“Yes, Father.” Maybe if she agreed he would give her a lemondrop.
Her fatherlooked up, surprised. “You are still here?” Waving a hand, heshooed her away. Not knowing what else to do, Seraphina did as hebade and left the study.
Two days later,a footman escorted her to a carriage and she was taken toRobertson’s Finishing School for Ladies. She did not see her fatheragain, and only a short missive from Sir Walter four months lateradvised her he had returned to Ceylon.
When shereturned home for Christmas, the servants who had been her familyhad been dismissed. Strangers had taken their place, and she spenther holidays alone.
She did notreturn home at Christmas for the rest of her time at finishingschool.
Seraphina hadbeen at finishing school for four years when a new girl started.This new girl was small and alone and reminded Seraphina all toomuch of herself, when she had been weak and small and her fatherhad deemed her unworthy. Every time Seraphina saw the new girl, shefelt uncomfortable and agitated, and she hated that this girl madeher feel so.
One day in thedining hall—it was a Tuesday, she remembered that detail quiteclearly—she could take no more of this feeling.
“You!” she hissed.
From across thecommunal table, the new girl looked up.
Seraphina had nodesire to learn her name. “I find I do not wish to rise from myseat. Prepare a plate of dinner for me.”
The new girlgaped at her.
Seraphinaexhaled impatiently. “You are quite useless, aren’tyou?”
“I—”
“Make yourself useful. Fetch the plate.”
“I—”
“I—I—” she mocked. “Can you not speak?”
“I—”The new girl blanched.
Seraphinalaughed. “You cannot speak,” she said, clapping her hands together.“How delightful. Nonetheless, you do not get a say in this. Youcannot speak and so you shall do as you are told. You will preparea plate for me, for Maria, and for Elizabeth, and you will bringthem to our table.”
Frozen, the girlstared at her with wide eyes.
“Well?” Seraphina said. “What are you waiting for?”
The girlstarted, and then scurried away.
Maria andElizabeth tittered. Sera lifted her chin. Shefelt…better.
After that, sheoften ordered others and found, to her surprise, others would obeyher. Soon, she arranged everything to her liking, and those whodidn’t adhere to her liking she punished. Rumour and innuendobecome her weapons, and so too a sharp tongue with wicked words. Inthe world of the finishing school, all girls quickly learnt not tocross her.
When she wasseventeen, preparations began for her debut to society. Shereturned to Tidswell House in London, dismissed the servants herfather had employed and engaged her own. Her debut was made withthe proper pomp and ceremony, and she dedicated herself to ensuringshe controlled it as she had her boarding school.
Life continued,as it always did. If, after eight years in society, life felt alittle duller, a little less fulfilling, well Seraphina woulddiscover a new way to amuse herself. Another year loomed, and sheprepared herself as she always did. Perhaps she would tempt a manto ruin, perhaps she would toy with a debutante. There were amyriad of options, and each would quiet the voice in her head thatwhispered she was unworthy. This year would be like all theothers.
And that voicewould remain silent.
Chapter One
THE CARRIAGE JERKED OVER a bump in the road. Rightingherself, Lady Seraphina Waller-Mitchell laced her fingers andstared straight ahead, her mind ticking over every step she wouldtake that night.
She had no causefor nerves. This ball would be no different from any of thehundreds of balls she’d attended before. Indeed, she arranged eachto her satisfaction, ensuring all would progress as itought.
She would alightfrom her carriage and make her way to the entrance hall where shewould be announced by the Pruitt’s majordomo. Maria and Elizabethwould then attend her, having arrived at the ball prior to her asinstructed. They would proceed to the southwest corner of theballroom, which had the best aspect, and she would set up court,selectively choosing from those in attendance to provide amusement.She would bestow ten of the fourteen dances on six suitors of herchoosing, forgoing four to instead observe and comment, and shewould allow another suitor to bring her delicacies and punch.Elizabeth and Maria would relay the latest gossip, and from thosein attendance she would determine on whom she would focus herefforts and her condescension. She had her strategy for asuccessful ball attendance and it would work, as it alwaysdid.
