But Lila’s eyes were glued on the driver.

Auburn-haired and athletically built, he reeked confidence. It was in his squared shoulders and the regal upward tilt of his chiseled jaw. He wore a white cable-knit sweater under a blue blazer. “Oh, look at him, Nora!” Lila gushed. “Isn’t Teddy Fitzhugh gorgeous?!”

“Quite the modern man,” Nora agreed with a sour note in her voice that caught Lila by surprise.

She turned to face her maid. “What does that mean?”

“Not a thing,” Nora insisted, gathering the nightgown Lila had allowed to drop to the floor.

“It means something,” Lila insisted.

“I like to reserve my judgments until I meet a person.”

“Oh, he’s going to be wonderful, Nora!” Lila said assuredly. “I can tell just by looking at him.” Lila bounded toward the door. “Why am I standing here? I have to greet them.”

Lila heard Nora say something about Percival the butler admitting them as she rushed into the hall. Her mother and Maggie were already ahead of her, both deep in conversation. Lila fell back, not wanting to join them, her enthusiasm deflated by the fact that her sister looked spectacular in a silk floral dress that followed her womanly figure, not exactly hugging her body but certainly accentuating its form. Her abundant hair was gathered in a loose knot at the top of her head. A vision of effortless elegance.

How could she ever compete with that?

Teddy Fitzhugh would be swept off his feet—just like every other young man Maggie deigned to look upon.

But maybe not! This was a fresh start with new people. Lila resolved to assert herself, make her presence known.

Picking up her pace, Lila caught up to her mother and sister. “Isn’t it exciting?” she said.

Her mother glanced over her shoulder and nodded. Maggie, as usual, didn’t even acknowledge Lila’s presence.