When Darrel returned to the Palace, she entered the entrance to find Sebastian and David talking to three officers from Scotland Yard.
    "Ah!" David cried, "There you are."
    "I'm sorry," Darrel nodded.
    Sebastian sighed and turned to the officers, "Well, it seems that your services won't be needed."
    "Sorry to have wasted your time officers."
    "No worries your highness," one of them bowed, "just be on the safe side. Wandering off is dangerous for someone of your age and position."
    "Thank you, I shall keep that in mind."
    The officers bowed and left. Sebastian and David turned to glare at Darrel.
    "Do you have any idea how worried we've been?" David demanded.
    "I have been calling everyone for the past few hours!" Sebastian exclaimed.
    "Do you not understand your duties? You can't just walk off like that!"
    "At least leave a note!"
    "I'm sorry," Darrel said softly, a tear rolling down her cheek.
    "Sorry won't cut it!" David roared.
    "Please, stop yelling David. I am so sorry."   
    At this point, Darrel was weeping. David gave his future brother-in-law an awkward look and left to go inform his parents of what had happened. Sebastian approached Darrel and took her hands into his.
    "Darrel," Sebastian whispered, "I'm sorry for yelling. I was just so worried."
    Darrel nodded, "I know...I'm sorry for leaving. But please, can we talk?"
    "Yes, of course."

    Darrel and Sebastian entered her bedroom and sat down on the bed. Darrel took a few deep breaths, to cease the crying.
    "Where did you go?" Sebastian inquired.
    "I'll tell you everything," Darrel informed, "but I don't want you to interrupt."
    "Fine."
    Darrel took another deep breath and told Sebastian that had happened at Grantham House between her and Charles Blake. Once she had finished, Sebastian wrapped her into his arms.
    "He's right," Sebastian sighed, "you don't have to be perfect."
    "I'm far from it," Darrel joked.
    "But you don't have to try to attain perfection. I want you to be yourself, because that is perfect for me."
    Darrel smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
    "We don't have to get married," Sebastian reminded, "we can call it off."
    "No," Darrel replied, "I want to. I think I love you Seb."
    "Very well. But during our engagement period, if you wish to call it off, you just tell me, and I will leave. I won't fight."
    "Thank you Sebastian."
    "No problem. I just want you to be happy."
    Darrel nodded.
    "I think you should talk to their majesties," Sebastian suggested.   
    "What? No way!" Darrel cried.
    "Listen, I know it's hard, but I genuinely believe that you will be happier if you do."
    "It's not for much longer!"
    "You are stuck here for at least another year before you get to come to Spain."
    "Then we won't wait a year."
    "Darrel, I don't want you to do anything that you're going to regret. We are not getting married for at least a year, no exceptions."
    "Very well."
    Sebastian sighed.
    "You deserve to happy just as much as everyone else," Sebastian reminded, "stop trying to please everyone and allow yourself to be happy."
    "Stop sounding like Charles," Darrel groaned.
    "Well, Charles is very wise. Maybe you ought to listen to his advice."
    Darrel stood up and crossed her arms.
    "It's not easy for me to talk about myself," Darrel informed.
    "Yes, of course I know that darling," Sebastian nodded.
    "It was hard enough to talk to you! But I did, because you're my fiancé, and you have a right to know."
    "I am happy that you opened up to me..."
    "Maybe one day I'll be able to open up to their majesties, but not any time soon, and I need you to respect that."
    "Fine. But, I do think you need to talk to Lord Grantham."
    "I can't do that just yet."
    "Darrel..."
    "I was cruel to him!" Darrel cried, "I told him that his opinion didn't matter! He'll never forgive me. I don't know if I can forgive myself!"
    Sebastian got up and have her a hug.
    "He will forgive you," Sebastian assured.
    "How do you know?" Darrel snapped.
    "Because he will want to."
    Darrel gave him a smile, "Thank you Seb."
    "No problem. Please come to me when you need to talk. Don't run off. That is my one request as your fiancé."
    "Very well."
    The two of them shared a kiss.
    "I'll head up to Downton tomorrow," Darrel announced.
    "Want me to come?" Sebastian offered.   
    "No. I'm going to talk to Lord Grantham as his daughter, and not as the Princess of Wales. It will be easier without you there."
    "Call me when you get there if you need me."   
    "I will. Thank you."

    The next morning, Darrel left the palace before breakfast, wearing a farm dress, and without any guards (much to the annoyance of her brother).
   When she arrived, she walked to the Abbey, as oppose to finding a taxi to take her.

    When Darrel got to the Abbey, she approached the front door and was about to ring the doorbell when she decided against it and went towards the servants' entrance. Darrel entered the servants' courtyard to find Thomas sitting at the picnic table, smoking and fixing a clock.
    "What are you doing here?" Thomas inquired, as Darrel sat next to him.
    "I need to speak to Papa," Darrel sighed.
    "They've all gone to the Dower House for luncheon. Well, Mr. Talbot and Mr. Branson didn't, but they've gone to York."
    "Do you know how long they'll be gone?"
    "What do you think I am, a secretary?"
    Thomas smirked as Darrel laughed.
    "So, what's up?" Thomas asked.
    "I need to speak to Papa," Darrel repeated.   
    "But why you wearing that?"
    "It's more comfortable."
    Thomas rolled his eyes.
    "I'm going in," Darrel announced, "I haven't eaten anything today."
    "Good luck with his lordship, m'lady," Thomas nodded.
   "Thank you Thomas."
    Darrel got up, smiled at him and went inside.

    Darrel entered the kitchen where Mrs. Patmore and Daisy were preparing dinner.
    "Lady Darrel," Mrs. Patmore nodded, bobbing a curtsey.
    "Hello Mrs. Patmore," Darrel smiled, "is there any food I can have?"
    "Let me check, there must be something."
    Mrs. Patmore headed over to the fridge and started poking around.
    "How is Mr. Mason?" Darrel asked.
    "He's doing well, thank you m'lady," Daisy replied.
    "Will you be leaving us for farm life?"
    "Not any time soon. But maybe eventually..."
    "Well, then the kitchens will definitely be calm."
    Daisy giggled.
    "Ah!" Mrs. Patmore exclaimed, "Here we are."
   The cook took out a plate of leftovers from the servants' dinner and handed it to Darrel.
    "It's not the best but, I don't have anything else," Mrs. Patmore informed.   
    "But I can whip something up for you m'lady," Daisy offered.
    "No, no, it's fine," Darrel assured, taking the plate and sitting down at the small table in the kitchen, "thank you Mrs. Patmore."
    "No worries," Mrs. Patmore replied, then got back to work.
    About an hour later, Thomas came down the stairs and entered the kitchen (he had finished the clock a while ago).
    "They're back," he informed.
    "Thank you," Darrel nodded and left.

    Darrel went upstairs and ran into Mary.
    "You're back already?" Mary said, clearly shocked.
    "Sorry to disappoint," Darrel smirked, giving her a hug.
    "Why do you always tease me?"
    "Because it's fun."
    Mary rolled her eyes.
    "Where's Papa?" Darrel inquired.
    "In his dressing room," Mary replied, "be cautious, we were just at Granny's, so he's not in the best of moods."
    "Alright. Thank you."
    "If you can, stay for dinner. I've missed you."
    "I only left five days ago."
    "The last time you came didn't count."
    "I've only been gone for a little less than two weeks."
    "Yes, but I'm so used to having you around."
    "Has Henry softened you that much?"
    Mary rolled her eyes again. Darrel smirked and went upstairs.

    Darrel knocked on the door of her father's dressing room and waited anxiously.
    "Come!" He called.
    Darrel opened the door and entered to find Bates and Robert discussing something.
    "What are you doing here?" Robert demanded.
    Darrel sighed, "Mr. Bates, could you excuse us please?"
    "Certainly m'lady," Bates replied giving a slight bow, then leaving the room.
    Once Bates had left, Darrel sat down on Robert's bed.
    "What are you doing here?" Robert demanded.
    "I came to apologize," Darrel replied.
    "For what?"
    "For being so cruel to you the last time I came here."
    Robert didn't reply.
    "I got frustrated and I said some things that I shouldn't have," Darrel explained, "of course, that is no excuse. You're my father, and your opinion means everything to me.  And...I am so sorry that I hurt you Papa, truly."
    Robert took a deep breath and sat down next to Darrel.
    "I shouldn't have said that you weren't my daughter," Robert said softly, "I'm sorry."
    "I deserved it," Darrel shrugged, "you didn't raise me to say such horrible things."
    "I simply can't imagine that my beautiful, baby girl, is getting married."
    "I'm not a baby anymore Papa."
    "I know," Robert sighed, "it seems that you are ready to go off in the world, without needing your father to hold your hand."
    "I might not need you to hold my hand, but I will always need you," Darrel assured.
    "Even when you're the Queen of England?"
     Darrel paused before saying, "Even when I'm the Queen of England."
    Robert wrapped an arm around her and pulled his daughter into his arms, and began to cry. Just then, Cora walked in.
    "Robert, do you know..." she started, then stopped when she saw the scene before her.
   After a few minutes, Robert let his daughter go, and she got up and hugged her mother.
    "I was wondering if I could stay here for a few days," Darrel shrugged.
    "Won't their majesties mind?" Cora inquired.
    "Too bad. You're my parents as well, and they need to learn how to share."
    Robert laughed, "Too right."