I don’t know.
↳ Of course you do, you ridiculous girl. Cast your mind back to the night of April the thirteenth.
The night of the cotillion?
↳ You’re not well-dressed enough to play that stupid with me, child. The evening after.
I did nothing that day.
↳ You did plenty.
The visit to the chateau with Messrs. Grosgrange and Sternbrow?
↳ The very same.
They were merely being polite!
↳ I was not questioning their behavior. I was questioning yours.
But the châtelaine apologized!
↳ If you cannot realize, even at this late moment, that she was apologizing on your behalf, I fear that there may be no hope for you.
But the girl was unharmed!
↳ Something far more important than that girl was damaged that day. Your reputation in good society.
It still doesn’t explain why Lady Marchmonster cut me as I attempted to join the cribbage game before dinner.
↳ That day was not your only error.
But her husband and my father were always the greatest of friends!
↳ Friends?
Father has dined with Lord Mm at his club on numerous occasions!
↳ At his club, certainly, like any common business acquaintance. But when was he ever invited into the Marchmonster home? When were you ever introduced to the family, as a young lady worthy of their notice?
This is ridiculous. Who can remember such arcane and unspoken rules?
↳ It is precisely your lack of respect for the way things are done that prevent you from being accepted as a member of society.
I am received by numerous famili–
↳ I said nothing of FAMILIES, you impudent slattern. I spoke of society. Until you can learn the difference, you had better stay at home.
