March 28th, 1890 — Single's Soirée
Outfit

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I think the air is finally safe to breathe again
The world is in your palm now
So take a breath and calm down
Cause you have been selected

The Lovejoy residence was well and truly packed, though Diana hardly cared. There was something peculiarly off about this particular party, though, again, she hardly cared to pinpoint the reason as to why it was off. Despite the fact that she'd been out for quite some time, there was some thrill at the idea of socialization with her friends that Diana loved.

Yet despite all the wonderful conversations with her friends, there was still the matter of him. She hadn't seen him properly since their excursion almost a month ago. Mrs. Wellington had been well and recovered thank Merlin, but the last contact she'd had with him was when she sent her patronus to him. She would only be lying to herself if she said she wasn't looking for him the minute she'd stepped into the residence.

He would find her. She had faith in that at least. Their paths had crossed so many times, that had to mean something, didn't it? Her obsidian eyes were darting around the room, employing every tactic of observation Allegra Fawley had taught her in seeking people out from crowds. And then, as if she'd summoned him by the mere thought, Diana turned around. If anyone were close to her, they might be able to detect on her lips the given name of the person in front of her. She hardly dared voice it aloud, and so she curtseyed properly instead. "Mr. Abbott..."

— William Abbott —

  

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The chaos caused by Florida Man last month had plagued Will well throughout March. He thought to attempt working under Fitz at the ministry, but hadn't been able to make any sense of his work and quit soon after. Quitting had left a bad taste in his mouth and poor reputation in his wake, though Fitz, at least, understood. Will had his hands full already with managing his investments and Montrose — he didn't need to add in a traditional day job as well.

The ledgers were also affected in the carnage. What once were neat and tidy forms were now papers scrambled everywhere. Not even his advisor had been able to make much sense of it. It had taken Will weeks to have some semblance of order and was still a nightmare on most days.

Safe to say Will hadn't had the best of months.

Despite the constant headaches that were his ledgers and now preparing the team for the race to the finals (they actually made it this year, shockingly!), Will rarely went long without thinking of her. Her, with her raven hair and beautifully dark eyes. Will was a besotted fool all over again — always searching for her in the crowd and imagining ways to approach her. But, she hadn't given him any indication on the train that she, too, still felt the same; that she also yearned for the day they could simply be together without the added strain of Society. Diana, for all intents and purposes, was beyond his grasp.

Tonight, however, he knew the month of locking eyes across the room and steady avoidance was coming to a close. Will couldn't avoid her when he felt such lightness in his heart — when she was his light. He approached her less than an hour into the party, a polite smile on his face as he did and greeted her with, "Good evening, Ms. Fawley. I trust you've been well?" To speak of the train was a taboo, for most were blissfully unaware of the few minutes they spent alone. Of the pleading look in his eyes and warm kiss to her hand. And, with any luck, it would remain as such.

  

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Amazing Set by Lady <3

As soon as he addressed her, she couldn't help but beam up at him. The memory of their encounter on the train was enough to boost her spirits ten-fold. For the most part, she thought her rejection of him had led him to see her only as an obligation. But that was until the train to Irvingly. Poor Mrs. Wellington's predicament had resulted in the blissful moments that she and Will could share together, which were enough to lead Diana to think that perhaps...perhaps Will thought of her as more than just an obligation.

He'd left her alone to her thoughts for the briefest of moments before she'd went and found a member of the train staff to ask to escort her home. The look he'd given her was one she hadn't seen in years. It re-opened plenty of older memories she was content to relive on the way home, but most of all it awoke a hope in her she hadn't allowed herself to feel in ages. Maybe, just maybe they still had a chance, Diana thought. Maybe she hadn't missed her shot after all.

Diana involuntarily flexed her hand – the one he'd placed the tenderest of kisses upon – and resisted the urge to reach out to him standing in front of her. "I've been quite well," She said, feeling as if she could stay in this spot next to him for ages. "And yourself?" It was funny how their conversation mirrored the one they had at the ball so long ago, but Diana found herself rather eager to find out how he truly was. Back then, she'd thought the doors had firmly closed between them. But now there was a light she could see seeping through the cracks of the doors and she was going to do her damndest to make sure it grew brighter.

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   William Abbott

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Will found himself grinning at her smile. Years had passed since he last saw such genuine happiness on her face. The beautiful sight was one he sorely missed. "I've been well, thank you." He replied easily. It wasn't necessarily true, considering all the stress in his life, but he managed well enough.

He reached for two glasses off a passing waiter's tray and handed one to her without asking. Will hadn't forgotten how she fainted at a party last year. "Did Mrs. Wellington accompany you tonight?"

  

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Amazing Set by Lady <3

A simple gesture but no less significant. Diana accepted the drink happily and took a sip. Champagne bubbles tickled the back of her throat and she laughed. Their last encounter with Mrs. Wellington had left the chaperone with little desire to follow Diana around more and she sighed wistfully. "Unfortunately she did not." She responded amiably, though she knew there was an equally large crowd of chaperones at this party no doubt. "Mrs. Wellington's on a brief vacation," she said, though there was no chagrin in her voice.

She did have a different chaperone, though this one seemed much more lenient than her predecessor. Diana glanced over at the woman whose gaze only lingered on her charge occasionally. Thankfully, Diana was not a debutante to escape her chaperone, though she knew if she wanted to it wouldn't be too tough. "So I imagine you find yourself relieved." She said, feeling rather emboldened by the night.

  

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He immediately thought back to the train. Mrs. Wellington's half of the carriage had become suspended in time, but she was relatively unharmed. Will had seen to it for Diana's sake. The vacation couldn't be related to that event, could it? If Will had any hope of reuniting with Diana (which up until just seconds ago felt hopeless) he couldn't be injuring her chaperone. Of the transgressions he could make that had be near the top of the list. Will quirked a brow but didn't press the issue. Later perhaps he would inquire about her wellbeing. For now there were too many people around to bring up the train.

"A bit. Her glare was particularly intimidating." He admitted with a laugh. The new chaperone must not have noticed him yet, as she certainly wasn't hovering about their conversation like Mrs. Wellington did. "Do you greatly miss her company?"

  

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Amazing Set by Lady <3

His proximity to her made her want to tug him closer, though propriety was something thoroughly engrained, and she gripped her glass more firmly. Despite the heightened atmosphere she'd stepped into, she knew the news she had for him was not going to survive the apparent cheerfulness that seemed to lift up her spirits. Diana toyed with the stem of her glass, looking down at the bubbles floating there peacefully.

"I believe her presence made more of an impact upon me than I realize," she said, the words in her mouth stumbling over themselves as she contemplated how best to tell him what her family had told her this morning. Diana swallowed before looking up at him again, her brows knitting together slightly. The mask that she'd been so skilled at maintaining throughout the many seasons she'd attended faltered. "I should think I will miss her more sooner than I think, though." She began, still looking down at her glass.

  

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The request of a dance was on the tip of his tongue as the air between them suddenly changed. Her smile, once bright and shining dimmed into something sadder. Will's grip on his glass tightened unconciously and his brows furrowed. Whatever had caused this shift in her had to be serious...which only meant...

Fuck. Was someone courting her? Was she to be married off like so many of their peers?

"What is it?" Will asked tensely, already fearing the worst.

  

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Amazing Set by Lady <3

She could see his face visibly change at her statement. She opened her mouth, wishing to not delay Will's torture, for his expression certainly conveyed that her words had plummeted his mood. (In hindsight she would be oddly comforted by this; it meant he still had some iota of feeling for her, and Merlin he'd needed a good push.)

"It's just," she began, raising her eyes up to him again to regard him with a steady gaze. "My family told me that my relatives in Singapore are very much missing me as of late." The torturous part was that Allegra and Alaric had not been very descriptive in this announcement. "They should very much like that I spend a few seasons abroad with them." She looked down at her glass again but raised it once more to meet his gaze.

  

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Relatives in Singapore? Warning bells flashed ominously in his brain. At least if she was courting or engaged to someone else he might still see her in whatever capacity. They might become friends and one day reminisce on what they loss. Singapore, however, was clear on the other side of the world. Will had no business interests in Singapore, no reasons to visit. If she left, and Merlin knew she would be leaving if he didn't think of something, he knew he would never see her again.

He inhaled sharply, his gaze never left her own. Singapore. What the fuck was he supposed to do if she left to Singapore? "When...when would you be leaving?" Will asked quietly. He would propose to her tonight if she answered with tomorrow. Though he knew she would rather be off in Singapore with others who might love her better. Someone who wouldn't break her heart.

  

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Amazing Set by Lady <3

Despite the cheerfulness she'd experienced, the atmosphere felt heavy as she let the realization sink into the man standing opposite her. Did his expression convey what she had hoped he would think? "They wouldn't give me a date." She said, glad that he picked up on the fact that she would be leaving and not coming back. Her parents would set her up for courting in Singapore and that would be that. She would be allowed to visit on occasions but her primary residence would be thousands of miles away.

"They said it would be soon, but that the topic was," She took a breath here. "Very enthusiastically received by my relatives." Her brows furrowed. She knew she'd near failed at her seasons so far; she had little room to protest as vehemently as she would like.

  

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Soon. Was it soon as in tomorrow? Next week? Next Season? Just how long did he have to come up with a plan before she was gone from his life forever? Will looked down towards his glass, his lighter and bubbly mood positively gone. He had always known in the back of his mind that he would one day lose her — that she would marry someone else and be happy, but he hadn't expected such finality to it.

He hadn't expected to never see her again.

Will dropped his glass on the table behind him and stretched his hand out to her. "Dance with me...please." He didn't know if she would be standing up another suitor for the next set, and he didn't care. She was leaving, and he would have this dance.

  

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Amazing Set by Lady <3

If she could down the entire glass of champagne here in public, she just might have. Instead, Diana put down her glass on the passing tray. "Yes." She said softly.

The world, she thought as she reached out a gloved hand to place into his, had absolutely no mercy when it came to its subjects. In her heart she knew they'd belonged together - but she knew that a perfect match was one in a million. Those souls were so fortunate to be together. It wasn't fair. She wanted to be with Will. He was showing all the signs that he wanted to be with her, but she couldn't beg her mother to change her mind, not when it seemed so resolutely made. It wasn't fair.

  

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