(A/N: your reviews are very interesting. I enjoyed reading them, they made my day.

I own nothing!)

Five years ago

"Really Son, how could you lose all the horses out of the pasture?"

Lord Hexley rubbed his temples. Granted, the horses were all back now. And multiple servants had confirmed Cedric had helped bring them all back. But the irate marquess was certain the young man had been trying to cover everything up. And the head groom and two others had been injured while trying to round up the horses. Lord Hexley no longer had any patience left for his son.
"It wasn't my fault! I closed the gate tightly! And I checked that it was secure. There's no way it could have been me!"

Cedric followed his father closely as he stormed down the hallway towards his study.
"Hmph, that's what you said the last several times; not your fault, no way it could have been you. And yet, you keep having mishaps. That cannot happen when you inherit the estate and everything that goes with it."
"I swear Father, I had nothing to do with that accident! Why must you blame me every time something goes wrong?"

Cedric felt his frustration mounting. He had made mistakes before, he could admit to that, but those were related to learning. Everyone made mistakes when learning something new. Nothing like this, though. He wouldn't ever allow the horses to get loose.
"And going for a pleasure ride now of all times! What is in your head?"

Cedric fumed. Why wouldn't his father listen to him?

"It wasn't a pleasure ride! I was trying to help."

"Until you can learn to do things right, you will gain nothing more than necessary from the estate."

Frustration was replaced by confusion and Cedric just stared at his father for some time before he could speak again.
"What do you mean?"
"You're a disappointment to this family. You will leave these grounds and not return until you can do things right. You can go to one of the cottages or buy your own home but you will receive minimal support from me."

Cedric could swear he heard his soul shattering into millions of tiny fragments. He was certain everyone on the estate could feel his anguish. Quickly, he pulled on a mask to hide his pain as best he could.
"Fine! Anywhere is better than here. I could never do anything right in your eyes."

oOo

Sofia woke and smiled. She couldn't remember the last time she slept so peacefully and soundly. She glanced out the window and paused. It was raining heavily and was very dark. What little light there was didn't add up to being just later in the day. Quickly, Sofia rang for Violet.

"Oh good," Violet said when she got to the room. "Her Ladyship will be relieved to see you awake."

"Did I sleep a very long time?" Sofia asked.

"You slept the rest of the day and through the night, Miss."

Sofia's eyes widened. "What? I thought I asked you to wake me after two hours."

"I tried, Miss. And Lady Hexley's maid tried too. After that, Lady Hexley said to just let you sleep until you woke up on your own. She said you needed the rest greatly."

Sofia nodded. "Okay. What time is it?"

"It's near breakfast time, Miss. If we hurry, we'll have you there, ready and on time."

Sofia nodded. Violet grabbed a dress that had been laying on a chair. Sofia raised an eyebrow in surprise and confusion. She knew she hadn't laid the dress there. But she shrugged it off. Maybe her maid had thought to be helpful by having a dress laid out for when she was ready.

Quickly and with some help from Violet, Sofia got dressed and did her hair. The moment she was ready, the young lady hurried down to the dining room.

Immediately she could tell something wasn't quite right. Winnifred wasn't there. But Cedric was there, pacing, hands clenched into fists.

"Is something wrong?" Sofia asked.

Cedric looked up and stopped pacing. With him no longer moving around, Sofia could see dark bags underneath his eyes.

"You're alive, eh?" Cedric's smirk did nothing to hide his anxiety. "I see I was right yesterday. You were beyond exhausted."

Sofia smiled slightly. "I was surprised to find out just how long I slept. Now, back to my question. Is something bothering you?"

Cedric scowled. "Father's returning earlier than anticipated. He'll be back tomorrow."

"Oh."

Sofia stepped over to a seat and motioned to another one near her. Cedric sat down.

"You're not excited then?" Sofia asked.

"Would you be, if your father blamed you for something you didn't do?"

"No, I suppose not. Cedric…"

Cedric turned his head away, looking at the ground.

"You want to know what happened that day, don't you? You've been asking for a very long time."

"I am curious," Sofia admitted.

Cedric blew out a puff of air. "Repair work was happening in the stables after a bad rain storm. The stables already needed to be fixed. The storm just made the existing damage worse. The horses were in a pasture, Taika included. I went for a ride, to look at the damage around the estate. Father was going to be returning from a business trip to town and probably wouldn't be able to do it himself."

"You wanted to prove yourself capable?" Sofia asked.

Cedric nodded. "I thought it was the perfect way to show him that he doesn't have to worry about the title and estate being in my hands. When I returned, I had a well detailed list of repair projects written and on the desk in his study and I was getting people started on the smaller ones. Suddenly there's a commotion about all of the horses escaping the pasture. The gate was open and something must have spooked the horses. It was hard work, and three of the servants were injured when one horse wouldn't settle down. But we got them all back. But by that time, Father was home and all he knew was that the horses escaped and I had been riding. I had been the only one who had been riding that day. That was all he wanted to know. It didn't matter when I told him I had closed the pasture gate. It didn't make a difference when I tried to tell him why I had been riding. At that moment he snapped and told me to leave Hexley Hall. I was not to come back unless I could do things right."

Sofia was silent for a moment as she thought the story over as well anything Cedric had ever mentioned about his banishment from home.

"I suppose I should understand but I don't. Even if you were the only one to take a horse out before they got loose, why would your father blame you? There has to be some logical explanation."

Cedric scoffed. "Oh that wasn't the only incident I got blamed for that wasn't my fault. I made some friends when I was about eleven. Before those so called friends entered my life, Father was very proud of me. He would even call me his greatest pride and joy. But my friends created havoc anywhere they went. And when something went terribly wrong and they got in trouble, they made sure I shared the blame. The most popular incident was eleven years ago when their mischief got a duke's stables set on fire."

Sofia's eyes lit up a bit. "You seem to have taken blame for a lot of incidents involving horses and stables. I've heard something about that story. Although I'm guessing there's not much truth to what I heard."

"Not likely. I had nothing to do with that fire but those impertinent boys dragged my name through the mud. After that, I cut them off but by then, it was too late. His Grace had publicly denounced the story about me being involved with the stable fire. He knew the truth but people didn't want the truth. They wanted a juicy story. And Father, oh he was furious about constantly having gossip seekers ask him about my supposed tales of mayhem. A few weeks after the fire, he told me I was an embarrassment to the family and estate and to get my act together. From there on out, despite my constant efforts, things kept getting worse and worse until five years ago when he finally had enough of my supposed mistakes."

Sofia let out a sigh. "Your mother didn't tell me that part of the story. I assumed your father always held some disdain for you."

"Oh no. He was proud of having a son and took great joy in making sure I would become the finest gentleman. You see, without me, after Father passes away, the title would go to some distant relative who both of my parents agree is an absolute idiot. I met him once...oh...about seven years ago and I agree with my parents' assessment of him. Not only is he an absolute idiot, but he's also lazy, greedy, and has no respect for those around him. No, letting the Hexley title fall to him would be a disaster. So Father was enthralled to have a son, since that would throw 'Sir Idiot' out of next in line for the title. But it wasn't enough when my ex friends dragged me down."

Sofia was silent for a moment. "That changes everything I thought of when your mother told me snippets of your story. There's something else though. Although she didn't elaborate on the story of your ultimate banishment, she did say that later, after you left, it was discovered that it really wasn't your fault."

Cedric looked curious. He was going to say something but paused when a set of footsteps were heard. He looked up as well Sofia to see Winnifred enter the dining room.

"It's true Ceddykins. After you put Taika back in the pasture, a maid's young son, a kid who had no business doing this, went to the pasture to work with the horses. But unfortunately, he spooked them. The boy didn't tell anyone but he did it again and got caught by his mother. She dragged him in front of your father and I."

Cedric glowered. "So Father gets a full confession from the one who loses all the horses out of the pasture and yet, it's still my fault?"

Winnifred sighed. "You didn't see his reaction when he found out. He was stunned. He did feel bad for blaming you but couldn't swallow his pride."

"His pride is bigger than his sense." Cedric rolled his eyes.

"Cedric, your father returns tomorrow. I know you don't get along with him very well, but he's not the only one who needs to swallow his pride and stubbornness. Otherwise the both of you will only make things worse."

Cedric sighed. "Yes Mummy."

The discussion ended, Winnifred ordered breakfast brought in. The three ate rather quietly. For a bit anyways.

A maid stepped in and quietly whispered something into Winnifred's ear.

"Good," Winnifred said with a smile. "Have the packages sent up to Miss Sofia's room and the contents placed appropriately."

Sofia froze when she heard those words. She knew exactly what they were. And she was still as adamant about refusing them as she was the day they were ordered.

"No," Sofia said after the maid left. "I refuse. You're worse than my sister. My wardrobe is fine the way it is."

"You're not in mourning, my dear," Winnifred said. "So quit acting like it. You will be accepting the new wardrobe."

"You may have ordered those items but it doesn't mean I have to use them."

"Suit yourself," Winnifred said. "Just know that means the outfit you're wearing and your nightgown will be your only options. Those dreary and drab frocks of yours have been hidden. Not even your riding outfits were left for you."

Sofia's mouth dropped wide open. "You're bluffing."

Even as she said those words, Sofia realized her hostess wasn't bluffing. A dress had been laid out to deter her from looking at the full extent of the clothes she had brought with her. What she figured might have been a helpful gesture had actually been a cover up.

"Go check if you wish, dear one."

Sofia scowled. "Fine. You won. I think I understand why my sister said you're not one to be argued with. You don't play nicely."

Winnifred smirked. "Only when I have good reason to."

Sofia set her fork down and stood up. Quietly, she left the room. Once she was gone, Cedric looked at his mother, perplexed.

"What's going on?"

"That's between her and me for now."

Cedric nodded before returning his attention to his food. But the food couldn't distract him from the thoughts running through his mind; anxiety about his father's impending return and curiosity about whatever his mother was doing with Sofia.