It was the late afternoon on the now and Claire was doing my hair. My gown tonight was gorgeous and my hair looked beautiful.

I jumped slightly when I heard a girl shouting 'DIANA, MAKE HASTE!' It didn't sound like the mother or clearly any of the brothers. But then it came to me, it must've been the other daughter telling me to hurry the fuck up. I thanked Claire and hurried to the top of the staircase where I finally saw ANOTHER brother and the sister who shouted for me.

My eyes welled up a bit at the thought that only yesterday my real family was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs telling me to get a move on. I miss them terribly. My mum getting frustrated at me, my dads terrible jokes and Emily's little laugh. But it only pushed me to try and find a way home even more, which was exactly what I was going to do after getting through this dreaded night of Mrs Haywood pushing me into the arms of 60 year old men. That's always what it's like in the movies anyway. I'd need to find a way to look like I cared about finding a husband, so it wouldn't be suspicious, but also try to find a way to go home.

"Little sister." immediately knew Ambrose was speaking to me. "Pick a brother to wear on your arm tonight." he added. I cocked my head to the side and smiled "well of course I could have no other than the head of the house on my arm on the most important night of my life" I said coming down the stairs. Everyone smiled and Francis came forward with his arm out. "You look lovely Diana" he said. "Thank you brother" i teased. He huffed and laughed in reply. "I would be very fortunate to have Ambrose and Matthew on my arms" Mrs Haywood suggested.

Aha! The third son is Matthew -

I turned around to see Mrs Haywood sandwiched between her two sons and said "dear brothers you won't take my choice to heart?" clearly getting on Ambrose's nerves. The whole family broke out into laughter including Ambrose. "Of course not little sister" he said kicking the back of my leg. "Ow!" yet still smiling, he raised his eyebrows up in reply. I shook my head and turned back around ready to leave for the ball.

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(Play music while reading for ✨atmosphere✨)

When we arrived I had set my eyes upon the dazzling room, it really was one of the most spectacular things you have ever seen. The room was filled with laughter and music, and to my surprise there actually seemed to people around my age there, which I couldn't help but smile at. Everyone seemed so content and happy dancing and promenading with each other part of me wanted to join them, lthough I knew that wasn't going to happen because Mrs Haywood and Francis would have to properly 'set me up' with someone eligible first.

"Right then, let's graze as mother would say" Francis mocks. "Why of course Mrs Haywood" I joke and laugh into his shoulder.

We walk around for a maximum of 10 seconds before we are approached by a rather large man, late 60s, a large nose with froth building up in the corners of his mouth. Oh dear god.

"Lord Haywood. Miss Haywood you are looking very handsome this evening" he mumbled spit repelling from his mouth. I try to very subtlety wipe the spit from my cheek and Francis seems to notice my refrain. "Sir Anthony Lewis thank you." He said. "Your lordship I was just wondering if your sister would do me the honour of a dance tonight?" I squeezed Francis's arm indicating a DO NOT MAKE ME DANCE WITH IT.

"I'm sure she'd love to." He said clearly in pain from my tightened grip. I turned my head to him wide eyed wondering what the fuck he was thinking. He lowered his head and whispered in my ear "sorry Diana, but mother would have killed me if I'd refused. I know I'm the head of the house but she is still my mother." I let out a sigh of giving in and held out my hand to Mr Lewis. "Shall we?" I said to him with a very fake smile plastered across my face.

As soon as the music had come on I realised that I had no idea how to dance. I knew how to dance, BUT NOT HOW TO WALTZ. I took a minute to think back to every period drama I've watched Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Bridgerton, War and Peace etc. and most of the time they're doing the same thing. Twirling and lifting the back of their hands up to face one another, I could just try and copy everyone else if that doesn't go to plan.

Sir Lewis and I were faced opposite each other in a line of other dancers and the music began.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I tried my best to copy everyone else without being too obvious and making a fool out of myself. And after a while it seemed to be the same thing over and over again yet still very entertaining. Making arcs and bridges out of each others arms and swopping partners every now and then.

While dancing, from the corner of my eye I couldn't help but notice a gentlemen similar to my age come in and stand next to another gentlemen very flushed. They two men began discussing things between each other and laughing like he's some sort of secret assassin reporting back to base or something. For a brief second he looked up and managed to catch me staring, so I immediately put my head down and carried on laughing with the dancers.

We went round the back of the house where the ball was being held and I pushed her against the wall. Coming very close to her i caressed her cheek with my left hand taking in her beauty and scent, but I couldn't wait much longer before crashing my lips into hers.

I didn't care about marriage, children or even standards. As long as I had Letitia I would be contempt, she was perfect in my eyes and I'd never wanted to be with anyone more in my life. Though our parents would never let us marry as she is of lower class compared to me.

Our affair had been going on for a year now, but after this season of me pretending to care about finding a wife we were going to get married in secret and elope. In order to make the season more bearable though, we needed to come up with a distraction. We needed to find a woman who had no desire to marry either so that we could convince her to pretend to form an attachment with me making us both unavailable to potential partners. Although it is very unlikely that we will find a woman not in want of a husband unless she was 2 or 3 years of age.

Once Letitia and I were no longer in each other's company we decided that she would go in first and I would follow a minute or two later letting no suspicions rise.

When i walked into the ballroom I saw Letitia standing with a few friends and I winked at her before joining Thomas who was staring hopelessly at the dancing. "You decided to show then James" he announced. "Wouldn't miss yet another ball of the season for the world dear friend." I said hitting him twice on the back. Thomas did a double take at me and asked "are you ok James? You look flushed." "It's just rather hot in here." I replied.

I lifted my head up for a moment and found quite a beautiful women staring at me from the dance floor. Considering she was dancing with Mr Lewis I'm fairly certain she's rather look anywhere apart from at him, but something on her face looked intrigued as to what Thomas and I were discussing. The moment didn't last very long as the second she saw me looking she pretended as though she hadn't looked in this direction at all.

I was very embarrassed when he caught me staring, I feel like I may have put ideas into his head. Although, he was one fine looking man so I wouldn't have been too upset if he had gotten down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

Once the dance was over we all clapped and I ran away from Sir Lewis as quickly as I could before he had the chance to ask me to dance again. The rest of the night was wonderful as well and I had almost forgotten about all the things troubling me. It was as if every time I was spun around or I let out a laugh, weight was being lifted off my shoulders bit by bit and I was finally able to endure some relief.

Once we got home I was forcing Ambrose and Matthew to take turns in spinning me around and catching me as I pretended to fall. 'This evening was perfect! Wouldn't you say Mr Haywood?' I asked Matthew. 'Well apart from the times I was getting frustrated at all the women falling at my feet, yes I'd have to agree with you Miss Haywood' he joked. We were both crashing into each other laughing uncontrollably and I think I even let out a snort by accident.

When I was finally able to retire to my bed I was hoping that tomorrow would have been exactly the same. But I wasn't thinking clearly! My main objective for tomorrow is to find away to go home to the 21st bloody century.

Though if it was home, why did finding a way to get back to it feel like a burden?