The following day, Darrel decided to take Tobias on a walk through the Downton village. She announced to her family that it would be good to show him around. However, her real reason was more that she wished to get Tobias away from the rest of the Crawleys. After dinner the previous evening, she did not want Tobias to have to spend more time than necessary with her family. The last thing she wanted was for the Crawleys to scare away her suitor.
    "This is a lovely village," Tobias commented, as he looked around.
    "Yes, it is," Darrel nodded. "While London is very exciting and there are many more things to do there, I do love returning to Downton. There is something nice about how peaceful it is here."
    "I agree. That is why I enjoy my time at the family estate."
    Until recently, Tobias lived at Birmingham estate with his parents and siblings. However, when he began to court Darrel, his parents told him that it would be best for him to move to London so he could spend more time with the princess. Reluctantly, he allowed his parents to rent him a house in Belgrave Square.
    "I am sorry that you had to move to London," Darrel informed, who knew why he took up residence in London.
    "Do not apologize, it is not your fault," Tobias assured. "And it is not that I dislike London. It is just different from what I grew up with."
    Darrel nodded, knowing exactly what he meant.
    "So, what else is there to do at Downton?" Tobias inquired. "If we are to spend more time here; and if you wish to keep me away from your family."
    "It is not that I wish to keep you away from my family," Darrel replied. "I do not want them to say anything cruel to you. My family does not always act in the most polite ways, and the last thing I want is for you to decide that the Crawleys are too much for you to handle."
    "They are not."
    "Well, you saw what they were like last night. And I cannot promise you an improvement."
    "I assure you that your family will not scare me off. After all, if I can stand dinners with Their Majesties, then I can put up with the Crawleys' questions. Besides, I think it is rather sweet how much they all care for you. You are very lucky."
    Darrel smiled, grateful for Tobias' understanding nature. She just hoped that nobody would say anything that would make him change his mind.

    A few minutes later, Darrel and Tobias were still wandering through the village when they came across Paul and Sebastian. Paul had to post a letter to his father and insisted on Sebastian going with him because he did not trust the former prince alone in the house (Helen had gone to sell flowers). Upon seeing the young couple, Sebastian looked down at the dirt road.
    "Your Highness," Paul bowed.
    "Hello, Paul," Darrel nodded. "Sebastian."
    Sebastian still did not say anything and did not look up upon hearing his name, despite it being incredibly rude to ignore a greeting from a member of the Royal Family.
    "Paul, this is Lord Tobias Dankworth," Darrel introduced. "My lord, this is Paul Ringer...and Sebastian Carlos."
    "Mr Ringer," Tobias said, holding out his hand and shaking Paul's. "It is nice to meet you. Her Highness has told me a lot about you, and I have had the pleasure of working with your father."
    "It is nice to meet you, my lord," Paul replied.
    Paul nodded to Lord Dankworth. It was nice to finally put a face to a name (not counting the photos that he'd seen in the papers). After all, he heard quite a bit about Lord Dankworth from Darrel, and from his father. He was curious about who would agree to be in a relationship with Darrel knowing that she would never love him. However, he did not expect that he would meet the Princess of Wales' suitor while with Sebastian.
    "What are you doing at Downton?" Darrel inquired.
    "My mother required some help with her garden," Paul informed. "Her flower business is doing quite well, but still not well enough that she has the funds to hire extra help. So, I thought that I would come to assist her."
    Darrel gave Paul a discreet nod. He knew that his friend had just made a mental note to order more flowers from Helen once she returned to London. Enough orders so that she would be able to hire local help.
    "Your mother runs a flower business?" Tobias asked, perking up.
    "She does, my lord," Paul nodded. "She grows and arranges her own bouquets, then sells them to customers."
    "Oh, that does sound exciting! I wonder if she would ever let me stop by and see her garden."
    "Lord Dankworth is quite knowledgeable about flowers," Darrel explained. "He studies the different types and draws them in his sketchbook."
    "Well, I am sure that my mother will appreciate your enthusiasm, Lord Dankworth," Paul said. "You are welcome to swing by any time."
    "Thank you very much, I appreciate that," Tobias replied.
    The group stood in silence for a moment, none of them knowing what to say. Meanwhile, the Royal Bodyguards watched from afar, rather curious as to what would happen. They would not have predicted that they would ever see those four together.

    "Are you two engaged yet?" Sebastian inquired, speaking for the first time since he ran into the others.
    "Sebastian..." Paul said warningly.
    "What? It is a decent question, is it not? The two of you appear in the papers, and now you are here at Downton. I suspect you are here to announce your engagement to the Crawleys. Dankworth, I certainly hope that Lord Grantham did not punch you. Though even if he did, I suppose that is part of the process."
     "Shut up, Sebastian."
    "Can a man not ask questions?"
    Paul glared at Sebastian, giving him a very strong warning look. He knew that seeing Lord Dankworth upset Sebastian. However, he did not want Sebastian to upset Darrel, and he certainly did not want Sebastian to appear in the papers if he had an outburst.
    "We are not engaged," Darrel replied in a firm tone. "Lord Dankworth is courting me."
    "Courting you?" Sebastian scoffed. "Is that your new word for engagement?"
    "Of course not. I say those words because it is true; we are courting."
    "You never courted me."
    Darrel bit down on her bottom lip, not knowing what to say. She and Sebastian never had time to court because they got engaged so that she would be able to abdicate to marry the Prince of Spain. Besides, the two had been much younger back then; Darrel was only fourteen-years-old and made rash decisions. And since Sebastian had been in love with her for ages, he did not care about going through proper courtship.
    "How are you enjoying Downton, my lord?" Sebastian inquired, turning to Tobias.
    "I am enjoying my stay very much," Tobias replied.
    "Really? Well, that does surprise me. So I am assuming that means Lord Grantham has not punched you."
    "No, he has not."
    "Well, even without being punched by Robert, I am surprised that you are enjoying your stay at Downton. Between being interrogated by Old Lady Grantham, Lady Mary constantly insulting you, and her squabbling with Lady Edith...it is a miracle that anyone enjoys Downton."
    "I have not been at Downton for very long, sir. So I cannot attest to all those things yet."
    "Oh, it will be interesting when you have experienced all of them. I would be shocked if you stick around after that. Unless of course, you do love Darrel enough to put up with them all."
    "That is enough, Sebastian," Paul said firmly enough that Sebastian turned to look at him.
    "Sebastian, are you intoxicated?" Darrel asked softly so that nobody else would hear them.
    "Of course, you would think that," Sebastian chuckled. "Do you not believe in people changing? Or do you still see me as that pathetic drunk?"
    "Of course not! And I never saw you that way; you know that very well."
    "I assume that your new beau over here never caused you to be sick with worry."
    Darrel could not respond to that because she did not want to agree with Sebastian, even though he had a point. While Darrel did not love Tobias (nor would she ever), he was far less complicated than Sebastian. He showed up when he said he would, behaved properly in public, and never got upset with Darrel. However, Sebastian's words caused Darrel to remember all those times she worried about his safety when he went to bars all night long.
    "Well, we best be off," Paul announced, sensing everyone's discomfort. "Sebastian and I have more work to do in the garden before we lose the light. It was nice to see you again, Darrel. And I hope to meet you again, Lord Dankworth."
    "The same to you, Mr Ringer," Tobias replied.
    Paul bowed to them then practically dragged Sebastian off by the arm. While Tobias could not hear them, he could tell by Paul's facial expressions that he was telling Sebastian off for the way he behaved.
    "Are you all right, ma'am?" Tobias inquired, turning to Darrel.
    "We must go, or we shall be late for tea," Darrel responded, then headed back towards the house.