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"About a ball?" Sophronia was es flashed through Sophronia’s mind Felix’s beautiful pale eyes lined in kohl His dark hair His leg bleeding His warning her, too late And that fateful shot, and Soap falling It was all so coflirtation "I can handle our dear Lord Mersey"

Dimity was unconvinced "Oh, yes? Then explain the atha

"Oh, you know Flirting, pretty dress, espionage… death"

Di Professor Braithwope’s lesson on resourceful reticules this afternoon Even if he is all over dotty"

"True Perhaps I’ trains?" Agatha sounded sywash Mention of the ball brought this on If it’s not Felix, then--" She paused "Oh You miss Mr Soap It’s not like he could have actually escorted you, Sophronia"

"I know" Of its own accord, Sophronia’s hand delved into a secret pocket where Soap’s latest missive, months old, rested crumpled and well read That she heard fro him to read and write was bittersweet "He seeood enough friend to syh she felt that the object of that affection was inappropriate

Sophronia appreciated this And part of her sorroas that, in the end, she agreed with Dimity Soap was inappropriate What future did they have outside of social ostracis skin color, and now, the wrong species "Ugh, this is gettingany of us can do about it"

Sophronia groped desperately for the one topic that would guarantee her best friend’s distraction "So, Died forth to conquer the conversation, taking no prisoners "I was thinking about the pink, but it is a few seasons old and I have worn it before What do you think? It projects a certain happy innocence that eniuses Then again, there’s the jewelry to consider I’d have to wear my pearls, and pearls may be too drab for a winter ball But they are really the only thing that works with the pink So then I thought perhaps the orange It is such a bold statement The level of emen take me seriously But do I want to be taken seriously? And then I thought the peach, but it never really recovered fro and olf transport operation So then I thought--"

Sophronia and Agatha were content to let her ra about the force of intellect Dih proper dress was by far her best subject She could prattle on happily about exactly the aht ruffles, as opposed to six, and why one ht not, want to add a sash into the equation

Then Lady Linette arrived at their table "Your attention, please Miss Buss, you as well Now, I appreciate you are all excited about the winter ball, but we teachers are adding our own special twist to the occasion"

No one at the table was surprised They were old hats at this kind of thing Perhaps not old hats, but instead, they were last season’s gloves, soiled but still suited to any occasion, including inclement weather and dead body disposal

"You are all to attend Yes, even you, Miss Woos as yourselves Instead, in consideration of our recent schoolwide focus on identity shift, you are to attend this ball as each other, within your year group As you four are established students, better acquainted with one another than the younger girls, I expect you to execute perfectly and set a good example You will, of course, be evaluated on your performances Miss Teo as Miss Woosh-Teignmott as Miss Buss And Miss Buss as Miss Teave Sophronia a horrified look