Imperfect (Disappeared #1)

Chapter Two

After breakfast, Theodosia raced up to the nursery to rescue Louisa. In the morning, she was expected to stay in the sitting room where she usually whiled away her hours re-reading favorite novels such as Mary Brunton's Self-Control and Frances Burney's Evelina. She preferred her younger sister's company though, and smuggled her in whenever possible.

Louisa sat in a corner of the nursery trussed up in a pink dress with puffed sleeves, her embroidery in front of her and the sour old nurse at her side. Upon seeing Theodosia, the little girl threw her work aside and raced to hug her waist.

The older sister hugged her back and kissed her riot of gingery curls. The nurse, a stout woman who had a rule for everything, frowned.

"Miss Louisa is to practice her stitch this morning, my lady."

Theodosia rolled her eyes and cupped the little girl's chubby cheeks. "Doesn't that sound horrid, my pet? I don't think you'd like that, would you?"

Louisa shook her head vigorously. "I would hate it, Thee. I shan't do it, I shan't!"

"Then you won't." Theodosia took her hand and looked up at the nurse. "I'm taking her down to the morning room. She'll be back in time for lunch."

The two of them headed downstairs together, the little girl prattling on about a new butterfly she had spied the previous day. She was obsessed with butterflies and always wanted to go out to hunt for them. She loved nature just as much as Theodosia and hated to be cooped up indoors. Their mother despaired over Louisa because she wasn't an obvious beauty. She was carroty with a rash of freckles and plain features, though Theodosia knew her to be smart as a whip, funny, and compassionate. And all this for a girl of only eight years old!

They entered the morning room, a long space with floor-to-ceiling windows on one side that were decorated in yellow silk curtains. Cecilia was already sitting on a little settee by the fireplace and working on embroidering pink roses onto a little cushion. She looked up as soon as they came in.

"Theo, really," she said, putting down her work. "Louisa belongs up in the nursery. We can't have children running around here all morning. I have so much correspondence to get through. I simply can't suffer the distraction."

Louisa ran off to sit at the windows and look for butterflies. Theodosia sat opposite Cecilia. "She hardly makes a peep. Don't be so uppity."

"Better to be uppity than to have no manners," Cecilia said, blue eyes flashing. "You were disgraceful at breakfast this morning. Can't you hold your tongue?"

Theodosia stared at her. "You certainly didn't help! It's all I can do not to say anything about Mr. Merton. And you deliberately try to provoke me. I know it. Papa's already at his wits' end with me."

Cecilia sniffed and picked up her embroidery again. "As he should be. Mr. Merton is the best match you're going to make. He could have his pick of beauties, but he knows you come with rank and money."

"Kind words. Thank you, Cecilia. I'd forgotten what a toad I am." Theodosia felt her face flush hot. "I can't wait to marry Mr. Merton and have him despise me all our lives."