<strong>Rowena catches a train</strong><br/><br/>On the morning she was due to leave Rowena had arranged for her maid to awake her extra early so that she might avoid any awkward encounters with her aunt, the gentle rap upon her door and the muffled soft voice stirred her to life she sat up in her bed gathering herself before slipping out and heading to the balcony windows.  Opening the curtains a crack she glanced out into the morning air peering down into her estate garden her mind wandering on to thoughts of that strange dog, she closed the curtain and turned to get ready as she tried to forget about it and ignore the uneasy feelings.<br/><br/>She opened her door after dressing herself appropriately her maid Rose smiled at her politely “Good morning Lady Ashwin I hope you slept well, the driver will be here in an hour with the carriage and   the cook has cooked up some breakfast for you.<em>” Rowena smiled at Rose and nodded to her “Thank you Miss McMullock, what is for breakfast ?” </em>Rose spoke again<em>“Cook has prepared devilled kidneys on toast with pouched egg Lady Ashwin.</em>” Rowena nodded and offered Rose another smile<em>“Thank you Miss McMullock that will be all, please make sure my baggage is within the carriage.”     </em><br/><br/>An hour latter dressed for travel and fed Rowena took the last sip of her cup of tea set it down without even glancing to the cup as she usually would, she pushed her plate aside and stood moving away from the table to begin her day and the trip to Brighton. Rowena had been there before but she could remember little of it, she was only young when she had been there and the memories seamed foggy and distant yet captured in her head like poster and postcard imagery. She wore a smile as she left the house at the memories of the past although they where forever tarnished with the absence of the mother she never knew, at least in the physical sense Rowena felt differently spiritually.<br/><br/>Barnabas her footman and her maid met Rowena at the carriage and once all the baggage and passengers where aboard the carriage set of  for Victoria station. The journey out of the estate and into London went without instance and in silence as Rowena busied herself reading as the carriage cluttered down path and cobbled streets, when they arrived Rowena glanced out of the window and folded up her book before exiting and watching as her baggage was loaded onto a trolley. Usually Rowena would not travel by train in the manner she was today and she was quite excited at the prospect, it was to short notice to arrange for private carriage and doing to would of aroused the suspicion of her aunt.<br/><br/>As Rowena and her entourage boarded the train and her baggage was put on board she glanced about the station and at those boarding the train, heading into and through the various carriages she moved along to the first class cabins and after the door was slid aside for her moved inside with the others. Again she took to reading to pass the time although occasionally her attention was drawn away to the window and the scenery as it sped by or to the cabin door as other passengers passed, her mind wandered on occasion thinking of what her and the Major would talk of and of course of that fateful night that they had met.<br/><br/>Rowena had arranged to stay in the relatively new establishment the grand hotel, it was older now of course although only slightly older than Rowena herself and she had remembered staying here as a child on a rare holiday outing with her father. She smiled as they pulled up at the place and the porters helped with her baggage the place had not seamed to change at all from what she remembered, she headed in and booked in checking in asking for her things to be taken to her room.  She checked her watch and noticed that she had some time to spare before the appointed meeting, deciding it best to relax and rest for awhile she headed into the hotels tea room and dinning area where she enjoyed a fresh cream tea and scone.<br/><br/>When it came to be almost time for the meeting Rowena headed of on her way to the pier, her lavish mauve suit dress with lace and silk trimmings and matching hat catching a few eyes although many more where drawn to her cane which she often carried in place of the usual parasol. It served a similar purpose as a walking aide and actually had some significance to it, not to mention being a slight indication of her wealth its silver horse handle and grip of the most exquisite quality and craftsmanship.  Barnabas insisted upon escorting her to the pier although he agreed that he would not follow her or interfere in her day with the Major, of course Rowena believed him and did not suspect that he would tail and follow her as always as he was instructed to do.<br/><br/>Rowena caught sight of the Major as she strolled along the pier smiling she kept to her pace and tried to hide her pleasure, she felt an urge to rush and show her pleasure but knew that may cause a scene or be seen as improper and the last thing she wished to do was do that and scare of the Major. She offered a polite wave from a distance and then bowed her head lightly to him and curtsied as she approached him, lightly raising her hand and offering it out before him.<em>“Major Tyler, I am pleased to see you and I hope I have not kept you waiting for me here although I am sure the sea has kept you in pleasant company.”</em><br/><br/><div align="center">(http://www.fantasycon2011.org/images/93166-11-brighton-pier.jpg)</div>