Pug: Thank you! I tried to make it not so gloomy!

Guest: I'm glad that you're happy with the result! :)

This is regency era. Roles are switched.

How was she supposed to get anything done around the house with all of the noise? Madge stood quickly and made her way out the backdoor. If her sisters were going to bang on the piano, they wouldn't get the satisfaction of her grumbling around the house. She took off through the back gate and listened for the smack of the lock clicking back into place. As soon as it snapped she was off running down the gravel road. Madge pulled up her sage colored skirts and pounded as fast as she could away from the property. She didn't stop running until she was much further up the road. That was where a deer path met the gravel and took off through the tall grass. This time, Madge didn't bother keeping up her skirts. She longed for the breeze to pull her along and for the mud to collect on her hem. She came across a babbling brook and slumped against a boulder there. Taking in her surroundings it was easy for her to relax. The air was humid but there was a cool breeze every so often. The hum of dragonfly wings compelled her and the birds sang to each other. Soon though there just wasn't enough shade to be comfortable.

Madge continued on down the path to find shade under a magnificent weeping willow. She leaned against the wide trunk and glanced out at the serene beauty of the water in front of her. On the other side of the clear surface she could make out the significance of Seamworth House. It's grandeur was less so from this distance and Madge preferred it that way. The place was an eyesore to the country side. The residents, she guessed, were never there. Madge always had assumed that they had bigger and better property elsewhere but one ever knew. Maybe they had lost the estate long ago to scandal and fraud. That or a deceased relative had surprised them all and left the estate to someone who was not the son, nephew, or cousin next in line to receive the inheritance. Madge had come up with it all. She sighed dreamily at the sight of puffy white clouds rolling in and parted with the sight. When she made it home, the piano had stopped being tortured but instead the shrill of her sisters parading around the house was replaced. Madge turned and set her head against the wall, slowly and gently bringing her head back and forth from it. "Oh for goodness sake, Margaret, stop that this instant!" Her mother cried from the top of the stairs.

"Why do I live here?" She murmured to herself and brought herself away from the wall and towards her mother. "Do they at least have a reason for this nonsense?" She asked almost crossing her fingers.

"They do, they really do." Her mother extended her hand and a letter flew down the stairs. Madge reached to pick it up just as her father strode into the room.

"Rosy, Victoria, Posy... do you really have to make such racket?" He asked them with sincere politeness.

"Oh, papa! You just wouldn't understand! We've been invited to a ball. An actual ball!" Rosy exclaimed and clutched her sisters' hands. They danced around the room together with glee. Madge rolled her eyes.

"I could just burst into song!" She cried out with sarcasm dripping from every word. Her father turned and smiled but was cut from view by her mother.

"Young lady, this is exciting news. You'll never know who you will meet at a ball. It's all very amusing. We could find you a rich husband by chance." Her mother fanned herself and carried on through the room to the dining room table, "besides anything could happen at Seamworth." Madge stopped her grunting complaints.

"It's taking place at Seamworth?" She asked, trying to come off as bored.

"It is indeed, this means new dresses, new hairpins, and new ribbons!" Her mother cried thrusting a finger into the air and scurried off again.

"Sounds expensive," her father mumbled and followed after his wife. Madge slumped against the kitchen wall and smiled to herself. "Oh, not you too, Madge." Her father sighed and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

"Ma has a point..." Madge murmured and pushed off the wall towards her father, "anything could happen." She kissed her father's cheek and climbed the stairs to bed. Madge looked down at the letter in her hands finally and unfolded it. She saw it was addressed to her father from Mr. Burke Thomas, the owner of Seamworth. He was inviting them to a ball at his estate that was being hosted by himself, his sister, Bristel Thomas, and Mr. Gale Hawthorne of Panemberly. She gazed down at the loopy carefree writing and dropped the letter onto her dresser. She had been at Panemberly just months before with her Aunt Maysille and Uncle Haymitch. They had a simple tour of the grounds and house. Even with the small tour, Madge made a fair judgment of the place. It was extraordinary. Now she had the chance to meet the owner of it. She pressed a hand to her chest to stop her imagination from running wild. "Anything could happen." She repeated to herself.

The night of the ball came around took quickly for the family. They were rushing around the house and in each other's way for most of the day. The twins, Rosy and Posy, were dashing off with ribbons clutched in their fists around the grounds and Victoria was yelling out to them from an upstairs window. Madge however was sitting on her bed with her hands over her ears. "Vick, do you have to scream?" She asked her sister. Victoria turned around to give her sister an incredulous look.

"How can I not?" She asked, "Do you see them?" Madge rolled off the bed and onto her feet. She glanced out the window briefly before returning to her bed.

"I can give you many reasons." Madge alerted her sister. Victoria huffed and stood in the window a bit longer before heading over to the cupboard,

"Pink or cream?" Victoria asked. Madge squinted at both as her sister twirled with them in either hand.

"Cream..." Madge murmured, "Better for the event- I have a pink ribbon you can use though." Madge tied the ribbon around her waist after the dress dropped over her sister's head. They turned their heads to the side as they glanced into the mirror.

"Mmmm... pink dress." They said at the same time. Victoria laughed as she changed dresses and Madge wrapped around a cream and white ribbon around her waist. Madge stole the cream gown and dropped it over her own head and let her sister do up the buttons on the back. "Ah yes, this looks much better on you." Victoria told her as she grabbed out a lilac ribbon and tied it for her sister. Madge sat back in a chair and flinched as her long blonde curls were drawn up and pinned repeatedly into a bun. "Do you think we'll get to meet Mr. Thomas and Mr. Hawthorne?" Victoria asked, pins steady in her mouth.

"I don't know..." Madge murmured. That evening their carriage rolled up in front of the regal house. Their father got out first, his cane poking into the gravel. He turned and raised a hand for his wife to use. His daughters got out youngest to oldest with Madge crawling out last. The house took her breath away. When they finally made it up the grand front stairs they were surprised to be greeted by the hosts themselves.

"Pinch me for I must be dreaming!" Posy squealed and reached out for her twin.

"Mr. Charles Undersee," their father introduced, "this is my wife and daughters- Margaret, Victoria, Rosy, and Posy." Gale Hawthorne looked indifferent to the family but Burke Thomas however looked quite happy to meet them, his smile grew when they were properly introduced,

"So glad to have the pleasure, you may call me Thom" he informed them. Thom had light brown eyes that matched his hair and a charming smile. His demeanor reflected in his bright cheeks too, "this is my sister, Bristel..." The ladies bowed and glanced up. Bristel Thomas was a tall girl. She stood straight and had a smirk resting on her flawless face. Her dark hair was pinned back with crystal pins sparkling everywhere. Her dress was covered in light green fabric and cream lace cascading to the floor with a slight train. Her gold ribbon wrapped around her was stunning. Madge suddenly wanted to be her. "And this is my good friend, Mr. Hawthorne." He nodded to them. Madge however had the pleasure of making eye contact. Gale Hawthorne's face was something out of a painting, his sharp jaw line, smooth lips, hard cheek bones, and his brooding light grey eyes and wild dark hair was a description out of a romance novel. Madge tried not to swoon under his gaze. The family retreated to the ballroom where Victoria and Madge escaped their parents to a dark corner of the room. They laughed to themselves and slumped against the wall.

"He's so dreamy!" Victoria gushed.

"I agree," Madge sighed, "those eyes..."

"They're nice but... that smile!" Madge glanced over at her sister. Victoria was not much smaller than Madge was but her blonde hair was darker than hers. She had bright happy blue eyes and pale skin like hers but not all the freckles that dominated Madge's face. Her sister won the beauty card because of it.

"You're talking about Thom?" Madge inquired.

"Of course," Victoria said as if it were obvious, "why? Are you talking about Hawthorne?"

"I was," the girls laughed and paced towards the dance floor. They danced, glancing back at each other with wide smiles and cheerful hellos throughout the song and when it ended they clapped for the musicians.

"Excuse me..." Madge turned to Victoria just as she glanced back to her caller, standing in front of her sister was Thom looking very hopeful. He cleared his throat and bowed slightly, holding out his hand, "may I have the next dance?" Victoria looked back at her sister with wide eyes and took the gentleman's hand. Madge watched them take the dance floor. She stayed back with a dying smile and watched them curiously.

"Are you having a nice evening?" Someone asked besides her. Madge glanced up and was shocked into silence. She was standing next to Mr. Hawthorne.

"Why, yes." She murmured and turned her eyes back on her sister.

"Very good," he murmured back.

"Are you?" She asked.

"Quite." He said and squared his shoulders. "Have we met before by chance?" He asked her suddenly. Madge made a face,

"I don't recall meeting you, Mr. Hawthorne." She told him honestly.

"You're familiar to me, Miss Undersee," Mr. Hawthorne said, "have you been in town often?" Madge swallowed hard,

"Call me Madge, and not often, no." She responded. Madge tried to pinpoint where he could have seen her. "I usually walk to Seamworth though..." She started to say.

"Walk?" Mr. Hawthorne said with dismay, "isn't that far?" Madge sighed.

"Not terribly." She shook her head, "you might have seen me by there."

"I haven't been with my friend long, I would have to say probably not." He told her. "I spend most of the time at my house." Madge closed her eyes momentarily.

"Panemberly?" She asked innocently.

"Yes, indeed." He said surprised and turned towards her.

"I was there a few months ago..." She informed him, "I was there with the Abernathy's. They are my aunt and uncle."

"I must have seen you," he told her. The song ended but Thom stayed with her sister on the dance floor.

"Do you dance, Mr. Hawthorne?" He shook his head.

"Not usually."

"No, he won't even dance with me..." Madge watched as Bristel ran a hand along his arm, "will you, Gale?" Madge stepped back to allow Bristel to walk around his person entirely. Madge dismissed herself and wandered back to a room that was unoccupied.

In the next few weeks, Victoria made many trips to Seamworth house for Thom. They were inseparable. Victoria mentioned to Madge, "his sister was insufferable and Mr. Hawthorne had left for Panemberly as soon as he had a chance."

"Well, mother is informing everyone that there will be an engagement by the end of the month." Madge told her, Victoria laughed and covered her pink cheeks. "I'm so happy for you."

Victoria sighed, "I thought Hawthorne liked you." Madge laughed and shook her head.

"No... Not even the slightest of chances." When her sister returned from Seamworth the next week she immediately ran up to Madge.

"Thom and I are going to Panemberly and you were invited." Madge gaped.

"What?"

"You're going," her sister grinned, "we're going!" Madge made sure to pack her finest dresses and arrived in a white dress with a dark brown ribbon and hat. Panemberly was as she remembered it, intimidating and beautiful. This time it was different though, she wasn't just a visitor but a guest. Thom is the one to meet them at the top of the step. He took Victoria by the arm and led the sisters into the main dining room. Hawthorne was not at the head of the table though.

"Sorry but Mr. Hawthorne will not be dining with us tonight." Madge tried to hide her disappointment.

"We're in good company." She told Thom, who smiled over at her sister. They hadn't seen Hawthorne until the third day they were there when he arrived by coach. Madge was in her given bedroom and had seen him from the window. That was the night that Burke Thomas declared that him and Victoria were engaged. He had talked to their father back after the dance was over at Seamworth and had waited all this time to ask her. Hawthorne clapped and smiled at the head of the table and Madge beamed for her glowing happy sister. That night Madge ran out of the house and into the gardens. She collapsed at the edge of a grand fountain illuminated by candlelight in the dark. "You're such a fool," she told herself quietly and let her tears fall.

"Madge?" She stood quickly and started to wipe her face.

"Mr. Hawthorne." She said and turned from him, continuing to clear her eyes.

"Whatever is the matter? Why are you out here so late?" She laughed and shook her head.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," she told him and started back to the house. Soon he was in front of her, grabbing on her arms.

"Are you crying?" He asked her and moved her back towards the fountain.

"No," she lied, "I had something in my eye."

"You're upset that your younger sister is getting married before you." Madge looked away from him, ashamed.

"I am not, I am very happy for her." He raised an eyebrow. "I am happy for her, it's just that... yes, I am bothered that she is getting married before me." Gale grunted approval and turned away. "What, you're not married." She told him, "Are you not upset that Thomas is getting married before you?"

"Thom and I are not brothers." He told her. Madge played with the fabric of her light blue dress. "But I am, surprisingly. I always assumed that I would be married to his sister before he ever found someone as carefree as him."

"You're engaged to Miss Thomas?" She asked him and nodded down at her skirts.

"No, she's insufferable." He told her. Madge couldn't help but laugh. "I could never love her." She glanced up at him and made eye contact. She swallowed and looked back down at her hands. This time though his fingers pressed into her chin and brought up her gaze. "I'm in love with someone else." Madge made a noise in the back of her throat. "I'm in love with you, Miss Undersee."

"Oh dear," she whispered.

"I have been in love with you since you first stepped into my house. You had on a yellow dress. It was such a pretty dress... and your hair was partly down." Madge's mouth fell open.

"You actually remember?" She asked him. He took a hold of one of her loose curls.

"You wandered away from the group and took the main stairs up to look at a painting," he continued, "and though you didn't see me I was just down the hall." Madge covered her face and laughed. "You had this funny smile on your face when your aunt called on you and I just knew." He was smiling now and Madge couldn't hold back her happy tears. "Do you think you could learn to love me in return?" He asked, "Here?" They looked up at the house with awe.

"I could." She whispered, "I would love to." It wasn't before long that Gale Hawthorne was standing in her father's study talking with him. Madge was out in back, pacing, with a bright smile on her face. Her mother and sisters were pressed against the door listening in on the conversation.

"Marriage?" Her mother's voice rang out and she ran through the house, "both of my oldest married!" She cried, "I can die happy!" Gale came out holding his hat in one hand and shaking her father's hand in the other. He came out and joined Madge's side.

"I'm trusting, that you gained my father's permission," She smiled. He nodded,

"That I did." She took his arm and they wandered over to the gate. It clicked into place behind them. "Where are we going?" He asked her.

"I was going to walk to Seamworth." She informed him.

"Walk?" Gale said with dismay, "isn't that far?" Madge smiled,

"Not terribly." They laughed and Madge broke away from him to run, her hat flying off her head and into her fiancée's hands.

"Wait up!" He called,

"Not a chance!"

Review and Request.

Lots of love to my readers,
Erin