Page 3 of Adeline

Adeline quickly stepped onto the dais at the front of the room when Miss Emmeline waved her forward.

“Ladies,” the headmistress’ voice boomed loudly, projecting to every corner of the room and bouncing back at Adeline. “It is with great pleasure that I introduce our newest student, Miss Adeline Price.”

A round of reserved clapping filled the room when Miss Emmeline gestured toward Adeline as if the congregated girls were too dull to realize the woman spoke of the girl next to her.

Adeline briefly scanned the crowd, her stare lingering on no one for more than a flick of a moment. There was little need to familiarize herself with anyone here—she would be gone soon enough, if not from her horrid attitude than from her family’s lack of funds to afford the large expense.

She was startled to find the headmistress gazing at her with sympathy as her hand softly settled on Adeline’s shoulder, and she leaned in close to whisper, “No matter how angry you are with your family, this place and these girls are your fresh start. You can be anyone you want to be while at this school. I do hope you embrace this and make a home for yourself here.”

Pulling away from the woman’s touch, Adeline opened the drawstring on her bag. She couldn’t afford the time spent pondering the woman’s words, though they were an offer of sorts. A single fact remained, Adeline was here, against her will, and she did not have to like it…ever. Alistair would rue the day he entangled himself in his sister’s future. She would not be a mere slip of a twelve-year-old for long. The day would come when he would apologize to her and seek her forgiveness.

Adeline reached into her bag and retrieved the deck of cards she’d secreted away with her in the carriage.

“Please speak loudly and clearly for all to hear, Miss Adeline,” the headmistress prodded. “What academic talent will you regale us with?”

It was best Adeline keep her mouth shut and allow her skill to speak for itself, lest Miss Emmeline stop her before Adeline even got started.

Hurrying to the piano set farther back on the dais, along with several other instruments of various kinds, she pulled the bench seat toward the front and knelt behind it, giving the entire crowd a decent view as she removed the band holding the cards together and began shuffling them with expert precision.

The headmistress stepped closer to gain a better view, her brow furrowing; nevertheless, Adeline pushed on.

With one final shuffle of the dog-eared deck, Adeline turned to her audience with a smirk. “Now, it is essential every young woman has the means to procure a decent income, in addition to your pin money.” The young girls all nodded in agreement. “There are many ways a woman can supplement her funds, including mending clothes, selling wares, and even becoming a governess or lady’s companion. However, it is my understanding that the pupils here at Miss Emmeline’s School come from families that would never allow such base actions as earning one’s money in such an unsavory manner.”

Adeline paused for a moment to allow her words their full impact.

“It is important to remember“—Adeline held up one card, facing the crowd—“each card has a value.” She laid the card face up on the bench and flipped the next card. A jack of hearts. “For example—“

“Miss Adeline,” the headmistress said, clearing her throat. “Would you mind informing us of your talent before you actually perform it?”

Bollocks.

There was little chance the woman was aware of what Adeline was up to.

“Please speak loudly so all can hear.”

“Well, mending clothes and making one’s self available as a companion is very time consuming,” Adeline stammered before pausing to take a deep breath. “Sometimes, it is not an option for young ladies of a certain nobility. However, that does nothing to decrease a lady’s need for a steady source of funds.”

“As you’ve already said, Miss Adeline.”

“There is a simpler, less cumbersome way to supplement a lady’s pin money.”

“And that would entail…”

“Counting cards in a gaming hell, Headmistress.”

The woman’s narrowed eyes bulged, and her mouth gaped, but she quickly reined in her shock as the other students broke out in laughter and applause.

“Miss Adeline, that is highly inappropriate—“

“But a very noteworthy and useful talent,” Adeline cut in. “One that any woman short on funds would find beneficial. And, dare I say, lifesaving.”

The young women burst out in another round of riotous merriment as the headmistress clapped her hands loudly and called the room to order.

“Ladies!” she shouted above the din, her voice no longer the unaffected monotone from earlier. “Ladies, quiet yourselves, or you will all be walking the stairs with a large volume of Robinson Crusoe on your head until you’ve managed the climb and descend ten times without it going askew.”

Adeline needed to give the older woman credit, for the girls snapped their mouths shut and folded their hands primly in their laps.

“May I assume you hold some musical or artistic talent, Miss Adeline?”