The dancing went well into the night. There were many different dances; waltzing, jigs, bouncing lines and slow, dignified ones that were almost like taking a refined walk. Millie didn't know all of them- but her partners (and there were surprisingly many) were always willing to guide her through them. It was towards the small hours of the morning when Millie noticed that the Doctor was not amongst their number. Though she was enjoying herself immensely, such an observation cast a dim cloud over her fun.

Hello all, and a blessed season of Advent to everyone! I am so sorry for neglecting to post here... the Taverner Chronicles is almost finished, but I've been posting the chapters on my blog, www.charlieandmewrite.blogspot.com
You can finish it there if you can't wait to get to (almost) the end, or you can watch it slowly trickle here. :)

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They were in there again. Dancing... in her ballroom. Millie took a deep breath. She stood in the hall just outside- although the sun had only just set, the dancing was already in full swing. She hadn't danced yet, and didn't feel like it, despite the fact that there were many desirable partners. Somehow, she didn't feel like joining them. Louise would have giggled and said that the absence of a certain Doctor had something to do with her listlessness, and laughingly Millie would have objected. Half-heartedly, of course, because she knew in her heart that was the reason.

There are few moments more awkward or unbearable than that which a young man inquires if a lady should share the saddle with him. Oh odious predicament! Millie and Louise were speechless, and even Anthony started to feel that he had said something out of place. But no, that did not prevent him from extending his hand to help her up into the saddle behind him. Millie was about to blather an excuse when Louise stepped closer to Anthony with a bright look on her face.

There was one place she felt alone. It was a tree; a tree with a seat almost carved into its base. Though it was in the middle of a pasture, no one would think of looking for her there... she couldn't go back to the house. Not now.

She needed to be alone. Alone.

Millie could feel tears slipping out of her eyes and down her cheeks, and before she knew it, there were ragged sobs coming from her lips. Clamping a hand over her mouth, she ran faster towards the tree; she was almost there now. Just a little further...

With a deep breath, she stepped across the threshold of the ballroom and into the hall. She started to go for the nearest staircase, but then paused to listen. All was quiet- they were probably outside playing croquet or badminton, giving Millie the perfect opportunity to slip outside the back way without being noticed. Even thought she had wanted to speak to her Grandparents, not facing them would make her much more at ease when it came time to speak to the Doctor. In spite of her jumpy nerves, she was half-rejoicing in being alone in the house when she heard a voice behind her.

I'm always happy to receive feedback about this story. It's one of the bigger projects that I've undertaken in my writing life, and I'm so happy to be sharing it on here! Any comments here or on my blog (www.charlieandmewrite.blogspot.com) would be most appreciated! :D

~~~

She knew just how she was going to tell him. She was going to look him straight in the eye and say, 'Doctor, you will never see me again.'

No no... that's not going to work, Millie thought as she walked home from work.

When she awoke, Millie found herself in the music room. Only it wasn't the music room, it was her room. For a moment, she had thought that she was still in the past, but the realization was that her belongings were in the room.

He's not here. Why on earth was that the first thing that crossed her mind?

What on earth am I going to do?

Millie felt her palms growing sweaty. She hoped and prayed that the Doctor would be long gone by the time she returned, and slowed her pace considerably so that it would take her far longer to reach the house.

How long she wandered in that shaded lane, she could not tell; she had no desire to return home and still less to go back to the present.

And I thought the past would be a relief from my troubles, she thought bitterly.

Millie found herself on the lawn. Sitting, with the others, on a table and chairs that were set up for the express purpose of being used for their tea party. Sitting, staring at her cup, knowing that all eyes were trained on her.