Lucy Wickshire 24 Chapter Four 2

The headmistress put on a smile and was about to approach, when she was stopped by Mr. Wensworth.

"Don't. Don't." he whispered, dragging her to a corner. The headmistress frowned at his action as she saw Lady J'hunten and Lady Jeuteh approach Lady Wicks.h.i.+re. She did not want Lady Wicks.h.i.+re chatting up before she arrived. It would look bad on her person to mingle with the younger ladies.

"Wensworth, have you lost your mind?" she fumed

"Think first before you act. What you want to do, you will only look bad before everybody's eyes." Wensworth warned her.

"I am not doing anything." the headmistress said in anger.

"You intend to walk her in and introduce her to people. As innocent as it may seem, it would only make others a.s.sume you have stepped into the position of a mother to her. Making it look as though she trusts you." Wensworth smirked. He had seen right through her.

"So? This would help you too. If I succeed, it would be possible for me to be the one to arrange her marriage someday. You could take credit for that. Or do you think you will have a chance to enter that lady's close circle? Don't fool yourself Wensworth, she is smart. She will not let you." she sneered.

"And she will let you?" Wensworth snorted.

"Regardless of what you may think, she is still a child. You have claimed that she has no weakness. That is enough a weakness in my eyes and in the eyes of the society." the headmistress thought herself very smart right now.

"The Lady's close circle? I have no dreams of such. I'm better happy to escape from this now, before it gets out of hand." Wensworth sneered. "I only meant to warn you. Since you seek your death, you may go." he said, letting go of her. She harrumphed and left towards the direction of the Lady Wicks.h.i.+re.

Wensworth sneered at the headmistress' back. She may be a lady of high standing, but she was as naive as ever. When it came to Lady Wicks.h.i.+re, one had to think like a man. She had not done her research and prepared for all scenarios and she intended to face the lady? He wanted to help her, yet she had spat at his good will. He would see how this is played out.

The headmistress walked towards Lucy, who was at the moment surrounded by her two friends, her maids who stood away from the group and some elder generation who wanted to make a good impression. She swaggered in with her head high and a smile on her face.

"Lady Wicks.h.i.+re, it's rude to not go around first to greet everyone." she said. To those listening, it was as though the headmistress still took it upon herself to teach while the luncheon went on. As though she never forgot that this was in truth, a function for the ladies to practice all they have learnt so far.

"She will stay where told. A girl, much more, a lady should not be wandering aimlessly." the headmistress heard a elder woman say. She turned her gaze to this blank faced woman seated by the side. This elderly woman was Nanny Han.

"I'm sure I'm qualified enough..." the headmistress started to say.

"To what? Show the lady where to go and where not to? Is it your place?" Nanny Han asked.

"Is it yours? I a.s.sure you, I only meant to show Lady Wicks.h.i.+re around and let her get a view on society. There are quite a number of families of high standing. It is better for her to make a good impression." the headmistress said, swallowing her dissatisfaction and forcing a smile.

"She is young and still a child, that has not come of age. There are people of high standing right here. Yet you wish to take to her where? Are you running a matchmaking inst.i.tution?" Nanny Han asked.

The headmistress almost vomited blood at Nanny Han's words. She had to admit this woman had skill. She had but said a few words yet she was backed into a corner. The faces of the people listening to this elderly woman's loud voice was not also good. But, unlike The headmistress, they found it funny and their eyes were full of mockery towards the headmistress.

They had to admit. No one could really say out loud that this was but a matchmaking inst.i.tution. What etiquette could a lady not learn at home? After the child is here for one year, royal law decrees that her family can withdraw her. It would be a.s.sumed that at home, she could learn how to take care of the household. Everybody let their children come and let them stay after wards, because of times like this; When their children could meet eligible bachelors from all over the east lands. One must understand that a matchmaker was a lower existence than the rest and was not a job for a lady of good standing. A matchmaker was only a step above a kept mistress. The look on the faces of those around made the headmistress turn red, half from anger, half from embarra.s.sment. But Nanny Han had no intention of letting her off.

"Even if so, have you been permitted by the family to arrange suitors for her? Ah... the younger generation have forgotten etiquette so soon. Maybe this old woman is too old, but our family makes sure to uphold etiquette. Lucy, stay right there." Nanny Han said.

Every body's face took another turn for bad. They looked at the Headmistress now, with disgust. She was not even family yet, she was arranging as she liked. Didn't this mean she could do the same with their daughters? As long as she had the means, she could arrange what ever marriage she thought more suitable. People started to question if this is really what she does. She just gives the better arrangement to those she likes.

Of course, they were being delusional. The academy only set the stage. She may be a respectable headmistress, but she did not have the means to make some royal families marry some of her girls at the academy.

"Lucy stay right there." those last words from Nanny Han, made some of those who knew Lucy to get freeze. Lucy? That was the first name of Lady Wicks.h.i.+re. Never had they heard someone call her that before. There was only one person apart from Lord Torggen, that could call Lady Wicks.h.i.+re by given name; Nanny Han. Some gentlemen that were conversing lightly with the group a little while back; some who stood to one side, as they were trying to gain the courage or find an excuse to talk to the Lady Wicks.h.i.+re, felt their scalp go numb.