"Theodora Dace Pembridge, wake up right now!" Theodora opened her eyes, turning her head to find a woman standing near her bed. The woman was wearing a brown coloured gown, her hands on her hips and her face showing a very angry look.

"Good morning mother." Theodora whispered "Where is Genevieve? Why is she not the one waking me up?"

"Genevieve is downstairs, arranging the breakfast table. And she did try to wake you up but failed miserably. Breakfast is at nine and it is already seven-thirty. It is high time. Wake up RIGHT NOW!" Mother screamed at Theodora.

"Alright!!!" she complied standing up "I am up mother as you can very well see. Now please send her back and I can get ready."

Mother gave Theodora a threatening look and turned around to go back. "At nine sharp," she said cautionary.

"Yes, Mother."

You must be wondering where I was during this whole ordeal? I was at the back of Theodora's mind, hosting her body as I had done with countless others. But of course, none of them ever got to know about me lurking at the back of their minds and watching their life unfold in front of me in the form of the most beautiful movies.

Lady Pembridge closed the door softly and Theodora could hear her footsteps growing distant. As soon as she was out of hearing range, Theodora climbed back onto her bed and hid in the sheets. The bed was too warm to be left at seven-thirty on a winter morning. A few more minutes of sleep has never hurt anyone.

I snickered at her thoughts. She did have her priorities right. Theodora shifted into a deep slumber once again and I decided to explore the room. To say that the room was large would be an understatement. On the right side of the bed was an exquisite sofa set and to the left was the door. In front of the sofa was a perfect dressing table. With a bookshelf filled with hundreds of books, doors leading to the closet and a personal Balcony, the room was still spacious enough.

As my eyes were roaming around, the door from the gallery opened and a small girl entered the room. She must be in her mid-twenties, making her the same age as Dora. She was wearing a knee-length dress and her hair was tied in a perfect bun. Her eyes roamed around the room and as soon as they found her body on the bed, a large scowl appeared on her face.

"Ma'am told me you are awake. Seems like she was mistaken." with that said, Genevieve walked towards the balcony door and removed the curtains.

"Ginny, please," Theodora complained loudly.

"Dora, you are going to be late if you do not get up now. Besides Lady Pembridge will kill me."

"Play the sick card to her."

Uh-oh, wrong words. Genevieve immediately became angry. She stormed towards the bed and shook Dora violently. "It. Is. Not. Funny."

"And neither is you trying to wake me up." she cried loudly and sat up, looking at her "Look, oblivious to mother, both of us know that we can manage to get ready in half an hour. We still have time. So just go and relax for some time and wake me in an hour. Just do not leave the room or she will get to know about it." without waiting for a reply Dora crept back into the bed and was off in a second.

Genevieve gave Dora a 'are you for real' look and went to the bookshelf. She picked one book and made herself comfortable on the couch having to spend her next hour like that. She was six months older than her and totally knew when to give up with her.

I mentally patted Theodora on her back. As far as royalty in the early 1800s go, ladies were supposed to be really punctual. But I guess Theodora was just the opposite. I grinned thinking that maybe this life would be more fun than anticipated.

As an hour passed with Dora sleeping and me doing practically nothing, Genevieve kept her book down and woke Theodora up. She helped her get ready and together they reached the dining hall just in time. Theodora's parents were already waiting for them.

"Good morning father. Good morning mother." Theodora bowed to them and settled down. "Am I the first one today?" she asked them.

"Surely does look like it."

Theodora glared at Genevieve. She gave back an apologetic grin before continuing with the work. Slowly Beatrice, Nicholas, Lionel and Edward made their way into the hall. Breakfast proceeded without any fun and before she knew it, Theodora had retired into her room.

She spent the morning reading a boring book about some facts and figures. As she indulged herself in it, I spent my time, in a corner of her mind, daydreaming about something more productive I would have done if it was my life. After lunch, Theodora went to spend time in the garden where Beatrice was already present reading a book. She sat on the swing looking at the garden.

"Well well, if it isn't my baby girls!!" a sharp voice behind her made Theodora turn around to find Lionel walking towards her.

"Baby?" Dora scowled "I am older than you sir."

"Maybe." He said making himself comfortable on the other swing "But I am definitely smarter."

"Oh please!"

"Come on...Even Beatrice can tell which one of us is smarter," he whisper-yelled at Dora.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Beatrice called out from the bench she was sitting in front of them. She had heard him even when he surely didn't want her to. Beatrice glared at Lionel who turned pale and Dora burst into giggles.

Beatrice was the youngest and fiercest in the house. She can kill anyone with her glares when she was angry and her cuteness made all others helpless to defend themselves.

"I did not mean it that way." he tried to reason with her.

"He just meant that he is very percipient and you apparently too doltish for him." Dora provoked her.

Lionel gave her a 'shut up now' look.

"I know sister. Boys are always cheeky. I have learnt it the hard way. But you are with me, correct?" she asked innocently.

"Of course, Bea," Dora answered with the most serious look she could plaster on her face.

"Girls," Lionel said in a really fed-up tone.

"As for you brother dear," Beatrice turned to him "You do not have to worry, for this dolt will NOT talk to you anymore." She gave him an angry pout and returned her gaze to her book.

"Come on Bea, you are exaggerating now."

"Make it up to her."

"I will if you remain quiet for a second."

Theodora made an act of locking her lips and waved to Lionel to continue. He gave her a mean stare and turned to Beatrice.

"Want to have sweets from the kitchen Bea?" he bribed her. Dora face palmed herself. Lionel seriously needed to work on his convincing skills.

"You can?" she asked excitedly immediately forgetting all about her anger.

"If you want." she quickly nodded her head. "Alright. Remind me when we go inside." Lionel promised her. Dora looked at her siblings inconvincibly and shook her head.

They sat in silence for some time simply looking around when Theodora decided to break the silence.

"Where are Nicholas and Edward?" She asked Lionel.

"Out. Doing work and enjoying, definitely not in each other's company." Lionel grinned at her.

Dora chuckled but saw Beatrice looking confusingly at them. Immediately she transformed her face into a serious one. Before Bea can ask anything, Dora attacked her.

"What are you reading?"

"What did you...." Beatrice began but was interrupted by Lionel who seemed to have developed a sudden deep interest in the conversation "Looks like some kind of novel."

"Yes, it is." Beatrice gave away "It is a fictional story."

"You should read more factual books sister. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interests." Theodora stated proudly.

Lionel made a disgusting face at her. "Too much knowledge is dangerous. You continue Bea. One Genius is enough for this house."

"Yes, sister. These stories act as a getaway from the boundaries of this house. Facts and figures can never help us this way. It is nice to let your imagination run free."

"You want a getaway, Bea? Whatever happened in your life that caused you to think about it?" Lionel asked in disbelief.

"Not really. I was just stating it as a matter of fact and also as a possible point to validate my argument with her."

"Oh! That is okay then."

"Why? Were you considering giving me a getaway" she teased him.

"Maybe."

Both the girls gasped at his statement. "You will do that?" Beatrice asked him.

"Not to you Bea. You are still too young. But I can surely help Dora to make an escape if she wants to."

"But I want to," Beatrice exclaimed.

"No"

"No".

Dora and Lionel said at the same time. Beatrice pouted at them.

"Come on. Unlike me, you have lots of time at hand to explore later." Dora comforted her. She hadn't really emphasised anything but then the words 'unlike me' didn't go unnoticed. The spirits of the meet immediately dropped down and both of them gave Theodora a gaze full of concern. I on the other hand wanted to slay the official mood killer. She just had to play her sickness card. Idiot. My anger at her must have infected her for she immediately apologised for her words.

"It is quite alright," Lionel said in an empathetic tone. "So, about the offer. Want to go?" he asked turning towards her.

Dora looked at Beatrice, thought for some time but then shook her head. "Maybe another day." She was really excited to go but today was not the day.

"I am always here sister." Lionel smiled at Dora understandingly as she stood up and made her way into the mansion. Behind her, she could hear both of them coming inside too as Lionel fulfilled his promise made to Beatrice earlier. 

Soooo, there you have it, folks! We are officially in the 19th century! And that being said, I have a question for you. Given the choice to time travel, which era would you like to travel to and why? Or would you prefer to travel to the future? 

If you are on the same page with Theodora regarding the sleeping patterns, click that star!