Woolfe Manor, Midsummer, Early Morning

Her name was Theodosia. Not Theo.

Having said that, Theo was heartily sick of correcting people on that head. Even in her own mind, she called herself Theo now. At the ripe old age of twenty-six, she could assume that she was known well and truly Theo by now.

It wasn’t her fault, really. Theodosia was a bit of a mouthful. Now, Evangeline was much easier. That name simply flowed off the tongue. Mary was nice and brusque, plain and to the point. It suited her younger sister, just like Evangeline suited her older sister.

Theo, however, was the middle child, so there was really no telling what sort of person she would be, and how she would suit her name. There wasn’t much of an expectation for the middle child.

Theo had assumed that once Evangeline – tall, gawky, forthright Evangeline – was married and out of the way, Theo would go into Society and become a huge success. She had been determined not to barrel through the balls and parties like Evangeline had, always clumsy and unladylike, always saying the wrong thing.

Well, she hadn’t, but at the age of twenty-six, Theo was still unmarried. Looking back, she wasn’t at all surprised to have found herself disillusioned with Society in general. After all, she’d longed to come Out for years, dreaming of parties and gowns and handsome gentlemen asking her to dance. She’d built it all up into such a wonderful, magical experience that it was no surprise that she’d been disappointed with the truth.

Society was an ugly, brutal thing, and the Season was nothing more than a vicious free-for-all. Theo had never been as outspoken as Evangeline. She knew she wasn’t quite so quick-witted as her older sister, nor as ruthless and fearless as her younger sister. She found herself the butt of jokes far too often in Society.

Oh, Theo could have married quite easily, if she’d wanted. She was pretty, if not as slender as fashion dictated, and with her sister married to the famous Doctor Nicholas Woolfe and the Tilleyard estate mostly restored, she had plenty of admirers.

Evangeline and Nicholas had found that they were expecting a child only a few months after the wedding, so Evangeline couldn’t accompany Theo on her first outing into Society. She was disappointed and more than a little nervous, but the niggling worry about her sister’s health was her main concern. Their mother had always had troublesome pregnancies, and pregnancy did not seem to suit Evangeline so far.

Theo had left her first Season halfway through, to attend Evangeline as she gave birth. It was a complex birth, resulting in the twins, Verona and Vincent.

The years dragged on, and Theo attended Season after Season. She found herself dancing with bland, uninteresting young men whose names she could barely even recall. She politely refused a handful of suitable but boring proposals. She never met anyone who made her heart quicken, the way Nicholas had made Evangeline’s heart quicken.

Perhaps such a feeling did not truly exist, or perhaps it was simply not meant for Theo.

She was relieved to get an invitation to stay with her sister and brother-in-law, and Theo had lived there ever since. She was tutoring her nephew and niece, and it was clear that she had a knack with children. Evangeline and Nicholas were more than happy to let her stay.

There was a faint knock at the door, and Peggy poked her head around the door.

“Morning, Miss! I thought I’d help you dress before I tended to the young master and mistress.”

Peggy was nineteen years old, a fresh-faced, red-haired young maid that Evangeline had employed to wait on Theo, although the poor girl ended up waiting on Verona and Vincent more often. She didn’t mind, however – Peggy was from a very large family, and liked children.

“That’s alright, Peggy. I’m already dressed,” Theo replied, indicating the pastel-blue gown she’d chosen for today. She now had a monthly allowance from the Tilleyard estate, which easily covered whatever she needed or wanted to buy and would continue even after she was married.

In short, Theo was comfortable and well-cared for, and if she kept herself busy and cheerful, she didn’t stop to think about the gaping hole in the centre of her life.

She wasn’t lonely. How could a person be lonely in a busy house like this? She had her beloved family with her. Being lonely would simply be nothing sort of selfishness, or ingratitude. And Theo was not ungrateful.

Peggy bobbed a curtsey, and withdrew, no doubt to wrangle the troublesome twins into their day clothes. Theo turned back to inspect her reflection.

She still had her hair to do. There was no point in wasting time on elaborate hairstyles, so Theo simply scooped back her wild, dark ringlets into a simple knot at the nape of her neck. After a moment’s consideration, she pulled free two thin, corkscrew ringlets at her temples, letting them hang down to her collarbones.

The pastel-blue dress suited Theo well. It was an old-fashioned cut, but Theo found that the newer styles of dresses hugged her curves in a way that made her feel uncomfortable, emphasizing the extra flesh she carried. The fashion was very much for slim, willowy, graceful young ladies, and Theo was none of those things. Oh, she was pretty enough – she had pleasant features, beautiful blue eyes, and a delicate heart-shaped face. She was prettier than Evangeline had been. Still, at least Evangeline was slim.

Theo blew out her cheeks, pulling a face at herself in the mirror.

There was really no point in wallowing. The extra flesh wasn’t going to melt away with wishing, and Theo had long since convinced herself that she didn’t care.

She bustled around her room, tidying things away. Theo had a suite of rooms here at Woolfe manor, with a bedroom, her own private parlour, a small library, and of course a washroom. Theo hurried into the library, taking out the books she intended to look over with the twins today.

She had a writing desk in the corner of the library, and two letters sat open on the desk. The first was from Edmund Mills, a pleasant young man who had already proposed to Theo twice. She liked him well enough, but she couldn’t imagine marrying him. He’d sent her yet another letter, asking to see her. Theo did not relish writing out her reply.

The second letter was from her grandmother. Her grandmother’s letters were mostly about Mary, unsurprisingly. Theo picked up the letter with a smile, rereading a passage that had made her laugh and cackle like a madwoman last night.

I think I shall die from embarrassment. I knew that bringing Mary to tea at the vicar’s was a bad idea, but I had no idea it would end this badly. Well, for the most part, she was very well behaved. The new vicar is a pleasant young man, married to an amiable young woman.

Imagine my surprise when Mary told the vicar she could recite poetry. I could not believe my luck. I thought perhaps we’d turned a corner – that she was growing out of being a shocking hoyden and was ready to be a lovely, proper young lady.

Oh, how wrong I was.

Mary recited a limerick. There is nothing wrong with limericks, of course, but this one was… well, it was shocking. Very shocking. “Vulgar” doesn’t quite cover it. I shall not recount the limerick here, and I shall leave it to your imagination. I have no idea where she could have heard such a thing. The vicar very nearly fainted, Theo. I am sure his wife was trying not to laugh, but I was too mortified to think about anything else.

Oh, I wished the ground could have swallowed me up. Mary seemed almost gleeful at the chaos she had wrought.

Fortunately for us, the vicar was very understanding, and said that he was quite sure that Mary had no idea what the limerick meant.

How one could misunderstand a rhyme like that, I have no idea, but I was simply relieved to have an excuse. Nevertheless, I don’t believe we shall be invited to the vicar’s house for tea for a while.

On the way home, I told Mary she was terrible, incorrigible, inconsiderate, and intellectually corrupt.

Mary said, “Thank you, Grandmother.”

I give up. I quite give up.

Theo smiled again, imagining the chaos unfurling at the unfortunate vicar’s dinner table. Still, much as she was amused by Mary’s antics, she wished that her younger sister would be more considerate of their grandmother.

Lady Mildred, Dowager Duchess of Tillewood, was getting on in years, and was more frail that ever. If Mary wasn’t careful, her rambunctious behaviour would be the death of Lady Mildred. That wasn’t a pleasant thought at all, and doubtless one that had never occurred to Mary. At her age, Mary probably still thought that her grandmother would live forever.

Theo sighed, folding up the letter carefully and sliding it into the drawer with the rest of her grandmother’s letters. She’d have to compose a reply later. For now, though, she was going to be late for breakfast.

More to the point, the twins were going to be late for breakfast.

*

Theo stood outside the door to the nursery and listened. It was clear that Peggy hadn’t succeeded in wrangling the children into their clothes. She could hear screaming and laughter, followed by a noise which sounded suspiciously like a small child jumping on a bed.

“Come on, Master Vincent! Just put your shoes on,” Peggy pleaded from inside. “You’ve already got the one on. Miss Verona, stop jumping on the bed, you know it’s not allowed.”

Her response was a cacophony of squeals. Time to intervene.

Theo pushed open the door, and was greeted by a scene of carnage. The nursery was a mess, with toys and clothes everywhere, and the beds were unmade. The curtains hung crookedly from the window, and both her niece and nephew were wearing interesting combinations of their night clothes and day clothes.

Silence fell.

“You’re going to be late for breakfast, children,” Theo said, careful not to show any sort of shock or disapproval. It would only egg them on.

“We’re not hungry,” Verona replied.

“Yes, we’re not hungry at all,” Vincent backed up his sister, although he seemed a little shocked at the prospect of missing out on breakfast.

Theo pursed her lips. “Not hungry? Well, you still ought to get dressed. Are you going to let Peggy help you dress?”

Verona pursed her lips, folding her small arms across her chest. She stared down her aunt, still standing defiantly on her messy bed.

“I don’t want to wear my day clothes. They’re uncomfortable. I don’t want to wear shoes today, either.”

“And why not?”

“They’re uncomfortable.”

“Yes, but your feet will get dirty and you might stand on something sharp.  You wouldn’t like that, would you?”

“I won’t stand on anything sharp,” Verona insisted. “We’re quite decided, Aunt Theo.”

“I see,” Theo mused. “Well, that’s terribly naughty. If you won’t behave, then I won’t be able to show you my special find later today.”

Verona’s eyes widened, but she kept her arms folded tightly.

“A special find?” Vincent said eagerly. He wasn’t nearly as good an actor as his sister. “Is it a plant? Is it better than the two-headed ladybird you showed us last week?”

“I couldn’t possibly say, but I’d be every so disappointed if you didn’t get to see it today. It might be gone tomorrow.”

Vincent scrambled in the mess for his other shoe.

“I’m getting ready, Aunt Theo, look!”

“Very good, Vincent,” Theo glanced over at Verona. “What about you, Verona?”

Curiosity and stubbornness warred in Verona’s face.

She’s so much like Mary, Theo thought, with a wave of nostalgia. She missed her younger sister more than she’d like to let on.

“And you’re sure that it’s a special find?” Verona asked suspiciously.

Theo raised her eyebrows. “Have I been wrong before?”

That seemed to clinch the matter. Verona bounced down from the bed and began meekly straightening the sheets.

Theo fought back a triumphant smile. She’d won. She glanced over at Peggy.

“Will you be able to bring the children down to breakfast when they’re ready?”

“Of course, Miss.”

“Excellent.”

Theo closed the nursery door behind her, and hurried on down to the dining room.

*

The dining room at Woolfe Manor had once been a dark, imposing place. Evangeline had torn down the heavy velvet curtains, letting in the light, and had replaced the dingy old wallpaper with something brighter and more pleasant. Now, the dining room was a pretty, airy space, where you could eat your meals without feeling oppressed.

The table was set for breakfast, and Evangeline and Nicholas were already down. They were sitting together, whispering urgently. The whispering ceased immediately when Theo walked in.

It seemed odd, but Theo tried not to think too much off it.

“Morning,” she said briskly.

“Morning, Theo,” Nicholas said, leaning back and picking up his newspaper again.

“Did you sleep well?” Evangeline asked brightly. A little too brightly, really. “Are the twins up and dressed?”

“Yes, they’ll be down soon,” Theo took her usual place, and began to fill her plate. Some of the more malicious ladies of Society had passed comments about Theo’s eating. She ate roughly the same amount as everyone else, but apparently she ought to be starving herself to achieve the willowy thinness that fashion dictated. Theo had no intention of doing anything of the sort.

“What’s your lesson plan for today?” Nicholas asked, glancing up at her over his newspaper. “Arithmetic? The sciences? English, perhaps? Maybe we could even get a start on some Latin? I know you said they were a little too young, but it’s worth a try, isn’t it?”

“I have an interesting find in the grounds to show them later,” Theo said.

“And after that?”

“I haven’t decided yet. We have sums to finish off from yesterday, and I promised them both a creative writing task. You know how they love telling stories.”

Nicholas glanced at Evangeline, and a knowing look passed between them. Theo frowned, concentrating on her plate. Something felt off this morning. Had they argued? Had the twins done something naughty, which Theo should have prevented them from doing?

“It sounds like a very nice day, Theo,” Evangeline said briskly. “They are too young for Latin. I read the last creative writing assignments you gave them, and they were very good. Weren’t they, Nicholas?”

“Very good,” he echoed.

“What are you two doing today?” Theo asked, suddenly keen to change the subject from herself and her lesson plan.

“Oh, I have endless things to do,” Evangeline sighed. “No one ever told me that running an estate like this would be so much work. I have a newfound respect for our parents now, Theo.”

Theo chuckled. “What about you, Nicholas?”

Nicholas kept his eyes on his newspaper. A tiny frown appeared between his brows.

“I’m going into town. I have an important meeting.”

Well, that was uncharacteristically blunt for Nicholas. Theo knew her brother-in-law well by now, and although he could seem blunt and almost rude on first acquaintance, he was one of the cleverest, most pleasant men she’d ever met. He’d had a terrible upbringing with a cruel father and had lost his adored brother many years ago. He loved Evangeline wholeheartedly, and there was no doubt that the two of them were perfectly suited. He’d welcomed Theo into his home with open arms, and would likely have agreed to have Mary, that small fury, living in his home too.

Evangeline shot Nicholas a sharp look.

“Oh? I didn’t know you had a meeting in town.”

The implication was clear. Tell me where you’re going.

Nicholas did not pick up on the hint. He shook out his newspaper a little more and cleared his throat.

“It’s been rather recently engaged.”

“I don’t believe the steward mentioned anything. Did Mr. Robinson mention anything to you, Theo?”

Theo blinked, feeling like a cornered rabbit. Both her sister and brother-in-law were staring at her. There was no reason why their estate steward, Mr. Robinson, would have come and told Theo about anything.

She coughed. “Not that I can recall.”

“Well, it’s a mystery, then. I daresay I shall just have to die of curiosity.

Theo was feeling more uncomfortable by the minute. Evangeline was all but demanding for her husband to tell her where he was going, and Nicholas seemed just as keen to keep her in the dark.

The awkward silence was interrupted by the arrival of the twins. They came clattering into the dining room, followed by a red-faced Peggy. The twins hugged and kissed their parents and settled down meekly to eat their breakfast.

“Aunt Theo has a special find to show us today!” Vincent declared, clearly exciting. “We’re to bring notebooks out to take notes on it.”

“So I hear,” Evangeline said, smiling. “Are you excited?”

“Very much so. It’s so much better than arithmetic,” Verona added, and the twins giggled.

Nicholas frowned. “Arithmetic is very important. So is Greek and Latin, which you haven’t even started to learn yet. What about geometry? Have you done any of that this week?”

“They’re only five years old,” Evangeline said crisply.

“It’s never too early to start. We all know that they’re clever enough for it.”

Theo swallowed. “We’ll do a little geometry later, I think.”

The twins gave a disappointed chorus.

“But we’ll go to see the special find first, though, won’t we?” Vincent pressed.

Theo smiled. “Of course.”

“I only hope you have time,” Nicholas commented.

“Of course they’ll have time,” Evangeline replied, a little too sharply. “What time are you leaving, Nicholas?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “After breakfast, I think.”

“And what time will you be coming back?”

“Before supper.”

Theo winced. Wherever Nicholas was going, he had no intention of sharing it at the breakfast table. Why was he acting so strangely? It wasn’t like him at all. She shifted uncomfortably, suddenly certain that all of this was about her.

No, don’t be silly, Theo chastised herself. They probably just had an argument. Marriage isn’t all romance and roses, and both Nicholas and Evie can be so horribly stubborn.

She pushed away her plate, glancing over at the twins. They were oblivious to the tense atmosphere at the table, and Theo found herself wishing that she could be just as ignorant as the children.

Theo knew she was welcome here, and for the most part, she was very  happy. But sometimes she felt like a fifth wheel in the family. She acted the part of a tutor and nanny, which was exactly what she wanted to do. But sometimes Theo felt more like a nanny than usual. Out of place.

She cleared her throat, attracting the twins’ attention.

“Have you two finished breakfast? If you are, we can go and get started on today’s lessons. I’m sure you’re keen to see my interesting find.”

“Make sure you take lots of interesting notes,” Nicholas murmured.

The twins bounced down from their seats, clearly eager to get started.

Theo got up from the table, and flashed a smile at her sister and brother-in-law.

“I’ll see you at luncheon, Evie. And Nicholas, I hope your meeting goes well.”

For some reason, Nicholas wouldn’t meet her eyes. Theo tried not to think too much about it.