She turned her attention to where Rhenick was now oh-so-discreetly nodding and considered Coraline and her gaggleof friends, all the girls in the process of chatting like mad, seemingly unconcerned that they were in church and certainly weren’t making a point to whisper.
Drusilla’s eyes began narrowing when Norma Jean McCormick, one of Coraline’s best friends, and a girl Drusilla had only just met before entering the church that morning, took the fan she was waving about and gave the girl sitting to her right, one Velma Chickering, a rap on the head with it.
Considering Drusilla had never once rapped anyone on the head with a fan, nor had she ever witnessed any of her contemporaries doing that, it was becoming more than obvious that she was going to have her work cut out for her once the girls started attending her academy.
It was also obvious that the academy might very well start off as a school for wayward girls after all, since there was a very good chance the majority of the girls were going to be exactly like Coraline and her friends.
She turned to Rhenick. “I never thought I’d say this, but I’m now thinking it’s fortunate I’ve been told I already possess the look of a stern headmistress, which I’m now going to use to my advantage as much as possible as an intimidation tactic. Hopefully that tactic works reasonably well since I get the feeling I’m going to be facing quite a few challenges in the coming weeks.”
“You hardly have the appearance of a stern headmistress, and I have no doubt you’ll be up for all of those challenges,” Rhenick countered. “In fact, I say it’ll only take you a week to get everyone settled down and ready to learn how to become proper young ladies.”
Drusilla glanced back to Coraline, who was directing her attention to a young gentleman who was sitting in the pew across from her.
That Coraline was in the process of fluttering her fan rapidly in front of her face suggested she was attempting to flirt with the man, the fluttering also suggesting that Coraline mightbenefit from a proper lesson in fan etiquette, as rapid fluttering of a fan in front of a lady’s face was a discreet way for a lady to allow a gentleman to know she was engaged and sufficiently off the market, a message she doubted Coraline wanted to impart.
“While I appreciate your optimism,” Drusilla began, ignoring the idea that heat had settled on her cheeks the moment he’d not hesitated to state she didn’t resemble a headmistress, “I think it’s going to take me at least the duration of the summer to get that particular group of young ladies to behave, and in all honesty, it may take me longer than that.”
That notion was immediately reinforced when Norma Jean whipped open her fan again, smacking poor Velma Chickering straight in the nose. And even though it appeared as if the smacking was accidental, Velma had clearly had enough abuse as she didn’t hesitate to give Norma what looked like a painful poking in the stomach with her fan in return.
“You might be right that my time frame was off regarding getting the girls in hand,” Rhenick muttered before he gave her arm a soothing pat. “But misbehaving girls aside, Mother seems to be on the move, so you might want to prepare yourself for organ music like you’ve never heard played before.”
Before Drusilla had a chance to brace herself, a blast of the organ pipes reverberated around the room, leaving her with the realization that truer words had never been spoken. And while it did appear as if Wilhelmine was simply running through a few scales to warm up her fingers, they were the most unusual scales Drusilla had ever heard.
“Maybe, for the sake of the congregation’s ears, I should take over, no matter that our mothers want us to remain seated together,” Drusilla said, pitching her voice a little louder than she normally would during a church service on account that was the only way Rhenick could hear her over the racket Wilhelmine was now making.
“Seraphina seems to have beaten you to that,” Rhenick calledback as he nodded to where Seraphina was hurrying down the aisle, where she promptly slid onto the organ bench next to Wilhelmine.
Wilhelmine immediately stopped playing and gave Seraphina a pat on the cheek, sending the spectacles Seraphina had decided to pair with a cast-off gown of Aunt Ottilie’s she’d found stuffed in one of her aunt’s many wardrobes a little off-kilter.
“Mother appears to be fine with Seraphina taking over,” Rhenick said. “But speaking of Seraphina, Eloise told me earlier, after Seraphina arrived here sporting a wig and looking quite unlike herself, that her change in appearance stems from some type of family situation, but I readily admit that wasn’t much of an explanation.”
“I’m afraid I can’t say much more about the matter because Seraphina hasn’t elaborated to me about her decision to disguise herself, except to say that she doesn’t want to risk having anyone recognize her while she’s out and about in Chicago. From what I gathered, if that information were to travel back to New York, it might cause some difficulties for her.”
Rhenick frowned. “Isn’t she worried that she’ll be recognized once she begins teaching classes at the academy?”
“She intends to continue wearing a disguise while classes are in session,” Drusilla said. “With that said, though, know that Seraphina isn’t concerned that your family knows what she truly looks like, or that her name is Seraphina Livingston, because she trusts all of you to keep her secret. She simply doesn’t want that to get out to the students and their families. That’s why we’ve agreed that I’ll simply introduce her as Miss Livingston and never mention her given name is Seraphina, which she thinks, paired with her less-than-noteworthy new appearance, will keep her safely away from her stepmother for a while.”
Rhenick’s brow furrowed. “Why is this the first I’m hearing about what sounds like Seraphina’s evil stepmother?”
“Seraphina hasn’t wanted to talk about her circumstances, and I haven’t pressed her on the matter. All I know is that she needs to lay low for a while, although this development of her assuming a new look suggests she’s involved in something far more troubling than a mere misunderstanding with her stepmother.”
“The fact that she’s added numerous moles to her face definitely suggests it’s more than a misunderstanding as I don’t know any young lady who’d want to do that unless absolutely necessary.” He frowned. “Do you think she’d be receptive to having me look into whatever trouble she’s avoiding in New York the next time I’m there?”
Before Drusilla had an opportunity to answer or appreciate the fact that Rhenick hadn’t hesitated to offer his assistance, Seraphina began playing, Wilhelmine staying directly beside her on the organ bench to turn the pages of the hymnal, which effectively ended any and all conversation.
As the music flowed through the church—and music that rivaled that of anything played at the Academy of Music back in New York, given Seraphina’s expertise—Drusilla settled back against the hard pew, allowing her thoughts to drift.
It wasn’t surprising when her thoughts settled on how the castle was almost ready to open its door as a bona fide academy for young ladies, their targeted opening date being a mere week away—as long as nothing dastardly interrupted that target, such as ghosts making appearances again or unscrupulous men trying to force their way onto the property with their weapons at the ready.
Her thoughts came to an abrupt end when she realized Seraphina was finishing up on the organ and Reverend Michaelson, whom she’d met the previous week when he’d paid a visit to welcome her to Chicago, was walking to the pulpit. Once the reverend completed his opening prayer, Drusilla settled back against the hard pew and spent the next hourenjoying the service, something she’d missed over the past few months.
After the entire congregation finished the last hymn, Seraphina taking over on the organ again, Drusilla took Rhenick’s arm and walked with him out of the church, her hold on his arm tightening when she realized everyone in the churchyard seemed to be looking her way.
“I’m quite unused to being the object of so much attention,” she whispered once they reached the sidewalk, finding herself thankful when Rhenick gave her arm a reassuring squeeze and didn’t relinquish his hold.
“And here I would have thought you were accustomed to attention since you spent so many years in the midst of this country’s highest society.”
“I spent most of my time as a member of the Four Hundred lingering on the sidelines, until Father died, and then I spent my time confined to our house on Washington Square, or occasionally going for a few rides in Central Park with my ex-fiancé, whose name I’ve decided will no longer pass through my lips.”
