(A/N: Allyrwhitney, Lady McFart? LOL! That cracked me up when I read that review.

I own nothing!)

Cedric muttered under his breath as he paced the gardens. Without thinking much of what he was doing, he kicked at a plant, not noticing it was actually a tree.

"Merlin's mushrooms!" Cedric hissed as a bit of pain radiated up his leg.

"What did that tree ever do to you?"

Cedric turned in surprise as Sofia approached him.

"It was in my way," Cedric said.

"Of course. Perhaps next time a tree is in your way, you'll use something other than your foot to try getting it out of your way?"

The slightest smile appeared on Cedric's mouth before his expression returned to the distracted and frustrated one he had been sporting beforehand.

"What is it?" Sofia asked. "Did something happen with your father?"

Cedric nodded. "I tried talking with him before he went off on his daily business. Tried offering to help him determine what damage has been done in the recent rain storm. Find out what needs to be done to prepare for future rain storms. He brushed me off. He won't even call me by my name."

"That's frustrating. How can he continue to place the blame at your feet when he knows full well the truth? Doesn't he realize he's only making things worse?"

"He's a proud man and no, he doesn't realize what he's doing."

Sofia stepped lightly over to Cedric, being careful not to step in a mud puddle.

"He'll see soon. He can't ignore you forever. Now, quit kicking trees. That will not solve anything."

Cedric smiled slightly. Sofia's expression lit up, as if she had just gotten the most brilliant idea.

"I know! Maybe your father won't listen right now, but what if you still went ahead and took care of some of his usual duties, regardless of what he says? Maybe if he sees that you are able to do them, he might acknowledge you instead of brushing you off again."

"It could work," Cedric mused. "He is more focused today on the tenants and their needs. But there are things specifically at the estate that I noticed need to be addressed."

"Well then, let's address those needs."

Sofia grabbed Cedric's hand tightly and pulled him through the gardens straight back to the hall. Quickly, they found the housekeeper to find out what needed to be done and also offer assistance. One major problem that was just discovered was that one of the food cellars had a leak in it and there was a need to get the food moved away from it and the leak taken care of before there was extensive damage.

It wasn't a huge surprise to Winnifred when she came around and saw Cedric helping the servants with that cellar. But she did almost fall over when she saw that Sofia had borrowed a work dress from one off the maids and joined the fun.

"Young lady, just what do you think you are doing?"

"Helping," Sofia replied in a monotone voice. "Like you said the other day, I like to help others."

With a heave, Sofia lifted up a bag of winter vegetables. She felt something through the bag and grimaced.

"This one's been sitting in water for some time. Some of the food in it may need to be used very quickly or tossed."

Sofia handed the bag off to a servant who'd been tasked with sorting through bags and crates that had taken particular water damage.

"I think I've found the leak, My Lord!"

A servant pointed at something and Cedric looked at it.

"It would seem so. Keep an eye out. There could be more."

"Yes, My Lord."

"You two are crazy," Winnifred said flatly. "You'll both be sore and exhausted at dinner."

"It'll be worth it," Sofia said.

"It better be worth it," Cedric muttered under his breath.

Winnifred seemed to understand. "Oh, I see what this is all about. Carry on then."

"Gladly." Sofia smiled before proceeding to slip on a wet spot and land flat on her tailbone. "Ow."

Sofia winced and stood back up. She glanced behind her to see that she now had a dirty, wet spot running the entire length of her skirt. She shrugged and continued helping to get the contents of the cellar out of the wet environment.

Several hours later, the cellar had been cleared and the food sorted through to determine what was good and what wasn't. Sofia and Cedric, true to Winnifred's words, were very sore and tired as they walked to dinner. But they weren't about to let that deter them.

Upon entering the dining room, Cedric greeted his father. Unsurprisingly, the gesture was ignored. Sofia scowled when she saw a slight flicker of hurt cross Cedric's face. If anything, at least the master of the house hadn't kicked him out again. But Sofia had to guess that being ignored wasn't much better.

"I heard from some of the servants about there being a leaky cellar," Lord Hexley said, looking at his wife. "You outdid yourself in organizing the work on it, Winnifred."

Winnifred smirked as she took a sip of her soup. "You flatter me but I wasn't the one who did anything about it. Your son worked beside the servants to get that issue sorted out."

Lord Hexley dropped the spoon he had been holding, a bit of the soup splattering on the table. He was silent and still for a moment before leaving the table and dining room.

"Old fool," Winnifred muttered under her breath. "Well, you've at least gained some positive attention. He did like your work."

"He's probably going to retract his compliment now that he knows it was me," Cedric replied flatly.

"Chin up, Ceddykins. There is tomorrow. You'll try again then. Now, I believe I have something to ask of you two."

Sofia and Cedric glanced at each other before looking back at the marchioness.

"The mud festival," Winnifred continued calmly.