"I MUST SAY, LORD ALGERNON, you are quite brave," Alicia mused as she looked into the distance, the shifting gradient of the Brockenhurst grounds as the sun cast it's shine over all that was below.

Lord Algernon stiffened slightly as the compliment caught him by surprise. The gentleman had always made his mind, ever since he was little; to prepare himself for anything that was to come his way so that he may never be caught by surprise, but the recent blow to his business and this lady next to him had become the only exceptions to his childhood habit. Loosening his hands that were firmly behind his back, he slightly motioned to his friend and business partner to fall behind, and Lord Edward Buxton; with a slight knowing nod, fell behind.

"And of course, Lord Buxton too," Lady Alicia Kirkpatrick let out a nervous laugh as she rushed the last sentence, trying to shrug off the heat that was building up to her cheeks. She scolded herself internally for being so careless.

"I suppose so," Isaac Algernon cast a glance at her, "We never really realized how much until what happened, happened." Looking over his shoulder to catch his long time friend, confidante and business partner walking a safe distance behind, Isaac let out a sigh. It was true, he could have never known just how much they could get through, and the recent events had pushed them to their core, yet they still stood tall and determined.

"I can't imagine ever being in your shoes, what I'd do or how I'd fare," Alicia spoke again, trying to envision herself going through the ordeal but ending it midway as she felt goose bumps engulf her body.

"You would've handled it far better than we had," The gentleman observed with a smile, "Women are stronger than men are, they wear their fears deep inside in their hearts whereas us men have it on our sleeves, living with two spirited sisters and an equally spirited mother has taught me that."

Alicia looked at him, his eyes twinkled with a knowing stance as he uttered those words and for once in her life, she did not know how to respond. All her life she had believed that women were always much capable than men deemed them to be, and this gentleman next to her acknowledged that wholeheartedly. It was at that moment that she knew, he truly was not like any man she had ever encountered in Southampton.

When she didn't respond, Isaac Algernon let out a confident breath, "You must miss Southampton terribly," in an attempt to change the topic of conversation.

"I do," the lady responded, "Terribly."

"The decision to come here must've been a hard one," Isaac continued, looking to his feet and then at the sky, "To leave behind all that you love and know."

"I have not left behind all that I love," Alicia tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear with her free hand, "Uncle Arthur and his family are here, so in a way, I've come to more of what I love."

"Fair enough," Lord Algernon let out a small smile before his expression changed to a more sympathetic one, "It's admirable, your love for your family. And it hurts me to think the trouble that we've caused for your Uncle, once we have everything in order, we'll make amends."

"After Frank Templemore's investment that is," Alicia muttered more to herself than to her company.

"Yes," Her company let out and she immediately composed herself.
"He will invest, Mr Templemore needs this as much as you do," Alicia spoke up with her signature assured tone.

Lord Algernon sighed and nodded a little hopefully, saying nothing more as the pair walked in silence for a mile, before returning to the estate.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

"Frank was rather vague about it," Diana recalled to Alicia as both the cousins walked alongside, in the grounds of Brockenhurst just as the sky gleamed with shades of orange darkening deeper down the horizon, as the sun prepared to sleep.

Having wanting to discuss the matter, the ladies had opted for a sunset stroll, as the party all engaged themselves in different activities in the estate before dinner would be called for.

Alicia sighed slightly as she shrugged at the same time. She looked at the path before them, the tips of the freshly leveled grass burning slightly in orange as she walked on it, "I think, we should not push it, Mr Templemore will do the right thing."

"I hope so," Diana let out a breath, "Especially knowing of the fire, I'd be horrified if he doesn't."

As the ladies walked, Diana debated on telling her cousin something that she was sure Alicia might not approve of completely. Having spent their whole lives together, they had both wanted the best for each other and had dreamed to living through the best and worst together. Lady Alicia Kirkpatrick was the only person in the world who knew the Lady Diana Beaumont more than the lady knew herself. "You both are two sides of the same coin," Their aunts had always mused, at dinner parties, birthdays, and at every occasion the ladies had been found glued together throughout the days.

"Alicia, I wanted to tell you something," Diana faltered, her hands intertwined at the front of her dress.

"There's something I want to speak of to you too," Alicia hesitated as she cast her cousin a wayward glance, unsure of whether the conversation she was to put forth would upset her cousin, "But, you go first."

Diana nodded as she let out a shaky breath, with a quick glance to make sure they were far from being heard; she let out, "I find myself feeling too strongly for Lord Buxton, in a way that I haven't ever felt about any man before." Instantly Diana closed her eyes tightly, refusing to look at her cousin's undoubtedly horrified expression. As the words hung in the air between, she realized that they were the truth. The words were as real as the feelings she had crowded up in her heart. They were as real as the stars accompanying the moon in the night sky, and as real as the sun dying out every night to let the moon breathe.

"I feel the same about Lord Algernon," Alicia lilted, and Diana's eyes fluttered open to look at her. She looked satisfied yet defeated; as though she had admitted to doing something that she had not particularly enjoyed doing. Her expression reminded Diana of the time when they were ten and Alicia had laid in the undone part of the garden on her family's estate grounds, dirtying her dress and hair in mud and she had admitted the crime to her mother. The expression on her face back then was the same as the one she sported now, and Diana would know, she was there, and now she was here.

"Can it ever be?" Diana asked, hope yet disdain lacing her voice and Alicia blinked unknowingly in response as she looked at the peeking stars in the sky. They were still waiting to fully shine right as the sun disappeared.

"They're uncle's employers," The lady added, her voice a low whisper, "What would uncle think? He is not even aware of how far our acquaintance with the men had went in Southampton." 

"Do you remember? When we were fifteen and Uncle Arthur was getting married," Alicia started after a pause, a smile forming on her face as she reminisced, "We both were helping Aunt Frederica with her veil outside the church and she had told us that the best joy in life was to marry for love, despite the differences."

Diana let out a laugh as she remembered, "And we had told her that we weren't as bold as Uncle is and that we shall marry for love as long as the groom is from Southampton."

Alicia giggled as the scene unfolded in her head. It all felt like it was yesterday. Aunt Frederica had laughed in response and playfully tickled them. "It wasn't supposed to be this way," Diana's certain voice came and Alicia turned to look at her, "We were so sure."

"There were supposed to be no differences at all," she continued, "Especially not ones so unbroachable as these."   

"We have always been sure," Alicia touched the pendant around her neck.

"Their lives are so fast paced, so quick and so unlike the lives we live," Diana's gaze dropped to her feet. Knowing your sensibilities, the accusation flared inside her mind. Lord Buxton had pointed out her upbringing when they had argued that day in his office, he had referred to her way of life in contempt. As though she was full of herself, and she lived that way too. Surely for attachments to form, there must be a common ground? What common grounds did they share with these men?

"He commented about my sensibilities," Diana brought up her thoughts. turning to Alicia, she lamented, "Oh Alicia, we're far from well suited. He is no Aunt Frederica, and I am no Uncle Arthur." 

"Lord Algernon hasn't ever spoken a word that would offend me. He is honest and kind, But," Alicia pointed out, sighing as she did so, "He hasn't really said anything, to give me hope at all. I believe, I think— maybe he doesn't feel the same and I've mistaken kindness for something more." 

Diana stayed silent. She did not know Lord Algernon's feelings, so she did not want to give hope to her cousin. But if what Alicia felt was really true, than he was a man as blind as could be. 

"What even is love supposed to feel like?" Diana halted in her steps in slight frustration and Alicia stopped as well, "On what grounds is it supposed to be acceptable?" 

"After feeling nothing for Frank when he poured his heart out to me two years ago, none of Oscar's flirtations even slightly affecting me—," She broke off, frustrated, "How am I supposed to place these unknown feelings for Lord Buxton and call them love?"

"I have always thought that we'd know somehow when the time comes, but I think Cousin Rebecca is more of an expert on it than we are," Alicia spoke, ending her statement with a chuckle.

"My, wouldn't she like to hear that," Diana mused, shaking her head.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Entering the estate, fresh from their stroll, both the ladies made their way straight to their rooms to dress up for dinner. Their assigned ladies maids helped them with their hair and their gowns, and swiftly they were once again cascading downstairs to join the party in the dining room.

"You look stunning, my dear," The Countess gushed as Diana kissed her cheeks in greeting, "So do you, Alicia." Alicia smiled and curtsied in response.

"Come join us at the sofas, Mrs Fleming and I were just discussing the topic of matrimony and she seems to have very bold and enticing opinions of it," The lady of the house beamed as she led Diana and Alicia to the sofa where Aunt Frederica was seated with Michael and Theodore by her side, "I want to have both of your opinions on the matter as well, it would be very refreshing to have young mind sets on the subject."

Looking around the dining room, Diana noticed that none of the gentlemen were there, she exchanged a curious glance with Alicia, who was definitely thinking the same thought.

"I hope you girls aren't too hungry," Aunt Frederica smiled as her nieces approached and kissed her cheeks in greeting, "The Countess tells me dinner is to be delayed today."

"Really? Whatever for?" Diana probed, shocked as she seated herself next to Aunt Frederica and the boys, Alicia joining her. Dinner being delayed was a rare occasion for polite society to ever experience, she had only ever experienced it in Southampton once, and that was when her cousin Adam Seymour had found himself stranded while off on an errand with a broken carriage in the rain and the rest of the family refused to eat until he was found safe and brought home. He was found of course, tired and drenched from head to toe, but according to Adam, his day had been a rather exciting adventure.

"Frank," The lady of the house sighed, as she took her place in her velvet cushioned chair opposite the sofa, "Oh, he vexes me so. It appears Frank had commissioned another gentleman, another business acquaintance, as he told me, and has invited him to join us for the weekend. His guest has just arrived and Frank went out with Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon to accompany him inside."

A wave of fresh intrigue washed over Lady Diana Beaumont as she exchanged glances with her cousin, who looked back with just as much curiosity. 

"Is it someone from Lord Algernon and Lord Buxton's company, Lady Templemore?" Alicia asked, curiosity lacing her tone.

The Countess sighed, "No my dear, Frank says the man is from another business he wants to consider investment in."

Diana felt something drop inside her, perhaps her hope. Casting a glance at Alicia, she could tell Alicia felt the same. In her heart, Diana new that she had to secure this investment for Lord Buxton, it was her only way to make amends for how she had behaved with him and judged him. She was not the one to shy away from making amends, it was the way of society in Southampton; if you've done someone wrong in anyway, you try and make amends in anyway. That was the rule, how could she not go through with it knowing that it was the very belief embedded in her soul?

Forcing back dragging thoughts, Diana turned to Theodore and smiled at him as he played with a tiny wooden horse in his hands, while The Countess and Mrs Fleming continued their ongoing conversation.

The calm environment of the dining room soon disturbed, when Frank Templemore entered alongside an entirely unfamiliar face.

"Ah, Diana, Mother, Lady Kirkpatrick and Mrs Fleming," Frank Templemore acknowledged with a big smile as he approached the seated party, "Allow me to introduce Mr William Percy. The well known owner of Percy Clinks & Co, here in Portsmouth."

The new gentlemen was a rather enticing addition to the party, he had blonde hair and deep set grey eyes and his manner was confident, nearly as confident as Lord Buxton's, Diana noticed. According to her guess, Mr William Percy seemed to be a man of precisely thirty and wore a deep smile, which seemed to be charming and convincing at the same time.

"Well, Brockenhurst is becoming quite crowded with business men this weekend," The Countess scorned, giving as little as a nod to welcome the guest, "Pray, Mr Percy, I hope you are armed with the ability to keep a lady's attention if you are to eat at my table and converse with my female company, for we consider far different conversations to be indulging than business affairs."

"I am, Lady Templemore," Mr Percy smirked, his deep voice levelled yet challenging, "As this weekend will further confirm."

"Great," Frank Templemore let out a laugh, before continuing the introduction, "This is my mother as you already know and this is Lady Diana Beaumont, my cousin."

At that moment, Diana saw the figures of Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon enter the dining room for the corner of her watchful eye which was at present on the new guest.

"A pleasure, my lady," The gentleman let out as he leaned forward to take Diana's cream gloved hand and brought it to his lips before releasing it slowly.

"What kind of business do you do Mr Percy?" Diana inquired curiously. William Percy looked like a man who'd do as he pleased, like Lord Buxton, but unlike Lord Buxton, Mr Percy looked as though he wouldn't care of other's feelings while doing it. She scattered that judgement away, for she had suffered enough repercussions to assume so of anyone.  

"Percy Clinks & Co, is a wine business," The man responded, putting on a proud smile, "We make the finest wines in Portsmouth."

"A wine business," Diana mused as she observed him, "how utterly shocking." He certainly looked just like a wine businessman, but then again, Diana wasn't quite sure how wine businessmen were even supposed to look like.

Mr William Percy blinked, a look of confusion wafting over his face as he tried to deduce what the lady meant, a task almost impossible as known to all those close to her. Lady Diana Beaumont could appear entirely vague to everyone but herself when she wanted to.

Frank Templemore laughed, before motioning towards Alicia and Mrs Fleming, "And this is Lady Alicia Kirkpatrick, Diana's cousin, and their aunt, Mrs Fleming." As Mr Percy bowed slightly in greeting, Frank Templemore moved onward to introduce the Fleming boys to the guest. The boys bobbed their heads as they were introduced.

"It appears as though we have competition," Alicia whispered into Diana's ears as everyone made their way towards the dining table after the butler announced dinner.

"I suppose it is healthy to have some, but that doesn't mean we're any less likely to succeed," Diana whispered back, new found determination making a grin play on her lips.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

"Did you tell him?" Lord Edward Buxton all but growled in frustration, his eyes bearing angrily into his friend's.

"I did no such thing," Lord Isaac Algernon responded, making sure to compose himself and being out of ear's reach as Frank Templemore walked inside the Brockenhurst estate with his guest by his side.

"Then how in hell does he know, for him to invite that bastard?" Edward fumed as he ran his hands through his dark hair, not caring that he'd appear less presentable for dinner.

"Devil, how am I supposed to know that Templemore's guest would be William Percy? Look Edward, I am just as shocked as you are," Isaac reasoned, trying to calm his friend down. But how in the world is one to calm someone else when anger itself is eating away at them too?

"Shocked?" Edward laughed in anger, "You are mistaken, my friend, for I see blood."

Isaac glanced back over his shoulder. "You need to calm yourself, Edward." 

"This is some sort of cruel jest," Lord Buxton accursed, breaking his gaze from his friend and staring angrily into the night sky above, "I am tempted to break both of their necks."

"You will behave yourself tonight and all throughout this stay," Lord Algernon warned as he grabbed his friend's arm tightly and forced Edward to face him, "We are going to go inside and have dinner. Then we are going to discuss this situation later. Percy won't be foolish enough to reveal his animosity, for he's here because he needs the investment too." Edward scoffed as he ripped his arm away from Isaac's grip, "I am not eating at the same table as that dastardly scoundrel."

"Edward please, I beg of you to calm yourself," Lord Isaac Algernon persisted anxiously.

"Fine," Lord Edward Buxton responded after a long pause as he turned to face his friend with devious determination on his face, "Now that he's here, I will make him burn with the same fire he started."