Miss Mori and Colonel Lin were found in the middle of the wood. Mai thought their state of dress a little too ruffled considering all they had done was walk.

Miss Hara obviously shared such a thought.

"What on earth have you two been doing?"

Miss Mori spoke first.

"Colonel Lin fell over and in my attempts to help him to his feet, I also toppled."

Mai laughed behind her hand.

"Oh really, then why is there no dirt on his coat?" Miss Hara asked with an amused smile.

"I brushed it off," Colonel Lin said.

His face had reddened and he had attempted to hide this fact behind a length of his dark hair.

"You are mighty lucky not to have stained it," Mai said. "Perhaps we ought to return to the house."

"Yes, let's," Miss Mori said. "Why were you two running around like children anyway?"

"My mother has sent a letter of consent," Miss Hara explained.

"Oh that is wonderful news!"

"Noll is sending for the license now," Mai continued.

The four young people walked back to the house together, laughing and planning their futures.

That evening, at dinner, the entire party was surprised by the arrival of a visitor.

"Mother!" Noll exclaimed. "What are you doing, travelling so late at night?"

"It seems my own sons are incapable of telling me of important news," Lady Everston said as she swept into the dining hall. A servant pulled up a chair for her and she took it with a huff. "You must be Miss Hara. I believe I am to be your mother-in-law, is that correct?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Miss Hara replied.

"And why, Eugene, did I not hear this news from your own mouth?" Lady Everston demanded.

"I—"

"Who did you hear it from?" Noll asked. "That is what I would like to know."

"That is unimportant."

"Mother, we only received permission from her parents today, I was going to come to you tomorrow and—"

"And what of my permission?"

"Mother, I am a grown man, I do not require your—"

"Eugene Davis! I am your mother and I will not allow you to marry anyone that has not been vouched for by a person of character!"

Mr Davis looked away, somewhat ashamed.

"Lady Everston, if I might be so bold," Mai began. "Miss Hara is a good friend of mine, I call her sister in everything but blood. It is my fault they met and—"

"Your sister? Is she a good kind of girl?"

"The very best!"

"I can also attest to her character," Miss Mori piped up. "It is she that assisted me in London when I set up the ball to find Oliver a wife."

"And you!" Lady Everston cried. "When are you marrying Colonel Lin?"

"We return to London tomorrow so that we can—"

"Tomorrow?"

"What?"

"You did not tell—"

"You never asked," Miss Mori said to the table at large with a laugh. "But we return to London so that I might be married in my own parish."

"Wonderful," Lady Everston said. "And will you two—" She sent Mr Davis and Miss Hara a dirty look, "— be visiting your Father any time soon? Do you not think he will want to hear of this?"

"We intended to visit tomorrow," Mr Davis replied weakly.

"Mother, I think you have caused them enough distress over an event that, by all means, you should be thrilled with," Noll muttered. "Now will you join us for the rest of the meal?"

"I have a new daughter to ingratiate myself with," Lady Everston muttered. "Of course I will stay."

"Good," Noll said. He called for another plate and everyone continued eating.

"Your mother can be a little frightening at times," Mai whispered to her husband.

"Indeed, but she never intends any harm by her words. I think she was just a little upset that she might be the last person to find out the news, which in itself is somewhat of a feat."

"Perhaps we ought to allow her to make a little fuss over this matter, to raise her spirits."

"What would you suggest?" Noll asked.

"She enjoys parties, does she not? Perhaps one in honour of the two marriages that are to take place in the following weeks."

"The party itself will be a bore," Noll muttered. "But it will keep her busy for a few weeks. It is not a dreadful proposal. Suggest it to her after dinner."

And so Mai did. When the men began playing cards, Mai took a seat next to her mother-in-law and assisted with the pouring of coffee and handing out of sweet things. Once everyone had a drink, Mai ventured to speak a few words.

"Don't you think, Lady Everston, that—"

"Please, my dear, call me Luella."

Mai smiled.

"Well then, Luella, do not you think that a little party or something of the sort to celebrate the upcoming marriages would be a mighty fine thing."

"Oh it would," Lady Everston agreed.

"I suggested it to Oliver, but he refuses to hold such a thing, but could such an arrangement be made for something small at Westbeck Manor?"

Lady Everston's eyes lit up.

"Well that would introduce Miss Hara to the neighbourhood rather well," she mused. "And you have only met our society here once. And Westbeck has a much nicer ballroom than Highfield. It would not do to trouble Oliver with such a thing."

"A little party would have no need of a ballro—" Mai tried.

"Oh hush, if we are to have a party, I see no reason why not go all out and have a ball! I have not had such a thing in—"

"You had a ball less than a month ago, Mother," Mr Davis called from the card table.

"And by the time you are all married and settled, it will be almost two! I see no reason why not to have a ball! My mind is quite settled on the matter."

Miss Hara became Mrs Davis a week later. Then they all travelled to London for Colonel Lin and Miss Mori's marriage three days later.

While in London, Mai called upon her cousin and told him that his services were no longer required. Noll had insisted on paying him handsomely for the time he had already spent upon Mai's case and after a little reluctance, Mr Yasuhara accepted the payment.

Mr Davis also called upon Mr Yasuhara, though separately to his sister. They had a long private chat and agreed to remain good friends. Mrs Davis knew of her husband's visit, and gave him her blessing.

"If you wish to visit him often and for extended periods," said she, "I mind it not as long as you are honest about it."

This was an offer that Mr Davis readily agreed to.

Mrs Hara removed herself from London and was invited to stay at Westbeck Manor. Lady Everston was sympathetic to her plight and reminded herself how lucky she was to have a sensible, good husband.

The two women became fast friends, and planned the celebratory ball together.

And so a little over a month after the marriage of Colonel and Mrs Lin, Mai was assisted into a carriage by her husband.

"I'm sure when this idea first came to fruition that I suggested a small party," Noll muttered as he shut the carriage door. "And now we are attending a full blown ball."

"Did you honestly expect your mother to not blow this out of proportion?" Mai asked.

Noll sighed.

"My father wrote to me and informed me that he has a new chess set he wants to break in, so at least I will not totally be at a loss for entertainment."

"You will not dance with me? Not even once?"

"Mai, it would be torture for us both," Noll insisted.

"Which is why I only asked for one dance."

"I'll think about it."

Mai smiled.

"Do the Colonel and his wife plan to find a house in the neighbourhood?" she asked.

"I do not think so, he mentioned that he might be called away soon on business."

"And what will happen to Mrs Lin?"

"She will either go with him, to her father's, or no doubt she will impose upon one of us," Noll muttered dispassionately.

"I thought that as Mr Mori has no male relations that he would take Mrs Lin's husband as his heir," Mai commented.

"Yes, but Lin refused it I think," Noll replied. "It will go to Mrs Lin and their children, if they chose to have any."

"I think they will."

"You do?"

"Did I not tell you? The day Mrs Davis received permission to marry, we found the Lins in the wood looking a little…"

"Ruffled?"

"Distinctly so."

"On my land as well," Noll scowled and continued, "I think I will have a word with Lin later."

"I'm not sure the poor man will cope with a direct attack. Please be kind to him."

"You make it sound as if I would embarrass my friend in front of the entire ballroom!"

"Would you not?" Mai asked.

Noll smirked.

"Perhaps."

Mai laughed.

The carriage trundled towards Westbeck Manor, with a happy couple inside.

Author's note: Someone teach me to write better endings... Ah well, this is the end of another fic! I better get started on a replacement... Or finish a WIP... Ahh!