not bow to save him the pain, was something no one in the room would do. He had his pride and his honor, and we all cherished him for it.

Robert, on the other hand, shot to attention at Annie's entrance, his bow deep and florid. The returning gentle head bob hid the slight upturn of her smile as well as the continuing frown hidden in her eyes. I was not too fond of the way she would hide behind the formal rules and etiquette. When Father told us he had been requested by the Queen to return to India, she had followed all the politeness required. She had smiled, she had said the opinion Father had expected, but she couldn’t keep the tears from falling. I could see the sadness even now, her smile being far less an indicator of her feelings than her eyes.

After the usual pleasantries about the trip -good weather, nice to be free of the London smog, and so on- the Colonel explained their early arrival before the rest of the party. Not that it was such an arduous trip as all that, merely a couple of days by carriage. He first presented his congratulation card for Annie, while Robert politely slid the bag of gifts to Ms. Northrop. The requirement to gift the servants of your host had been one etiquette requirement I had always thought appropriate. I would have to try and peek at the contents later, maybe see what Robert had set aside for Emma.

The Colonel, in his usual boisterous and roundabout manner, explained that the two were here to greet us privately before the rest descended upon us as well as to assist in any preparations which might be necessary. The last said politely, and I knew the two had no ill will, but Ms. Northrop was finding it difficult to contain her sour look at the pronouncement of the family requiring assistance. If she hadn’t fired so many servants, something that was supposed to be Owen’s job, not hers, then it wouldn’t be necessary. When I made such faces with guests she would run me through polite conversation behavior later; somehow I didn’t think she would be forced to do the same.

I wanted to go outside. I could practically hear the call of the bike. I wanted to see how the frame worked and connected to the wheels. Was the structure like the older models, made from cast iron with the wheels bolted directly to the frame? Could it reach half the speed of a horse with a peddle configuration? What would it feel like to go that fast by my efforts alone? I had been so distracted that I had missed Emma’s entrance, but the men rising roused me from my daydreams.

“A light luncheon has been prepared in the dining room. We have a light vegetable soup with cucumber sandwiches if there is something else you would like I would be happy to oblige,” Emma said as she avoided eye contact.

Robert nodded to Emma as he offered his arm to my sister, but his eyes never left Emma’s retreating form. The Colonel, of course, led Ms. Northrop into the dining room. I was tempted to sneak away, but there was no way that my absence from lunch would be missed. After lunch, though it was likely that our guests would require light entertainment like cards or such, I would be able to escape. A quick trip for my adventuring clothes, a little time spent attaching the wheels, and I would be off and up and down the front drive. As a bonus, the games room was an internal room and had no windows. If there had been more men present then the plan would have never worked, they would have retired to the study leaving the ladies together.

While lunch was light and enjoyable, there was a sour note to the whole affair. Twice during lunch, Owen entered the dining room then exited again to retrieve food which had not been requested. While no one commented on the head butlers slip up, they had all noticed it. Annie was barely able to keep herself from crying, and even Robert looked uncomfortable. He had spent nearly as much time around Owen as a boy as my sister, and I had. The only one who could spend any time caring for him lately was Emma. As much as the social strata separated us from our childhood friend, it also allowed her to care for Owen without interference.

“A toast,” the colonel said while raising his teacup in a self-deprecating manner, “to the joining of our two families. I’ve considered you ladies like daughters for many years, and I’m glad that soon Annie will be a Collingwood.”

With a few murmurs of agreement, everyone sipped at their tea. Robert's cup hid his frown, but it was still clear to anyone who knew him. Which of course meant Ms. Northrop missed it entirely.

Turning to Robert, she queried, “Tell me, Mr. Collingwood, what are your plans for after your marriage? Will you be taking up residence within the Blythe estate or will Ms. Blythe be moving to the Collingwood home? Given the current distastefulness and your studies that is.”

If a mouse had decided to run through the attic, I would be afraid that everyone would be able to hear it at that moment. To discuss finances, even so obliquely, at a luncheon was crass beyond words. To have a woman initiate such a conversation was worse, but to do so in such a direct and frankly offensive way? Crass. I could have run through the room in adventuring pants and not generate the same level of silence. Our Governess was technically only included in the luncheon as a pairing for the Colonel. Ms. Northrop's social standing was no higher than Emma's, and she would never have asked such impertinent questions.

Gamely, Robert responded, “Hmm, I do believe that Annie would prefer to stay with her sister for the time being. I will be finished studying at Oxford within the year, and then I will be setting up a practice.”

At that, Ms. Northrop relaxed in her seat, and the conversation continued, but I couldn’t get the moment out of my mind. I was sure none there would talk of it, the marriage was in the best interest of the Collingwood family, but her rude behavior was so very unlike the Governess. Annie seemed to find her fiance’s response to her liking as well. My sister gave a small tight smile to me and then a subtle nod to Robert in thanks. No one missed this little exchange, but it was ignored for further polite conversation.

After finishing our lunch repast, the men rose to go to the game room. Both men wore evening black so did not need to change but my sister, Ms. Northrop, and I could not say the same. Emma’s timing was perfect as ever, planned and meticulous. There was not a second where she was alone with Robert, nor a moment where he could greet her as she crossed his path. The dance of avoidance was so perfect it almost appeared as if by chance, except for Roberts frown and Emma’s careful blank-faced sadness.

My heart ached to see my family and friends so hurt, but there was little which could be done about it. I had told Annie that she should refuse to go through with the marriage, but she would hear nothing of it. Where I had found my taste for adventure from Father’s military stories, she had found her sense of Honor. Where I had found a resolve to explore the world, she had found the shackles for her own life within Father’s wishes. Robert was just the same; his family came before all, the two of them were the same. Such similarities made them stalwart friends. Emma had a different sense of honor, one tempered by practicality, entirely unlike the other two.

While Annie and Ms. Northrop softly discussed which dress to change into before returning to the game room with the men, I slowed to let the other two drift ahead. If the Governess failed to notice my absence then on my return I could claim to be returning to my reading. Humorously enough, I would be changing just as the others were. My outfit would be unlikely to meet Ms. Northrop’s approval though.

Softly I closed the wooden door to my room and crossed the antique floor rug to my wardrobe. With little care I ripped off my pre-luncheon dress, my dark tresses caught momentarily within the lace of the dress. The sting of the pulled hair was oddly pleasing when compared to the mild numbness of my days. Yanking on my pants first, I checked to be sure the thick black belt was sitting at the proper length. I had measured, and cut, and trimmed, but I had no chance actually to assemble the outfit in its fullness. The white dress shirt was buttoned up quickly, the unfamiliar arrangement of buttons on the opposite side made the process awkward. An unladylike snort of amusement burst from my lips as I fumbled the alignment badly enough that I had to unbutton and rebutton the last few. Topping the outfit was a thick folded cap, oversized and almost ridiculous with my long curls hanging behind. The last item was my riding boots, high ankled and low soled.

With a kick, I knocked my discarded dress across the floor in a careless manner. Marching down the hallway and the backway, found me exiting the mansion on the far side from the barn. My exit left me with a short trip in the shadow of the building to the stable area. I listened, but I didn’t hear either Rufus or Philip. Odds were that Philip had decided to get some of the grounds cleaned up and was employing Rufus for it as well. I felt guilty over that. Philip was not a groundskeeper; he had been hired to manage the horses. Father would have never allowed such a disruption of the servants as Ms. Northrop had caused, but Father wasn’t here, and she was. Philip was probably willing to suffer the indignity to avoid being fired. Jobs were scarce at the moment, at least jobs which included room and board for a man and his son.

Arranged with two main areas, one side for the storage of carriages and the other outfitted with stalls, the stables was often used as a place to store large and bulky items. It was likely that the bike would be in one of the empty stalls in the back. The horse stall was probably not the best place to store such a device, but it was a massive heavy construction of wrought iron and wooden carriage wheels. Poor Robert had barely been able to lower each piece down from the roof of the carriage with both hands, and the man was in excellent shape. Little Rufus had struggled when moving it and had stopped to rest more than once.

The last stall had the heavy metal frame and wheels. Struggling, sweat all ready breaking out on my face, I managed to drag the frame from the hay. Hauling on the frame, I lifted the nearly ninety kilograms wrought iron structure upright. Inside the stall, I found the front wheel, the one with the peddles, and pulled it out and arranged it next to the frame. The front half of the frame would need to be lifted and then set down on the wheel before the locking nut applied, then the process would have to be repeated for the rear wheel. The direct wood to metal construction without a spring, like in a carriage, was what gave the bicycle its signature nickname.

Returning to the stall, I heard the clatter of the frame falling and the crunch of breaking wood. The sound of the breaking device, a conveyance that was expensive and was likely purchased solely for my amusement, had me frozen in horror. My eagerness had caused the velocipede to break. Hopefully it was just the wheel, and a cooper could fix it, but either way, it would be an expensive proposition that was entirely my fault. Before I could exit the stall to check, I heard the crunch of boots.

“Rufus! Look at it! You were told to put that fool device away!”

The sound of Philip berating his son had me ducking down in the stall. The two had returned just in time to notice the broken bicycle, leaving me hiding in shame in the stall. I couldn’t keep hiding here, it wasn’t Rufus’ fault, and I wouldn’t let Ms. Northrop remove Philip for my actions, but my shame had me hesitating. The sound of a slap propelled me out of the stall and between Philip and Rufus.

“Wait, he didn’t do anything; it was my fault. I’m sorry!” I said.

Philip was red-faced, his large hands clenched in anger, while he backed away. His eyes raked over my clothing, his eyes locked for longer than was appropriate to my pant covered legs. When I turned to check Rufus, his eyes were averted, but his pointed avoidance of looking at me made me aware that my rash protection of the child had left my rear directly in his face. Being alone with a man, even with his son present, especially in such compromising clothing, had me flushed red in embarrassment. Worse, I would have to explain to Robert what had happened and entreat him to protect Philip from any reprisals from Ms. Northrop. Everything would be much easier if Robert could be enlisted to handle Father's financials, preferably with Ms. Northrop no longer employed, but his studies and his families financial issues made that unpalatable.

“Excuse me Ms...I didn’t know that you were…uh. That is, me and Rufus here will uh,” said Philip Nye as he tried to find the polite response to the situation. One which did not have him or his son staring at his employer’s scandalously dressed daughter.

“I’ll go tell Robert that I have accidentally damaged his property. I will make it clear that Rufus had nothing to do with my actions. Excuse me,” I said.

Annie had an overdose of honor and responsibility, but I didn't lack it. I just tried to temper it with adventure and fun. This situation though, I had to own up to this. Likely, Robert would be annoyed but forgiving, the bicycle being mostly an exhibition to entertain me in the first place. Annie would be upset, probably worse than the situation warranted, but it would be a safe way to let out some of her sadness. Ms. Northrop though, she would use this mistake in every diatribe from here out.

Kicking a few of the larger stones on the walk to the mansion I tried not to stomp. Pulling open the massive mansion door I cringe when I noticed Owen at the foot of the stairs giving me a curious look.

“Hmm, an interesting clothing choice,” he said before he smiled and continued down the hall.

I planned to change out of my adventure clothes and into ‘appropriate’ stable clothes which would avoid at least one diatribe. Before I reached my room, with my hand in the air reaching for the door handle, the world stuttered and stopped.

It was as if the air became a cage and locked me in place. It was more than just the air, my muscle locked up, my eyes remained focused ahead, and the breath in my lungs became stone. Even my heart lay silent in my chest. Panicking I strained my muscles to move but nothing shifted even minutely. The dust suspended in the air, shining in a stray shaft of light, remained perfectly frozen.

While I was in that world of a perfectly frozen moment, a large blue box with a square evenly spaced writing, appeared in front of me.