Wentworth Hall

“I could show you my diamonds,” Richina offered.

“Not interested,” Snobby declines as she glides out of the room.

“I’d like to see them,” Lady Worthless said excitedly, her eyes swirling once more as she went back into a diamond-envy–induced trance state.

“If you’ll excuse me, I must go and count the family heirlooms,” Lord Worthless said, checking the watch fob in his vest pocket. “I do it every day at this time.” He headed for the nearest door, but the crystal doorknob came off in his hand. Dropping it, he wandered off in search of another way out.

Richie turned to his sister. “See, Sis? It’s not so bad.”

“No, it’s worse!” Richina stated. She took Richie by the hand and headed out of the room, pulling him after her. “Come, Richie, dear. Let’s go call a man about putting in that tennis court. At least if we play tennis we won’t have to talk to these impecunious lunatics.”

The room empted but a small voice could be heard from the wall. “Where is everyone going? Can I come?”

Poor Doodles. Is there anything worse than being forgotten?

And so dear reader, we hope your imaginations can supply the further comings and goings at Faded Glory Hall until the next thrilling installment of MISFORTUNE MANOR.

Chapter Seven

Lila Darlington was stewing. It was not an unfamiliar feeling.

She’d tried going into the nursery to play with baby James, but Therese had told her he was asleep. Even baby James had better things to do than spend time with Lila. She was seated in the library, rereading The Secret Garden for what felt like the umpteenth time.

She closed her novel with a heavy sigh, and walked over to see what other reading options there might be on the shelves. Maybe a new volume had magically appeared in their collection. Not that Father was in the habit of book buying these days. The only new books they ever received were gifts from Wesley. The library looked out onto the considerable garden at Wentworth Hall, and movement on the grounds caught her attention. She pushed back the curtain and peered down. Her attention was fixed on the young man and woman strolling across it: Teddy Fitzhugh and Maggie.

He seemed to slow his walk to accommodate Maggie’s graceful strides, laughing hilariously at her every droll remark. It was infuriating. And Lady Darlington encouraged them! Although it was odd to Lila that Mother was so focused on marrying off Maggie when Wes was the heir. Not that Teddy seemed to mind. He was hopelessly smitten with her older sister.

Who wasn’t?

Ever since Lila could remember, boys vied for Maggie’s attention. Whether at the country dances they were allowed to attend, or formal luncheons while they were in London, Maggie commanded an audience. Even Michael the stable groom had been mad for Maggie. And Maggie had given Michael plenty of opportunity to fall in love with her. Every second of the day she’d been down at the stable either saddling up to ride or grooming her own horses, Buckingham and Windsor. Her mother called Maggie “my equestrian” but Lila wasn’t fooled. Maggie was there to see Michael. Before Maggie had left for France, Lila believed Maggie considered Michael a friend, that she was oblivious to his obvious real feelings for her. That she simply craved the attention.

And then abruptly, without warning, Maggie lost all interest in the horses, and Michael. As if they were toys she had grown tired of.

During their year apart, Lila had gone from hating Maggie for leaving her behind, to forgiving her once she realized Maggie was trapped in Southern France with their pregnant mother, back to hating her for never returning Lila’s letters.

Lila had been willing to look past all of that in order to spend time with Maggie again. And now that Lila was just a year away from having her own season in London, she had all sorts of questions for Maggie about Parisian style and London’s gentry. But these days, her elder sister simply avoided her. She wouldn’t even talk about her time in France! It was positively selfish.

The last year had been so lonely! If only Wesley hadn’t been gone too. The oldest Darlington had always doted on Lila, made her feel special. He’d taken her on hikes with him and taught her to play darts and throw horseshoes. He’d never looked down on her because she was younger or a girl. Because of him, she’d been something of a tomboy growing up, always eager to prove to him that she could keep up.

It was hard to believe, but Lila realized now that Maggie was back and the Fitzhughs were staying at Wentworth Hall, Lila felt more alone than ever. She missed Wes. Lila hoped he’d find some time to come visit before starting at Oxford again for the new fall semester.

Lila absently twirled her dark blond hair and walked back to her bedroom. Why did Maggie dazzle while Lila was always overlooked? Maybe she didn’t have Maggie’s quick wit, mischievous smile, and soft beauty, but Lila knew her angular features, blond curls, and brown eyes weren’t completely without charm. And she was certainly the kinder of the two sisters (in Lila’s opinion). It had to be her shy nature that made her so much less attractive than her older sister. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to assert herself around others. She did! But it was difficult to struggle against one’s own natural temperament and be anything other than what she was.

“Fresh underclothes, washed and pressed.” Nora entered the bedroom behind Lila carrying a pile of white ruffled petticoats, camisoles, and knickers. “I got you a corset, too,” Nora added with a conspiratorial wink. “Though, don’t tell your mum, she doesn’t think it’s appropriate for a girl of sixteen. It used to be one of Maggie’s, but she won’t miss it. She hates the thing.”

Lila snapped the white corset from the top of the pile and wrapped it around her waist. “Oh, Nora, you’re an angel! Would you lace it up for me?”

“I’m not going to do it up over your jumper,” Nora said with a laugh. “Take off your dress and we’ll do it proper.”

Lila tossed her jumper over her head, throwing the sailor-style jumper onto the bed as Nora laced the corset over her petticoat.

“Oh!” Lila gasped as Nora tugged on the ties.

“Sorry, miss,” Nora apologized. “The corset will suck you in at the waist. Takes a good yank or two to get some definition.”

“Boys seem to love Maggie,” Lila observed. “I’m as thin as a reed, while Maggie has the most ladylike figure.”

“You have your own appeal, even though it’s different from hers.”

Nora’s words made Lila smile and she went to the mirror to admire her newly corseted figure. She looked so much older in the corset. It was high time that her mother realized she wasn’t a child anymore and let her dress her age. “Could you help me put my hair up, Nora?”

“Your hair up?” Nora gasped. “What will your mother say?”

“She’s so involved with marrying Maggie off that she won’t even notice,” Lila cajoled. “Please, Nora!”

“Well, maybe we could give it a try,” Nora relented, skeptically. “Let me go get a box of hairpins from Maggie’s room.”

As soon as Nora departed, Lila walked over to the window. She knew it wasn’t right to snoop, but she