The morning’s lessons went along in much the same manner as they started. Isabella remained indifferent to the material presented and Violet sat quietly observing said indifference. Finally, with the lecture portion of the day complete, the teacher instructed the girls to move the desks to one side of the classroom. It was time for their etiquette lessons.

One by one the girls rose and began packing their things prior to starting the arduous task. Not wasting a moment, Violet stood and moved to help by grabbing the closest empty desk. She lifted the heavy piece of furniture with ease and then quickly returned to help Isabella once she’d packed her things. In contrast to Violet, Isabella was struggling to get hers off the ground. So, the handmaiden stepped up and placed her hands on either side of the bulky item. “Here, let me take it, Miss York.”

Isabella looked at Violet before turning her head and noting the other students around them. She saw most had begun moving the desks on their own or in pairs. No, she wouldn’t let them see how weak she was in her current state. She was better than them! She’d lived a harder life than any of these women, born to their maids and afternoon tea. Isabella would do this on her own. “I can do it myself; I don’t need your help.” One of her hands came up and brushed Violet’s off the desk with a look of determination in her eyes. Isabella wouldn’t be coddled by this woman, or by anyone for that matter. “Go help someone else if you’re so determined.”

With her hands removed from the desk, Violet clasped them before turning her head to look over the others. “Are you sure?” Looking back, Violet’s eyes met the students with a placid stare. “I’m here to assist you, not the others.”

“I didn’t ask for that. Now go, surely these dainty flowers need your help more than I do.”

Turning, Violet saw another student struggling somewhat, the size of the desk making it awkward to carry by such a petite woman. “Very well, I’ll go assist the other students.” True to her word, the handmaiden moved across the room and stopped short of the young woman having difficulty. She placed a gentle hand on her shoulder then, and indicated the desk with a nod. “Here, let me help with that, Miss.”

The other girl seemed so awestruck that this “princess” had come to her aid that she remained speechless while placing down her burden. However, she hastily found her voice after her hands dropped away. “Oh, are you sure? Thank you! I hate moving these things. It’s such a pain!”

With the faintest hint of a smile, Violet picked the desk up from where it rested and began to move it to the side of the room. “Of course, I’m here to help, after all.” The brown eyes of the girl she left behind followed her the entire way, practically sparkling with admiration.

Hers weren’t the only pair observing Violet as she moved. In fact, most of the students had once again stopped, or slowed, what they were doing to watch the interaction. Including Isabella. Strangely, she found herself incensed by the scene unfolding before her. Which made no sense. She had sent Violet away, and she was the first person the handmaiden had come to anyway. With a huff, she refocused her efforts on her desk. With a deep breath, she wrapped her hands around the edges and lifted as best she could. Unfortunately, this barely amounted to anything and the legs bounced off the ground every few inches as Isabella tried to get it to the side.

She may have been able to do it before years of malnutrition sapped her strength. Or a mysterious illness stole her breath. But, as it stood, she couldn’t make it more than a few feet before resting the desk back on the ground.

Violet watched from afar and once again moved in to help now that it was evident Isabella wouldn’t be able to move it by herself. This time though, when she arrived, the handmaiden came around to the opposite side. In a position where she could only help but not do it on her own. “Perhaps if we both take a side it will be easier.”

In response, Isabella only stared back, chewing the inside of her lip as she considered the offer. There was no escaping it, she needed the help. With a short breath, she nodded and then shifted so she was opposite Violet. “Fine, let’s get it done. Ready? One…Two…Three!” On three, she lifted with all her strength and was finally able to get the thing more than an inch or two off the ground. Holding steady, she moved awkwardly with Violet to the edge of the classroom, feet shuffling all the way.

As soon as they were in a good enough spot, she let it drop with a hard thud that drew a few stares. Including a rather vexed look from the teacher. Isabella turned away from their gazes, a touch of heat spreading on her cheeks. After a moment, she stalked away from Violet without so much as thanks or a gesture in acknowledgment.

By the time all the desks were away, Violet ended up helping two more students with the task. When she finished, she took her place in the back of the room to observe the next set of lessons.

Now that the floor was cleared of obstacles, the students all went to stand where their desks had been and returned their attention to the teacher at the front of the room. The next lesson involved a series of exercises designed to highlight the subtleties in the movement of a lady.

The first was straightforward enough. A simple curtsy that was first demonstrated by the teacher before she instructed the girls to do the same. As they all practiced, the instructor walked among them, her eyes scanning each one. There was a harsh appraisal to her gaze and she stopped to offer corrections to even the tiniest flaw she observed. Even in the more experienced students. Of course, for someone like Isabella, there were numerous corrections to make. Balance, speed, the tilt of her head. There seemed to be an endless list of things she needed to work on.

This is so stupid. The young woman protested to herself, unwilling to go further and voice her opinion aloud. These skills were impractical to the world at large and only served to be a means for these women to judge each other. Isabella would love to see any of them survive a day in her shoes, let alone a week or longer. Including her new handmaiden. She had to be from a wealthy family, right? I mean, how else would she know all this? Eventually, Isabella’s inattentiveness earned her another stern rebuke from the teacher. Which only added to her frustration.

The next portion of the lesson focused on posture. By way of demonstrating just how rigid each girl should stand, they were instructed to balance a book atop their head. With proper control of one’s body, the item should sit there without a problem. However, this was much easier said than done. Most girls were able to get the hang of it after a few minutes of practice. A few even managed to get two books perched atop their heads. Naturally, Isabella continued to have difficulties. She couldn’t get the stupid thing to stay up on hers for more than a few seconds.

Her body shook with frustration from the exercise, especially after the book hit the floor a fourth time. Following the noise, her eyes closed for a moment, fists clenched where she stood while trying to calm down. However, the sound of gasps and a few laughs immediately brought them open again. Once she turned her head to investigate the source of the amusement, it didn’t take long for Isabella to notice Violet’s latest stunt. There she stood; five books balanced effortlessly upon her head. Soon, the whole class was gazing upon the handmaiden and her feat. They all seemed either impressed or amused. Which only served to anger Isabella further.

Is she trying to show me up or something, make a fool out of me? Why would she do that?

It only took one class period to make it clear Violet not only surpassed her in social grace, but also in the ability to perform these senseless little exercises. In a way, she should be thankful that someone so talented had come to instruct her. Maybe if she had wanted her here that would be true. Instead, Violet only ended up being another instrument to point out her flaws. As if she didn’t get enough of that daily.

For the rest of the class, Isabella refused to let her gaze wander back towards Violet. When the day was finally done, the student gathered up her things and started to leave without waiting for her handmaiden. It wouldn’t be so easy to escape the ever-watchful eyes of Violet though, and she was on her heels before she even made it through the door.