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Mrs Te to provide cooose told me, in confidence, that you are masterly with troublesome cases You have an excellent record Why, only last week one of your girls married a viscount"

Sophronia was rattled "Really, Mu This was a coer merely sipped her tea, the bulk of her attention on Sophronia Her eyes were hard, assessing, and her movements very precise and sharp

Mrs Temminnick continued "And, of course, there is dear Petunia’s coht be presentable for the event This Deceiven her… defects"

Sophronia winced She ell aware she hadn’t her sisters’ looks For son her rather e than heropenly with a stranger!

"That could be arranged" When the wo French accent that her words were difficult to understand "Miss Temminnick, why is there india rubber wrapped around your boots?"

Sophronia looked down "Mu solution Does it work?"

"Haven’t had a chance to test theer looked neither shocked nor impressed by this statement

Frowbritcher reappeared HeSophronia’s mother stood and went to confer with the butler Frowbritcher had a sinister habit of turning up with secrets It was highly disconcerting in a e, Mrs Temminnick went red about the face and then whirled back around

Oh, dear, thought Sophronia, what have I done now?

"Please excuse me for a moment There appears to be sohter a pointed look "Hold your tongue and behave, young lady!"

"Yes, Mu the door firet the rubber?" The crow disued by the shoe modification India rubber was expensive and difficult to come by, particularly in any shape nificant way

"You destroyed a du I didn’t, either" Sophronia was cautious After all, this wo school I’ll be there for years and then foisted off on so hairline Sophronia rethought her approach; perhaps a little less circue was called for

"Mu, you understand, about h it has been a while since I tried to cli He thinks Petunia is the pip, notapart?"

Sophronia nodded, as it was a better excuse for destroying the dus, machines, don’t you find?"

The woenerally prefer to make use of them, not dissect them Why do you do it? To upset your mother?"

Sophronia considered this She was relatively fond of her mother, as one is apt to be, but she supposed soht be on the attack "Possibly"

A flash of a s It vanished quickly "How are you as a thespian? Any good?"

"Theatricals?" What kind of finishing school teacher asks that? Sophronia was put out "I es on my face, but I’m still a lady!"

The woman looked at Sophronia’s exposed petticoat "That reh not interested any?"

Down the hall, soht she heard her nored the disruption

"Strong?" Sophronia edged toward the tea trolley, eyeing the sponge

"Fro, I suppose"

Sophronia blinked "I’ood at prevarication"

"Is that a bad thing?"

"That depends on who"

Sophronia helped herself to two pieces of cake, just as though she had been invited to do so The visitor forbore to reuise of finding a spoon, to tuck one piece away in her apron pocket Mumsy wouldn’t allow her any sweets for the next week once she found out about the duht have seen the theft, but she didn’t acknowledge it

"You run this finishing school, then?"

"Do you run this finishing school, Mademoiselle Geraldine?" corrected the crow

"Do you run this finishing school, Madeh they had not been properly introduced Odd, in a finishing school teacher Shouldn’t she wait until Mumsy returns?

"It is called Made Ladies of Quality Have you heard of it?"

Sophronia had "I thought only the very best families were allowed in"

"Sometimes we make exceptions"

"Are you the Madeh"

"Why, thank you, Miss Temminnick, but you should not make such an observation to your betters"

"Sorry, Madam"

"Sorry, Mademoiselle Geraldine"