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Sophronia arched one eyebrow She’d been practicing that expression for days; it was a very intelligencer sort of skill, and she felt she ought to kno to do it Her eyebroitched slightly and didn’t arch gracefully, but it got her point across
The fortune-teller nodded, almost imperceptibly
Pillover assumed the seat "It’s all nonsense, of course"
Madareater than the sum of your parts," she said
Pillover looked doubtfully down at his tubby for Aristotle
Madame Spetuna continued "And you will never "
Pillover drooped
Lord Dingleproops was next "What a lark!"
"Wager to win, my lord, not to lose"
"That’s all you have to say toat all"
"You speak in riddles Co back as was his insolentAbout anything
"You will not repeat your father’s mistakes You will ful, Madasomewhat at odds with his father" Felix’s eyes were narrowed
Madaold shawl around her shoulders
The young viscount slouched over to take a seat opposite Sophronia and next to Monique He ought have talked to Monique, but instead he said to Sophronia, "Occult nonsense"
Sophronia blinked at hireen eyes very direct "Well, are you, my lord?"
"Am I what?"
"At odds with your father?"
"Is that interest I see at last, Ria, my dove?" Felix smiled and turned to talk with Monique
Sophronia was left in possession of the field but also feeling as though she had lost so information She considered Perhaps he requires feing Professor Shriood professor looked as if he would rather not, but the headmistress’s assets were clearly irresistible He took the seat
The fortune-teller grabbed his hand and said, "You have troubles at school? Your headmaster, he does not value your contribution? This trip, it is to get you away, to keep you froitated "How do you know?"
"The spirits do not lie"
"There are no spirits, not that science has proven Ghosts, of course, but not spirits"
"And yet, you fear I speak truth"
Professor Shrimpdittle, attuned to the interest of his own students, fell silent But the seed of suspicion had been planted
Sophronia palain
Madame Spetuna was about to say more when a knock on the door interrupted her
"Who could that possibly be?" wondered Mademoiselle Geraldine "Everyone knows I a of Parliament
"Come in," yelled the headmistress
Vieve poked her head in "Sorry to disturb, Mademoiselle Geraldine, but I heard… oh, yes! Bully! A fortune-teller! May I have mine done, please?"
"Oh, I don’t think we have the time--"
Professor Shri to his feet "By all means, let the child take my place"
"If you don’t s dangling
The fortune-teller looked the scamp over and then looked at her pal, as yet, to be fully for You are doomed to be lucky in matters of the head and unlucky in h for me I’d rather the first over the second"
The fortune-teller shook her head sadly "Which only proves how very young you are And now, I a to rest before the next session?"
"Of course, my boudoir is just there Please, avail yourself of the amenities"
Madame Spetuna left the room with barely a nod at her former customers She brushed past Sophronia and scooped up the three coins, which Sophronia held casually behind her seat back It was as if Mada covert operations her whole life Very professional
Sophronia turned to watch the fortune-teller retreat The lady was quite short, and she uise I should invest in colored scarves My list of necessities gets ever longer Perhaps I should also take the tiside It seeh to be possibly true or predictions far enough in the future to be irrelevant
The girls discussed their precognitive tea later that evening After much analysis of their own fortunes, and everyone else’s, Sophronia brought the subject around to the fortune-teller herself
"Of course, she can’t possibly be a real fortune-teller"