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"More fool, her You know about what’s going"

"Not now; everyone is as up on things as I" This irritated Sophronia

Vieve diuess what I heard"

Sophronia brightened "Oh?"

"One of the teachers is required in London"

Sophronia was struck, yet again, by how much older Vieve always sounded and acted One would never have guessed from her speech that she was ten From her actions, occasionally, yes She did bounce

"Which one? Your aunt?"

Vieve shrugged

"Really, Vieve"

"No, Sophronia, I told you soirl got distracted "What is Bumbersnoot up to?"

Bumbersnoot had snuffled over to one side of the room and latched onto a froufrou that had fallen into the corner by the bed He was dragging it out into the center of the floor and not sing it into his tiny boiler

Sophronia looked at her pet "He wants to co"

"What?"

Sophronia indicated the floof in Bu on the shepherdess hat

Vieve crouched down and gently extracted the bit of cloth fro’s , heavily decorated with lace, ruffles, and tassels Vieve, being ned for Bumbersnoot to wear It covered most of the mechanimal and ned with ahead If anyone asked, Sophronia was prone to explaining her handbag was the latest fashion out of Italy, and she couldn’t fathom how a person of taste didn’t also own one

"Dimity and I made it for him after Petunia’s ball The idea worked so well there Everyone thought he was some fancy new accessory This way I can take hiet out and about on occasion, don’t you, Bumbersnoot?"

Vieve’s eyebroere raised alal Not only were students of Madeistered hout the British Empire

"Lesson five five four," said Sophronia "Soht"

"How do you keep hi unexpectedly?"

Sophronia completed her toilette and turned to look at Bu the various ribbons tied into bows "He has to behave, or he gets brought back to the rooet to class"

"What do you have?"

"Lady Linette’s lesson on hive society"

"Then there will be boys with you"

"As opposed to? I thought they were joining us for all our classes"

Vieve shook her head, green eyes twinkling "Oh, no, no Bunson’s doesn’t fraternize with supernaturals"

"So they won’t be in lessons with Captain Niall or Professor Braithwope?"

Vieve nodded and handed her Bued Sophronia, "with boys running around Is it wise to bring hio," insisted Vieve

Bumbersnoot flapped an ear

"Very well Re the led near her waist, looking for all the world like the oddest andany lady of atha noticed the addition of Bu Sophronia only carried the h what defined needing such a ridiculous creature was anyone’s guess They would assume this was simply another moment when Sophronia knew more than they and intended to show them up

As if I would do that in front of boys! Sophronia plonked Bu the other reticules

Lady Linette’s etiquette class was augleproops and his dark-haired friend

Lady Linette began "Welco It with Fangs" We will go over proper introductions within a hive environatha were left out of the first round MoniqueDimity off Preshea chose the dark-haired boy Theyproportions, and sulky temperament Yet, despite Preshea’s uncontested loveliness, the dark-haired boy kept glancing at Sophronia Which, while coness It wasn’t often a boy preferred her over Preshea

Lady Linette continued, "Queens outrank all other vaht hold Always go to the queen first in any social situation and allow one of her hive-bound vampires to introduce you After the queen come her hive members, then any roves who may be present All of these will be men, some landed Drones--humans indentured to hive or rove--are classed as household staff, with a few exceptions"

One of the boys said, snidely, "Are you purposefully leaving out the fact that drones are also the vampires’ primary food source?"

Lady Linette snapped, "One doesn’t discuss such utilitarian things!

For today’s practice, the gentlein!"

Sophronia and Agatha introduced theatha was as shy and as nervous as if Sophronia were a real va theenerally overset by anything new, from the advent of a birthday scarf--Hoear it? What towilly-nilly into classes

"So unpredictable," Agatha whispered

The scarf, wondered Sophronia, or the boys?

Conversation was allowed to continue for soled and , to lack of flirting, to eyelash use She corrected both girls and boys Sophronia realized, for the first time, that vampires had just as many rules to folloomen in society Possibly more

"Pardon me, Lady Linette?"

"Yes, Miss Teht they had to stay in their own territory"