Her hissed response wax definitely not the one Will had hoped for. Then again, this wasn't how he envisioned asking her, either. That plan consisted of flowers and romance and a long speech about why she had to forgive and marry him. It also was supposed to follow after months of courting and receiving the Fawley's permission. The slip of the tongue request (demand more like) was a far cry from anything worthy of her.

Still, he said and meant it. There was no walking it back now. Will waited until the butler scurried off to take her hand gently in his own. "Yes, marriage." The panic he felt this morning was one slip from becoming a reality. Diana needed someone to look out for her, to care for and cherish her, in the ways she seemed incapable of managing herself. (Afrer all, who stood inches away from an angry, violent bird and not even sensed it!) Will didn't know how he would cope if anything were to ever happen to her.

"Your parents won't send you to Singapore if you're engaged. And I'll be there to protect you from chaos such as yesterday. A weight heavier than the universe itself settled upon my chest when I thought it was you who was hurt. Diana...you should know my feelings towards you remain very much the same."