Chapter 4

Dear Bruce,

I hope this letter finds you well and that you are enjoying yourself. With Mr. Kent at least, since I know you are not looking forward to being with Pamela and Audrey for days at time. Anyways, I am well and so is Kara. We have been having so much fun and thanks again for convincing Clark to let her stay with me while you and Mr. Kent are at Netherfield. We have been doing all our favorite things and it is SO nice to talk to someone my age again, not that being with you and our brothers is not great. The thing is that there are only certain things you feel that you can only entrust to someone your age, I know that is how you feel about Mr. Kent and certain things. Oh! Guess what? Jason wrote and said he will be coming home to visit some time within the next few weeks! It is SO exciting especially since we have not seen him in so long. Also Dick sent a letter specifically addressed to you so I am forwarding it to your current address and it should arrive some time later this or earlier next week. Try to have some fun.

Love,

Your Sister,

Barbara Wayne

Bruce smiled once he finished reading his sister's letter. He took out a piece of parchment and his quill and ink. He was about to start writing when he heard a knock on his door. Bruce put his quill back into the ink bottle.

"Come in," Bruce said. The door opened to reveal Clark Kent. "What is it Clark?"

"Lunch is ready," Clark informed him.

"Thank you," Bruce responded. "I will be down shortly."

"Your garden is absolutely lovely Mercy," Diana told her as they walked through it.

"Thank you Diana," Mercy responded. "I wish I could take the credit but I only helped. Father was the one who did most of the work."

"Either way the flowers are positively lovely," Lois declared. "Think we could borrow some?" Mercy smirked.

"Having a hard time with yours?" Mercy questioned.

"That's putting it mildly," Shayera said. "They keep drooping no matter what we do. I mean, we give them water what else are we supposed to do?"

"Are they getting enough sunlight?" Mercy asked.

"They practically live in it," Lois said. "Maybe it's a soil thing." They heard something growl.

"Whose stomach was that?" Shayera asked.

"Mine," Diana answered. "Sorry."

"Actually I am kind of hungry too," Lois said.

"Well we should have some lunch then," Mercy suggested.

"Hades dear, where is Lois?" Persephone asked.

"She is with Diana and Shayera and I believe they are still at Mercy's house," Hades answered. "Why?"

"Because we received an invitation to a ball at the Strayer's," Persephone replied. "And Lois NEEDS to look her best for Mr. Kent."

"My dear, I am sure that Lois and the others will be back soon enough," Hades informed her. "Until then there is no amount of worrying that will change that."

"You are right," Persephone admitted. "But..." She walked over to the foot of the stairs. "Harley! Could you run over to Mercy's house and tell Lois to come back?!"

"Mom! Make Cassie go!" Harley called back.

"Cassie!" Persephone exclaimed.

"Coming!" Cassie responded.

"So what should we do now?" Mercy asked.

"Well we should probably head back home now," Lois responded.

"Agreed, thank you for allowing us to stay the night Mercy," Diana added.

"Yes thank you," Shayera said. "And Lois is right. We should head back."

"Well, goodbye then," Mercy responded. They exchanged hugs and then walked to the entrance hall. "See you soon?"

"Of course," Diana said. "Thanks again Mercy. Goodbye."

"Goodbye Mercy," Lois and Shayera said before exiting and proceeding to head home.

"If you keep that up, my dear, you will wear a hole in the rug," Hades teased. Persephone ignored her husband's remark.

"It does not take this long to go and tell someone something," Persephone muttered. "Did something happen? Is Cassie okay? What if..."

"RE. LAX," Hades interrupted. "I am sure the girls are FINE. My dear you are such a worry wart sometimes. Besides it HOURS before we have to be at the Strayer's house."

"I know," Persephone said. "I just want everything to go well. I think this match is PERFECT for Lois and I want her to be happy." Hades said nothing in reply. Just then the front door opened and the three elder Princeton daughters entered into the house.

"We have returned," Shayera announced. Persephone went to greet them and then frowned.

"Wait, where's Cassie?" Persephone asked. The three daughters looked confusingly at her.

"Cassie?" Lois questioned. "Is she not here?"

"I sent her to come get you," Persephone said. "Wait...Oh don't tell me."

"You mean to tell me they've already left?" Cassie asked Mercy. Mercy nodded.

"That is correct," Mercy responded. Cassie groaned.

"Seriously!?" Cassie complained.

"Seriously," Mercy repeated.

"That...was a rhetorical question," Cassie said. "Thank you Mercy. Good day." Cassie then turned to head back home. "Great. Just great."

"Do you want me to do your hair like I did two nights ago?" Diana asked Lois. Lois nodded.

"Yes, if you don't mind," Lois said. Diana then proceeded to part her hair. "I find it odd that the Strayers are having a ball so soon after the Bradshaws. Usually there is a week or two gap in between."

"Agreed," Diana responded. "Though I guess they are interested in meeting the new neighbors and figured that this was the best way to do it since they are usually very busy."

"True," Lois admitted. "But do you know what's funny?"

"What?" Diana asked.

"That Miss Persephone had Cassie run to come get and we were already on our way home," Lois said. Diana smiled.

"Yes that is rather funny," Diana responded. "I do feel sorry for Cassie though since she had to walk all that way for nothing."

"Well at least Shayera can get ready in peace instead of arguing over whose turn it is to use the hairbrush," Lois stated. They then heard someone walking up the stairs.

"Cassie! Is that you?!" Diana called.

"Yes, it's me," Cassie responded.

"Are you alright?" Diana asked.

"I am," Cassie answered. "I just need some rest." She then proceeded to her room where Shayera and Harley were getting ready.

The five Princeton daughters entered the Strayers' house along with their parentals. They were immediately greeted by Mr. Strayer.

"Hello Mr. Princeton," he said. "Welcome to our ball."

"Thank you for inviting us, Mr. Strayer," Hades responded. Harley and Cassie immediately made a beeline for the buffet table and they dragged a ungrateful Shayera along with them. Lois and Diana walked toward the ballroom and saw a great number of people dancing. Lois then accidentally bumped into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Lois started. The man turned around. It was Mr. Kent!

"No, my apologies," Mr. Kent responded. "I was not paying attention where I was going. That was my fault. Oh, Miss Princeton." He bowed while looking very flustered and Lois curtsied. "It's nice to see you again. Sorry I bumped into you."

"No, it's alright," Lois said. "I should have paid more attention."

"Well...anyway," Mr. Kent started. "Would you perhaps like to dance with me."

"Of course," Lois responded. Mr. Kent extended his hand and Lois took it as he led her off to the dance. Diana smiled at the two of them.

"Well, well, well," Mercy said as she walked up to Diana. "Looks like things are going rather well for them."

"Indeed," Diana stated. "I believe they might be a VERY happy couple."

"You admit then that your stepmother made a good judgment call?" Mercy questioned.

"Yes, I admit it," Diana said. "She was right. Even if she was matching them up because of his money."

"But then why did you say might be?" Mercy replied. "Do you doubt his character?"

"No, not at all but I would like to get to know him better before they marry," Diana said. "I want to make sure he's the right man for her. Marriage is one thing no one can afford to rush."

"I agree," Mercy stated. "And time will definitely help Mr. Kent get to know her and her intentions."

"Whether for love or money, you mean?" Diana guessed. Mercy nodded.

"Indeed," Mercy said. "Also time will help him see if she cares for him."

"She does care about him," Diana stated.

"I know that and you know that but Mr. Kent probably does not," Mercy said. "Lois is not the type of person to show her affections off like trophies in public. And by doing so it limits him to only seeing it in private and those kinds of meetings with gentlemen of his status are rare."

"You do have a point," Diana admitted. "But at the same time if are constantly showing off your affections you make yourself silly in front of him and the others present."

"Like Harley and Cassie?" Mercy guessed. Diana sighed.

"Yes, like Harley and Cassie," Diana responded. "I wish they would grow out of it. One of these days their silliness is going to get them into trouble. I promise you that."

"They will," Mercy said. "Nothing matures people like aging. They'll grow out of it or at least Cassie will. Anyways, I am going to get something to drink. I'll be back in a minute." Once Mercy left, Diana turned her gaze back to her sister and saw her and Mr. Kent enjoying themselves in a dance. She also saw Mr. Wayne watching them as well. He seemed to be starring at them in either disapproval or analytically. Diana hoped for the latter but it was most likely the former.

Bruce lifted his gaze from his friend to see that someone was starring at him and he realized that it was Miss Diana Princeton. He immediately looked away after their eyes met.

'I'm not here to make friends,' Bruce thought. 'I'm here to make sure Clark does not do anything stupid or embarrassing. But he seems to be handling himself rather well so then why am I here?'

"Hello Mr. Wayne." He turned to see Pamela Kent standing next to him.

'Can't go one night without her bothering me, can I?' Bruce thought. 'I should have stayed at Netherfield.'

"Miss Kent," Bruce responded politely. "Is there something you need?"

"No, but I was hoping you wouldn't mind sharing the next dance with me," Miss Kent asked. Bruce held back a sigh and rolling his eyes.

'I would mind but...I'm temporarily sharing the same house as you so even if I said no you would not let it go,' Bruce thought. 'And you would pest me till kingdom come about it.'

"No, I would not," Bruce lied. He held out his hand. "Shall we?" Pamela smiled as she took his hand.

'He is an odd one,' Diana thought after watching the exchange. 'That much is for sure. He asks no one to dance and yet she asks and receives. I'm positive she is not the first one to ask tonight. Is he refusing the others out of pride? Does he think they are beneath him?' Diana's gaze continued to follow the two of them throughout the dance. 'Yet he does not seem to be enjoying himself. What an odd man.'