This is a fan made story. I don't own the rights to SHIELD, any of its characters or any characters within the MCU… Much to my disappointment. This is a Regency Era based AU and I will be pulling characters from all over the MCU. Fair warning. Constructive criticism is welcome but if you don't like it simply because you don't like the line of thinking, please don't attack me for it.
Author's Note: For the purpose of the Plot, this chapter is being focused mostly around Mr. Koenig so there will be more formal speech since he isn't as familiar with the ladies as they are with each other.
Chapter 9: Gentlemen and Villains
The next day's ride with Mr. Koenig and Major Triplett was a pleasant change in exercise. Natasha found herself slightly envious of Daisy for having two extremely educated men with open minds courting her, even if it was unofficial. Mr. Koenig spent part of the ride explaining that he had also written to invite Miss Roger, Lady Margret and Capt. Barnes to join them at the theatre. The invitation had been accepted and the ladies were delighted that Mr. Koenig had put such forethought into ensuring their enjoyment.
Their trip to the theatre was equally enjoyable, Mr. Koenig had also invited another friend of his, Dr. Banner, and Natasha had found herself instantly drawn to the man. The next few weeks passed with more enjoyment than any of the ladies or Daisy could have imagined. Daisy quickly found herself actively encouraging Mr. Koenig's courtship. While she wasn't sure she could love him, she certainly felt that if they did marry, it would be a happy union with mutual respect and understanding. He also had no need of marrying her for her fortune and had little interest in Daisy's familial connections.
During the weeks leading up to both Daisy's Coming Out Ball, and Stephanie's Engagement Ball, Mr. Koenig spent his time visiting frequently the home of Miss Coulson. His visits occasionally coincided with visits from Dr. Banner who had, very hesitantly, begun to show an interest in Miss Romanoff. These visits often included long rides or walks with Miss Morse acting as a proper chaperon for the young ladies.
Major Triplett would sometimes join them but never pushed his company on any of them and would often spend it in company with Mrs. Coulson. Col. Ward however, seemed to always time his visits to the Coulson home oddly and would often find that by the time he had arrived the ladies were either out with their friends or riding with Mr. Koenig and company.
Finally, two days before Daisy's ball, he managed to time his visit just after Mr. Koenig and Dr. Banner had left and thus, the ladies were unoccupied. He immediately tried to secure Daisy's hand for the first and supper sets only to learn the those, as well as all but the fifth set were claimed already. When he inquired as to who had them, Daisy explained, with no small internal glee, the Mr. Koenig had already requested the first and supper sets, Major Triplett had secured the second, Leo the third, Lord Wilson the fourth, the seventh was promised to Dr. Banner and the eight set was promised to Lord Carter.
Col. Ward secured the fifth then and there to ensure that he would actually be able to dance with her and when he left, grumbled to Gen. Garret about Mr. Koenig getting in his way constantly. The General just laughed and assured him that there were ways to deal with upstarts from lower classes trying to climb the social ladder, but it would take time to arrange.
Ward accepted this, not thinking much beyond the idea of getting Mr. Koenig out of the way. He assumed Gen. Garret's many contacts would dig up some scandal that would send the man scurrying away, full of shame for the presumption of pursuing a lady far above him. On the evening of the actual ball, Ward happily dressed, a plan in hand to hopefully encourage Miss Coulson away from the upstart, Mr. Koenig.
Likewise, in an only slightly less fashionable part of London, Mr. Koenig did the same with eager anticipation. He had felt fully encouraged so far in his hopes towards Miss Coulson. She was all he could imagine a proper young lady capable of being. Her accomplishments expanded beyond what was expected of a gently bred woman and her education was on the same level as his own despite not having the advantage of going to Cambridge or Oxford herself.
He firmly decided that, should the evening go as well as he hoped it would, he would request a formal courtship within a week. This would give him time to properly get to know Miss Coulson without a worry or pressure from an outside force making a proposal before he felt they knew each other well enough to proceed to an engagement. He wouldn't have even thought that a formal courtship would be necessary had not Miss Romanoff hinted that there were other interested parties to Dr. Banner. Dr. Banner, being a smart man knew that Miss Romanoff had only told him to ensure that Mr. Koenig knew and thus had passed the information along.
These thoughts stopped when his carriage pulled up to Hand House, where the ball was being held. He carefully straightened his cloak and formal wear as soon as he was out and joined in the greeting line. He had arrived early enough the he wouldn't have a long wait but not so early that he was ridiculous. Fortunately, the line moved quickly, and he smiled a genuine and bright smile at the family he hoped he would join one day.
Once he was inside and had shed his cloak, Mr. Koenig located Captain Barnes with Miss Rogers and Lady Margret. He swiftly made his way over to the group, knowing that Miss Coulson would be joining them as soon as her duties greeting her guests were completed. Lady Margret smiled at him when she spotted him on his way over and the three made space in their little group for him to join.
"Mr. Koenig, might I introduce you to my betrothed, Mr. Barnes, lately of the Royal Navy. He just finished selling his commission and has retired formally," Miss Rogers introduced them as he joined them. Mr. Koenig had yet to be formally introduced although he had heard much about him from Miss Coulson.
"A pleasure. Miss Rogers and Miss Coulson have spoken of you while on some of the outings we have gone on together. It is gratifying to put a name to the face," Mr. Koenig was polite, knowing full well that Mr. Barnes was viewed with a higher status due to his having held a Captaincy in the Navy.
"Likewise. I have heard from many about you. Lord Carter says you are a mastermind when it comes to making investments. I may seek your guidance in the future. I have made a great deal from my endeavors in the Navy but feel the lack of returns I am gaining from my current investments. I would hate to think that my lack of foresight now would harm my family in the future," The look Mr. Barnes gave Miss Rogers as he said the last told Mr. Koenig that theirs was a love match, just as Miss Coulson had assured him.
"I would be happy to help. You would be surprised about the new and innovative things that are being made these days. There are ample opportunities available for someone just willing to look at them closely," Mr. Koenig blushed then. "But we really should discuss this elsewhere. A ball is for fun and entertainment, not business and investments are most certainly business."
"Absolutely right. Mr. Barnes, how dare you encourage improper behavior at my ball?" Daisy teased as she and Natasha joined the group. Mr. Koenig, whose back had been to the entryway for the ball room, jumped a little in a startle but his smile brightened all the more with the presence of his object of admiration.
"My Apologies. Men of the Navy so rarely discuss anything else that I had forgotten what true manners are. I hope you will forgive such a gross transgression. Oh! I do believe the dancing is about to begin," Mr. Barnes teased back before sweeping away with Miss Rogers towards the dance floor.
Dr. Banner appeared in seconds to nervously remind Miss Romanoff she had promised him the first set. She willingly left with him as Miss Coulson and Mr. Koenig went to the head of the set since it was only proper that the lady the ball was being held for started off the dancing. Mr. Koenig silently thanked his late mother for her insistence that he and his brother learn the more formal dances the upper classes used.
He was pleased that his usual lightness of foot had been maintained and he did nothing to embarrass Miss Coulson or himself during the set. He also felt the conversation was also delightful. By the end of the first set, Mr. Koenig was fairly certain there could be no other lady for him. He had become firmly smitten with Miss Coulson over the weeks but now he felt he was certain he was in love. He was reluctant to part with her when the set ended but did so for proprieties sake.
He went through the three other sets between the first and supper sets in a state of haze. He danced once with each of Miss Coulson's friends and they all seemed to smile indulgently when he spoke of little besides Miss Coulson. Mr. Koenig knew that he was clearly revealing himself and that wasn't quite proper but he knew that these ladies weren't the type to gossip about their friend and so it was fairly safe that the only one to hear about his behavior would be Miss Coulson.
When the fifth set ended, Mr. Koenig led Miss Romanoff, his partner for the set, towards where both Dr. Banner and Miss Coulson were located. He wasn't a man lacking in manners and so would see his current partner to her next before claiming Miss Coulson once more for both the Supper Set and supper itself. He noticed with slight hesitation that Miss Coulson wasn't happy when he reached her and Col. Ward, who had been her partner for the set.
Col. Ward frowned at Mr. Koenig but as Mr. Koenig had brought Miss Coulson a refreshment, realized that he couldn't do anything about the man's presence. The Colonel did make a few more attempts to regain Miss Coulson's attentions but after several short answers, left not only her presence but the Ball as well since there would be no further opportunity to gain another dance with the young lady.
Miss Coulson, though it was quite rude, actually sighed in relief when the Colonel left, and her smile brightened as she spoke to Mr. Koenig. He felt a rush of relief that her displeasure had nothing to do with him and everything to do with the man who had departed. When Miss Coulson finished her drink, Mr. Koenig led her back to the dance floor just as the supper set began. He was once more completely under her spell. He laughter made him vow to find a way to keep her always happy, her intellect made him want to buy her every book she could ever wish to read.
When the supper had finished, Mr. Koenig was certain he had to request for a formal courtship the very next day. He was certain that if he didn't, this precious gem he had be so fortunate to have gained the brief attentions of would no doubt be stolen by someone far more worthy than himself. He wasn't so rude as to leave before the ball ended but once it had, Mr. Koenig had never felt more exhausted or alive.
He wearily climbed into his carriage after bidding farewell to those he was acquainted with at the ball. He had ensured to dance every set as a proper gentleman would and was therefore weary of foot and body. His carriage driver and footmen climbed on and he looked back once more at the grand house before his carriage pulled away to make room for others. He leaned back I his seat, knowing the trip would be slightly longer due to the distance between the homes and let himself fall into a light doze.
Mr. Eric Koenig's doze was brought to an abrupt end a quarter of an hour later by the sound of a pistol firing once and then again. Each shot was followed abruptly by a thud on his carriage and his carriage came to a swift halt. The door was then opened, and he was yanked out by arms of men with faces covered with kerchiefs. His attempts to resist were all for naught as he was far outnumbered by the aforementioned men.
The beating was swift and brutal. It wasn't long before his vision began to blur due to pain and then a loud crack before everything went dark and was no more.
The morning after her ball Daisy felt immensely pleased with herself. Over the course of the evening she had, she hoped, shown herself at the best she could and knew that Mr. Koenig had in particular had made note of it. Natasha had teased her about it during their early morning exercises and Daisy agreed that the man was, while not the most handsome, certainly the most pleasant dance partner she had engaged the night before.
The only other who could compare, Daisy had decided was Major Triplett. He, however, had seemed to only be interested in maintaining a friendship, which Daisy was happy enough to oblige him with. Daisy and Natasha expected Peggy and Stephanie to join them just after breakfast for various reasons. Stephanie's wedding would be held in another three weeks, just enough time for the reading of the Banns, since Mr. Barnes had expressed a desire to marry sooner rather than later and everyone understood his eagerness at this point.
The man had never been one to delay in something when he made his mind up. Thus, Daisy and Natasha had agreed to assist Stephanie in preparations for her wedding. Since Daisy had such a surplus of silk fabrics from China, she offered to gift some of them to her friend as an early wedding present to be added to her wedding clothes.
As such, the morning was spent going through the trunks of fabrics that Daisy had brought with her from China to find some that Stephanie liked. A few simpler ones were selected to make ball gowns with. A pale blue silk was finally settled on for the wedding gown itself. They then all headed to Madam Moreau's with the silks packed away in a trunk for transport. While normally, such tasks for preparing for a wedding fell to the lady's mother, Stephanie's parents had died a few years prior. Thus, her friends were stepping up to assist in the preparations while her uncle paid for the expenses.
When, after a long morning of shopping, the ladies returned to the Coulson residence, it was to find an unfamiliar carriage outside of the house. They were equal parts curious and concerned as the entered the house. Upon entering the drawing room, in search of Jemma, Daisy's face brightened at seeing Mr. Koenig.
"Mr. Koenig, forgive me for not being here earlier. Miss Romanoff and I…" Daisy trailed off at the grim expressions of both the man she believed to be Mr. Koenig and Leo who she just noticed was also in the room. "Whatever is going on?"
"Daisy… Daisy I would like to introduce you to Mr. Koenig's younger brother Mr. William Koenig. He… Well… I'm not sure how to say this…" Leo gulped uncomfortably.
"That is because there is no delicate or easy way to say this," Mr. William Koenig stated, not unkindly. "Miss Coulson, my brother had expressed on multiple occasions since meeting you how much he admired you. I believe that, knowing my brother as I did, he likely showed his affections openly. As such I didn't want to leave you in doubt about what happened. Last night, my brother's carriage never returned home. When men were sent out early this morning in search of him… he, his driver and footman were found dead. Given that his valuables and carriage as well as horses were all gone. We can only presume it was a robbery gone very wrong."
Daisy felt the blood drain out of her face as she listened to the man before her. When he finished, Daisy abruptly turned and left the room, followed by her friends as she fled to her room. Leo apologized to Mr. William Koenig, explaining that Daisy had been equally fond of his brother and it was likely a shock to be informed of such events.
An hour later, Miss Rogers came down to request permission for her and Peggy to stay the night. It was a request that was easily granted, and a note was sent off to the Carter residence to inform Lord Carter of the situation. Leo wrote a second to his cousin and aunt informing them of the information and apologizing for not being able to attend the theatre with them that night.
Daisy and her friends emerged somberly from her rooms when Dinner time came, and Leo informed them of the change. Daisy nodded numbly but knew that as she had held no formal connection to Mr. Koenig it would hardly be seen as seemly to go into mourning for him, regardless of her feelings. She could only hope that people were understanding when she showed reluctance for revelry at Stephanie's engagement ball the next week.
Author's Note: Please don't hate me. Eric did die in the show because of Ward so it was only fitting that the same applied for my story.