The wedding date approached quickly. A week before the ceremony, Charlotte Plumb's family began to arrive. Her elder brother, accompanied by her two sisters, appeared in the station trap on a bright June afternoon. They tumbled out of the small conveyance and gawked at Everstow Manor.

"Horace!" Lottie exclaimed, rushing onto the front portico. Her brother swooped her into his arms and firmly kissed her on the mouth.

"Coo! You struck a gold mine here, lil' sis." The brother's voice echoed around the ample space. "Your fiancé must be worth a bob or two."

"Lucky for me, I'm fertile," Charlotte Plumb laughed uproariously. She continued to cling to her sibling in an overly familiar manner. She released herself and turned to her waiting sisters. "Close your mouths before you let the flies in. They don't like gawkers around here. They're very la-de-da."

"La-de-da," the two young women sighed, bumping shoulders.

Gray and I stumbled upon them as we sauntered around the corner on our afternoon stroll. When Charlotte noticed us, she hastened to beckon us to join them. At the sight of her flailing arms, we both pivoted to retreat. However, she continued to call, and trapped, we slowly approached.

"May I present my brother, Horace," Charlotte introduced, her voice haughtily nasal. "And my sisters, Bertha and Despina."

"Pleased to meet you, I'm sure." My brother stepped forward, extending his hand graciously. "Grayson David Everstow, at your service."

Charlotte and the two women stared at his outstretched hand disdainfully. Linking arms, they moved as a group toward the front door. Horace shadowed the trio. The door slammed in our faces as we attempted to follow them inside.

"How dare they!" I huffed, quaking with fury.

Gray did not respond. Instead, he opened the door and stood back for me to proceed before him. Inside, the foyer felt crowded with people. Papa rushed from his office to extend his personal greetings while Yates stood nearby. A look of disgust crossed the butler's face. I could understand his dismay.

Joel clattered down the swooping staircase and slid to a halt beside Charlotte. Placing his arm around her waist, he drew her close. Without warning, they tightened their embrace and kissed heartily.

"Well done, my man," Horace chortled, clapping Joel on the back hard. He laughed uproariously.

Instead of chastising the impertinence, my elder brother grinned widely. Astonishment crossed Papa's face, and then it flattened. Grayson and I edged closer to each other and grasped hands.

"Welcome to Everstow," our father greeted. "Our home is yours for as long as you wish to stay."

Inwardly, I cringed at his invitation. I realized they might take full advantage of the situation. However, my thoughts were interrupted by a sudden crash. Spinning, I noticed Despina standing above a shattered Ming vase. Yates rushed forward and stooped to pick up the pieces.

"Irreplaceable," the butler muttered to himself. "Thousands of years old. Priceless."

Behind him, Papa's face paled. The ancient vase had belonged to the family for several centuries. The prized possession meant a great deal to him.

"They always called me butterfingers," Despina chuckled merrily. "Too bad about your doo-dah." Shrugging, she stepped behind Bertha and buried her face in her sister's shoulder.

"Never mind," Charlotte shrugged nonchalantly. Swiftly, she turned to me. "Since you aren't doing anything, Prissy, show my brother and sisters to their rooms. Be a good little girl, will you?"

My temperature flared, bringing scarlet plumes into my cheeks. How dare you order me around as though I were a servant!

"Ann Marie will show them up," I announced, moving toward the bellpull. I yanked it hard, summoning one of the upstairs maids. The young servant appeared instantly. "Miss Charlotte's family has arrived. Will you take them to their rooms?"

"Yes, Miss." Ann Marie bobbed a short curtsey, her brown curls swaying beneath her lacy cap. "This way, if you please."

Charlotte glared at me maliciously as she swooped toward the staircase. Linking arms with her sisters, she mounted the steps and then stopped. Turning, she addressed Yates.

"Have their trunks sent up immediately when they arrive," she ordered sharply. "And don't linger."

Yates scowled in return but held his comments in check. He did not enjoy taking orders from Miss Plumb; it disturbed his dignity. The family treated him with the utmost respect for as long as I can recall. Both his father and grandfather buttled at Everstow Manor. They held sway in the servants' quarters and controlled the entire staff.

Nevertheless, since Charlotte's arrival, Yates became subject to her demands, and she looked down upon him. The newcomer often called him to perform menial tasks and treated him like a scullery maid. He cringed at the idea of hauling their trunks to their rooms. The task would fall to one of the gardeners or a stable hand.

Papa returned to his study until dinnertime while Gray and I hurried up to the nursery. Miss Young glanced over her half-glasses at us when we burst into the room. She sat at her desk grading our daily assignments. Mr. Blanchard stood behind her, massaging her shoulders.

"The Royal family has arrived," I announced, curtseying deeply.

"Really, Priscilla, whatever do you mean?" Claudia Young exclaimed questioningly. "Surely you cannot mean the Queen?"

"Certainly not," I rebuffed harshly. "The Plumbs—or at least the younger members—appeared moments ago in the station trap. Needless to say, they are equally obnoxious. They are named Horace, Bertha, and Despina. The two ugly sisters look like they stepped out of Cinderella."

"Really, Priscilla," my governess cooly stated. "Surely, they are not that bad."

"You haven't seen them," Gray cut in sharply. "They are taller than me and have hooked noses and scarlet mouths that always frown. The brother is brawny and looks like a prize fighter. I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark corner."

"Despina broke the Ming vase," I stated bleakly. "Never mind," my voice rose in falsetto, "Miss Plumb said as though the priceless vase meant nothing to her. Papa didn't say anything, but he's furious."

"The Ming?" Mr. Blanchard mused, frowning. For a moment, he looked as though he would vomit.

"However, did that happen?" Miss Young exclaimed breathlessly.

"She picked it up and dropped it," Grayson answered, mimicking Despina's motions. He held the invisible vase and then released his fingers. His eyes grew wide and innocent as he gazed down at his feet. "I cannot swear to it, but it looked like she did it on purpose."

"She would," I muttered disdainfully.

"Really, Priscilla, how can you say that?" Claudia Young gasped. "At least give her the benefit of the doubt before you throw around accusations. That goes for you too, Grayson."

"She did it on purpose," I restated firmly. "Under the circumstances, Gray and I will eat our dinner up here tonight. I do not wish to mingle with the Plumbs."

"As you wish," the governess agreed without argument. Usually, she would have insisted we join the family. However, I believed she understood our chagrin.

Grayson and I remained in the nursery despite the summons to dinner. Ann Marie delivered our trays, and we settled at the schoolroom table to dine. The door flung open as we removed the covers from our roast beef and Yorkshire puddings. Charlotte Plumb paraded into the room with Joel on her heels.

"We expected you in the dining room," she remarked, hovering over us menacingly. "What are you doing up here?"

"We did not wish to join you or your family," I responded coolly. Lifting my knife and fork, I addressed my meal.

"How dare you!" Charlotte screamed, snatching my plate from the table. Spinning, she flung it against the wall. The China plate crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. Gravy dripped down the rose-printed wallpaper, leaving an ugly stain.

"How dare you!" I echoed, rising angrily. "Look at the mess you made. You're a beast...an animal. Why don't you go back to the jungle where you belong? Take your heathen family with you."

Miss Plumb stepped toward me and, raising her arm, slapped me across the face. Wheeling backward, I raised my hand to my stinging cheek. Grayson leaped between us instantly while Joel cowered against the nursery door.

"Apologize!" my middle brother shouted, glaring at Miss Plumb.

"You heard him," Charlotte declared, pinning me with cruel eyes. "Apologize!"

"Not Priscilla, you," Grayson cut in sharply. "Apologize to my sister or leave. We don't appreciate violence here. These are our private rooms, and you have violated them."

Minutes ticked past. Miss Plumb continued to glare at us while Joel remained in the background. Gray moved beside me and placed his arm protectively around my shoulders. I pressed close to his side.

"One day, in the near future, you will address me as Lady Charlotte," my brother's pregnant fiancée finally stated. "Things will become drastically different for you two when that day arrives. Believe me, I will not forget the disrespect you have shown me since my arrival here." Spinning on her heels, she marched toward the door. "Come along, Joel."

Our elder brother ogled us scornfully before shadowing Miss Plumb into the corridor. The door slammed behind him. Turning to Grayson, I buried my head in his shoulder and sobbed. I never believed anyone could ill-treat us in our own home. The comfortable sanctuary of our private rooms fell away, and we felt menaced by a crude newcomer.

"Whatever happened in here," Miss Young declared, entering from her private suite.

"Miss Charlotte came in and threw Prissy's dinner against the wall," Gray explained quickly. "She was mad because we didn't join them downstairs."

"Good heavens," the governess exclaimed, bending to clean up the broken plate. "Well, I suppose you should have gone down to dinner. Nevertheless, it certainly didn't deserve such a wild reaction. I see to it that Ann Marie replaces your dinners." Miss Young hustled away to reorder our meals.

"Someday, she will become Lady Charlotte," I mused, plunking down in the window seat. "Heaven help us." I buried my face in my hands.

"Papa would have to die first, Prissy," Grayson announced, sitting beside me. He drew me close in another hug. "It won't happen for a long time. I'm sure Papa is most healthy, and he won't die anytime soon."

I nodded my head, reassured. However, I continued to dread the day when Joel became Lord Everstow. He allowed Charlotte to drag him around by the nose and became more ineffective as each day passed. I did not look forward to the hell we would experience in the future.