Darla's heart flipped as she gave a horrified gasp at the sound of a voice behind her. A thousand names, a thousand possibilities flashed through her mind as she took a deep breath and began to turn, Christopher, Jonathan, Chester, Lord Pearcy-my, my, no! This is what I get for being so awful to poor Dora! When she saw William's distinct features, she gave a quick sigh of relief. Till she noticed that the glint in his dark eyes held no goodwill or humor, just…anger?

She could feel Alex bristle beside her. "I do not believe it is any of your business what we were doing."

He had seen them kissing! All relief fled from her mind, and she blushed deeply. What must he think of her now? Tears of humiliation and uncertainty pricked ominously at her eyelids. She fiercely fought them, but every harsh word following only served to add another blow. In her distress, she hardly followed the conversation.

"You idiot!" At this she looked up, shocked, at the normally tranquil, easy-going Will, whose tone was now filled with venom. "Can't you see that she isn't used to this type of behavior!"

Alex simply raised a brow and gave a malicious sneer, "Oh, yes, and what type of behavior is that you speak of? Becoming attached to someone who is, say, engaged? Because surely the lovely Katrina is just here to see the countryside."

Indignant, William spat, "At least I am not base enough to kiss and lead on-"

"Stop it!" cried Darla, tears of frustration now flowing freely down her cheeks. She had tried, to no avail, to follow their veiled conversation. They had lapsed into court talk-all hints and insinuations.

"Now look at what you've done, Alex!" William surveyed her anxiously.

"What I've done? At least I don't pretend to have good intentions."

Darla's gaze flew from one man to the other, confused. Her voice broke as she asked, "Good intentions towards Lady Katrina?"

Alex stared. "No, silly, towards-"

"It is of no importance," interrupted Will hastily.

"It is of importance! Oh, I can't understand a word you are saying!" In an instant William's arms were around her tightly. She surrendered herself to piteous sobs into the front of his clean linen shirt. She vaguely heard him command Alex to leave and heard his receding footsteps. William guided her gently to the cool marble bench. "W-what was that?"

"Shhh, nothing, sweetheart."

"But it was something." She looked up, her eyes now flashing. "Why did you have to interrupt, William, why?"

"Darla," his tone was soft but final, "he is just leading you on."

She defended Alex staunchly, pushing aside the doubts lingering in her heart, "Oh, but he isn't…you see he's going to break off his engagement with Dora, and…" she trailed off weakly.

"But, Darla, he doesn't care about you."

"He does, oh, he does! He…he must." She tried in vain to blink away the new wave of tears.

William put his arms around her once again, rocking her back and forth in silence.

Katrina turned, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "Hmmm….this could be useful." She peered back through the screen of roses at Darla, giving a derisive laugh. "That ninny won't last a day in court once it gets out. And then…" her eyes glittered with anticipation, "William will be mine."

She made her way quickly back to the ballroom, approaching Charlotta. "You would not believe what I just saw…."

Putting on her very best look of confidence, Darla reentered the ballroom, her head high. Catching Lady Wilma's eye, she smiled. Said lady sniffed, tossed her curls, and turned with a hushed whisper to her escort.

Puzzled, Darla continued her trek through the room and received much the same reaction from all. Lip pursed tightly, Lady Pamela approached her and, with an iron grip on her arm, dragged her out to the hall. "You selfish, awful girl, what were you thinking?"

"I – I am sure I do not know what you mean," stumbled Darla.

"To injure my reputation, and more importantly the reputation of my daughters in such a way…why, quite frankly, I am shocked. Such humiliation! However will they find husbands with your actions as a weight over their tender shoulders?"

"Milady, I-"

"I will hear no more of your petty excuses, but let it be known that I hereby refuse to look over you in any way, form, or fashion! Insolent, disreputable girl!" With that, Lady Pamela flounced away.

Wondering vaguely if everyone was playing some sort of cruel, cruel joke on her, Darla searched for a friendly face, just one. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Carla and headed purposefully towards her, pretending to ignore the half-scandalized, half-intrigued stares she was receiving. "Carla, whatever has happened?"

Carla's big brown eyes were soft with gentle concern. "Come on, dear, let us discuss this elsewhere." When alone, she said in a firm tone, as if to convince both of them, "You didn't do it."

"Do what?" burst Darla in exasperation. "Oh, what have I done?" Surely no one knows about the kiss, she thought, colouring with humiliation. I should have known better!

"You haven't done a thing…but, well, there is talk…that," she took a deep breath and began her spiel, "that you were seen in the garden with Alex," at this Darla blushed even more deeply, "and were involved in a quite - passionate-embrace. Don't look so worried, it was nothing terribly, irrevocably scandalous, but I shall spare you the details, but it is said that he then pulled away, speaking of Dora, but you told him to forget about Dora. When he said honor forbade it, you persisted and volunteered to become his…his mistress. And he accepted. There, that's it." She added, "Oh, and he asked what would happen if it got out, what the court would say, and you said that you didn't care what a bunch of dressed up fops thought."

A horrified Darla stood in speechless shock, paling visibly. Finally, she whispered, "No one can…no one can possibly believe that."

With a sober nod, Carla said, "Yes, they can…and do." She came to hug Darla tightly. "Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie. Come, let us go back to your room…the ball wasn't overly fascinating at any rate."

William wondered about all the whispering but was glad that Darla appeared not to notice. He tried in vain to search for her and finally asked his younger brother, Christopher, "Do you know where Lady Darla is?"

"Darla…oh, isn't that the you-know one?"

"The what?"

He looked surprised. "You don't know? I heard that a certain Lady Darla has now become Alex's mistress and insulted the court openly. A nasty affair, I daresay, don't you think? I suppose it's what happens to young ladies who enter court with no morals." Confused at William's furious gaze, he hesitated. "You don't know her, do you?"

"Where is she?"

A bit scared at the murderous look on William's face, Christopher said, "Well, I heard that she has retired to her quarters."

"Who told you all this?"

"Lady Sophia, while we were dancing. She heard it from Joseph who heard it from Amelia who-"

"Enough." In a few quick strides, he was facing Alex. "What is all this nonsense?"

Alex's mouth twitched, amused. "About Darla being my new mistress?" He laughed. "I shouldn't mind having her as a mistress at all," at this William's eyes narrowed, "but as to the rumor I've no idea, but it's rather a good joke, don't you think?"

"A good joke? You think it's a good joke?" His voice was dangerously low. "I shall show you a good joke, you-"

"Why, Prince William!" Katrina fluttered to his side. "I had quite lost track of you, darling!"

He gave her a look of pure disgust but at that moment glanced up, only to meet the gaze of Queen Anne. She sent him a meaningful look that clearly said, Remember your manners if you care at all for your country and its people. He sighed, trying to momentarily calm his anger. "Lady Katrina, what a pleasure to see you. Shall we dance?"

A/N…Ladida, please review if you care at all for the mental well being of your dear author. (Or not so dear, perhaps.) Anyhow, twould mean so much to me! (How does one spell twould anyway? Tis a quite obsolete word, I daresay.) Tata and have a lovely week!

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