April 18th, 1890 — Swan Lake Ball

— ☙ —

I'm so encaptured, got me wrapped up in your touch
Feel so enamored, hold me tight within your clutch
How do you do it, you got me losing every breath
What did you give me to make my heart beat out my chest?

If anyone knew how to throw a dazzling, dark gala, it was Camilla Zabini, Diana mused as she and her family stepped onto the floating Pavillion. Clever to have music playing on a body of water; it only amplified the sound even more which gave the ball and even more ethereal quality. The raven-haired witch eyed the swans swimming peacefully around the lake. Best avoid them for a while. She wasn't too fond of being snipped at if she got too close.

As expected, many attendants were wearing white. Diana herself would be wearing white soon, but as it stood her dress was an inky black dotted with the smallest of golden crystals which started out in small quantities at the middle of the skirt and grew until they were numerous gathered at the hem. A clever little decorative charm made it seem like they were moving slightly as she walked. The same crystals were gathered in the same design at the bust-line and on the sleeves. Her cloak was decorated with faint black feathers; an homage to Odile. Despite what Diana thought, Allegra had suggested wearing black as opposed to white. "Everyone will be wearing white dear, and plus you must save the sight of you in white for your wedding."

Diana had only partially agreed with her mother, as usual. And so she waited, dancing with both her brother as well as her father before she saw who she'd been waiting for. She beamed as she ended the dance with her father and made her way to him. As she did so, everything that was black on her dress transfigured to white; everything that was gold turned into a dusty, silvery blue. "Mr. Abbott," she said softly, curtseying once she was in front of him.

— William Abbott —

The following 1 user Likes Diana Abbott's post:1 user Likes Diana Abbott's post
   William Abbott

---

Will hadn't stopped smiling in days. The meeting with Diana's father wasn't without its bumps (the impromptu visit the day before raised a few concerns) but somehow or another Will had managed to convince Mr. Fawley to consent to the courtship. It was a relief, really, for if he hadn't Will likely would've asked Diana to elope. She wouldn't, of course, to do so would ruin her completely. He just knew he could no longer live without her.

The gala tonight was to be their first public outing as a courting couple. He had meant to call upon her at least once over the past few days, but his mother had required an endless amount of assistance. Tonight, though, he belonged solely to Diana, and he couldn't be happier.

"Good evening, Ms. Fawley." Will greeted with a broad grin. It was then that he took in the changes to her gown and he froze midstep. There were enough blue sparkles about her to ensure the dress wasn't bridal white, but it was so close to what he thought a wedding gown to be that he had to reassure himself that tonight was in fact not their wedding. "You look lovely."

  

---

Amazing Set by Lady <3

"You're too kind," she returned, her smile evident even in her voice as she surveyed him. It was the first time they'd met that she could remember was somewhere they both meant to be at the same place and at the same time. Diana knew him and Will knew her, but only up until a point.

What had changed of him in the time that they'd been apart? Was he still the Will she knew? In some ways she figured yes - she trusted her instincts when it came to people and Will still felt like the one she had fallen for all those years ago. "I hope your evening has been satisfactory so far." She commented lightly, knowing the context behind it was that both of theirs had just become undeniably better.

  

---

He wasn't kind enough. If he was, he would've been shouting her praise from the top of the pavilion so all around could hear the echoes. But, if others knew how ardently he loved her they might pose questions, questions Will neither had the desire or patience to entertain.

"Mildly satisfactory. It was enjoyable watching [INSERT QUIDDITCH TEAM HERE] win the cup today. Much as I was disheartened Montrose didn't win." He rambled, utterly missing the opportunity to charm her in his excitement to talk about quidditch. "And your evening? Have you been here long?" Will was late and he knew it, but between watching the game and getting ready for tonight the lateness couldn't be avoided.

  

---

Amazing Set by Lady <3

Though she didn't know much about Quidditch, she knew Will was an avid fan. It made her rather anxious; Will had already declared his intention to propose, but she felt the need to let him know she would do her best to understand it and be a good supportive wife. Now was not the time to assure him of her intentions though. "My condolences on Montrose's loss," she said, truly meaning it. She opened her mouth to ask him a question in return, however he continued on and she was more than content with remaining still.

If Diana was being perfectly honest with herself, she was just glad he was here. Even his presence was enough to lift her spirits, and she found herself standing taller around him. "I've not been here for too long," She said, smiling up at him. "and I believe my evening as just gotten that much brighter."

  

---

Montrose's loss was to be expected, as the team never faired well against their competitors. Will's advisors warned him time and time again to cut his losses with the team and stop hemorrhaging money, but he couldn't do that to them. Without a sponsor to sell the team to they wouldn't last more than a season or two. And what then? There'd just be no more Magpies? Will detested the thought. Still, he couldn't wave off the sympathies of his future wife. No, the last thing Will desired was to make things awkward between them so soon. Instead, he frowned slightly, nodded, then shrugged. "There's always next year, right?" And the year after that. And the year after that.

"Besides," he continued easily, "if they had won I wouldn't be able to be here with you tonight." There would be victory parties to attend to, after all. Though, a victory party would've been nice...

Then, Diana smiled at him and the thought vanished. He was at his happiest with her on his arm. Will beamed at her and took a sip of his drink.

  

---

Amazing Set by Lady <3

Diana felt her cheeks flush as she looked up at him, her dark eyes easily reflecting the scene around them. Looking up at him she had a feeling she knew what he was thinking. They hadn't been together long but that didn't prevent her from thinking about how nice it would have been to be on his arm at a victory party. She resisted the urge to reach out and pat his arm. "There will be a time when Montrose will get its due glory." She said, a small smile on her lips.

She rose her glass to him subtly before taking a sip. "Until then, you're right, it may be that I end up the victor tonight seeing as I have you here." Diana felt uncharacteristically bold tonight; something that she didn't think she would feel around him, but welcomed the sensation all the same.

  

---

Even if Montrose never won — a possibility more likely than he cared to admit — Will knew having Diana alongside him would be enough. "To the victor go the spoils." He teased lightly and extended his arm to her as an invitation to take a turn about the room. At this point he'd do just about anything to have her in his arms.

"Are you disheartened not to be visiting Singapore?" He then asked. Already, Will had grand plans of where their honeymoon would take them. "I know you were to be leaving soon..."

  

---

Amazing Set by Lady <3

Spoils indeed, Diana thought as she grinned up at him. Her previous desire to make contact with his arm granted as he offered it to her. She reached out with a gloved hand and took it, knowing her parents certainly wouldn't mind seeing as they remained underneath the pagota. At the mention of Singapore, Diana grinned, knowing that it was Will's asking her to court that was the reason for her cancelled "trip".

"I'm somewhat disappointed I won't be seeing my relatives there, however I don't regret the decision by my parents to keep me here," She responded, a sly smile slipping onto her lips as she placed her glass down on a passing tray. "I have a feeling I might see them sooner than I think." Another grin; he'd already declared his desire to marry her. It was only a matter of time until he did, and then her family would come for the wedding.

  

---

"Oh?" He asked, his tone teasing and likely betrayed how much he knew of her answer. The extended Fawley branch were to be invited to their wedding, of course. Courting and being engaged were mere formalities at this point, seeing as Will would've married her tomorrow if she permitted it.

He expertly led them around the various groups of people, careful to avoid going too near the edge of the pavilion. "Some grand celebration in your future?"

  

---

Amazing Set by Lady <3

She knew it was only a matter of weeks. Months if they wanted to prolong this courtship, but Diana knew Will's intentions at the end. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up, however fact of the matter was that Will had already done so. "There are always grand celebrations to be had," She replied easily. "After all, Mr. Abbott, is not the World Cup a cause for celebration?"

  

---

"Sure it is." He replied casually. Her relatives from Singapore would likely want to come support their own team if it got to that point, after all. After a second though he continued softly for only her ears, "A wedding celebration would be a better celebration."

  

---

Amazing Set by Lady <3

His breath in her ear made her smile, with his words bringing an even brighter smile to her face. She giggled. "Well, there are certainly many weddings this upcoming season," she teased, playing coy. "Though I wonder what wedding my relatives would find themselves coming all the way to England!"

  

---

"I wonder, indeed," he murmured in response, as though he hadn't asked her to marry him two weeks ago. The ring had already been commissioned, the stones chosen from an old family heirloom. It was really only a matter of time before he asked her properly.

The song began to shift and Will looked over at his future bride. "May I have this dance?"

  

---

Amazing Set by Lady <3