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"Not that the request surprised us, but all the sa with it After all, Charlotte really has no kind of obligation to them noever," and here the skinny, redheaded battle--er, Aunt Glenda--sighed theatrically, "Charlotte is also fully aware of the importance of this mission, so she is unselfishly ready to do what she can to contribute to its success"

My lance Charlotte tucked a strand of her glossy red hair back behind her ear and batted her eyelashes in my direction

"What?" said Nick "So what’s Charlotte supposed to be teaching Gwenny to do?"

"Oh,red with eht, but it would be absurd to think that in such a short time Gwyneth can catch up with all the skills Charlotte has acquired over many years, not to mention the … er, unequal distribution of natural talents in this case In particular, Gwyneth’s lack of general knowledge is positively disastrous, and she has no idea of the good manners appropriate to various historical periods--or so I have heard"

What a nerve! And as she supposed to have heard it from?

"Yes, and a person really needs toaround for hours alone in a locked cellar," I said "Iher nose"

Caroline giggled

"Oh, no, Gwenny, I’ to be just a little bit trickier for you in the near future" Charlotte gave me as probably meant to be a sy

"Your cousin is right" I’d always been a bit afraid of Lady Arista’s penetrating gaze, but this tihest places, you will be spending a good deal of tihteenth century," she said

"And in company," added Charlotte, "with people ould think it very odd if you didn’t even know the na on the throne or what a reticule is"

A reti-what?

"What’s a reticule?" asked Caroline

Charlotte gave her a thin smile "Get your sister to tell you"

I stared crossly at her Why did she always get so norant? Aunt Glenda laughed quietly

"Kind of a silly handbag, usually full of stuff that no one needs," said Xes And handkerchiefs And little bottles of s salts"

Aha!

"A reticule is an old-fashioned word for a handbag, Caroline," I said, without taking my eyes off Charlotte She blinked in surprise, but she kept the thin shest places? What’s that supposed to reed that Gwyneth would be kept out of the whole thing as far as possible She was only going to be sent to safe years to elapse How can they change their er?"

"It’s none of your business, Grace," said e as it is"

My lance went once from me to Lady Arista and back, and then she pushed back her chair and stood up "I must start for work," she said She dropped a kiss on Nick’s head and looked over the table at Caroline and et to brush your hair before you go See you later"

"Poor Mum," whispered Caroline asI don’t think she likes it one little bit that you’ve inherited this tireed "I’d noticed"

"And she’s not the only one," said Nick, with a ful look at Aunt Glenda and Charlotte, as still s

I’D NEVER ATTRACTED asinto the classroom before That was because half the kids there had seenfetched in a black li’s still open," said Gordon Gelderuy yesterday, the gay one, is a TV producer, and he was auditioning Charlotte and Gwyneth for a show, but Gwyneth won the part Possibility nuay cousin, and he runs a limo service Possibility number three--"

"Oh, shut up, Gordon!" spat Charlotte, tossing her hair back and sitting down

"Charlotte, couldn’t you explain how coot into the car with hi tone of voice "Lesley’s been trying toafter school"

"Yes, and a teacher giving coaching is likely to turn up in a liht?" said Gordon, giving Lesley a nasty look "That’s pathetic as a cover-up, if you ask rinned atbetter in a hurry" She sat down in her usual place

I looked around for Xemerius Last ti cheerfully down atclasses, but I didn’t think he was likely to follow them