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Professor Braithhirled fro a hive house with grace and concealed weaponry He’d been using an arrangement of unstable top-hat boxes as steps and was not happy at being distracted The act of whirling caused hih the side of one of the hatboxes in a manner most clumsy for a vampire

"Sit down this moment, Miss Pelouse!" he barked

"But Sophronia squirted steale Everyone else in the class looked either surprised or a to their nature

"Whot, whot? I hardly see how she ht have done that She hasn’tshe could not defend herself to the teacher, she sat back down and hissed in Sophronia’s ear "You certainly won’t be invited to my ball!"

Sophronia smiled "My dear Monique, I never for one irl!" Monique turned to glare across the rooloved hand pressed to hereyes

"And you! Why would I let you co more than scientists who can’t decide which side they’re on Not to mention the way you dress, like some market doxy!"

Dimity’s eyes instantly filled with tears, and she let out a whi to Diirl who is only now having her co-out ball, who failed to finish properly, and whose parents are quite probably in trade?"

All the girls in the rooasped Even Professor Braithas renderedremarks

The vampire recovered his power of speech "Ladies! Manners, whot?"

Dimity mouthed "Thank you" at Sophronia, which earned her a harsh look fro in the at up and down hatboxes, swinging skirts to conceal weapons in as elegant a manner as possible, Dimity came to stand firmly next to Sophronia

Professor Braithwope noticed and was perturbed, but he continued the lesson "Any vampire may be addressed properly as ‘venerable one’ Alternatively, you may use his title, if an aristocrat All queens have titles; they are given a baronetcy if not already holding, although that has not been necessary for centuries Very feo bitten, so rarely is there a new queen This is why there are always fewer fe raised her hand at that and asked, "Why bother?"

"Whot? Oh, to be a female drone? Well, the reward is unparalleled Aside from immortality, if a woman survives metamorphosis, she is automatically a queen But there are other reasons, before the bite Drones are protected, fed, and cared for by their vaiven patronage to pursue their own desires Vaood friends, whot There are drawbacks, of course" The professor touched his own neck, hidden under the high collar

After prancing up and down the stacked hatboxes several more times, Sophronia decided she could risk oneabout tethers, Professor?"

Professor Braithwope considered both Sophronia and her question "Tethers, whot? Very well, I will indulge in a digression, but only because you’ll never understand vampire etiquette if you don’t understand our limitations Queens cannot leave their hive house, and hive-bound vampires cannot leave the vicinity of their queen How far they can go depends h Rove vae of an entire city, but they also remain tethered to their home They will not stray into a hive’s territory unless invited and never enter a hive house unless they have petitioned for one of their drones to be bitten by its queen"

Sophronia prodded further; she ildly curious "How does this work for you, Professor?"

"I am tethered to this ship, but I can leave it to walk around the moor"

She pressed "Are there other vampires tethered to airships?"

"No, we are social creatures, and mine is now such a solitary life None have followed , whot"

"What about your drones?"

"Ah, now, ladies This brings us back to etiquette, and the purpose of this lesson It is rude to ask after a vampire’s drones, either in courtesy or curiosity Drones are a bit of an embarrassment After all, you would not ask a lady about the nature and quality of her pantry, would you?"

All the girls in the class shook their heads emphatically

The vampire turned cold eyes on Sophronia, hiselse, Miss Teoes beyond the li the bounds of propriety

Professor Braithwope paled and stilled If a vaain to see a teacher whohtened

The roo teacher Even Monique looked up, her cootten for one brief ood, Miss Teathered up their reticules, hats, parasols, and shawls in subdued silence Dimity held back when the others left and waylaid Sophronia with a hand on her arht I have a private word?" she asked their teacher once the room cleared "Sophronia, please stay, this concerns you"

"Yes, Miss Plunmott How may I help?"

"It’s this matter of our orders from Lady Linette You’re aware of theirls and then nodded

"Well, I’ to do it anyencers don’t play fair, Miss Pluencer of merit You may send me down, if you like I always felt I was ill suited to this lifestyle, despite ht"

Professor Braithwope s it, Miss Pluht you were not capable of independent action You have, thus far, been rather dragged along in Miss Te out is a good thing? You aren’t going to report nmott"

Dimity looked crestfallen "Whatever you think is best, vulnerable one"

The vampire only tilted his head at Dimity’s use of the recent lesson