The mysterious death of Lord Reginald: Lady Diane

The young aristocratic woman sat in her usual booth at 'Mrs Marcy's tea shop', where she had been hours earlier.

She gestured at the waitress and asked for her usual, as soon as she was gone she looked out the window seeing a thousand people going on with their day and as she looked she lost herself in thought.

Her mind wandered to the crime scene and Lord Reignalds body, and how two sharp holes in his neck were vexing her, as to the nature of their existence.

Her train of thought would be stopped by someone sitting in front of her, it was none other than her mother: Lady Diane.

Well...I take it you have read the papers?!" Her mother said as he set her purse to the side, she then swiftly looked at the server and gestured to her to bring her usual as well.

"And I take you have also embarrassed your brother and me, by poking your nose at that den of damnation…the chief of police was kind enough to let me know." Lady Diane took a good look at her child, her dark green eyes fixed on the window again, her cream skin was delicate with light makeup, as women of their position would use it. 

Her blond hair was carefully brushed to the latest fashion; she had a good figure not too thin nor too chubby, but above she had a perfect posture a thing that her mother liked to see in young ladies.

 "Oh Darling…" she said with a very familiar quasi-frustrated and definitely hopeful tone "I long for the day we will sit here one day and you bring me the wonderful news of a marriage proposal…" Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she decided to pay attention to her mother "and then we would talk about the perfect date for the wedding and planning the whole affair…".

Elizabeth had been accustomed to her mother's speech, hope and dreams for her at this point that she could guess the next thing coming out of her mouth would be: "and then once you are settled into your own house with your husband" she said now clearly seeing the scene in her mind "you would summon me, your mother, here to tell me you are expecting." She almost let out a tear down her eye.

Elizabeth while hating her mother's speech still loved her, so she held her hand so her mother could reach it.

They locked their hands in a tender embrace, Elizabeth gazed into her mother's eyes "mother, you know I love you" she had used that line before, Lady Diane knew they were about to do their dance of pull and push…again… "but currently I am fixated on my studies and I am more intrigued on the Mystery of the deceased Lord than to find a suitable husband."

Her tone was polite and convincing but Lady Diane was still filled with motherly concern "Elizabeth..." Her expression changed to a more pained and convened so did her tone "you don't seem to understand the world you are living in girl" her voice sounded tired as if she had thought of this conversation before and her answer to it, "it is better for a woman to marry young, the more you grow the less attractive you'll be to suitors…and you don't want to end as a spinster living in your brother's good grace."

She made a pause, her thumb caressing her daughter's "the world is hard for women and you should take all the advantages of your stature in life, your title and any of the privileges that our family money has to find yourself a comfortable future. The only way a woman succeeded in this life is by marrying rich and being content."

The tea and biscuits were served, and they broke their hold 

"Mother…" Elizabeth was ready to pull once again "wouldn't you say that a woman needs to be smart so she doesn't end up marrying the wrong man? Or knowledge enough so that she doesn't get swindled or defrauded?" 

Lady Diane tilted her head to the side "darling you have had any advantage in life and are educated enough not to fall for a violent man or get blindsided by a charlatan, besides your brother takes care of the financial needs of the family" her received English accent became more frustrated and indignant than ever before.

"...darling you have had all the opportunities, you studied nursing, because you convinced me that was appropriate for a woman like you…now you are studying theology,  and is good to be interested in faith too…but don't mistake them for anything else than a hobby or spiritual awakening" her mother and brother agreed to them hoping she would marry a soldier, a vicar or minister, but it was clearly not Elizabeth's desire and it peeved her mother. 

 At this point her motherly love turned into a righteous lesson "my darling child…you don't seem to understand" she was frustrated now and with little patience for retorts from her child "a woman's place it's in a home being taken care of, being a wife and a mother, that's our lot in life." 

Elizabeth understood those words, she had seen how the world worked she was not that naive, but her mother's determination for her to give up her passion was disheartening for her, but would not finish them.

After all, there were women that had broken barriers before.

The person sitting on the throne was a woman, Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole opened the doors for a healthier life and women to help in society in a meaningful way and Lady Lovelace was now in between the circle of geniuses, all of those women and many others where making changes on the British society. 

They gave her hope that she herself could be more than what people expected her to be.

"I understand mother…" she said calmly "and I am not against it: husband or children" her mother smiled once again "but I still want more, I want to learn new things, uncover mysteries and see the world. Is that so wrong?".

Lady Diane sighed,  she couldn't object to any of those wants, but she knew that those wants were more aligned with what a man could archive "oh darling girl…you have my good looks, but the stubbornness you have" she said with a melancholic tone "that's from your father.".

They remained in silence for a couple of seconds, lady Diane took a sip of her tea as Elizabeth bit her biscuit "all right love, I won't pressure you right now, but you know my position on these matters…and don't delay what's inevitable love, I hate to see you alone and unhappy.".

"Thanks, mother" as they continued their Monday ritual but the flame of the mystery of Lord Reginald's unnatural death did not die but burned inside her heart and mind with a renewed strength.

If her time for freedom was to be short she had to make the most of it. And she would not let this opportunity pass.