Diana rode out into the sunshine, appreciating the warmth it offered on the chilly Spring day. "You know, if you wanted a better ride we could take a trip outside of town and you wouldn't have to manage on the side saddle." Dominic replied as he galloped next to her.
Diana didn't listen, she had been preoccupied to keep an eye out for a fair-haired gentleman. It was about five minutes until noon and the gentleman was not in sight. Instead, she found other people scattered lazily around the Park.
"Are you looking for someone?" Dominic peered at his sister.
"Dominic, have you given much thought to the suggestions on the trip?" Diana asked ignoring his question.
"Yes of course and Italy will have good weather by then." Dominic nodded at acquaintances that passed by, again none of them being the prince.
"What about being in Spain- Pamplona for the Festival of San Fermin in the Summer?" Diana asked.
"Most certainly! I advise dear sister we probably shouldn't mention that to our mother." Dominic grinned. "Dissolute behavior and excessive drinking and all."
"Which is why I will be with the best brother." Diana laughed.
"And brothers are the best protectors I hope." A familiar thick accent sounded behind them. The prince rode up in a beautiful black horse, looking very much a royal despite not donning any royal emblems or uniform again. Diana wondered if she will ever get rid of her infatuation for him.
"Ah, your highness." Dominic nodded in surprise, the prince wasn't alone. With him was another gentleman that Diana had seen on occasion and a lady, a pretty petite thing with golden curls and green eyes.
The guests had surprised her, though it would have been highly suspicious for the prince to go off riding on his own she supposed.
"May we join you?" Prince Friedrich stopped in front of them, his gaze raking over her.
"Of course." Diana answered for her brother, glancing curiously at his guests.
"Please, let me make introductions, this is a good friend of mine, Fraulein Elsbeth Von Brandenburg, and her fiance, Sir Elliot Walters, Baronet." Prince Friedrich announced. "This is the Honourable Dominic Vincent and his sister Miss Diana Vincent."
Diana and Dominic exchanged curious glances. "I have heard so much about you." the young Fraulein observed her. There was a stiffness in her voice and directness that was surprising from such a lady who personified the very meaning of a delicate flower.
"Oh! Well, if they are good things, they are certainly true, if they are not....likely still true." Diana grinned, eliciting a laugh from the prince but Miss Von Brandenburg and Sir Walters still stared at her, not at all humored.
"Shall we ride on?" Sir Walters suggested moving ahead, the dullness in his voice made it all the more disconcerting with the Vincent siblings.
"Are you sure about this, they seem like a tough crowd, with the exception of your prince of course?" Dominic leaned over whispering.
"He is not my Prince but please do go over and humor them while I speak with him." Diana pleaded.
Dominic made a sour face looking at the couple ahead of them who were continuing on their horses.
"You're my favorite brother." Diana batted her eyes grinning.
"You owe me a favor then." Dominic sighed, looking back at them with weariness.
Dominic trotted up to the couple leaving Diana to ride next to Prince Friedrich.
"I apologize." he nodded toward them. "I could not elicit a more engaging group, if I did then I fear we would not be left alone. Besides, Fraulein Von Brandenburg is a guest who arrived here a few days ago and her sister is a childhood friend from home. My aunt had decided that she would make an excellent match with Sir Walters and are now becoming acquainted."
"Oh! It's quite alright, Dominic can charm a polar bear." Diana assured him. "Though, I am surprised they are getting acquainted after becoming engaged?"
The prince frowned, "It's not uncommon in royal families for this to occur, but they had agreed so to each their own I suppose. However, for me it's important I make my own match."
Diana decided she did not like the dark cloud that seemed to pass over his face and guessed he had been subject to similar schemes. There was always the smallest rumor the prince had run away from home, having barely been there in his adult years, though he was not Crown Prince his responsibilities surely still bore a weight. Diana began to wonder if his need to repair his reputation would have anything to do with a possible arrangement. Their horses fell at a leisurely pace far enough behind from her brother and his guests but close enough to be considered appropriate by peers in the park.
"I wanted to thank you for coming yesterday and bearing it all. It was not my intention for such a dry call." Diana started.
"Please, it was anything but. I enjoy speaking with you no matter the situation." he replied, casting a sidelong glance.
Diana suppressed a smile, "Even if it involved an overbearing mother and two sisters falling in love before your very eyes."
"It would be worth it, if it even included Lady Danbury making social commentary." he said.
Diana snorted, now laughing, earning her a disapproving look from people moving past them.
"Tell me, the Queen, did she truly leave?" Diana asked after she calmed down. Diana had thought it was very convenient timing that the Queen happened to leave for the country. This bought Diana time before the royal planned for her assassination after making her moves.
"It was..required but I am informed she will return promptly when possible," he said. "But for now, I am a free man in the palace and I am taking advantage of the peace and actually managing my own schedule."
"Managing your own schedule, how lucky! My mother is still in town." Diana sighed.
"You should meet my mother, she's probably comparable, it would be quite entertaining to see her pitted against yours when it comes to managing her children."
"Let me know when she is in town and bets can be made. My brothers make great bookkeepers and enforcers, besides I'll need pin money for my trip." Diana couldn't help herself smiling as he laughed. Diana decided to make him laugh was rather enjoyable and he didn't seem to care that did it freely... in public.
"It would be quite the event indeed, perhaps surpassing the boxing matches." he grinned. After a moment of passing a group of giggling ladies and the prince offering a polite nod, Diana decided to broach the subject.
"Tell me, have you found anyone willing to propose to me?"
At first, he didn't reply, waiting patiently for another group of ladies to pass.
"I have selected two people in my acquaintance, I have yet to convince them. The matter is delicate and will require some finesse," his voice quiet, that Diana nearly had to lean close to hear him.
"I suppose knowing these two gentlemen are out of the question at this time?" Diana whispered.
"It would be a risk and much too early." he said quickly.
"What kind of risk?" Diana raised a brow catching his eye nearly stopping her horse.
A small knowing smile grew, for a moment he was silent letting more people pass them with a nod, it was strange. It felt like prior to the Prince's arrival her brother and she seemed to be the only ones in the park, now the park was littered with more people. Once out of earshot he replied reining his horse. "Has it occurred to you that you risk having them fall in love with you?"
Diana was speechless and the smirk on his face surely meant he was teasing. "Oh, poppycock, that is ridiculous."
"Poppycock?" he repeated, the ill timing earned a gasp from nearby park-goers with children who overheard making Diana giggle.
"Now, that is entirely your fault." he shook his head attempting his best glare but failing miserably by joining her laugh.
"But in all seriousness, I would question your friends if they are easily swayed by pretty faces and easy manners." Diana mocked.
"It's not just any pretty face and easy manners...it's simply you." the Prince replied. Diana once again was speechless, his sky blue eyes met hers. Then he broke with a chuckle.
"You were jesting just now again. " Diana glared.
"Come we are falling behind, I'm sure your vanity can handle it." he replied smiling, urging his horse forward.
Diana trotted after him, ahead the only voice she could hear was her brother, Dominic carrying on the conversation seemingly all on his own. Dominic glanced back sending a pleading look at her.
"I believe we must return home soon." Diana sighed.
"Of course! I didn't mean to keep you this long." he said.
"No need for apologies, your highness, I enjoyed every bit of it." Diana rather felt she wished she had more time without the constraints and propriety. "Oh! I believe my mother will be sending you an invitation to dinner, when it arrives be prepared to do battle, my brothers will be a terror regardless of your royal status."
At this Dominic moved next to her looking offended. "We are not imbeciles, we will be gentle."
Diana shook her head in disagreement, the prince chuckled and his guests continued the opposite way, not wishing to take part in the conversation.
"I look forward to it if I at least have one ally at the table, I shall be glad it will be you." the prince replied, his guests no longer hiding impatience had cleared their throats loudly in an attempt for the prince's attention.
"Oh, I'm not sure I would count on that, your highness." Dominic replied, earning a sound smack in the arm.
"Don't listen to him, besides you've earned allies in the twins. You'll be fine." Diana assured him.
At that the Prince moved toward his guests, sending a parting wave before continuing.
Diana chuckled, "Amusing is he not."
Dominic had a brow raised, "Diana if you become a royal you better prepared for the tough crowds in his circle."
"Look, I've already had this conversation with many people, can you just trust me to see this through? I have received many calls since he started paying attention to me." Diana added absentmindedly.
Dominic stopped his horse a serious look dawned on his face, one she was familiar with when he was upset.
"Diana." he said slowly.
"What?" Diana faced him.
"You are my favorite sister by a slight margin from the twins, but so help me if you are using the Prince to get your two proposals to go on this tour, even I will put a stop to it." Dominic was red in the face and for a moment Diana had to process what he said slowly feeling all the blood rush to her head. "It's cruel to lead a man on like that especially he is quite taken with you."
"It's not like at all! He consented to help me." Diana said quickly her heart pounding, she berated herself for letting such a thing slip.
Dominic frowned, eyes dark and narrowed. "Explain yourself."
Diana told him everything about the scheme in nearly one breath. She explained how the Prince is pretending to flirt with her and had already found two people unattached willing to propose with expectations of her rejection. She explained how she was helping him rebuild his bachelor status from the damaging Lady Whistledown reports.
"So you see, we know what we are doing and we are taking advantage of the cards we are dealt," Diana said finally. Dominic listened to every word, looking less angry but more worried.
"Diana, this is still risky and could surely backfire." Dominic said.
"Trust me, I am dealing with the effects of my choices but the end goal is still the same and always has for me. If the Prince didn't agree to help me, then I would have found other ways." Diana said resolutely.
"That I believe, I suppose it could have been worse and you have both consented to this, and the parties involved are transparent. I am sorry for thinking you're a world-class viper." Dominic sighed. "That being said, doesn't mean I approve of what you are doing."
Diana was tired and now wanted to go home to her bed. "If you were born a woman, maybe you would understand - opportunities like this are nearly non-existent, I would be a fool if I didn't do what I can to take it."
//
A/N: If Diana was sorted in Hogwarts, she would surely be a Slytherin. The jury is still out on our Prince. ;)
I want to thank those who have added the book to their reading list, those who voted commented, followed, and are sticking with me! The way things are rolling, I am set to upload weekly.