III. Shall we have a bit of fluff to make up for the first two parts? For the Doctor and Rose, this takes place sometime during season 2. For Fanny and Edmund, sometime shortly after the events of the movie.

Fanny Bertram, nee Price, checked her appearance in the looking glass one last time, and carefully smoothed the soft shell-pink silk of her gown. "Edmund, do you think Sir Thomas will be angry?"

"Whatever for, my dear?"

"My dress."

"Isn't it the one he ordered for you, for your birthday?"

"Yes. He said I could have it made up just as I liked."

"And you look very lovely," her husband assured her.

"The style is last season's, but it looks well on me. And I did not think it was quite right for a parson's wife to be so very gaudy."

"Your gown is very beautiful, my dearest, and it suits you impeccably. No true gentleman could dare to say otherwise."

"Thank you, Edmund," Fanny replied, with a sweet smile.

"Doctor," Rose muttered out the side of her mouth, "is my dress all right?"

"It's brilliant," he replied automatically.

And it was. The TARDIS had outdone herself this time, providing a dainty confection of ivory silk, with an overlay of sheer silk in a soft shade of shell-pink, with an embroidered sash. Rose had been delighted with her reflection.

"You looked so pleased back in the TARDIS."

"I was - I am - s'just…it looks a bit fussy, compared to some of the others. Don't we want to blend in, seein' as how we're not actually on the guest list?"

"Live a little, Rose Tyler! If we wanted to blend in, we'd have -"

"Snuck in the back, dressed as the help?"

"Exactamundo. And don't ever let me say that again. My point is, this time, we walked in through the front door, and you got to wear a pretty dress."

"Although you still haven't bothered to change."

"And why should I? No one's going to notice me, not with you around."

"Was that an actual compliment?"

"Could be. Ooh! Nibbles! Shall we?"

"You go. I'm a bit afraid to try and walk and carry a plate in this thing."

"All right," the Doctor replied cheerfully. "I'll get enough for both of us."

Rise cringed slightly. Although history wasn't her forte, she had the distinct impression that shoveling food into one's mouth with gusto would not be appreciated in this setting. She was so intent on watching the Doctor, that she didn't notice the fashionably dressed young woman who approached her.

"Fanny! How well you look! I see married life agrees with you."

Rose blinked in surprise, trying to figure out what she could say that wouldn't give herself away.

"Is that the gown Sir Thomas gave you for your birthday? How very lovely! And quite the latest fashion. Did you order it in London?"

"Er…yes," Rose stammered.

The young lady slipped her arm through Rose's. "I'm very cross that you didn't tell me you were in town. We must let bygones be bygones, don't you think?"

"I…"

"Oh, they're serving ices! Quite the innovation out in the country. Shall we go sample them?"

"No…thank you. I…I'm afraid of spilling something on my dress."

The lady frowned slightly, and moved off. Rose quickly ducked behind a pillar, hoping to avoid any more awkward encounters. Unfortunately, she was not looked where she went and bumped into a gentleman in full formal attire.

"Mrs. Bertram, might I have the honor of this dance?" the gentleman asked amiably.

"Oh…I…ah - don't know this one. Sorry!" Rose mumbled, hastily backing away.

"Of course. But you must save me a space on your card. They shall play Portsmouth soon, I believe."

Rose nodded, having no clue what Portsmouth might be, in the context of a ballroom. "Would you excuse me? I need to powder my nose." With that she slipped away behind a large floral display, leaving her prospective partner to puzzle over the strange turn of phrase.

Sir Thomas tried to maintain his equanimity as conversation buzzed about him. Who had invited Miss Crawford, anyway? Hadn't they endured quite enough of her? Not to speak of her brother.

"I think it's perfectly shameful that she had to wait so long to have her first silk gown."

"And the very height of fashion!"

"You don't think it's a bit ostentatious for a vicar's wife?"

"She always seemed so modest."

He caught a glimpse of pink skirts and golden curls. Whatever was Fanny doing, hiding away in a corner? And who was that strangely attired person she was speaking with? This simply would not do. He rose and straightened his coat, intending to have a word with his daughter-in-law.

"Father!" Edmund greeted him. "Fanny wanted to show you her new dress."

Fanny was on his arm, charming in a modestly cut silk gown with elbow sleeves and a tucker of filmy lace. She curtsied slightly, then stepped close to kiss his cheek.

"You look very lovely, my dear."

"Thank you, Sir Thomas. I know it is not quite the latest style, but the material is so very beautiful, I did not think it needed much ornamentation."

Sir Thomas smiled warmly. He should know better by now than to listen to anything any of the Crawfords might have to say.

"Quite right, my dear. You have a very discerning eye for such things. I am only sorry it took me so long to realize it." Sir Thomas scanned the room again, but the mysterious couple seemed to have vanished.

Rose and the Doctor sat outside in the garden with their pilfered plate of treats.

"Quite a nice party," the Doctor remarked around a mouthful of cake.

"Like somethin' out of one of Mum's Mills and Boon novels," Rose agreed.

"And did you use that fan to flirt with any mysterious gentlemen?"

"I used that fan to keep from faintin.' Besides, be a bit difficult to find a bloke more mysterious than the one who brought me here!"