Chapter 24
After the stair incident, the rest of the visit went rather normally, though Tim did disappear about halfway through to escape "adult talk" which was currently going on in the music room.
"So, Diana, do you play?" Pamela asked gesturing to the piano.
"Well, yes but not very well," Diana admitted. "Do you?"
"Of course," Pamela responded. "Every respectable young lady does." Bruce clenched his fists.
'Not even going to hide her disdain,' Bruce thought.
"What makes you say that?" Diana inquired.
"Well, the more talents a young lady possess the more likely a young man is to take interest in her," Pamela informed her. "A woman cannot simply be just a pretty face if she is to entice a man into marriage."
"If a man only wants a trophy wife with many talents then he is not worth a woman's time," Diana responded.
"True, but a woman who can't do anything is useless," Pamela stated.
"Why should a woman try to appease a man's standards?" Bruce questioned causing the two women to turn in his direction. "Especially if they have impossible standards one can't possibly hope to appease. Don't you agree?" This effectively silenced everyone in the room and everyone turned in direction speechless. No excepted him to speak up or even acknowledge the conversation.
'I can't decide whether to be mad at him for defending me or grateful,' Diana thought. 'And why has he been so friendly towards me recently? Is it a trick or he is being genuine?'
"Well, how about some music?" Barbara suggested. She gracefully walked over to the piano, pulled out the book, and started playing. The melody was soothing and calming, which in turn, served to calm the room from the previous tension.
"Diana, is the militia still encamped in Maryton?" Pamela asked.
"No, they are camped at Brighton for the summer," Diana answered politely.
"Oh, that must be a great loss to your family," Pamela responded with fake sincerity.
"We are managing rather well actually," Diana replied.
"Some more than most?" Pamela guessed.
"What do you mean?" Diana asked.
"I was aware that several in the community found Jack Napier…" Pamela said. Barbara froze and stopped playing at the mention of the name, and both Bruce and Clark stiffened. While Pamela did not notice, Diana did. "A rather accomplished and dashing young man. From what I heard many begged him for their hand in marriage."
'I need to change the topic,' Diana thought before turning her attention to Barbara.
"Oh, I'm sorry, how we expect you to play when there's no one to turn the pages?" Diana said as she walked over to Barbara. Diana turned the page of the thick music book which snapped Barbara out her trance causing her to resume playing. Diana briefly looked and saw Bruce looking at her. She smirked and he gave her one in response.
'Definitely a keeper,' Bruce thought.
Diana's visit came to an end as the sun started setting. She left in the same carriage she had come after being escorted outside by the others. Once she left, the others went into one of the living room.
"Miss Diana is an odd one, don't agree?" Pamela stated.
"What makes you say that?" Clark asked with a hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Well, she's very…modernistic," Pamela answered.
"You say that as if that's a bad thing," Bruce noticed.
"Well it may not be such a bad thing in a hundred years, but it is now," Audrey said.
"Exactly. How does she expect to get a husband if she doesn't abide by the current standards?" Pamela added.
"I believe what Miss Princeton was arguing was that a woman should have goals for her own personal growth instead of simply for the sake of getting a husband," Bruce explained.
"While I can agree with that statement, it's no way to get a husband," Audrey stated.
"Maybe Miss Princeton's main priority isn't to get a husband," Clark suggested.
"If that's true then she's a fool," Pamela replied.
"Not all," Bruce retorted. "It says much about her character. After all, how would anyone get anything done if the only goal we ever made for ourselves was to get married? And while love is important, it should not be the only goal in life. Now if you'll excuse me." He said as he stood up. "I have business to attend to." Bruce then walked out of the room and headed unintentionally towards the music room. His gaze settled on the piano where Diana had been helping Barbara earlier that night. He smiled fondly at the memory before he thought…
'I'm in love with her, aren't I?' Bruce thought.
The next day Diana spent with her aunt and uncle and the trio toured the town revisited some old favorites of her aunt. They came back to their house at about midday and Diana noticed letters on the front doorstep. She picked them up before walking inside.
"Who is it, dearie?" Aunt Alexa asked.
"They're letters from Lois to me," Diana said. "This one was misdirected at first. It must be because of poorly written address. I wonder why that is? She's usually very neat." She looked back up at her aunt and uncle. "Aunt Alexa, would it be alright if I stayed and read these letters instead of going with you to the church?"
"Of course," Aunt Alexa responded. "If you need us, have a servant come get us." The pair then left not long afterward. Diana sat down and opened the first letter.
Dear Diana,
How are you? I am doing rather well. Life seems to have slowed down recently though honestly, I am rather thankful. Father and Shayera seems to be enjoying the quiet after all the recent drama and even Cassie is learning to manage. The only one who has not slowed down is Miss Persephone. She is still as obsessed as ever about the neighborhood gossip and sends most of her time with the other ladies discussing it.
Diana, since writing the above something terrible has happened. It is about Harley.
"Harley?" Diana questioned.
We received a letter late last night from Colonel Foster after most of us had gone to bed. The letter informed us that Harley had eloped with one of his officers, Jack Napier.
"Napier?" Diana exclaimed in shock. "I thought…I thought we were done with him."
From what Colonel Foster knows the pair plan to elope to Scotland. To be honest Diana, I fear the worst. From what we know of him, I doubt he'll marry her. I will write once I hear of news.
Sincerely,
Lois
Diana ripped open the next letter leaving the first one discarded on the floor.
Dear Diana,
It's worse than we thought. Not only has a marriage not taken place, but that there was no intention of getting married, to begin with.
"I knew it," Diana said. "How could he? Napier marry Harley? Love Harley?" Diana then thought back to the last time she had seen him.
"I will miss it here," Jack admitted. "Especially some people." Diana followed Jack's eyes and noticed that they landed on Harley.
They have been traced to London. And Father requests Uncle Gardener's help to find him in hopes of persuading Mr. Napier to marry her. Please return home as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Lois
"Indeed I will," Diana stated. "Where is my uncle?" She got up just as a servant opened the door allowing for Bruce Wayne to walk in. He stopped when he noticed the expression on her face.
"Miss Princeton, are you alright?" Bruce asked. "You look offly pale."
"Mr. Wayne, I need to find my uncle," Diana said urgently.
"What's wrong?" Bruce asked. "Please sit down. Have a servant…" He turned to the servant who had let him in. "Sir, could you please fetch Mr. and Mrs. Gardener they walked in the direction of…"
"The church," Diana finished.
"The church," Bruce repeated. The man nodded and headed out. Bruce gently led Diana to a chair and he sat across from her. "Miss, what's wrong? Do you need anything?"
"No," Diana said as she shook her head, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "It's just…I've heard the worst of news. That my sister, Harley….has eloped….with Mr. Napier." Bruce's face was filled with shock and horror. He looked down at the ground as if to contemplate the situation. "You know as well as I do what that means. She has nothing. No money. No possessions. Nothing to tempt him. I fear all hope is lost." Bruce sighed.
"I assume you'll be leaving right away," Bruce responded. Diana nodded.
"My father has requested my uncle's help in order to find him," Diana explained. "They've tracked him to London so far. And…my stepmother will need my help."
"Well…it was nice seeing you again," Bruce said.
"It was," Diana replied with a sad smile. "Thank you."
"For what?" Bruce questioned.
"For allowing me to get to know your family," Diana responded. "And you a bit better."
"The honor was all mine," Bruce stated as he got out his chair. "I'd better go. I hope to see you soon, Miss Princeton."
"And I you," Diana said.