MORNING CAME, AS THE SUN RAYS pierced softly through the transparent curtains of the guest room at The Brockenhurst estate in Portsmouth. Diana lay in her bed, as she lifted her hand and touched the rays that fell right over her towards the wall, having them light up the tips of her fingers. The sun rays were more orange than they were yellow, but then again, it was too early, the sun hadn't regained its true color yet, it would do that once it was confidently up in the sky where it belonged.

Her mind kept replaying the conversation she had had with Lord Buxton last night. She felt different; guilty of her prejudice, yes, but there was something else. Something she hadn't ever felt before, there was this pull between them. A pull of intrigue and desire. He was every inch a gentlemen, even more so than she had thought a normal gentleman could be, and Diana was drawn to him in a way she hadn't ever felt with Frank, Oscar or even any other man for that matter. Suddenly, a small click forced her attention towards the door as it opened slowly ajar. Immediately, she clutched the covers tighter to herself. After all, she wasn't at Bellevue Hall, where the only person who entered her room in the early hour of the morning was her maid. But her maid was back in Southampton, and Diana was sure that the ladies maid Aunt Agnes assigned for her was supposed to knock like every other maid did before entering the room just like that.

As the door fully opened, Alicia's figure emerged and Diana relaxed. Alicia was in her dressing gown, locks of her hair secured with tiny white linen pieces for curls when the maid would unwind them. Alicia always preferred tight curls for her ladies maid to work with, Diana on her other hand, preferred loose ones, so she'd always braid her hair before bed.

"Its me," Alicia further confirmed quietly, before she closed the door behind her and approached Diana on the bed, "My, it took all of my energy to leave my room undressed for the day."

"What if someone had seen?" Diana gasped, before letting a chuckle escape her as she thought of what Alicia's mother, Aunt Hyacinth would think, "You do know that Aunt Agnes asks her butler to take a round of the estate to make sure everything is in order before her guests wake, right?"

"I admit I may not have thought this endeavour through," Alicia pursed her lips, refusing to let her mind wander to the idea of being caught in her indisposed state by a butler. "But I wanted to talk to you before everyone awoke and we hardly get private time together."

Diana smiled and with a nod, sat straighter up on her bed. She'd wanted to talk to her cousin too, and they had so much to talk about. Last night, Lord Buxton was the last person she had spoken to after she had tucked Theodore in again. In her want for a discussion with Alicia, she hadn't clearly thought where she'd begin or how she'd end.

"Lord Buxton, he told me everything last night," Diana began, and her cousin nodded.

"So did Lord Algernon."

"How blind we've been," Diana sighed, her heart feeling heavy again.

"Judging so harshly without even knowing their side," Alicia reciprocated.

"I think Uncle knew, or had the idea," Diana shot her a cousin a thoughtful glance, "He seemed different these past days, more obliging to work, and had nothing but praise for Lord Buxton."

"Do you gather Lord Buxton told Uncle of the misfortunes the business faced himself? That day when he called him to his office? Uncle seemed to be holding back some parts of the conversation they shared," Alicia pressed, as she put two and two together.

"Uncle has a whole criterion of conversational topics that are to be refrained from family dinners," Diana mused, "So it is likely."

As she ran her hands on the bed, smoothing the sheets, Alicia spoke, "He could've erased our prejudice against the gentlemen if he had chosen to tell us."

"He could've saved us a lot of, indifference towards them. Lord Algernon is a very honest man, Diana; I could see that last night. For a moment I realized that he was truly the same person we had met in Southampton, it was only that I had clouded my eyes from seeing it," she continued, her tone a daze.

Nodding slowly, Diana could not help but feel her feelings mirrored in Alicia's predicament. But she sensed more in her cousin's words, something more that even Diana felt reluctant to admit to her. Removing the covers off of her, she got up and walked over to the vanity, "I feel as though we have to make up for our brash judgement. As you know, Frank plans to invest in the gentlemen's business and they need the investment."

"So all we have to do this weekend is to convince Frank Templemore to invest," Alicia chided, determination in her tone.

"Exactly," Diana nodded at her cousin, "How hard can it be? Frank does want to invest, or he wouldn't have invited Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon this weekend."

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

"It was Frank's idea, he's acquired quite the taste for picnics while in London," The Countess beamed as the ladies all walked alongside, a gentle breeze rustling everyone's skirts as they held on firmly to their parasols and walked on the soft green grass underneath the clear morning sky, "At least he's acquired some tastes I approve of."

A tour of the Brockenhurst estate grounds, and a picnic was what Frank Templemore had planned for the party, and Diana and Alicia, having cared for picnics more than they cared for formal dinners, had happily obliged. The party had, after having breakfast, changed for the event.

Dressed appropriately for the occasion, Diana in her wispy red dress matching the color of her lips and the hue in her cheeks with her hair loosely curled and pinned high atop her head, and Alicia in a soft green dress with her braided do and tight curls framing her face, the ladies had emerged from their rooms ready to have the best time.

Holding onto Theodore's hand, Diana picked up her pace as the little one cheerily trod further. Alicia and Michael joined the pair with a smile as The Countess and Aunt Frederica fell slightly behind, both the ladies taking their own time, indulged in a seemingly important conversation.

"Michael, did you sleep well?" Diana inquired at the ten year old, who, with his arms behind his back in a gentlemanly manner, nodded at his cousin.

"It seems Michael has resorted to speaking less and nodding more," Alicia teased, "He's becoming quite the little gentleman."

"Hm, I suppose being in Frank, Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon's company is having its affects," Diana teased back, letting a small chuckle escape her.

"Whatever you say, my cousins," Michael responded in a calm voice, before his tone took a more pleading turn, "But please don't mention your observations in front of the gentlemen, I should be embarrassed."

"It is they who should be embarrassed," Alicia spoke, latching arms with the ten year old playfully, "For you, my cousin, are a gentleman unlike ever there was."

"Should I do that t-too? Diana?" Theodore's soft voice came as he looked up at his cousin, his big eyes peering with inquiry and innocence, "S-speak less and walk l-like I have a c-crab in my pants so I can become a gentleman as well?"

"Theodore," Diana gasped in surprise and Alicia and Michael laughed, "Of course not, my love. I should faint if I stop hearing your sweet voice. It is my most favorite voice in the world."

"T-then I should n-never stop speaking," The little boy beamed, squeezing his elder cousin's hand.

"It appears my son has ruthlessly ditched his companions," The Countess's amused voice caught their attention as she called from behind, and the cousins looked ahead to find the two figures of Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon coming towards them.

The lords laughed, as they tipped their top hats to the ladies they had approached, and to the Countess and Mrs Fleming following behind. Diana could not help but notice how handsome Lord Buxton looked, standing tall in his navy overcoat and his dark hair windswept as though he had just emerged from an adventure. Lord Algernon wore a similar coat, yet in a dark brown colour, and he too looked as though he had caught Alicia's attention. Diana tensed a little; did her cousin feel something more towards Lord Algernon, like she had suddenly found herself feeling towards Lord Buxton? If not, then how would Alicia react if Diana told her? Told her that Lord Buxton made her stomach knot up by his mere sight? What if Diana were to confess that the man's confrontation had ignited feelings in her that she never thought she even possessed? Was one night even possible to change her heart so drastically? Or had she been feeling these feelings ever since that fair in Southampton? Diana found herself getting slightly angry that those feelings hadn't vanished even after he had argued ruthlessly with her that day in his office.

"The picnic Mr Templemore requested has been delayed, so he went to inquire what the holdup was," Lord Algernon ushered with a nod to Diana and Alicia.

"We are to keep heading up north," Lord Buxton called to Mrs Fleming and The Countess, who smiled and nodded their heads, their parasols shaking slightly in the wind.

"Then you should join my cousins, my lords. While I'll make sure to escort my mother," Michael spoke up boldly, his head held high as he tried hard not to squint against the sun that had just came out from behind the clouds. He wore no top hat on his short brown hair to protect him and Alicia bit back the urge to ask him under her parasol, dreading to embarrass her little cousin in front of the gentlemen he so wished to impress. Lord Algernon, noting her discomfort, shuffled and stood in front of Michael, his shadow completely covering the boy, and Alicia relaxed. "We'd be honored," he responded with a smile.

Michael nodded as he swiftly turned to walk back to his mother alongside The Countess. Exchanging pleasantries of the morning, they divided into pairs, as Alicia and Lord Algernon walked ahead, with Diana and Lord Buxton following right behind, and a little boy at the lady's skirts.

"I hope you had a good night, Mr Fleming," Lord Buxton broke the silence as he looked down at the little boy against Diana's skirts.

"I did," The boy responded, suddenly feeling proud in being referred with his family name, as he walked a little taller.

"Theodore is quite a light sleeper," Diana spoke teasingly, as she recounted how her little cousin had been woken by her and Lord Buxton's conversation last night.

"I was too, at his age," Lord Buxton mused his gaze on the path ahead, "Every slight crack of a door at Berkshire used to have me as awake as a duck in cold water."

"You are quite fond of your home," Diana observed, recalling the information he had shared about Berkshire Abbey at dinner, "Your work in the city must keep you so occupied, don't you miss it?"

Glancing at her curious expression, then quickly averting his gaze to his steps, he responded, "I have been away for two weeks, but it feels like months. The business has always kept me busy but I used to return home to spend a night or two and see my parents before I left again."

"But the recent events have made even going home for a night or two impossible. I can't face my parents until I have fixed and secured a future for the business," he concluded, his expression earnest and determined.

"I am sure they are aware of how hard you work, and I doubt they'd think less of you because of a mishap someone else entailed," Diana assured, as she glanced at Theodore to make sure he was alright. The little boy now smelt a daisy he had picked off the grass.

"The fact that I was careless enough to let the mishap happen in the first place is where my fault lies," Lord Buxton maintained, and Diana saw his jaw clench under the sunlight. His demeanor tightened, as if in fury, as his fists yellowed slightly behind his back, his grip increasing. She could tell the subject made him furious. Of course it would, she scolded herself. Someone had set fire to his eastern mills; which had resulted in lost lives of his employees and tons of money loss. Of course the subject would make him furious.

Her curiosity getting the better of her, she inquired softly, "Do you know who did it?"

As the question left her mouth, she immediately regretted it, gripping her parasol tighter in her right hand. Why would Lord Buxton tell her this information when she was not entitled to it? Why did she want to know? Or rather, what would she even do with the information if it was handed to her? It was a waste of breath for Lord Buxton in every case, of course the man would not tell her.

"I do," came the sudden response and Diana felt her thoughts scrambling. He knew who had done it, how was a man to attend a casual picnic, when he had the identity of an opponent who had nearly ruined him, in his custody?

"But I can't prove it for him to receive the consequences of his actions," Lord Buxton paused, letting a frustrated sigh escape his lips as he glanced at the sky. If he himself was authority, that man would be long dead.

Diana said nothing more. She had no way of consolation, no ideas she might offer, so she remained quiet. Without her response, Lord Buxton felt no need to carry on a conversation, for how was one to talk about the weather or a picnic after discussing a criminal and his crime? They walked together in silence, until the party reunited and approached Frank Templemore and the picnic.

The servants had entirely finished setting up the picnic while the party had taken their time to approach it, and Frank looked equally ready to welcome everyone.

Seating themselves down, the company grabbed plates and helped themselves to the delicious delicacies, laughing chatting as they did so. Diana and Alicia helped make a filling plate for Theodore, and then having made sure he sat beside them, they filled their own plates with bites of everything that looked appealing. Frank came around, with Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon, and joined the ladies.

"You both look rather lovely this morning," Frank complimented, his gaze moving between Diana and Alicia, after he swallowed down a bite of a scone and dabbed his lips with a napkin.

"We surely feel it," Alicia smiled, exchanging affirmed glances with Diana, who turned to face Frank, "And how are you faring this sunny afternoon?"

"Quite wonderfully, dear cousin," Frank hummed, pleased, "Wasn't this picnic a great idea? The weather is exquisite, I shall have been so sorry to have missed my chance."

"It certainly is," Diana responded, taking a sip of her glass of orange pulp.

"So," Frank declared, as his gaze landed on Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon, "You gentlemen haven't told me how you had the pleasure of meeting my cousin and Lady Kirkpatrick yet? I can't imagine you men paying a call to Mr Fleming's house, since he's your employee."

Diana's hold on her plate tightened slightly as she looked at Alicia for a brief second before her gaze fell onto Frank's curiously determined expression. There wasn't anything to hide anymore, some distasteful events had taken place, but the gentlemen had proved themselves to be worthy.

"Actually, we met in Southampton," Diana started, smiling, as she put on a relaxed and casual stance, putting a cherry into her mouth. Alicia followed by going over the county fair, where Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon were introduced to their family by Adam Seymour. The gentlemen shot knowing glances as they listened through the tale.

"It seems you've all had quite the prior acquaintance," Frank commented as Alicia finished.

"Quite," Alicia repeated. She could not help but marvel at just the bumpy carriage ride of an acquaintance they'd had, Frank Templemore merely knew the half of it.

After everyone had eaten, the party started to separate into pairs and trios, with The Countess and Mrs Fleming staying behind with Michael and Theodore as they basked in the sunshine on the grass. Lord Buxton took Diana's gloved hand as he helped her up.

"Walk with me, cousin," Frank's voice suddenly called, as he rushed towards her past Lord Buxton, who tipped his hat and excused himself, a look of disappointment on his face as he joined Alicia and his friend Lord Algernon. Diana noticed the drop in Lord Buxton's expression and felt it mirror her feelings. She wanted to talk to him, to spend time with him. For she had found the gentleman she had met in Southampton hiding inside him again, and she wanted to get to know him and make sure he never hid himself again from her. But, in order to do so, she had to help him through Frank, so towards her cousin she turned with a bright obliging smile. 

"So, I hope your stay so far is relaxing?" Frank inquired, his arms around his back as he glanced at Diana, who, clutching her parasol against the wrath of the wind, smiled at him while keeping her gaze on the walk ahead.

"It has. For Aunt Frederica and her sons too, the fresh air is such a change from the parts where they live."

"I am glad," Frank breathed, "I am more concerned for you, dear cousin, I must admit."

Diana looked at him, her eyes narrowing slightly in confusion, "Pray, leave that to my mother, Frank. It shall be a terrible waste to spend energy on being concerned for me when my mother is already doing it ever since I decided to come to Portsmouth."

Frank Templemore laughed, his small dimples deepening, as his teeth stole the show.

"Can I ask you something, cousin?" Diana asked as she finished chuckling, watching Frank laugh always made her laugh.

"Of course, anything," He declared, straightening himself.

"What is your intention with these gentlemen? Have you made up your mind to invest yet?"