Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in this story (except for maybe a few that I add to enhance the overall quality). I am not Libba Bray;nor, do I proclaim to be.

Thank you everyone that has chosen to read this. I am a very busy person and want to continue writing as much as possible. I hope you like this story. I feel like Felicity has a story all her own that should be told. I promise in later chapters there will be explanations of Pippa and Felicity's romance as well as the Simon situation. I hope you enjoy. Also, reviews would be greatly appreciated.

Felicity Worthington was not a typical child. She was born with some stark stubborn quality that leaked from her pores even as an infant. Her parents, not knowing how to control such a lively child, did what any wealthy British family was expected. Mr. Mrs. Worthington handed her over to the care of a governess.

Felicity grew up as many children do. She laughed and played. By the age of four she had developed into quite an intriguing creature. Mr. Worthington took pride in his small daughter; he often brought her out at balls and dinners to show her to his friends. She was too young to know it, but she had an extensive repertoire of allies in the high classes of Victorian England.

Like most upper class children, she was lonely. Mr. Worthington, her only friend in the house, was away on business most days of the year. Her mother, a fickle woman, was never actually there even when she was physically present. The parenting that Felicity received from her mother came in the form of reproach and remind. There was no love. In its place was a constant reminder of the obligations of being a part of the elite.

What the Worthington adults failed to realize about their ever-increasingly cunning child was her ability to manipulate. Felicity knew how to get what she wanted from the time she could smile. Something about her pale blue eyes and crimson lips caused even the hardest of hearts to crumble at her will. She tasted power at her own hands and sensation never really dissipated.

Felicity never really understood her overwhelming loneliness until she met a boy named Simon Middleton. He was two years her senior and a child that was destined to have both good looks and fortunes. He was Felicity's first infatuation—her first taste of desire. But like most people in Felicity's life, he was never able to live up to her ideal.

Felicity was outside playing in the garden the day she met Simon. Like most little girls, she was lost in a world where princesses are kidnapped from pirates only to be saved by a handsome prince. She was on her back in the grass peering at the clouds when a shadow obstructed her view. With a slight sigh she sat up and looked at her intruder.

From the ground Simon appeared to be a much older boy. At first she gasped because she thought she was peering at the legs of a young man. But when he spoke, she knew he was only a child like her. Adults were more polite.

"What are you doing on the ground?" he asked with the type of grin that most little boys have.

Felicity had never spoken to a boy before. She was only caught off guard for a second though. "What are you doing in my garden?" she responded with the same mischievous grin.

"I believe this garden belongs to your father."

She was beat. He ran her into a corner in barely any time at all. This was a new kind of challenge. Felicity lifted herself from the ground and stood up as tall as she could. He was a few inches taller, but she was not afraid. "Who are you?" she seethed as she stared into his dark blue eyes. She held her gaze until finally Simon looked away. She always could last longer at that game.

"My name is Simon Middleton. And you are Felicity Worthington, daughter of the Admiral." Felicity did not know how to respond to this. He knew her. She did not know him. She could only remember hearing his last name once in passing. Why was he here? "My mother is having tea with yours. They thought it would be beneficial for us to meet."

Beneficial? It was a word Felicity had yet to learn. She chewed on this idea for a minute before responding. "How old are you?"

"Eight. I will be starting school in two years," he gloated with a twinkle in his eyes. "How old are you?"

"Six," Felicity responded with a hint of defeat. She saw Simon as eternally better than her because he was older. The way he nodded approved her suspicion. She was going to find a way to beat him even if it took all day.

"I'll race you to that tree!" she challenged suddenly as the thought burst into her mind. Her finger pointed off in the distance, but Simon did not even look. He continued to stare at her as he responded. "You can't beat me."

"I can," Felicity confronted. "And I will."

Simon's childish giggle embarrassed Felicity. Instead of getting angry, she did what any ashamed girl would do. She lifted her foot and kicked his shin as hard as she could. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Don't laugh at me," Felicity warned with an intensity that caused Simon to take a few steps back. "Now are you going to race me or are you scared?"

"I'm not scared of a girl."

Felicity couldn't help but wonder for a second why it always seemed that boys and men were better. They always thought they were faster, stronger, and smarter. Why? "I'm not scared of anything," Felicity retorted with full honesty.

"Neither am I," Simon answered as he stood a little taller. "I'm a man."

Felicity rolled her eyes and readied herself for the run. Simon followed her lead. Soon they were both running as fast as they could at the gaping tree. Simon took the lead easily, but Felicity caught up when Simon made the mistake of looking back. Felicity's small body came barreling into the tree a fraction of a second before Simon's. "It was a tie!" Simon shouted. "Rematch?"

"I'm better than you," Felicity answered in between breaths. "You lost." There was no hiding the excitement on her face. She already was beginning to like Simon. He was a match for her in ways all her nannies and governesses were not. He made her want to win. She was intrigued.

The pair raced a few more times, but Felicity won every time. Simon, out of anger, finally sulked off to his mother. Mrs. Middleton gave into the wishes of her whiny son and left the Worthington home early.

Felicity's glee was shattered when her mother came outside and reprimanded her for her behavior. That was the first time Felicity learned that beating a boy was wrong. She didn't understand it so she lied. She promised her mother she would let Simon win next time, but that was not an option for Felicity. She would win every time forever.