Chapter 28

Chapter 28

"This is just a mess," the dowager duchess said when Mark returned home.

"What is?" he asked.

He had spent a lovely afternoon with Diana where they had shared a meal and danced together and laughed as if nothing happened.

"I have journalists writing to me. They're asking me to tell them what happened last night!" she explained.

"Do not worry yourself about it," Mark said. "These things always blow over. This time will be no different."

"The Duke and Duchess of Essex had to drag Lady Elizabeth away to get her to stop causing such a scene!" his mother continued. "And I've heard this morning that Viscount Starling has run off to his countryside manor."

"I suppose he can't face what he has done," Mark said. "So, will you speak with the journalists?"

"Absolutely not," his mother said. "I want nothing to do with that situation. They need to keep my name away from those people's reputation."

His mother took the small stack of papers and cast it into the fire. The pair watched it burn together.

Mark felt as if nothing in the world could possibly get him down then. He had spent the morning with a beautiful woman. Someone he only ever wanted to spend more time with. She had shown him how to laugh and dance freely again.

"Where have you been?" his mother asked.

"I've been to check in on Miss Fairchild," Mark said plainly. "I needed to know how she is doing after last night."

His mother remained quiet. Mark still wasn't sure if she'd come around to the idea of Diana being his potential wife. His mother was a tough mind to change. At least Lady Elizabeth would no longer be an option. Although, he would not be surprised if his mother had another woman waiting to meet him.

"And?" his mother asked as he turned to leave. "Is she alright?"

There was genuine concern on her face then as she waited for him to answer. It would appear that his mother had softened to the idea of Diana.

"She's doing just fine, Mother. Thank you for asking," he said.

"It's terrible what they did to her, isn't it?" his mother asked, staring deep into the flames. "She does not deserve something like this."

"She is stronger than most," Mark answered. "I have confidence that she will not let something like this derail her."

His mother nodded then. "I like that."

Mark paused and walked back towards her. "Do you mean to say that you're rather coming around to the idea of her?"

His mother went quiet again like she often did when she didn't want to lose an argument.

"Yes," she confessed. "I can see that you are happier when you've spent time with her. And Evangeline only speaks her praises. That's important, you know."

"I know," Mark said with a pleased smirk.

He left his mother then and returned to his study where he intended to catch up on some work. But it proved to be an impossible task that day. His mind was flooded with thoughts of Diana. It was all he could think about. All he could concentrate on.

By the end of the day, all he was left with was a list of places he wanted to take her and show her. If she would allow it, he would spend time with her every day. For as long as he possibly could.

With every new minute that he spent in her presence, their life together became a clearer image in his mind. A vision that he wanted to bring to fruition. He would stop at nothing to make it happen.

Already, he could hear her laughter fill his home. He could see Diana and Evangeline dancing and playing together in the house and garden. Mark could imagine the woman that Evangeline would grow up to be with a woman like Diana to guide her.

By that evening, he had sent out a letter inviting her to the next day's planned trip. He could think of nothing else. And he wanted nothing else from his life either.

That night, as he tucked Evangeline into bed, he promised her that he would do whatever it took to keep Miss Fairchild in his life. He told his daughter about their courtship, to which she jumped up to hug him and thank him.

It had been a long time since he'd felt such peace in his home. It seemed like a luxury that he did not really deserve. As though, at any point, he would wake up from the dream and spend the rest of his life longing for Diana.

As the days passed, their activities only became longer in length. One hour seemed like a minute when he was with Diana. She was the sweetest thing that had ever entered his life. He could be standing right at her side and still wish that he was standing nearer to her. Nothing like that had ever happened to him before.

The days seemed more beautiful and warmer when she was around.

Some days, she came to their house for dinner. Even his mother seemed to be enjoying her company more. His mother had even laughed one evening at dinner. She had laughed like she had always laughed when his father was still alive.

It had been genuine and enjoyed.

Anna and Hugh had also been spending their time together, and most days, they went places as a group. Everyone seemed to fit in perfectly as if it had always been meant to be.

*

Diana woke up early as usual that day. This time, though, her work would wait until later. In an unusual turn of events, Mark had invited her for an early morning walk through the park. They had spent nearly every day together since the party, and she liked it that way more than she could express.

"You look pretty," Emma said, popping her head around the door.

"Thank you," Diana said. "I'm going for a walk with the duke."

"Of course, you're seeing him today," Emma said with a smile. "Things are going very well between the two of you, aren't they?"

"Yes," Diana said proudly. "Now, help me choose some jewellery."

Emma did as she was asked, and Diana was soon kitted out with sapphire earrings and a pearl necklace.

"I actually came by because I wanted to speak with you," Emma said.

"Oh?"

Emma sat down on the bed and sighed. "I want to thank you," she explained. "For letting me stay here. I know that you did not have to do that, but you did anyway. You have no idea what it means to me."

"You're lovely to have around, Emma," Diana assured her. "Please don't tell me you're thinking of leaving."

"Heavens, no," Emma said. "I wouldn't know where to go if I did. I just wanted to say that I'm a different person without my family around. A better person. Someone I'm proud to be, and I have you to thank for that."

"You do not need to thank me for anything," Diana said. "You have always been a good person. Your family merely had you feeling otherwise. Now, don't mention this again. This is your home now. Make the most of it."

She had no more time to speak. Diana and Anna were going to meet Mark and Hugh at the park that morning. It had been a month since the party and finally, the talk of the drama that had happened was starting to die down.

Not that it had bothered Diana, but it had been difficult for them to go anywhere without hearing some mention of it.

Half an hour later, Diana and Anna were greeted by Hugh and Mark, and they started their walk. They walked all through the park, admiring the sights and sounds.

"Evangeline wanted to be here today," Mark said.

"It would have been lovely to have her. Why did she stay?" she asked.

"At my request, I confess." Mark tugged a leaf of a tree and tossed it into the wind.

"I thought it would be pleasant to spend the day as just the two of us today," he said sweetly.

"There's always tomorrow," Diana said with a smile. "Perhaps I can have another tea party with her soon."

"That would be wonderful."

There was something different about Mark that day. He seemed to speed up and slow his pace without much rhyme or reason as they walked. He would stop to look at plants and admire their leaves and colours.

While it was enjoyable, it was unusual. Something was on his mind, but Diana decided she'd wait until the right moment to question him about it. He was distracted.

They rounded a bend, and soon, they were at the spot where they had first picnicked together. The day they had met. There, two large picnic blankets awaited them with food and refreshments. Anna and Hugh made their way over to one of them.

"This is a surprise!" Diana said with a wide smile. "And very thoughtful."

"This is where we met," Mark said happily.

They made themselves comfortable, and not long afterward, Mark became quieter than usual. Soon, it felt as if Diana was having a conversation with herself. Whatever was bothering him, she wanted to get to the bottom of it.

"Something is on your mind," she said plainly. "And I'm eager to know what it is."

"I know," Mark said. "I am aware that I am not behaving quite like myself today. I apologize."

"Is it something I've done?" she asked.

Mark smiled widely at her. "I suppose it is," he answered.

Diana wasn't sure what to make of it all. She scanned her memory to figure out what she had done to elicit such odd behaviour in him. Had she said something? Did he not like the way she had dressed that day?

"What is it then?" she asked. "I must know."

"You've captured me entirely," he answered. "Miss Fairchild, there is not a moment of the day when you are not on my mind. When we are not together, I spend my time waiting for when we will see each other again. I fear it feels a little like torture."

Diana smiled. "It would seem that you and I share the same symptoms."

"I don't like the way I feel when I am not around you," he confessed. "That feeling of emptiness, of longing. It consumes me."

Mark took the glass from her hand and placed it on one side so that he could hold her hand in his. He looked into her eyes then and let out a defeated sigh.

"I must confess, Miss Fairchild, that I have come to love you."

Her heart tightened in her chest. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh or cry, jump into his arms, or run around and excitedly cheer. She wanted all those things and none of it.

"I have come to love you, too," she said calmly instead.

Mark appeared as if he would crumble. His shoulders relaxed as he squeezed her hand.

"Then you have made me the happiest man alive," he said with a smile.

Diana didn't know what to say or think. The words had been on her mind for so long. A love like that one she felt for him had always seemed so unattainable to her. But since the day she'd met Mark, he'd drawn her in, and she'd been unable to escape her feelings towards him since.

"If that is the case, Miss Fairchild," Mark continued. "Then would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

Diana gasped. It was as if the world around her had stopped completely. Everything was warm, and the answer burst out of her like fireworks.

"Yes!" she cried. "I would love nothing more than to be yours for eternity."