"We'll need five day dresses, four formal dresses, and at least two ball gowns," Ella said. The seamstress nearly dropped her tape. "My lady, that's practically a complete wardrobe," she said, looking over in shock at Ella. "Have them put on my account. And I'm sure you can understand that we'll need at least a day dress and a formal dress by tomorrow," Ella said, pointedly meeting the incredulous look of the seamstress. I gathered from their interaction that most girls never needed this many dresses so early in the Season. "Of course, my lady," the seamstress said, pulling the tape down to measure my height, "I'll do what I can to have something ready for tomorrow evening, but I can't promise anything before then," "I do appreciate that so very much," Ella said, as the seamstress took her few last measurements and hurried away to start working on my wardrobe. "Libby, you really should have told me you'd been expelled," Ella said, as soon as the service door had clicked shut again. "I was only following your request to come immediately!" I protested. Emily was glaring at me from over Ella's shoulder and Rosanna was still looking on in dismay. "All is not lost," Rosanna said finally, coming to stand before me, "I'm sure that you must have learned a thing or two before they...let you go," I gave a small smile at her generous choice of words. "Of course," I said. Rosanna looked back at Ella and the two looked a little less panicked. "Well that all depends on how long she was there before they kicked her out," Emily snapped, crossing her arms. "I was there for almost half a year," I said, staring her down. Emily made an incredulous noise and Ella closed her eyes, holding a fist to her forehead. "But that wasn't my first finishing school," I continued, if only to break the silence. Emily cocked an eyebrow as Rosanna chewed her lip. "I promise, I know enough to be of help here," I said, looking to Ella now. She was watching me with a look of despair. "All right then, why don't we find out?" Emily said, sitting prettily on one of the chairs, "Which fork do you use for a salad?" "The leftmost one if the salad is the first course," I replied, keen to match wits with this little brat of a girl. Rosanna took the chair next to Emily's but Ella remained standing. "And when must you curtsy to a member of the royal family?" Rosanna asked, apparently also keen to evaluate my finishing. "The real question is when must you not curtsy," I replied, remembering a favorite expression of one of my first etiquette teachers at Miss Coolidge's. Rosanna's face registered yet more relief and Ella came around to sit on the couch. "How should a lady eat her bread?" Emily countered. "She should eat it like bread?" I replied, confused. Emily gave a smug, triumphant smile. "You should only break off each piece as you intend to eat it and only butter each piece immediately before you eat it," Rosanna corrected. "Not that ladies need extra butter," Emily quipped, raking her eyes over me, "Although perhaps some extra curves could help your cause." I felt the heat rise in my face. Emily was a slight, dainty little thing, and her implication that my gangly frame needed fattening up was very much unappreciated. I met her stare with a steely one of my own. "How do you decline the attentions of a man below your station?" Emily persisted, eyes flashing. "Oh Em she won't need to know that," Ella said, almost rolling her gorgeous blue eyes. "Well?" Emily asked me, ignoring Ella. "I'm quite certain I don't know," I said flatly, wishing I could throw a mouse at her to wipe the smirk off her face. "You feign fatigue or illness to excuse yourself," Rosanna said gently. I inhaled to attempt to calm myself as a maid appeared from behind the tapestry, bearing a tray of tea. "Thank goodness," Ella breathed, as the maid set a cup in front of her. "How does a lady excuse herself to use the washroom?" Emily asked, continuing her assault on me. "You say excuse me," I replied. Her smile turned sour and I realized I must have gotten that one right. "Which glass is yours at a table?" Rosanna asked I glanced down to my hands, utilizing the trick I'd picked up at St. Milicent's Academy for Young Ladies. "The right one," I replied. I looked up to see Emily's smug grin right back in place. "See? She can't even do it without reminding herself like the little schoolgirl she is," Emily sniffed, "Ella, I really must emphasize that you need the best help you can get for your debutante season. Rosanna has been here before and she provides excellent knowledge and experience. You and I went to school together, so you know I'll be invaluable. But her? She's a liability, she'll do nothing but hold you back when you should be shining," I gnashed my teeth together as I watched my cousin absorb Emily's mean little words. "Yes Ella, clearly all I'm good for is amusing people in etiquette quizzes," I snapped, before storming out of the room. Rosanna and Ella cried out in protest as I charged through the door to the hallway, taking off towards the main staircase. "Libby! Wait!" Ella called from behind me. I was running as fast as my flat uniform shoes would permit, skidding around the corner and dashing down the stairs.