Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame Read Free Book Online Page B

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 considerablegarden 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 wasthere 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 withhim 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.” Noraentered 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