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.
Chapter 13: Of Folly and Retreat
When Daisy and Natasha exited the carriage, Natasha persuaded Daisy to share the truth with Peggy and Stephanie which Daisy assented to with only a little reluctance. She promised to do so the next day and moved on to getting the excitement of another ball underway after they passed the greeting line and fixed themselves in the room set aside for ladies to do just that.
As soon as the two entered the ballroom, both of their dance cards filled up in the last few available sets and much to Daisy's relief as Col. Ward descended upon them just as the last of the requested sets were promised. Daisy was forced to fake sorrow at not having any sets left and the man left in frustration. Soon after, they found their friends and then Maj. Triplett claimed her for the first dance while Dr. Banner did the same for Natasha. Their other friends danced with their husbands.
After several sets, Daisy excused herself from her after supper partner to escape for a little fresh air. She opted for one of the unlit ones so that she could have a moment of peace before going back to the ball. However, much to her annoyance. Just a minute after she walked out onto the balcony, so too did Col. Ward. A quick glance towards the other balconies revealed that no one else was getting air at the moment.
"Excuse me, I will let you have your air and privacy," Daisy attempted a most proper exit from a delicate situation.
"No need. I couldn't mind such lovely company," Col. Ward stated grabbing her wrist just firmly enough to keep her from breaking free.
"I must insist at you releasing me immediately, sir. This is highly inappropriate," Daisy's voice froze in an instant.
"Hmm… is it?" Ward yanked her close to him and held her tightly as she struggled to get free. "I rather think this is quite nice."
"Unhand me immediately!" Daisy whispered fiercely as she attempted to break free. Unfortunately, the angle he had her at meant that her weaponized hair sticks were out of reach, over his shoulder. So, instead she stepped firmly with the heel of her foot onto his foot only to learn that his boot was more than enough protection from such an attack.
"Feisty, aren't we? I think I will enjoy that when we marry," Ward chuckled as he placed a forced kiss on her neck. Daisy attempted to kick backward into his shin but the skirts of her dress where making any attempt all but useless.
"I recommend you release her this instant," A cold female voice sounded behind them in the direction of the ballroom. Daisy felt a flood of relief at the sound of Peggy's voice.
"Yes, it would be quite unfortunate if we had to explain to Lord Talbot why there was an absolute bloody mess on his balcony in the middle of a ball. It would create quite a scandal, a young lady almost forcibly ravished by a complete cad only for her to be saved at the last minute by her dear friend Marchioness Wilson's husband, a former Army Colonel," Natasha added, just as Ward felt a sharp blade at the back of his neck. "Release her this instant."
Ward did so immediately, knowing full well that these women weren't really the kind you angered. When Daisy was free, she was quickly yanked behind Peggy who held her bladed fan while Natasha allowed Ward to turn around slowly, his hands fully visible.
He smiled his most pleasant smile, "Come now, ladies. We were just having a bit of fun. No need for fuss."
"Oh, I highly doubt that. However, I would rather avoid Daisy's name being dragged through the mud if it is avoidable. This is what happened, you came out here, encountered Miss Coulson, myself, and Miss Romanoff cooling in the air a little and excused yourself. In the future, you will not approach or anyway attempt to engage Miss Coulson or her family in any sort of discourse. If you do, I will announce to the world that I caught you attempting to harm a young lady whom I will not name to protect the poor dear's reputation. Are we clear," Peggy was the coldest Daisy had ever seen her friend.
"You think society would simply believe you? I could just as easily say you were attempting to ruin me for spurning your friend's unrealistic expectations," Ward had turned vile as he eyed the three women. Daisy glared death at him.
"I expect society to believe the future Duchess of Fury and one who has an irreproachable reputation, over a second son who is without his own family's protection. Your sister-in-law is friends, I believe, with my brother Michael's wife. I expect she would be happy to share how disreputable you are, if asked to," Peggy hit his weak point and Ward felt it hard. He all but resisted the urge to snarl as he pushed past the women and through the ballroom.
"Thank you," Daisy sighed in relief after he left.
"Stephanie noticed you enter the balcony and Col. Ward follow you. Bucky wouldn't allow her to come with us to your rescue, I'm not sure why, so we were sent to deal with it. Are you alright? Do you need for a carriage to be called? We can always say you took ill quite suddenly," Peggy was now showing concern for Daisy.
"I'll be fine. There are only a few sets left. Perhaps you will assist me in making myself presentable again though," Daisy felt at her hair and noted that some of it had fallen astray.
Natasha was behind her in an instant and fixing it back to the state it had been at supper. While she did this, Peggy examined Daisy's skirts to ensure that none of her struggles had damaged the dress. Miraculously, the dress didn't seem to have sustained any and with a bit of adjustment, no sign of a struggle was visible on Daisy's person at all. Daisy felt repulsion for the man emanate from where he had kissed her neck, but nothing could be done to clean the spot until they returned home.
Natasha and Peggy escorted Daisy over to Dr. Banner, who was to dance the next set with her, and be claimed by their own partners for the set as well. The last set was danced with Leo; Jemma having informed her brother that she wasn't quite up to dancing that evening.
After the last dance, Leo was more than willing to be persuaded to leave, as he was a bit worried about Jemma's reluctance to dance. Jemma revealed on the carriage ride home that she was feeling a little queasy because she was in a family way. Daisy hugged her and congratulated her on the happy news and dismissed her earlier discomfort from the incident on the balcony.
The next morning, after breakfast, Natasha and Daisy went to the Barnes home where the group of friends had agreed to meet, and Daisy told her other friends about the real reason for her departure from China. Peggy and Stephanie expressed concern about the events of the night before. They planned for ways to avoid Col. Ward and then decided on telling Leo and Jemma of the incident so that they could deny the man access to their home if he should ignore Peggy's warning.
Natasha and Daisy did just that when they returned home, and Daisy was surprised by the level of anger her brother displayed over the matter. They had to force him to not call out the Colonel as that had a good probability of making people question why such a thing would be done. It wasn't until the visit of Col. MacKenzie that he finally did calm down and return to his research on more advanced weaponry. It was finally decided that should Col. Ward attempt to maintain a connection with the Coulson family, they would publicly cut the man. It would be embarrassing but necessary. He could hardly go about ruining Daisy's reputation without destroying his own name as well.
Fortunately for all in their circle, the rest of the season passed without another such incident. Col. Ward seemed to fall off the face of the earth for all the social events he attended. In realty, Gen. Garret had taken the man to task for attempting such a foolish compromise. He pointed out that between the family's social standing, wealth, her connections and a decided lack of sisters, little could be done to force a marriage between them. He then again pointed out that the family would now likely cut all connections to him for his actions.
Leo did write a letter to Col. Ward. It informed him that he wasn't in any way welcome in his family's social circle and if he was seen to be attempting anything with Daisy in the future, he would stop at nothing to destroy him. Neither Jemma nor Daisy were aware of this correspondence, but Natasha had gotten to know Mr. Coulson well enough now to know he had sent such a letter.
As the Season in town drew to a close, there was a variety of debate over what their summer retreat would be like. Stephanie and her husband were going to begin their search for a suitable estate to purchase, Peggy and her husband were going to take a small, late second wedding trip to Weymouth but had no plans afterward. After a conversation between Natasha and Dr. Banner, Daisy declared that she wished to host a summer house party in her own estate of St. Agnes. More discussion brought about the arrangement that, as St. Agnes was closer to the seaport of Weymouth, it would be a better location to await the arrival of their parents, Sir and Lady Coulson. Col. MacKenzie was happy to receive an invitation as was the Triplett family.
In the end, it was decided that most of their circle of friends would all go to St. Agnes, the exceptions being the Wilsons who would join them after their trip and the Barnes's who would have only a brief stay there while they looked at estates available in the area. One of the last events before they departed from London was the wedding of Miss Barbra Morse and Mr. Lance Hunter. The new Mrs. Hunter was invited to also visit St. Agnes but opted for the more appealing prospect of establishing herself at her new husband's estate.
Not much could be said of Col. Ward after his attempt to compromise Miss Coulson. Gen Garret had stated that he would only continue to aid the younger man if he obeyed his exact orders on the matter. The Garrets and Col. Ward retreated to an estate that was leased for the summer. Mrs. Garret had had a successful birth of a son without dying so the General was in a quite pleased, having finally the so desired heir.
This meant that he was also prone to giddy behavior that made Ward slightly concerned but he ignored those concerns in favor of what could reasonably be viewed as an obsession with Miss Coulson. The more she pushed him away, the more he desired her. Mrs. Raina Garret warned him against the dangers of such tendencies, but he might have become a little manic himself in his desires for Miss Coulson.