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Molly motioned for Sassy to enter “If ye take a seat, I’ll let headmistress know ye be here” Molly waited for them both to take a seat and went to yet another door When her knock was ed looks

Molly went inside and closed the door at her back A moment later she re-entered the anteroo, Molly rushed out

Sassy turned to Jessie, who nodded encouragingly “I’ll be here, I will Don’t ye worry none”

With this, Sassy went to the open door and stood at the threshold, where she got her first look of the head to the nameplate on the desk

A silence followed as each was taken aback by the other Sassy had been expecting to , tall, well figured woman

Miss Sallstone was provocatively clothed in a gown of red velvet, not at all suited to a headmistress Her hair of auburn was cropped short and curled around her lovely face Her eyes were hazel and lightly painted, as were her cheeks Nothing about her was anything like Sassy’s expectations!

“You are not at all what I expected Edna advised me that her ladyship had written you were too beautiful to place as a governess, but, my dear, you are perhaps even too exquisite even for here”

Sassy felt waves of irritation co off the headmistress Clearly, she wished to send her off “I assure you,” Sassy said quietly “I will do my job”

“At any rate, Edna owns Netherby Halls, though she rarely visits” The headmistress paused and eyed Miss Winthrop speculatively before continuing, “She leaves it all to me, except in this instance, where she was insistent that we hire you” Miss Sallstone sighed heavily “You are well connected, on both your parents’ sides, but that won’t help you here You must understand that to fit in here, you will have to do just that—fit in Because you are young, you will have to work harder to prove your worth”

Sassy understood her all too clearly “Yes” She placed Lady Margate’s letter of introduction on the desk before her, noting to herself that the headmistress had not even asked her to sit

“No need to read this now I aain and noaved her to a nearby chair “Do sit, and ill chat for a few moments”

She eyed Sassy in awas off … wrong However, she sat with her hands folded in her lap and waited

“It is past tea However, dinner is always served promptly at six o’clock I have instructed Molly to serve you dinner in your roo journey The students would no doubt be tireso the dinner hour”

“Thank you,” was all Sassy could say She struggled to keep her expression pleasant, fighting not to show that she was nearly overwhel about Sallstone was off, so in her eyes

“Is there anything you would like to know?” the head Sassy wouldn’t bother her with questions