The Doctor offered Rose his hand, which she took and held, as they strolled back towards the house. Understanding fully the impropriety of their intimacy, Rose could not keep herself from smiling and enjoying the coolness of his hold on her fingers. His ease with the situation astonished her. He did not seem to have any scruples against being so forthcoming and confidential. It made her wonder about what kind of man he really was. His accent sometimes betrayed him of not coming from one of the near counties. However Scotland's peerage had very similar rules of conduct and surely he was brought up with them. She endeavoured to ask of him all that came to mind, but in spite of his openness, she still had difficulty in expressing herself.

The Doctor, observing her struggle, therefore began himself by asking: "Are you an only child, Rose?"

Hearing her name uttered aloud, gave Rose such pleasure and comfort, that she instantly felt more at ease. She ventured with a readiness to answer that would have surprised her, had she been with any other, than this strange man. "No, I am not. I have a younger brother of seven."

"And pray tell, how old are you?"

Rose, on perceiving this question, could not withhold a giggle when thinking about the reaction her mother would have, would she know of their conversation.

"I am sorry, did I offend you?"

Rose blushed and replied: "Not at all. I am nineteen."

Before she could reciprocate, the Doctor had already stated his next question and Rose found he was very thorough in his examination of her. He questioned her about her friends, her family, her education and on clearing the woods and entering the sunny garden, Rose felt her throat to be quite hoarse.

She pondered on the thought of them entering the house and sitting by her father and mother, while enjoying some cool refreshments. Knowing however that her parents would not tolerate such infamous behaviour, there would be no more amiable conversing, and she was not yet ready to relinquish that.

"You told me earlier you have no great joy in the usual pursuits of young ladies of your class, perhaps you are willing to enlighten me as to what gives you pleasure?"

Most willing Rose was, however her sore throat made a remark somewhat difficult. She coughed a little, which gave the Doctor some concern and in discovering her need, he slapped himself, very ungentlemanly, on his forehead. He next busied himself in going through his pockets, making his companion a little curious as to what could possibly be brought forth by such a search, that would alleviate her thirst.

Great indeed was her astonishment, when he produced a cylindrical, metal tube, screwed the top off and handed it to her.

She held it in both hands, looking at it as if, when shaken, there would sprung snakes from it. Her face showed a look of pure uneasiness and the Doctor hurried himself in explaining the strange contraption.

"It is a Thermos, made to keep a cool drink cool and a warm drink warm. There is simply water inside. Forgive me, I should have foreseen your consternation."

On searching his face, Rose found no dishonesty, however there was a look of apprehension, as if he wanted to establish what her reaction was towards the unknown. Assuming he had no desire to poison her, she took a deep breath and placed her lips at the opening of the strange canteen. Cool liquid, the most fresh water she had ever tasted, gave such alleviation, such soothing remedy to her thirst, that she found herself incapable of not emptying the whole flask, before returning it to its owner.

The Doctor stood there, a grin of satisfaction adorning his mouth. His anticipation was met with a most rewarding attitude and his approval was noticeable in all his features.

"Left none for me, eh?"

His boyish retort made Rose's eyebrows rise and his grin made her forget her manners in apologizing.

"You, kind Sir, are a very strange man. You have all the appearance of a gentleman of these parts, yet you utter strange ideas, express yourself awkward and bring forth singular objects, of which I am sure the world has never seen. Tell me Doctor, are you for real?"

To this, the Doctor took a few moments before replying: "I have told you on our first acquaintance, that certain particulars about my personality can be quite shocking. Were I to relate the whole of my history, I fear you will proclaim me mad and want nothing more to do with me."

"And in your stating thus, you find no fear in giving me equal consternation?"

"Maybe. That: I leave up to you. I hope however, that it is merely a means to elicit your curiosity."

His discomfort after this last statement, was measurable in the silence hence following.

Rose needed a few minutes to compose her troubled thoughts on the matter. She found that the strangeness of the past events, gave no more distress than his first disclosure of design. On the contrary: it did indeed provoke her curiosity and she found herself on the whole not objectionable to his attentions, however unsettling they might be. She was captivated by his open mindedness, fascinated by his mysterious past and not at all insensitive to his charm.

In looking at his tall, handsome figure, she felt her heartbeat quickening and the heat of the sun was in no means sufficient to account for the redness on her cheeks, when her mind wandered to the thought of his hand in hers.

"Rose?"

His soft voice called her back from her reflections.

In seeing her desire clearly before her now, Rose replied: "I am not taken aback by your unfamiliar address and approach. It will take me some time; getting acquainted with all your peculiarities. Nonetheless I find myself very willing to do just that. I am quite enticed to find out all that is to know about you and I hope you will do me the honour of being as honest with me as I hereby pledge to be towards you."

"My dear Rose, I am utmost delighted with your answer and I am completely willing to accommodate you in your wish. I will be as forthcoming as I can. To the point of which I judge you to be ready for. In time, I promise, all will be revealed. For now, just let me try to open your mind to the possibility of the world being a much larger place than you can imagine."

"I am intrigued. However, I must press you first to escort me back to the house and if you would do me the honour, accompany me inside. The hour is late and I am afraid my mother will suffer from my absence, which has already been far too long. If you are not otherwise engaged, you are most welcome to join us for dinner."

To this the Doctor heartily consented. They walked in companionable silence until they reached the house, where Rose finally let go of the Doctor's hand and implored him not to call her Rose, when amongst other people, especially her parents. To this the Doctor off course agreed.

On finding her missing daughter in the company of the Doctor, all Mrs. Tyler's worries faded away. Her mind was easily turned from anxiety towards happy expectations, concerning wedding dresses and titles. Rose, feeling a little embarrassment, in watching her mother swoon over their guest, soon found relief in noticing the fondness the Doctor displayed towards the lady of the house.

Of this, Mr. Tyler was also pleasantly aware and his estimation of the man, of whom he still knew so very little, grew by the minute.

Little Antony was permitted to join the gentlemen after dinner, there neither men cared for a smoke, instead they enjoyed a short round of billiards.

Rose and her mother retreated to the drawing room and Mrs. Tyler instantly set to business, in finding out how her daughter had been able to secure the fine gentleman's attentions. Rose assured her that they met quite by change. In talking, they forgot the time, so she invited him to dinner, as it was such late hour. There was nothing more to be said on the matter, since Rose refused to discuss her conversation in the woods. She gave no cause to hope, nevertheless her mother needed none, as the gentleman's coming was sufficient enough.

Rose set to reading her book as Mrs. Tyler took up some needlework, and thus the gentlemen found them after their game. They said their good night's to Antony and the Doctor took his place on the settee, where Rose made to put away her book. The Doctor however, expressing an interest in her occupation, took the book from her hands and flipped though the pages with such an alarming rate, Rose was sure he could not have seen one word.

"Interesting, I would have thought young ladies would much sooner prefer a novel, and here I find you reading the tragedies of Master William Shakespeare. I am impressed."

Rose smiled shyly, very much aware of the fact that her parents were close by. Even though they were seemingly entertained by a conversation of their own, she knew well that everything she and the Doctor spoke of, was overheard.

"Pray tell me, Miss Tyler, which is your favourite?"

In finding the Doctor very considerate of her earlier request, Rose felt herself more at ease. Willing herself to forget her parents presence altogether, she conveyed her preference to the play of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The Doctor approved.

They had a very cheerful conversation on the matter and Rose was thrilled in discovering his extensive knowledge on the subject. And even though both of them felt the restraint of having to talk in company, they found themselves very pleased and at ease. Both were sorry when time became a pressing matter in the Doctor's departure.

With gratitude the Doctor received a heartily invitation to come again whenever he pleased, from Mrs. Tyler, as well as an expressed wish of Mr. Tyler to become better acquainted. Rose merely smiled, bowed her head in farewell and stared until there was no more of the Doctor in sight.

She went to bed early, tired of a long day, full of exceptional alacrity and unusual revelations. Her head was filled with thoughts and reflections and under the cool, thin sheets she finally allowed herself to be overwhelmed by the feelings that had weighed on her heart, all day.

She had now no more reason or need to defer her consternation to a time better suited. Thankful for the dark of dawn and the absence of company, Rose, feeling her cheeks on fire, bit down on her sheets to keep from screaming. Her emotions were too much to bear and she needed a while to sort them. Thoroughly convinced that two days were by no means enough of a timespan as to determine any sort of attachment, she found that her heart disagreed with her head. In picturing the strange, intriguing and, dare she declare: wonderful man, she felt all the raptures of a young woman very much on her way to being in love.

After a long hour of tossing and turning, Rose finally found the tranquillity of sleep. Only to be awoken not some two hours later.

A soft tick was the first sound that made her aware of something being not quite in order. Eyes wide open in sudden alarm, Rose held her breath and listened. A second tick followed and this time it drew her attention to the windows. Deliberating with herself if she should venture a look, a third tick made her set aside her fears and she slid out of the bed. Nudging the curtains just a tiny bit, she dared a glance outside.

The view from her windows showed a large portion of the woods, she so loved to visit. All was dark. That was at least, until she became aware of a small lantern of sorts, shining directly beneath her. It was held by a tall man, carrying what seemed like a basket and holding a strange contraption, consisting of some poles or tubes, under his right arm.

Recognizing the gentleman, Rose pushed aside the curtains completely and could not keep her mouth shut while staring down, totally forgetting the fact that she was wearing nothing but her summer nightgown.

The Doctor's grin became recognizable in the scarce light of the lantern, and as if him just standing there in the middle of the night was not inappropriate enough, she heard him call in a hushed voice: "Rose, are you coming?"