"You seem oddly sober for someone who has finally plucked up the courage to get engaged," said Henry jovially, striding into the study and plonking himself down onto the sofa with a bright smile on his face.
Richard chuckled. "And you seem happier than I am."
"Unlikely," snorted Henry as he poured himself a drink. "You haven't stopped smiling since you told mamma not to expect the ring back, and that was at least four hours ago."
Richard merely grinned. They had returned for Diana's home a few minutes ago, and Henry had given his brother a few moments of peace in the study before joining him, clearly intent on celebrating with a drink. Humouring him, Richard swiped his brother's drink and raising an eyebrow when Henry narrowed his eyes. However, his brother did not argue, merely plucked a glass from the side table and poured himself another.
Richard gulped a mouthful of alcohol easily. "I cannot quit believe she said yes, if I'm being honest," he admitted.
Henry scoffed. "Neither can I, dear brother. I am of the opinion she should have said no to you at least a few times. Get you into the practice of asking for what you want."
"Your support means the world to me."
"You would perish without it, I am sure."
They drank in a companionable silence for a while, before Henry spoke again. "You are sure of this, are you not?"
Richard did not need to ask what he meant. "I was sure last time as well."
"But Mina Harris is not a factor this time?"
"I do not think Diana cares anymore," Richard shrugged. "And I am perfectly alright with never having to see that woman again."
"You should discuss all of this with her. Wedding dates, her mother, where she will live while she is engaged, what you two will do once you're back…" Henry listed them off thoughtfully, and then frowned. "Do you plan to stay engaged while you are in the continent?"
Richard shrugged. "I was led to believe that is what would be best for her. She is still in mourning, after all."
"Yes, but I recall a grandmother or the other of Herbert's remarrying a mere eight months after her husband died," Henry tapped the table impatiently. "I'm sure I could recall exactly who. The Herberts only mourn fully for eight months anyway, they drop dead like flies after all. I'm sure that is why they started the rule in the first place."
Richard winced. "Really, Henry?"
His brother shrugged. "He was a good man, but forgive me for being happy that my little brother can finally have his happy ending. So, what have you decided?"
"About what, exactly?" asked Richard, smiling despite himself.
"About the wedding, of course. Diana will have probably said to wait until you're back, but I know you," Henry finished his drink and reached for the bottle again. "You would take her to Gretna Green tonight if you thought there was a chance in hell she'd agree to it."
"She would never agree, and I do not want to marry her in Scotland," Richard rolled his eyes. "I will come back after six months and take the position in the London office that Father discussed with me before, and that will be the end of that. I will stay for her," he added. "Had she not come into my life at all, I would still be going to war, I hope you know that, Henry."
Henry sighed. "Unfortunately, I do. I told you, Richard, your reasons do not need to make sense to the world as long as they make sense to you."
"Horrible advice for a madman."
"Thankfully, you are not one. So, a wedding after you return," Henry nodded thoughtfully. "Mamma will like that, she always did want a summer wedding in the family. And have you thought about living arrangements? You are welcome to stay with us, of course."
"If I take the London position, we will have to stay in town," reminded Richard.
Henry clicked his tongue. "London does not suit Diana."
"I have not discussed it with her yet. There are other options, should she desire it."
"Of course. She may find London invigorating after all," Henry paused, and both brothers snorted at the idea of Diana Herbert finding London invigorating. "Alright, that is something that should definitely be considered," Henry waved a hand. :Have you thought about what to do before you leave?"
Richard smiled. "I am glad you asked. I was going to ask her to spend Christmas with us."
Henry grinned. "Smart fellow. Mamma would love that. We leave in a fortnight, and we'll be going to Pemberley as well. She will enjoy it immensely, and you will get to see her every day. Except," he frowned. "That mother of hers will come along as well, won't she?"
Richard sighed. "Whatever she may be, she is her mother. I cannot disrespect her."
"You said you hated the mother while proposing to the daughter!"
Richard resisted the urge to smile, but ended up joining in his brother's laughter anyway. "She said her mother hated me, I was merely returning the favour," he insisted, still chortling.
"My brother, the romantic," Henry shook his head. "Well, that is another problem solved, then. I cannot imagine that she would give up the chance to be close to you before she leaves. I take it you plan to keep the engagement a secret?"
Richard hesitated. "She gave me that impression," he admitted. "I would not be averse to whatever decision she makes. I just want to marry her."
Henry finished his drink and sighed. "Gretna Green, old boy."
Richard rolled his eyes.
!
"Engaged?"
"Yes, mother."
"And you are only telling me this, correct? Not ask–"
"No, mother. I do not need your permission, we both know this."
A heavy silence descended on the room at her words, and Diana fought the urge to cough to dispel the tension. Mina had walked into her room the morning after possibly the best day of her life to demand an explanation for why her maid was packing her a trunk, and Diana had calmly asked her to sit down before explaining Richard's proposal to her. However, she still had not told her why her possessions were being packed.
Finally, Mina spoke. "I wish you joy," she said stiffly. "He is a good man. But that does not explain why I am being shipped off without my knowledge."
Diana blinked, but did not allow her mother to see how confusing she felt her words to be. She merely inclined her head slightly. "Thank you. And as for your trunk," she cleared her throat softly. "You will be going to spend a week at Charles' estate, before the new earl arrives to claim his seat by Christmas. You will pack all my belongings and transfer them to our home in Devon, where you will aid Cousin Rupert in the management of the estate until such a time as I see fit. By then, I will have decided to either sell our house, or return and refurbish it for myself."
Mina stared at her, her mouth hanging open slightly in shock. Diana did not flinch. In fact, she avoided her mother's eye altogether, instead reaching for the cup of herbal tea Sarah was forcing her to drink thrice every day until her strength returned. She had insisted on getting up and being dressed this morning, but her maid had refused to allow her to venture down the stairs, instead fitting up her small bedroom with a roaring fire and a few armchairs so she could entertain people from the comfort of her own room. In a way, she was glad of it now. She felt more secure, in a room filled with things that were inherently her own, rather than the elaborate rooms downstairs her mother had helped to design and decorate.
"You are sending me away," said Mina hoarsely. With every word, Diana could tell she was losing the weak grip she had on her temper. "You insolent, ungrateful child, how dare you!"
"I never said anything about sending you away, mother," replied Diana evenly. Her left hand clenched into a fist, her engagement ring digging into her palm and offering her a small boost of courage. "I am merely sending you to be my representative. I would feel awkward going back to the home I shared with my ex-husband as a newly-engaged woman, and I have not been to Devon for many years. You have always dealt with Cousin Rupert directly, I thought it was best that you go. If you would prefer me to send a steward," Diana shrugged, sipping her tea and replacing the cup in its saucer before offering her mother an innocent smile. "Of course, that can be arranged as well. It is just that I plan to spend Christmas with the Fitzwilliams, who will be travelling to Pemberley on and off, and I know travelling does not agree with you."
"Christmas with the Fitzwilliams?" demanded Mina. "When did you come to that decision?"
"This morning," lied Diana easily. "I received a letter from Richard. He will be going away soon, and I do not wish to be separated from him until absolutely necessary. Lady Fitzwilliam was most delighted at his suggestion that I stay with them for a few weeks."
"And I suppose Richard also had nothing to do with your decision to send me away either," sneered Mina.
Diana did not correct her again. "The decision is entirely my own. I need someone with my best interests at heart to oversee my belongings and my finances. We have never seen eye to eye," she admitted. "But I am aware that you do things with the right intentions, and for that I can trust no one but you."
Mina sniffed. "Mothers are used to their children offering no gratitude," she said pompously, but Diana knew her words had done the trick. "I will go, of course. No one else can be trusted with such a delicate matter."
"Of course."
Mina left soon after, barking orders at servants to prepare her things – she had a few visits to make before she could leave within the week. Sarah slipped in once she left and exchanged a look with Diana.
"Is it done?" asked her maid hesitantly.
Diana let out a sigh of relief. "Thank heaven, it is. Hand me a paper and some ink, Sarah."
Sarah complied. "Is that for the Colonel?" she asked curiously, watching Diana scribble a quick note and seal it untidily in her hurry.
"Major General," corrected Diana. Sarah looked surprised, but she did not have time to explain. She shoved the paper into her hands. "Send it with John to Fitzwilliam House now, hopefully Lady Fitzwilliam will accept my request to spend Christmas with them before my mother finds out I lied to her about receiving an invitation."
Sarah raised her eyebrows. "But you told me you would ask the Major General –"
"Yes, I expected him to visit before noon so I could ask him!" said Diana in exasperation. "He only sent a letter, so I made up a story. It's alright, I doubt they'll mind, just try to make sure that letter gets sent before mother goes to see Lady Fitzwilliam."
Sarah nodded, tucking the letter into a dress pocket and hurrying out of the room. Diana glanced at the clock on the mantle, noting that she had a few more hours until the other visitors of the day would come crawling in. That gave her plenty of time to contemplate the second order of business. Biting her lip, she surveyed her ring carefully.
If it would be possible to never take it off, she would happily wear it forever. Not only had she developed an overnight habit of fiddling with it when nervous – which, admittedly, she had been since morning – she also loved the way it looked on her hand, as if it had been made for her. Of course, she doubted she could get too used to it. Technically, her one year of mourning was not over, and even though there was nothing expressively wrong with getting engaged or married before the year was up, she knew it would be in bad taste, especially considering the recent attention she had garnered just by being seen in Richard's presence. To be seen on his arm for the rest of the year would be folly. However, his going away so close to the beginning of the season would work out in their favour, since they would spend virtually half of the social year apart, and a wedding soon after his return would be entirely acceptable.
And yet – Diana bit her lip, rubbing the champagne coloured diamond with her thumb. She did not want to wait. The very idea of waiting for perhaps well up to another year to be his wife was enough to dampen her spirits. She wanted to marry him, and she wanted to marry him now. Nothing would make her happier, and she knew he would have no objections to it either. If his proposal had been anything to go by, he had been willing to put up with a long engagement simply because she felt like they should.
She glanced at his letter, a quick message he had sent in the early hours of the morning while she had still been asleep, which lay on the table at her side. It was short and sweet, but it made her smile.
My love,
I assume you are already furious that I have called you that, but do you recall that your only objection was that we were not yet engaged when I said it the first time? Now that you have made me the happiest of men, I plan to spend ample time thinking of new names by which to call you, an exercise I reserve for the rare moments I am not thinking of you.
I have some urgent business to attend to today, but rest assured I will be with you tomorrow, possibly at an incredibly early and rude hour that will make your mamma want to throw me out of the house. My family will visit you today without me, and will bring you all my love as I have instructed them to pass on to you. Rest assured, I have more to give.
I remain, my darling,
Your humble servant,
RICHARD FITZWILLIAM
It was odd, she mused as she reached for her tea again. So very odd, how one could go from scheming to ensnare a man one day, to engaged to the very same man and receiving love letters from him the next. While she refused to call anything she had done as ensnaring, from introducing Rose to her beau to the embarrassment of Caroline Bingley, she knew there were few other words for it. Now that she had succeeded, however… what was she supposed to do?
"You look very deep in thought," said a cheerful voice from the doorway. Diana jumped and glanced up, smiling when she saw Emily standing in the doorway with a large smile on her face. She got up from her chair just in time to catch the other woman in a tight hug.
Diana giggled. "You seem happy to see me," she teased.
Emily let her go and rolled her eyes. "Enough chatter. The ring?" she raised an eyebrow and held out her hand expectantly. Diana smiled and gave Emily her left hand, allowing her to squeal over it appropriately. Diana laughed again. "He gave you his grandmother's ring!" Emily clapped her hands together happily. "Oh, how wonderful! She was Richard's favourite, you know, and he loved seeing his mother wearing her ring. Oh, how wonderful!"
"Yes, darling, you've mentioned how wonderful it is," said Diana in amusement. She gestured for Emily to sit and sank down into her own chair gratefully. A slight head injury had done nothing good for her energy level. She touched the bandage carefully, ensuring it was still in place. "I am so glad you are happy, Emily."
"You have not seen mamma yet! She is out shopping at the moment, no doubt buying something for her new favourite daughter-in-law," Emily winked, and Diana blushed. "I am surprised she managed to keep it a secret from the whole of London! She was practically floating by the time we got home, Father teased that he did not know who was more excited at your answer, her or Richard himself."
Diana smiled fondly. "I am happy she is pleased."
"Pleased is an understatement," Emily reached over and squeezed Diana's hand, her smile full of genuine warmth and affection. "We are all so much more than pleased, my dear, you have no idea."
Diana sighed, a contented smile taking over her face. "You don't know how happy I am, Emily."
"I can imagine," she tried to smile back, but faltered and averted her eyes. "It just pains me that it took something like this for him to finally ask you."
Diana's voice caught in her throat at Emily's words. She had thought about him leaving, certainly, had even talked to her mother about it, but to talk about it with someone who actually cared… she gulped. "I haven't let myself fully think about that since yesterday afternoon, I'm afraid."
Emily looked guilty. "And you shouldn't think about it, dear, I am so sorry I brought it up. The doctor said not to trouble you."
Diana waved away her concern. "It's alright. I should have spoken to him about it then and there, but I – I did not want to," she shrugged helplessly. "I did not expect him to even ask me to marry him. I thought he would just… well," she trailed off lamely. "I did not expect it."
"You thought he would tell you he loved you just before leaving you," said Emily, her tone understanding. "Of course you didn't expect him to propose. None of us did. He surprised us all yesterday."
Diana nodded, her thumb rubbing against the stone of her ring again. She clicked her tongue and glanced at the clock. "Where did you say he was today?"
"I didn't say," Emily smirked. Diana nodded, her expression casual, but her cheeks had turned pink. Emily laughed. "But since you asked so nicely," she winked teasingly, causing Diana to blush harder. "He went to see Corporal Hastings at the offices of the militia, Lieutenant General Crooke said there was some work he could do while he was still in the country and he wanted to see when he could start."
Diana nodded, reaching for her tea again and averting her eyes. She did not want to think about such things. Richard, her Richard, her fiancé, would be leaving for the continent before they could even be married, and that was enough to cause a weight to settle in her stomach. Emily seemed to sense it, however, because she immediately changed the subject.
"Have you planned on what is to be done?" she asked. "I saw trunks taken out of the attic as I came upstairs."
"Oh, yes," Diana blinked and forced herself out of her thoughts. "My mother is going away, for a little while."
Emily looked surprised, so Diana quickly told her of her plan, leaving out Mina's reaction to the news. Emily's expression said that she did not believe Diana when she said her mother had agreed without argument, but she wisely did not push. Instead, she smiled. "Then I suppose you are free to spend Christmas with us?"
Diana blinked. "I –"
"Richard mentioned to Henry last night that he was going to ask you today, and Henry told me just this morning. That is why you sent her away, is it not?" asked Emily knowingly. "You want to spend time with Richard away from London, and our estate is the perfect opportunity. Plus, we will be spending a week at Pemberley, and I know Elizabeth was going to invite you to their Christmas Ball. This way, you can attend with us."
Diana was silent for a few moments. "I often forget that you are almost as good at this as I am," she said finally.
Emily picked up the cup of tea a footman had brought for her and winked at Diana over the rim of the cup. "Good at what, dear?"
"Scheming."
Emily laughed.
Give me good reviews and I will give you fast updates! I have to say, the response for last chapter was incredible. I knew everyone had been looking forward to the proposal scene since forever, but wow. I saw many new names, and it honestly made me so happy that I just had to get a chapter out for you guys and finally give so many of you what you've been waiting for... Mina's departure! Now, while I will say that this is not the last we will see of her, I will also say that, as far as this story is concerned, she's gone.
Yes, for those of you who were curious, THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL. I'm super excited to say that I've got the rough notes for that all worked up, but it requires a bit more research than an extensive knowledge of P&P (I will leave you all to guess why). And yes, I know there was no R/D action in this chapter, but look how far patience has gotten you, guys! I promise, it will be worth it.
Anyway, enough of my ramblings. On to review replies! Many thanks to:
Axelle: Glad to have you on board, and thank you for your kind words, they mean so much to me! I'm glad you're enjoying the story and hope to read more of your comments soon!
LovePP: There we go! So happy it lived up to expectations! Hope I can keep the chapters as interesting as you want them to be from now on!
Jansfamily4: The link to the ring will be up on my profile once this is updated, be sure to have a look!
suddenlysingle: Glad you enjoyed it!
NYT: The page's link is on my profile! And yes, hahaha, I wish I could have thrown that line into the chapter itself somewhere!
Deanna27: The expulsion of Mina was specifically for you, I hope you enjoyed it! Its nothing as evil as she deserves, but there's more to come, I promise!
JN: So glad you liked the chapter, and hope you approve of the kind way I've exiled Mina, but she will be back, I love writing her as my main villain!
Kss: LOL I WAS WONDERING WHEN SOMEONE WOULD BRING THAT UP! Well, you know me, I like to keep the readers waiting and wanting!
thpeaky: So happy you approve! And yes, that would be just like Mina, wouldn't it? But she's out now, at least for a while!
Guest: Have you really? Aww, I'm so happy you enjoyed it that much! I really wanted it to be the highlight of the story :) And yes, I was quite satisfied with their interaction this chapter, for once it translated onto paper exactly how I always picture it in my head!
SecretKeeper33: Thank you very much for your wonderful review! So glad you enjoyed their conversation, its always my favourite thing to write!
Contrari Mari: You, you blessed soul! THANK YOU for your wonderful, kind words, I am beyond grateful that you like this story so much to leave such a lovely review for me to read! If I could post your review here for everyone to see and laugh hysterically at your visuals, I totally would! As it is, I'm happy to keep it saved in my email inbox and reread it every time I need a pick-me-up or if I'm suffering from writer's block (so if you see a one-shot of Mina being trampled to death by a loose circus elephant in Hyde Park, you only have yourself to blame). Once again, THANK YOU! XX
Guest: Thank you!
Also, the pinterest account is up, guys! The link is on my profile, but in case you can't access it from there it is basically the website ( pinterest dot com) with a / followed by my username, ladysnowff. You can follow it if you like, I will be updating it regularly depending on if I find something interesting that connects to the story, or else I will mention in one of these insanely long ANs if anything's been added to it. Until next time! Much love xx
