“What about your drones?”
“Ah, now, ladies. This brings us back to etiquette, and the purpose of this lesson. It is rude to ask after a vampire’s drones, either in courtesy or curiosity. Drones are a bit of an embarrassment. After all, you would not ask a lady about the nature and quality of her pantry, would you?”
All the girls in the class shook their heads emphatically.
The vampire turned cold eyes on Sophronia, his mustache stiff with accusation. “Anything else, Miss Temminnick?”
“What happens when a vampire goes beyond the limit of his tether?” Sophronia knew she was pushing the bounds of propriety.
Professor Braithwope paled and stilled. If a vampire could be said to go pale. Sophronia hoped never again to see a teacher whom she respected look so frightened.
The room hushed. Normally the vampire was such an easygoing teacher. Even Monique looked up, her coming-out ball forgotten for one brief moment.
Eventually he said, “Nothing good, Miss Temminnick.”
Class ended, and the girls gathered up their reticules, hats, parasols, and shawls in subdued silence. Dimity held back when the others left and waylaid Sophronia with a hand on her arm.
“Professor Braithwope, might I have a private word?” she asked their teacher once the room cleared. “Sophronia, please stay, this concerns you.”
“Yes, Miss Plumleigh-Teignmott. How may I help?”
“It’s this matter of our orders from Lady Linette. You’re aware of them?”
The vampire looked back and forth between the two girls and then nodded.
“Well, I’m not going to do it anymore. Sophronia is my friend, and it isn’t fair.”
“Intelligencers don’t play fair, Miss Plumleigh-Teignmott,” he replied.
“Well, then I’m no intelligencer of merit. You may send me down, if you like. I always felt I was ill suited to this lifestyle, despite my parents. I’d rather be loyal than right.”
Professor Braithwope smiled, showing fang. “Very interesting way of putting it, Miss Plumleigh-Teignmott, and commendable courage, whot. We had thought you were not capable of independent action. You have, thus far, been rather dragged along in Miss Temminnick’s shadow.”
Dimity brightened. “My speaking out is a good thing? You aren’t going to report me to Lady Linette?”
“I didn’t say that, Miss Plumleigh-Teignmott.”
Dimity looked crestfallen. “Whatever you think is best, vulnerable one.”
The vampire only tilted his head at Dimity’s use of the recent lesson.
Sophronia put two and two together and looked at her friend. “You were instructed to ostracize me?”
Dimity nodded, clearly ashamed.
Sophronia narrowed her eyes at Professor Braithwope. Are you testing all the other debuts in the same way, or were instructions different for each girl? Is the ostracism also a test for me?
The vampire met her speculative gaze calmly. “Did you guess, Miss Temminnick?”
Sophronia knew better than to admit to anything. “I did think it interesting that they were all so eager to blame me for high marks and react in the same way. Even Dimity. And Sidheag, who doesn’t care for the machinations of girls.” A thought occurred to her. “Were my marks inflated in order to run this test?”
Professor Braithwope’s mustache fluffed in amusement. “You would think of that. No, they were not. But Professor Lefoux did emphasize your superiority in order to drive a wedge. Now, ladies, run along or you’ll be late for your next lesson.”
They exited into the hallway, and Dimity instantly linked arms with Sophronia. It felt good to have Dimity’s bubbling presence back at her side. They trotted down a hall crowded with fellow students. Agatha and Sidheag were waiting for them.
“Tell me,” instructed Sophronia, once they were all four gathered in one corner.