XXI. Coming home

Diana turned over the plan in her mind knowing that it had to be foolproof. They were going to explore the attic tonight and search into Aunt Daryl's past. Tomorrow when her Aunt took her morning walk around the lake and land around the estate Diana would sneak into her room.

This had to work, it was only a matter of time before her Aunt caught on to Diana faking her dolical nature. She wished that she had the white suit, wearing it would give her the courage she needed. She shoveled that thought away as she knew the suit had been destroyed. It seemed so long ago, since the ball.

As the Cavendish estate came into view, possible obstacles surfaced in Diana's mind. Her cousins would try to get in her way and if they smelled anything funny they would squawk to her Aunt. Also Akko would probably figure out that Diana was home for the weekend and pay a surprise visit. Diana sighed and turned to her teammates who were talking about boys again.

Well, that's why she had brought them along. Diana landed on the front courtyard a few yards away from the massive door to her house. She looked around frantically for any possible signs of Aunt Daryl and saw none.

Hannah and Barbara stopped talking as soon as they landed and walked up beside Diana as they approached the house.

"Wow. I always forget how big your house is." Barbara said looking around with Henry in her arms.

"Yes, I suppose it's a large estate. That means there are many possible places for my Aunt to hide information about her past. The plan for today is to go to my room and set up our things. Then, we will search the attic first." Diana said as they stopped in front of the door.

Diana opened one side of the double doors to the house and her teammates followed with growing excitement. This wasn't just a sleepover, it was a mission sleepover complete with mystery and danger.

Diana looked around the foyer once she was inside. The house seemed empty, how strange. There were no mummers of servants or even the click of shoes in any of the adjoining tiled rooms or hallways. Hannah and Barbara looked around captivated by the splendor of the mansion but Diana was unnerved. She quickly and quietly took her teammates' hands and ushered them up the stairs. On the way to her bedroom, Diana was getting scared. This wasn't normal, they should have bumped into a maid or two or even one of the butlers. Why was everyone gone? This had to be her Aunt's doing.

Once into her room Diana closed the door behind them.

"Oh! Hey there!" Hannah said cheerfully.

Diana jumped out of her skin but relaxed when she noticed Anna by her dresser, dusting.

"Well, mi'lady. I can't remember the last time you had friends over. In fact I can hardly remember the last time you were home." Anna said sadly, walking over to Diana.

"I'm sorry, Anna." Diana said genuinely sorry. She had forgotten Anna through all of this mess.

"So much has come up in such a short time. I'm here with business as my Aunt would say. I wish I could just be here to have fun but that's rarely the case."

"Oh. My lady, you shouldn't trouble yourself. I'm just glad to see you again." Anna said warmly.

"Anna where is everyone else? Benjamin, Claudia, Peter and the rest of the staff, where are they?" Diana asked fearing the answer. Had her Aunt fired them?

Anna sighed. "Well, Mistress Daryl has ordered the staff to start preparing for the event on Sunday. It's a Sunday social with a brunch in the gardens."

Hannah jumped up and down and was about to say something when Barbara stopped her. Diana was shaking.

"What else do you know about the event?" Diana said fearing that she already knew the answer.

"That Mistress Daryl plans on presenting you my lady to several young gentleman with hopes that one would have an interest in…" Gerda stopped as she saw Diana's disgusted look on her face.

"Of course." Diana said ruefully.

Anna saw her distress and tried to comfort her. "I know milady has never been fond of lady-like pastimes but a few young bachelors fighting to court you sounds like an event that many young Misses would have jumped at. Why Mistress Daryl has already picked out a dress for you-"

"I'm not like others, Anna. I'm not interested in boys, I love girls." Diana said.

Anna stopped and stared at Diana. She slowly started to retract her arm and stepped back. Diana's stomach dropped, she had said that in such a reactionary way without even thinking about it. Anna's face looked conflicted as everyone else was silent. The older woman's face relaxed and her eyes went distant with memory.

"Mi'lady I've known you ever since you were a little girl. Oh you were so happy back then, with such a bright smile and glowing eyes. But now you always seem to have such a great burden on you for one so young. Is this why you've been so sorrowful?" Anna asked.

Diana sighed folding her arms across her chest. "Yes, this has been very painful for me."

Anna's expression softened and with a worried look on her face she gathered her cleaning supplies. Diana expected her to say something else, instead she walked to the door and stopped.

"Mi'lady, don't take this the wrong way but everyone has desires that they wrestle with. I do hope you find peace with yourself." With that she exited the room.

Diana's eyes threatening to spill over. Diana tried to shake away the feelings of sadness again. Instead she focused her energies into the task at hand: finding dirt on her Aunt.

Hannah and Barbara decided to unpack their stuff quietly once they saw Diana doing just that. After a few minutes, Diana decided to sit down on her bed and wait since Hannah had disappeared into her bathroom and Barbara had snuck into her closet.

Less than two minutes later Hannah ran out of the bathroom in red pajamas bottoms and a silly t-shirt.

"Ta-da! My new pajamas, aren't they cute?" She said striking a couple of poses as Barbara joined her in a similar outfit but a different shirt and blue bottoms. Their poses were so ridiculous that Diana had to laugh, she giggle as Hannah and Barbara smiled back.

Honestly, Hannah and Barbara were great friends they knew when to remind Diana not to take herself so seriously.

"Yes, we made you laugh!" Barbara said.

"Now, you need to change into prime sleepover attire. How can we possibly have a Super Secret Sleepover Mission without the right clothing?" Hannah asked.

"Yeah, dress for success!" Barbara said with a high five to Hannah.

"Okay, okay. I'll find something else to wear." Diana said still laughing.

Diana dressed into a pair of soft light green pajamas bottoms and a white t-shirt. Before she revealed herself she had Hannah and Barbara talking.

"That whole outfit change was a success. Great idea!" Barbara said.

"Yeah, we just need to keep Diana's spirits up. Besides, Akko, Sucy and Lotte are working on that "project". Hannah said winking overtly at Barbara.

"Oh. Right! Let's hope Akko doesn't show up her with the finished product." Barbara said leaning in and winking back at Hannah.

Diana decided to join then and worry about this so called "project" later.