It has come to my attention that many have drawn parallels between this story and Pride & Prejudice. I actually began writing this after reading Lady Susan by Jane Austen. From the summary of the book, I thought I would encounter a scandalous lady that didn't care about what society thought of her. Lady Susan read, instead, as a heartless and manipulative woman who would throw her own daughter under the bus if it meant she could remarry well. I began this story because I wanted a scandalous lady, but one that didn't make me want to punch a wall and scream in a pillow.

ALSO: It was hinted at in last chapter, but Tenten is Ibiki's daughter. That's my fav headcanon, so I'm shamelessly pushing it in this story. Sora is a OC and Tenten's mother. Because I can do that.

That's it! Enjoy!

To Ten: Thank you for your review! :) Hope you enjoy this chapter too!

To Justbeplatonic: HUGE JANE AUSTEN FAN HERE TOO huehuehuehue! Thank you for your review! :D

To Chisa Chispa: I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for your review! :))

To twinquies: Please, let me know if you didn't receive my PM. I've been having some issues lately... -_-

LETTER FROM LADY TENTEN TO CAPTAIN NEJI HYUUGA

Captain Hyuuga,

I could not let our correspondence cease while I feel so "pure" in our arrangement.

As agreed, I have visited friends and acquaintances with my mother to give strong arguments against the rumours circulating about us. Lord Uzumaki had the sense of proposing to the natural daughter of a doctor from the New World which greatly aided our cause: These news are most scandalous. Know, sir, that I share this intelligence with you because I am charitable enough to wish to entertain your lonely days at sea with frivolities.

I have also learnt through my father's men and Mr Lee that you were quite the rascal in your youth. I am most satisfied by this knowledge. I must indeed appear "pure" compared to your most indisciplined behaviours. If we were friends, I would ask for a complete account of the battle of the Bay. Such a shame, I cannot suffer your ego.

Adieu,

Lady Tenten

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN NEJI HYUUGA TO LADY TENTEN

Lady Tenten,

Thank you for taking care of our affairs. This coincides perfectly with my last stop on land. I did not want to find myself fraudulently attached to a woman whose father decide my fate at sea.

It is most astonishing that with your wits and manners, you would be affected by my past indiscipline. Am I not then the man who handed a loaded gun to a woman at a ball? Am I not the one who suggested you fired at the hedge in the garden? My Lady, you are so engrossed in your own schemes, you scarcely recognize any scandals besides the ones of your own makings. Upon my word, there will come a day where you will sorely regret your ways as I did mine.

I am certain England is safer if I do not give you any further ideas by discussing my naval victories.

We may not be friends, My Lady, but you are most entertaining. You almost write like a man. I am only terrified you may one day decide impersonate me with the cloak you still have in your possession.

Captain Neji Hyuuga

LETTER FROM LADY TENTEN TO CAPTAIN NEJI HYUUGA

I almost respected you 'til this last jest. I would return the insult if I thought being a woman was indeed an insult.

All things considered, I knew I was in my right to keep your cloak as a war trophy.

Lady Tenten

LETTER FROM DUCHESS SORA MORINO OF REDWOOD TO DUKE IBIKI MORINO OF REDWOOD

My love,

We have an understanding only few couples share about our lifestyle and our daughter. While we have agreed on her education being as eclectic as we are, I have always maintained the notion that Tenten ought to marry. Her recent behaviours have pushed many to blush in my presence and even more so, in hers. I have born these scruples the same way I have born the scandal of our marriage. I tell you this, because I keep no secrets from you, and it has come to my attention that Tenten has been corresponding with Captain Neji Hyuuga since the ball. I can only assume their engagement will become known to us upon his return. This secretive engagement would wound my motherly instinct if not for the knowledge that that a long engagement with a military man is unwise. As for you, I know you view Captain Hyuuga, as any man, to be unsuited for our daughter. I thus remind you of our understanding and deep affection for one another: Tenten will marry before next season.

Ibiki, I shall be as blunt and crude as you, so there is no misunderstanding between us: do not ignore my will and hand my invitation to Captain Hyuuga joined to this letter. I did not suffer through childbirth to see my daughter remain unmarried and childless.

With all my love,

Sora

LETTER FROM DUKE IBIKI MORINO OF REDWOOD TO DUCHESS SORA MORINO OF REDWOOD

Little bird,

We do have understanding which you seem to bring up constantly since our daughter's introduction as if I were senile. However, I do not view Neji Hyuuga as any man. I view him as the man who has disobeyed two direct orders from his superior officers. He was so undisciplined when he first enrolled that many officers asked me if they could throw him overboard. Had it not been for him winning strategic battles and his family crest, he would have been dismissed from the navy altogether. I now regret no one has taken upon themselves to leave him stranded on an island. Hear me well, woman, I will not have my daughter marry a man that doesn't respect orders and military hierarchy. This tells me more about his character than anything else.

Because I know your sensibilities are akin to a lion and that you would rip through flesh to get what you want, I have relieved Captain Hyuuga of his duties for the time being, so you can dispose of him as you see fit. I have enclosed his answer to your invitation. I strongly advised the Captain to refuse you. He folded like a wet shivering dog, and for a moment, I thought he would swoon like that cousin of his. Do you truly wish for a wimp as a son-in-law? I asked for his correspondences and I immediately recognized our daughter's hand. The little rascal stammered endless assurances that no understanding exists between Tenten and him. He should have looked at me in my eyes and say: "Yes, sir, I court your daughter." I won't say the Lord's name in vain because I know it displeases you, but find Tenten another match if you absolutely wish to see her married. Anyone among my men would be better suited than Captain Hyuuga.

I will be home next month. Meanwhile, do not worry about Tenten's future. We have trained her like a soldier. She will survive with whichever match she ends up accepting, whether she eventually shoots him in his sleep or not. She knows how to dispose of a corpse, and we have enough land to hide it.

All my love to you and Tenten.

Yours truly and forever,

Ibiki

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN NEJI HYUUGA TO LADY TENTEN

Lady Tenten,

The Admiral your father came to my cabins to-day and gave me a letter containing your Mother's compliments as well as an invitation to attend to your party on my way back to the Hyuuga castle. He asked for my correspondence and I couldn't refuse him. The Admiral insisted I refuse your Mother in the letter you will find joined to this letter. Despite my assurance that no vows exist between us, he relieved me of my duties for the time being. I knew our correspondence would be discovered despite your wicked assurance. I shall be in town in two weeks.

I know you like shocking the crowd with your demonstration of gun proficiency and by boarding a ship of the Royal Navy dressed in man's clothing, but this misunderstanding costs me dearly.

I believe you owe me an explanation and an apology for the trouble you've caused me with your most unladylike behaviour. I will call on you at my arrival.

Captain Hyuuga

LETTER FROM MISS INO YAMANAKA TO LADY TENTEN

Call on me directly when you read this, Tenten. My heart may explode in my chest if you do not. Is my most loyal friend hiding a secret engagement from me? Come soon!

Ino

LETTER FROM LADY TENTEN TO CAPTAIN NEJI HYUUGA

Captain Hyuuga,

I gave this letter to the first post in the hopes it reaches you before you arrive to town.

I do not know how my parents came to be aware of our correspondence, but you, sir, are to blame I am certain. From your letter, Mr Lee assumed we were in each other's confidence, and the chatters I had managed to dampen began circulating once more. I will not apologize to you because the fault resides entirely on you for admitting on my being on your ship and calling my character pure in your letter. What other conclusions was Mr Lee to draw if you speak of a "pure" woman like me boarding your ship?

The situation is now dire. Our grotesque "love story" has appeared in the papers with our initials as pretexted anonymity. They related the tale of an impossible love across social classes and against parental blessing. Even my closest friend believe this sordid story! In the last week alone, His Excellency your uncle has called several times on my mother. Because of his disdain for me and my mother's wedding to the Admiral my father, his strong objections persuaded her to give us her absolute support. Even your letter refusing her has been used to excite His Excellency's temper.

Please, sir, do not call on me at my parents' estate. I fear my mother may entrap you here only to serve the purpose of attracting your uncle's wrath. Call on Lord Shikamaru Nara and I shall be there for tea, so we can discuss in peace. Both his fiancée and he are in my confidence.

Sincerely,

Lady Tenten

PS.: Know, sir, that if I weren't most concerned for my future and reputation, I would have replied in a more unladylike fashion at the liberties you have taken in addressing me. We will never be well acquainted enough for you to speak to me as if I were a child. May you understand this if not that women are not akin to children in sense and responsibility.

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN NEJI HYUUGA TO LADY TENTEN

Lady Tenten,

I quit your company in the most agitated state. Now that I have read your letter that may have saved us this embarrassing visit to your family's estate, nothing can undo my unease. I fear for my honour, my rank and my character. I fear you most of all as you had drawn me in an improper exchange of letters. I admit, Madame, that I could not find in my heart means to refuse you; you discuss well and your wits were for too long my only entertainment aboard my ship.

If I were a more selfish man, My Lady, I would directly cite your Mother's approval of me and my future title and fortune, and make you a formal offer, if only to restore my honour. I have acted towards you in the most improper manner by beginning this correspondence and by selfishly pursing it against my moral inclinations. I shall be blunt, as I cannot be sentimental: if you wish for an offer, let me know presently and I shall call upon you and conduct myself as I should have. I will assume the consequences of our actions.

Captain Hyuuga

P.S.: Any liberties you feel I may have taken with you were unconsciously done, I assure you. I had little time and too much was at stake. Forgive me, My Lady.

LETTER FROM LADY TENTEN TO CAPTAIN NEJI HYUUGA

Captain Hyuuga,

All is lost and I write to you in a way that is certain to be intelligible to you for I cannot stop crying with rage and ruining the ink.

I deeply regret my letter couldn't reach you before you called on me at my parents' estate. We couldn't exchange more than a few words because of the society we found ourselves in, but the pallor of your face, your brisk manners and the few words you uttered were enough to convince all of the ladies and gentlemen in attendance that we have an understanding. They attributed your singular behaviour and my own faintness to disappointed hopes.

No word, no gesture from me appears to be enough in soothing everyone's passion about our pretended engagement. I do not believe in fate, as I am certain a military man such as yourself do not, but I feel like there's an irresistible force that draws me to you, but it's all consuming, all exhilarating. It's both anger, hopelessness and happy excitement. Mayhaps this is what you meant, sir, when you said I would regret anything scandalous about my actions. Truth be told, I would. I would regret everything that pulled me to you if it weren't for Mr Lee's friendship. It remains that I feel hopeless and estranged from my own life. I imagine this is how one would feel when drowning.

I will not address the last part of your letter as it is one of the reasons why I feel such rage and agony at the moment. I have no will to endure propriety and a man who views the recovery of his honour as more pressing than my happiness. While you lament yourself over such pitiful emotional states, sir, I have decided to retire to a house we own outside the country. I have already prepared my trunk for the journey and I shall speak with my parents at once. If you were to remain in town, everyone should finally be convinced that if an understanding existed between us, it does not anymore.

Farewell my fake and most grotesque fiancé,

Lady Tenten

LETTER FROM DUCHESS SORA MORINO OF REDWOOD TO COUNT HIASHI HYUUGA

Your Excellency,

Servants have reported to me that Lady Tenten has prepared a trunk of clothes and jewelry in her apartment. I possess a double of a key to her apartments and saw for myself that it was indeed the case. Among her things was also one of your nephew's cloak. I believe our feud should cease for the sake of our families' honour. Give Lady Tenten and Captain Hyuuga your blessing, and I shall arrange the wedding for spring. I will not have my daughter elope with your nephew. There is little doubt for me as to whom is to blame for this dreadful current state of affairs.

I also require you give your nephew some of your lands before the wedding. My daughter's dowry is substantial, and she will not suffer want because your nephew is poor until you pass.

Sincerely,

Duchess Sora of Redwood

LETTER FROM CAPTAIN NEJI HYUUGA TO LADY TENTEN

Lady Tenten,

I asked my cousin to give this letter to a servant in the hopes it may, by some scheme, find itself to you.

I've been told that you were locked in your apartments and forbidden to receive any visitor. My uncle and your parents are convinced we planned to elope because of the trunk you prepared. For this reason, I found myself in similar predicaments as yours. Your father has officially relieved me of my duties and stripped me of my rank, which has done nothing but excite my uncle's most violent temper.

My cousins have related to me that our families are discussing your dowry and my inheritance, but have yet to come to an understanding.

I write to you now only to ask a favour from you: Forget me. Burn all my letters. Never write to me again.

You are a tempest. You are the deepest waters. You are not drowning, My Lady, you are drowning, smouldering me.

How I wish you had never fired from my gun.

Your bullet that found itself in the centre of the sculpted hedge at the ball had ricocheted in all aspects of my life. My future, my fortune, my family, they are all riddled with holes because of you. In more ways than I can ever forgive nor forget, you have shot me a thousand times over. You have killed me a thousand times over. You've utterly, irrevocably ruined me.

Adieu,

-N

LETTER FROM LADY TENTEN TO MISS INO YAMANAKA

My dearest friend,

I apologize if this short note angers or frightens you in the wake of the rumours which are bound to abound. When you read this, I will be far away and all my connections in England severed. I cannot bring myself to give you the explanation you deserve for my heart is shattered. There is truly no words to explain my anguish. I can only wish you will understand my retirement from English polite society in time.

I wish you all the best.

Farewell,

Tenten

LETTER FROM LADY TENTEN TO DUKE IBIKI MORINO OF REDWOOD

Papa,

You once instilled in me we can never take back a fired bullet. I finally see what you meant.

The situation between Captain Hyuuga and myself is such that we have now caused everyone around us great pain. The Captain lost his rank. I lost my freedom and caused terrible anguish to my mother. I can, quite easily, see how the disagreement between Mother and you about my future is weighing on you both and poisoning the affection you have always shared. Captain Hyuuga's family has suffered similar fate and estranged the nephew and the uncle once more. I want this feud to end. I have severed my engagement with Captain Hyuuga, and we have agreed to correspond no more. I wish to retire to the home where I was raised. There, I will submit to polite society with grace and propriety in the hopes of attaching a more appropriate match as both Mother and you wish. I only ask in exchange that you reinstate Captain Hyuuga on your fleet. I know you find the Captain undisciplined and untrustworthy, but I trust his words, and now I ask that you trust mine: there will be no more letters exchanged between us, and we shall never meet again.

I truly never wished to cause Mother or you any grievance. Please, come back home when you receive this letter. Mother and I both miss you dearly.

Your favourite and only daughter,

Tenten

The next chapter will be written in prose.

Thank you reading! Please, take the time to let me know what you thought in a comment. :D

Stay safe! Stay healthy, you guys!