(A/N: Yes, I'm aware something went wrong with the formatting. I'm not even sure why. I didn't do anything differently than I normally do. It should be fixed now. And hopefully, whatever happened doesn't keep happening, otherwise I'm in for a major formatting headache.

I own nothing!)

Sofia set a newly completed blanket down on her lap then sighed.

"What is it, Sofia?" Winnifred asked.

"Is there a local orphanage?" Sofia asked. "I miss going to the orphanage to interact with the children."

Winnifred was silent for a moment. She looked like she was carefully choosing her words.

"There is, but I can guarantee that it is nothing like the one you father built."

"No two orphanages are going to be the same," Sofia responded. "Where is it? I'd like to go."

Winnifred grimaced. "In the next village over. But you may not like it."

"Where in the village?"

Winnifred sighed. Her guest was clearly adamant about this. As much as she didn't want to do it, she knew Sofia was not going to drop the topic. Nor was she understanding the warning.

"If you're so very insistent, I'll have one of the grooms show you the way."

"Thank you!"

Sofia jumped up and left the parlor to put the blanket away. Within minutes, she was ready to go. She had changed into a riding habit and was getting saddled up as was the groom assigned to show her the way.

"Are you sure you want to go?" the groom asked, his tone pleading for Sofia to reconsider.

Sofia nodded. "I am certain."

The hesitant servant nodded. "Follow me, Miss."

He set his horse into motion and Sofia followed quickly.

oOo

A few hours later, Sofia was returning to Hexley Hall. The trip had not gone the way she imagined at all. Instead of heading back inside, she ventured into the gardens to walk and try venting some steam.

Stupid girl. Winnifred tried warning you. And you wouldn't listen.

Sofia took a deep breath and shuddered, thinking of the poor children at the orphanage. Silently, she wondered if Winnifred knew just how poorly that orphanage was being run.

A sigh nearby caught Sofia's attention. Quickly, she followed the sound and came across Cedric sitting on a bench. One look at his expression and Sofia had a good idea as to what likely happened.

"Are you okay?"

Sofia sat down by Cedric. He simply shrugged.

"Is it your father?" Sofia prodded.

Cedric was silent for a few moments before he nodded.

"He's still refusing to talk with me," Cedric sighed. "No matter how many times I try, it's the same thing over and over. He'll say he doesn't have the time, he needs to take care of something, or he just tells me to go away."

"And his vendetta against you is now affecting everyone here," Sofia scoffed. "None of the servants can approach him when he is needed. That's certain to cause problems."

At that, Cedric gave the slightest smirk. "Not if they approach me for help, which they have been."

"True. And it's great that you are helping the people here while your father won't because he's trying too hard to avoid you. But he still needs to be involved. At the end of the day, your father is still the master of the hall."

"He's not acting like it." Cedric's tone was sour.

"He can't ignore you forever. I don't understand why he insists on ignoring you so much. Sooner or later, he has to acknowledge you. Otherwise, he's as good as said that Sir Idiot-"

"Don't even say it!" Cedric interrupted. "I refuse to think that my cousin will ever inherit."

Sofia sighed. "I don't want to guess how bad it would be. You've told me what he's like."

The two sat in silence for a few minutes.

"It's going to take something spectacular to knock sense into your father," Sofia finally said.

"Yeah, but what?"

"I don't know. We'll figure it out though. I told you once that I wasn't giving up until he accepts you."

Cedric smiled slightly. "I remember. I'm glad you're here."

Sofia smiled back. "Now chin up. So today didn't go very well but there is still tomorrow."

Cedric nodded. He looked Sofia over, noticing she was wearing a riding habit.

"You went riding?"

Sofia nodded. "I went to the local orphanage. I've missed going."

"How did that go?"

Sofia frowned. "Not great. If I could take all the children out of there, I would."

Cedric looked slightly alarmed. "What happened there? I had heard the couple who runs the orphanage are a little strict with the children…"

"Oh they were more than a little strict," Sofia interrupted. "I stopped at a bakery to get some treats to take with me and they were dumped in the fireplace. The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Weston if I remember correctly, proceeded to lecture me about how such frivolous indulgences would lead to slothful, lazy children."

Sofia scoffed. "Talk about the kettle calling the pot black. One of the braver, older children came up to me once the Westons had turned their backs. She couldn't have been more than twelve years old. But she told me that from dawn until dusk, every child who is able to is made to do most of the chores around the orphanage. Meanwhile, the Westons sit around doing very little to help. And if a child strays from their chores, they get severely punished. The few children that I actually saw were scared, exhausted, and possibly very hungry."

Cedric's eyes were wide. "That's not good."

"I mentioned to your mother how I wanted to go and she had tried to talk me out of it. She warned me that it wouldn't be anything like the orphanage back home but I didn't listen. Now I'm kind of curious if she knew how bad it is there."

Cedric shrugged. "I don't think she would sit idly by if she did know. She's not that kind of a person."

Sofia sighed. "I guess. In any case, it still wasn't great. I wish I could've taken all of those children away from there. That orphanage is akin to a prison."

"Whelp, this day has been rotten for us both."

Sofia nodded agreement. "Here's hoping tomorrow is better."

"Agreed."

The couple sat together in silence, taking comfort in each other's presence.

oOo

Later that night

"Did you know about this?"

"I heard some rumors but I didn't know it was that bad."

Sigh. "Well things are about to change. I'm changing it."

"How? It's great that you want to do something about it. But without his approval and support of you, you might not be able to do much."

"I'm still going to do something. With or without his support."