The New Estate

It had been a week since they arrived at the large estate. It was beautiful and spacious, a place where Diana could just walk and read or get her thoughts straight. In all honesty if she were from this period, she would not mind staying right where she was at. However, she had noticed that Sam had wanted her attention more lately. Especially bedroom wise, Simon tried his best not to notice but at that point there was really nothing he could say or do. Legally in this time, Diana and Samuel were married. Putting her book down, she sat on the grass and looked out to the grounds. She saw both Sam and Simon doing garden work which confused her since Sam was so rich he could have hired someone to do it but when she brought up the thought of hiring someone Sam said as long as he was breathing he wanted to keep the grounds well managed so she did no argue.

Not that she minded seeing both without their tops on, sweat shinning of their bodies thanks to the sun. Waving the book over her face, Diana fanned herself. Random thoughts to be having. They would have to return to court in less than three weeks and she feared what would happen there. She had Fred check in on Camile and make sure she was still down there, he showed live footage of her trying to seduce a guard. Guess somethings never change, Diana thought as she shook her head.

Diana had felt tired the past week, she attributed it to stress from the mission, the move and sudden marriage she had just been forced into. Still she laid back in the grass and closed her eyes. She could feel the soft wind across her nose.

Suddenly she felt the sun was blocked, she opened her eyes and looked up and there stood Sam grinning down at her.

"There's my wife, you did not wake easy this morning." Sam said with a concerned look on his face.

"I'm just tired, a lot of new things in a very short amount of time. Nothing to worry about husband." Diana smiled and a part of her wondered if she told the truth about herself to him if it would make him run or perhaps, she would gain a new ally.

Sam offered Diana his hand and she took it. He pulled her up into his arms and she quickly pulled away. The smell of his sweat made her want to vomit, he truly needed a good bath.

"You need a bath!" Diana scoffed as she covered her nose.

"Well it's not easy working keeping this place looking so nice. I do agree with you though, I will go have a bath. Please be careful resting your eyes out here." Sam said kissing the side of her cheek before turn to the house. "Hurry inside, it is about to rain."

That she did believe, picking up the skirt of her dress she ran inside but was pulled into the hall. Her eyes met with Simons and he held a finger over his mouth signaling for her to keep silent. Nodding she waited to hear what he had to tell her.

"Sam is weak, how often are you with the poor man in that way?" Simon asked and Diana wanted to faint.

"I haven't kept track...he just seems more attentive out here then at court." Diana shrugged bashfully.

"Well I will not lie and say I'm not jealous, but I know it's part of the mission." Simon sighed as he leaned down and captured Diana's lips with his own.

His breath tasted of mint and Diana grabbed onto him and kissed him so deep one would think her life depended on it. Simon held her against the wall and kissed from her jaw down to her neck. Hearing something outside made them separate.

"I'd better get to those documents Lord Barsham wanted me to see." Simon sighed and walked off.

Diana watched him walk off and then went up to her room. There Sam was sitting in a tub with hot water inside of it. He did not cover himself up, he felt Diana had seen all of him as he had seen all of her.

"Something bothering you?" he asked curious as he took a drink of whiskey.

"Why do we have sex so often?" Diana asked honestly.

Sam spit out his whiskey and looked to Diana. That was a random question. He sat his glass down and looked over to her and motioned for her to come to his side. She did so and knelt beside the tub.

"You really want to know?" he questioned.

"Well, yes." Diana nodded.

He motioned for her to come closer and she did, he gently grabbed her chin and kissed her on the mouth. Her gasp allowed him to turn the kiss into a French kiss. Diana was shocked as he barely pulled away.

"Because the moment I saw you I wanted you. Even though I was literally with another woman, your mystery, your enchantment came over me and all my thoughts were of you. I wanted a future with you even if I had to tolerate a lover, I wanted to marry you and have children with you. The more we are together the better our odds for a child is a logical reason, the other reason is pure lust and love. You are my woman and I want to show you how much I adore you especially in our marital bed." He answered honestly looking deep into Diana's eyes.

He kissed her nose and then went back to his bath, Diana slumped beside the tub and sighed. Well she got the answer she was looking for and her heart had decided it now had room for Sam as well as Simon. He wanted her, he needed her and what scared her most was she was beginning if not already feeling the same way for him.

Pacing about her room, with book in her hand she was contemplating with herself. She was in her nightdress and the room was lit by candle. Her long red hair cascaded down her back and she would brush it occasionally as she continued to read and contemplate her thoughts. Then she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. The woman looking back at her looked different than she had when she last saw her reflection. She looked more confident, happy and dare she say content with her life at the moment. Dropping the book on the vanity, she sat down before it and tried to understand if it was really her own reflection in the mirror.

"Is there something wrong with the mirror?" Simon asked as he brought her a drink.

"Simon...have I changed?" Diana asked but did not look away from the mirror.

"Changed how?" he inquired unsure what she was talking about.

"My reflection, I don't look as sad or depressed as I did at court...when did that happen?"

"Perhaps when the fear went away, yes you were married off but to a man who at least you agree with and doesn't force you to be someone you aren't even in this time. You do not have to worry about getting Camile back to the HQ or her running off to some other time period to escape from us. I hope you also know when this is all over you have me." Simon said as he knelt beside her chair.

Diana then looked over to him. Would this count as his first mission even though she brought him along? She would have three missions after this and after what she spoke about with her mother, she could not help but wonder if the way she was now would be the same she would be when she finished her final mission. She knew for a fact her mother and her teammates were not. Her aunt and mother still worked for the agency until they determined the new agents to take over were ready, John followed her mother, but Hannah never wanted to marry or have a relationship.

"Of course, I would never just dismiss you. Simon you do mean a lot to me, never forget that." Diana smiled.

Simon gave Diana something in a small handkerchief and a brief kiss. Diana watch confused as she watched him leave the room. She opened the small present and found a handmade wooden pendent. It looked like the letters "D" and "S" intertwined. He had made this for her, he did not have much money and never asked for any help from her. Did he think she would not help him? She smiled and put the pendent on the vanity. She then went to the fire to make it warmer in the room.

"Dear lady, does your husband know of your beauty?" Sam called out from behind her.

Smiling she turned back to look at him.

"In fact he does my lord, and he is quite a jealous man. Is that the best line you have for it is far too cheesy?" she chuckled in reply.

Sam went behind her and gave a her a hug, he looked down into the fire and sighed.

"The winter will be here soon, I hope the trail does not delay us coming home." Sam spoke as he rested his chin on Diana's shoulder.

"We can only hope the King delivers justice quickly." Diana replied as she turned and looked to Sam. "You will contest that she was a-"

"My dear, Lady Camile has gone after many men including myself. I will attest on my behalf as well as theirs if need be." Sam said as he kissed her neck. "Come, it was a long day and we must sleep well tonight."

(Estate shown above, photo used under fair rights act)