"EDWARD, ISAAC, I MUST SAY IT IS a surprise to see you both here," Lord Adam Seymour was perhaps the second to acknowledge his approaching friends. Seeing his acquaintances and relieving himself of babysitting duties, he tugged on his coat and straightened himself.

"Yes, we had pending work in Southampton, but we're off at first light tomorrow," Lord Edward Buxton was the first to speak of the two and his companion nodded in agreement.

They were dressed finely, as Lady Diana Beaumont noticed. They had sleek black coats on over their undershirts—unlike their presentation when she had seen them last. With cravats expertly tucked and positioned, Lord Buxton's short dark hair stood messy on his head, while Lord Algernon adorned a top hat over his. 

"Ah, that is great news! At least you were fortunate enough to witness the greatest fair in our county," Adam chuckled, "Come, let me make proper introductions. I believe you haven't entirely met my family yet. I must reduce your luck on that account gentlemen." 

The men laughed at the jest and Alicia and Diana exchanged wary glances. Introductions being made to family would make the Portsmouth gentlemen harder to avoid. Introductions to family made them somehow more real as acquaintances, where they would simply have to be acknowledged every time they were spotted, regardless of where they were.

The ladies averted their gaze from Adam and the gentlemen walking towards them, to their cousins who were busy navigating their uncle's kite in a distance. For some reason, both of the ladies had entirely forgotten about the gentlemen's proposal to escort them to the fair. It had been shocking, but the mere fact that they had still come and now had sought them out, was slightly more shocking. They were interrupted by Adam clearing his throat and the whole family turned to face the new additions to the sight, with Diana and Alicia joining in the endeavor as though their eyes hadn't followed the gentlemen in their entire approach at all. 

"Mother, aunts, allow me to introduce my friends, Lord Edward Buxton and Lord Isaac Algernon from Portsmouth," Adam dictated as the occasion required, and then turning towards the gentlemen he continued, "And this is my mother, Lady Seymour and her sisters and my aunts, Lady Kirkpatrick, Lady Beaumont, Lady Charlotte Allan and—oh, my uncle and his wife should be around here somewhere." 

Diana's eyes sought out their uncle and his wife. The couple were at quite a distance, laughing and talking to each other while maintaining a careful watch at the children and their kite. Her heart swelled at their bright laughs and glittering eyes, her arm clasped around his elbow. She didn't know how they were in Portsmouth, but at least they were here now and happy. 

"It is an honor to make your acquaintance," Lord Buxton's voice brought her out of her reverie, he was tipping his head, eyes acknowledging the ladies he was introduced to. 

"Likewise," Lord Algernon followed, smiling at the party before him until his eyes spread further out and caught Alicia's.

Diana could tell her cousin was grateful for the shadow that her parasol offered, for the tassels hanging around it as decorations were quite enough to hide her eyes away from his gaze. 

"I was horrified to have missed you and your parents at my ball at Mansfield some weeks ago, Lord Buxton," Lady Seymour let out, swaying her hand fan below her face, "It's just that this year's occasion has proven to be quite hectic than all the years before it. I have such a growing family to deal with now, and my own daughter's about to get engaged. Don't mistake me sir, for I am in no way complaining, but events the likes of these can be quite tedious on my nerves."

Lady Diana Beaumont smiled and shook her head a little at her aunt. Lady Margaret was quite proud to admit to anyone besides the family of her bursts of excitement at Rebecca's ordeal. She turned to look at the gentlemen standing before them. Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon forced small smiles on their faces and shifted uncomfortably under the route the conversation was taking and as far as Diana could tell, neither of them had any interest and were merely trying to be polite by nodding in return. Which was quite strange as knowing in a short period of time, how straightforward Lord Buxton was, she couldn't figure why he'd not at once remove himself from the position at all. 

"Come now," Lady Beaumont said to her sister as she put a hand on her shoulder trying to calm her down, "I am sure Lord Buxton and his family doesn't mind."

"Of course," Lord Buxton added.

"Are you enjoying the fair so far, my lords?" Diana chimed in, addressing both of them with a cheery disposition and attempting to change the topic of the conversation and pull the gentlemen out of the misery, for she supposed no one else was to do it if not her. Alicia certainly did not seem like she would. "I do hope it's not dull, compared to the ones you're used to in Portsmouth."

Lord Edward Buxton's gaze turned to Diana instantly as he was addressed, and seeming to get lost in a quick daze as though he was startled she'd spoken, his eyes fluttered as he brought himself to focus on the conversation. "Ah not at all, it is quite a unique affair."

"I'm glad you think so," Diana responded, partly satisfied, but not as keen on his choice of word. 

Lord Edward Buxton clearly had something or the other against Southampton, or perhaps he was too much of a businessman to enjoy the more quiet part of Hampshire and the simple pleasures the society here was so fond of.

"Would you consider taking a walk with me, my lady?" Lord Buxton inquired quite suddenly, with his eyes fixed on her. 

Lady Diana Beaumont froze then, and like a drop of a pin, the conversations of her entire family ceased for they had all heard the seemingly intimate and bold proposal. She hadn't narrated to her family about their chance acquaintance at the countryside during their carriage ride some afternoons ago. Neither had Alicia, and thus this sudden invitation would most probably turn into a topic of conversation amongst her family, and that was something neither Diana nor Alicia wanted as of now. Diana remembered shutting off her mother and aunts' persistent inquiries when they had cornered her about Lord Buxton after the ball at Mansfield, and now she dreaded that she would never be able to shut their speculations down. 

"And might you consider one with me, my lady?" Lord Algernon added, taking advantage of the stunned silence, eyes fixed on Alicia no matter which way she tilted her parasol to avoid his gaze. 

Not letting their emotions show on their faces, and certainly not turning to face their aunts and the expressions they might have plastered on their faces, the ladies had no choice but to stand up and politely take up the offer. Refusal would be astounding, and Diana wished to give it regardless, but the aftermath of explanation to the family would be too much and she wanted to delay the inspection at present.

Also, as much as she'd hate the impression it would give off to others, she had grown quite intrigued with the conversation Lord Buxton had to offer, and she sensed the same intrigue in Alicia's manner, although they would do anything but admit it to each other or to anyone else.  

"It seems you still found a way to have our company after we declined your offer when we last met," Lady Diana Beaumont started as she walked alongside Lord Buxton, away from the spot at the grounds where her family were seated.

He hadn't spoken anything after taking her hand, and her intention to speak had been both out of necessity of confrontation and to dispel the awkwardness his silent yet bold demeanor seemed to be bringing. 

The sun had come out from behind the clouds and with her cream parasol positioned carefully, she observed her surroundings rather than her company's face as she spoke. She did not entirely mean to come off as rude, but considering the fact that she would have to deal with her family's constant predictions about a possible engagement for a long time after this event—and the brutal disruption of her peace of mind as a result of the consistent pester—her speech had come off as stern yet taunting without her entirely meaning for it to be so. 

"I was under the impression that we were refused because you wanted to spend the larger portion of the day with your family," Lord Buxton responded, his tone collected, "So I assumed there was no harm in requesting your company after."

Diana turned to face him as she walked. I assumed. The words echoed in her head, his boldness yet again startling her.

Looking at Alicia and Lord Algernon's figures walking far ahead them, Diana spoke, "That is too presumptuous, don't you think?"

She could not help but wonder why was it that he desired her company so. He seemed well reserved, and dedicated to his endeavors so she couldn't possibly begin to assume why she had found herself on that list suddenly. Alicia's prediction may be correct, but the mere fact that Lord Buxton was proving to be so quick in his actions and intentions did not sit right with her. Surely this was not the way courtships are done—at least in Southampton. Diana felt heat spring up to her cheeks at the word, and she scolded herself for being presumptuous this time. 

"I meant no offense," Lord Buxton voice broke through her thoughts and she found him looking at her, observing her expressions.

He said nothing more, and the lady at his side was thus forced to speak then, taking pity in his lack of words. 

"None taken," She smiled as they continued walking in silence.

As they walked past the tents at the fair, Diana's eyes caught on to the tent she had been in before with Alicia and Jessie Churchill, and a sudden wave of uncertainty washed over her. She had forgotten about all the impending doom the psychic had predicted for her, and now, in a moment, she was plagued by it again.

"We are leaving tonight for Portsmouth," The familiar baritone brought her back as she turned to look at him. He seemed satisfied, yet disappointed in the words he had spoken.

"You must be relieved," Diana pointed out in a teasing fashion, half heartedly making the comment so as to ease the disappointment in his features. 

"In a way, yes," Lord Buxton responded, "We've left the mills unattended for far too long, and things there have a way to.. deteriorate, if not kept in check."

A sudden gripping feeling took over Lady Diana Beaumont as she realized she was also set to go to Portsmouth with her uncle's family and Alicia in a day or two. She had already had her luggage packed and so had her cousin, but she wasn't about to inform Lord Buxton of that. After all, her due visit to Portsmouth was not for paying social calls; it was to aid her uncle's family in their time of need. Besides, Diana should not like to run into Lord Buxton of all people during her time there, she couldn't think of anything at present she would like less. 

"Will you find yourself back in this miserable part of Hampshire, Lord Buxton?" She inquired teasingly again, shrugging the thoughts off her mind.

"I had an answer if the question would've been asked when I first arrived, but now perhaps a newer answer is in course," The gentleman responded, his lips curling forming a smile on his face as his eyes dropped down at his feet.

Diana looked away, alarmed and choosing not to say anything more and distracting herself by looking elsewhere. An unsettling feeling formed in her stomach. Lord Buxton could mean a lot of different things by that comment, but somehow she exactly knew what he meant and she gulped as it dawned on her how fast everything was escalating. This wasn't meant to go this way. The gentleman had clearly no notion of how things were done in Southampton, and he seemed to have no desire to learn and adapt.

She did not know much of anything about him, she had not even been introduced to his parents, and his life back in Portsmouth, aside from his work, was still a mystery to her. And on top of all that, the psychic's words rang in her ears, "You both will be betrayed by someone you love, together." 

Surely this was how young ladies got themselves into unsalvageable messes in life, falling headfirst in with gentlemen who were always bold and unpredictable and.. not from their county. 

Could it be them? Diana thought. Maybe it was Lord Buxton and Lord Algernon the psychic was talking about, who else could it be? Maybe it was them, destined to lure them into a trap and break their hearts. After all, it seemed highly unlikely that such business men from Portsmouth like Lord Edward Buxton and Lord Isaac Algernon, who owned more than half of the entire county of Portsmouth itself, would venture out into Southampton of all places and form genuine attachments. But then again, for all she knew, the psychic could just be making things up, but still there was this voice at the back of her head, begging her to be cautious.

"I apologize Lord Buxton, but I must be getting back to my family," Diana let out shakily, feeling a bit faint. 

"Are you unwell?" Lord Buxton asked as he observed her tone, his manner that of alarm and concern.

"No, merely tired," She responded back. "I bid you farewell, I do hope you have a safe journey back to Portsmouth."

"Would you like me to call upon you, tonight? Before we depart?" Lord Buxton pressed on before the lady could spin on her heels.

Diana stilled. 

"No," Before straightening herself and collecting her tone, "I mean, it is not necessary when I have already said my farewells."

The slight drop in Lord Buxton's features evidently displayed his disappointment, after which he quickly recovered himself, steeling his expression into a sternness and put his fingers on the brim of his top hat and tipped it towards her.

"Well then, I do hope we meet again," He spoke, his voice lower, yet firm as before.

Lady Diana Beaumont then forced a smile on her face and pivoted, walking back to join her family. She passed Lord Algernon walking back towards Lord Buxton unaccompanied, and figured her cousin had long gone back and she quickened her pace. As she thought more about the psychic, her words and Lord Edward Buxton's, on her way back, she felt herself getting angry.

Angry at her own self. Asking herself more questions, she found out that she had somehow developed a sense of trust in him. Three meetings were a dreadfully short period of time for trust to be developed or any kind of deep emotion for that matter, and if the psychic's words did come out to be true, Diana would herself be the one to blame. She hadn't ever trusted someone this quickly before, especially someone she knew mostly rumors, speculations and little facts about.

The idea that it was he or even both of them who would go on to betray her and Alicia should she give in, was infuriating. 

Scolding herself inwardly, she made a mental note to dismiss all the strange feelings she was feeling and cast him out of her mind. After all, it was risky to feel something for a gentleman that had a whole life elsewhere. Often Lady Diana Beaumont had thought that if she were ever to get attached to a certain gentleman, it would be someone from her own county, someone she knew came from the place she came from, and was accustomed to the people and society she was accustomed to. 

Even though Alicia may swear that the psychic was at fault, it would still make sense for the words to come true considering how little she knew about the gentlemen in question, and how more they wanted to know of them.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

"My dears, how could your uncle and I ever repay this favor?" Frederica Fleming sighed as the following morning the party was off to depart for Portsmouth.

"It isn't a favor, Aunt Frederica," Lady Diana Beaumont responded, putting her hand over her aunt's at the breakfast table, "It is our duty to help out in any way we can, besides, we are looking forward to the adventure."

She turned to catch her cousin's eyes, and the latter pressed her lips together before forming a quick response. 

"Yes, you are family are you not?" Lady Alicia Kirkpatrick offered as she sipped her morning cup of tea, "And besides, I shall very much like to see if Portsmouth is really all that my mother says it is. One really does have to find things out for oneself, I mean, how long are we to trust in others' ideas?"

It was a rhetorical question and Lady Kirkpatrick huffed as everyone else around the table chuckled before the elder lady added her two cents. "It is, I shall be surprised if you both don't come rushing back on the first Southampton coach home."

"Oh we shan't, aunt Hyacinth," Diana smiled, "Surely Portsmouth is no match for our spirits."

"I'd like to hear you say that when you order for physicians to be sent for," Lady Beaumont added, "You probably can not tell the difference between dark clouds and smoke in that dreadful part of Hampshire. Arthur, are you sure there isn't sufficient protection available to purchase?"

"Honestly, Arthur I still cannot fathom how you live there," Lady Seymour chimed in as she put aside the piece of bread she held in her hand on her plate, "And I'm surprised how you haven't been poisoned or grown horns or a tail yet."

"Here we go again," Lord Seymour muttered as he flipped a page of the large newspaper he held in his hands, and Lord Beaumont and Lord Kirkpatrick hummed in support.

"I believe Lord Allan is meeting you when the coach arrives in Portsmouth," Lady Kirkpatrick asked her brother, adding heaps of sugar into her tea and stirring it, the sound of the silver spoon clinking against the china cup echoing.

"I'm not sure, his though investment there is growing quite profoundly, the man has a lot on his plate at the moment," Arthur Fleming responded, almost missing the question entirely as it was amidst all the comments about Portsmouth. 

"And might I add, my husband thinks Portsmouth's a rather profitable place," Lady Charlotte Allan, who had silently listened to the back and forth comments passed, chimed in when her husband was brought up with a determined expression on her face.

"Well yes, your husband does business both ways does he not? Besides, he is only in Portsmouth a single day every week, of course you think that is profitable," Lady Beaumont countered as she buttered her bread, the comment evidently directed towards her brother. 

"Isn't it a shockingly quiet breakfast without the children?" Lady Charlotte quickly let out, in her desperate attempt to change the subject of conversation, "It was a clever idea to have them wake up and have breakfast early."

"I had no choice, a letter from Mr Ashbrook is to be arriving for Rebecca today," Lady Seymour defended herself smiling, "She needs to hear herself make a decision and so do we all."

Lord Oscar Seymour, another quiet attendee of the breakfast party groaned a little in annoyance, "I don't understand what all the fuss is about. If Mr Ashbrook wanted to propose, he should've done so at the fair two days ago. I oblige you, mother, to lower your expectations a bit of a letter from such a gentleman."

"I cannot believe I am agreeing with Oscar, but yes," Lady Alicia Kirkpatrick added, "I shouldn't care for a man who proposes to me in a letter when he could've done so in my presence."

"I can't say I disagree," Lord Adam Seymour joined in, "To do something, he could've easily done at the fair, on a piece of paper, while he's off on a business trip outside the county, demonstrates a level of ineptitude that borders on the imbecilic."

"Adam," Lady Diana Beaumont gasped then, his choice of words making her turn to look at him in disbelief.

"Hm," Adam shrugged at her response, "I meant it in a caring way, he is my colleague."

"Can Mr Ashbrook and I be left in peace?" The Lady Rebecca Seymour let out, her tone laced in frustration as she startled every soul present around the breakfast table. "It amazes me how we both amuse you all so, I cannot seem to hear merely the same sort of conversation happening for Diana or Alicia, considering how both of them have been striding about the countryside with Portsmouth business men at their skirts." 

Diana's piece of bread got stuck in her throat just then, as she pushed it down with force. 

"And I feel as though I am the only one who has noticed how the vicar engages in frequent conversations at church with Oscar, the subject of which, is always his daughter, Miss Jessie Churchill. But for sure, that is all terribly boring as opposed to me and Mr Ashbrook. Perhaps I should be congratulated for being the center of such amusement and entertainment for the dining table every meal of the day."

An awkward silence prevailed as Rebecca's declaration ended and all eyes flitted towards Diana, Alicia and Oscar, who dropped, in shock, the piece of tea cake he had initially lifted up to his mouth. Diana paused under the inspection of her family as the butter knife she held in her hand stopped midway, and Alicia quickly continued sipping her tea, her eyes still wide in shock. 

"Would you look at the time," Mr Arthur Fleming suddenly added with a nervous laugh, pushing his chair back noisily and standing up. "We must be heading off if we're to catch the passenger coach."

And just like that, everyone quickened their pace and breakfast was over in minutes. The footmen brought Diana and Alicia's luggage downstairs and loaded it onto the carriage that waited outside the gates of Mansfield estate. The same had been done with the luggage of their uncle and his family.

Within an hour, the departing party were ready, travelling attire and all, and stood at the gates of the estate, saying their farewells. Though parting words were tainted with a slight awkwardness in light of Lady Rebecca Seymour's declaration, smiles were still etched onto determined faces. 

"Do not forget to write, girls," Lady Charlotte Allan chimed in as she hugged Diana and Alicia, "I want to know everything that goes on, since neither Arthur nor Frederica seem to think letters are of any importance."

Frederica Fleming chuckled nervously and her husband half smiled in response. It wasn't that they thought letters to be a tiresome ordeal, it was just that with her husband always at work, Frederica had neither the time nor the heart to exchange stories about home when nothing ever did happen, and she had spoken the concern often times.

"We will miss you," Francis and Judith affirmed as they embraced both Alicia and Diana at their waist.

The little girls did not understand how farewells worked; they seemed to think that when the words were said, they were for forever. No matter how many times Alicia or Diana reminded them that they would be only gone for a short while, the girls would not seem to get any less sad about it, their almond shaped eyes twinkling. But then again, even short whiles seemed like forever sometimes.

Rebecca had little to say as departing words, which was not at all surprising considering her little fiasco, and Oscar and Adam had equally genteel words at their disposal.

After promising a detailed account of the library in Portsmouth to both Miles and Henrietta, a sketched portrait of the new baby when it is born, to Mary Ann, a list of precautions and 'what to dos in cases of' from their fathers and uncles, and hugs from their mothers and aunts, Diana and Alicia joined their uncle and his family in the coach, which immediately set off, leaving a trail of happy and melancholy goodbyes in its wake.