Chapter 4 - Academy

Chapter 4:

The next month flew by with seamstresses, upholsterers, and a few other trades coming and going as well as many visits into Edinburgh’s smaller shops to order supplies. Rose was grateful for Sean bringing many pieces back and forth for her while she had been starting classes in the last week.

The thought of the doll still lingered in the back of her mind... but she had too many things to focus on. The apothecary did say that he was going to “inquire discreetly” for her as to whom may have made the doll or even possibly ordered it, and that it was indeed a bad omen. She had nothing to do about it now than wait for word from him. Which suited her situation just fine since she had her hands full with Madame Blanchard’s classes and the many renovations.

Madame Blanchard was a short, but perky little woman who suited the school mouse look. Chestnut hair always in a bun, high collared blouse, and dresses that went out of fashion ages ago! She was happy all the time it seemed to Rose, which got on her nerves some days. Who could always be so happy?!

She smiled at Rose now, looking as smug as ever... then Rose realized she had been asked a question while daydreaming. “Could you repeat the question Madame?” Was all Rose could think to say, which of course was followed by snickers and sneers from most of her peers. In the last few weeks Rose learned most of the girls at the academy were intelligent and beautiful but had claws if you turned your back on any of them! Madame Blanchard was teaching them the world map and what colonies were where, most of the girls still had a difficult time understanding that the world was round not flat. Global exports and imports was part of her father’s everyday business so this class bored her senseless, there was nothing new being learned that she didn’t already know. So she answered the question while stifling a yawn and went back to daydreaming. After class Madame Blanchard asked to speak with her... uh oh. “You are a smart young lady, Rose. I feel we are not pushing you enough though. Your father did say it may be hard to keep your attention.” Blanchard said in soft tones. After checking to make sure the other girls were out of earshot, she added; “I just hired a new teacher that might be able to challenge you more.” This sparked Rose’s interest. A new teacher?! “I look forward to learning as much as I can while here Madame” said Rose as demurely as possible. Blanchard must have known Rose had learned more in the past few years helping her father than most of the young twits there had understanding for. “Yes”, Blanchard continued. “Her name is Madame Gruage and she came highly recommended by our fencing instructor Mr. Grey”. It seems they met overseas quite some time ago and she must have impressed him, because Mr. Grey recommends no-one... ever. “Madame Gruage speaks spanish, french, italian, chinese, and has been in plays across the globe (pretending to be a man dressed as a woman). She has learned the art of costume and decorum as well how to control one’s emotions”. At this Blanchard turned to Rose, “something, my dear, you could use more help with I’m afraid”. This Madame Gruage seemed interesting and yet terrifying. Rose couldn’t wait to meet her! Madame Blanchard and Rose agreed to set up an interview with Madame Gruage on the following day to determine if Rose was a good fit for her special class. What was so special about her “special class” anyway?

The next day Rose was full of excitement, everyone in the manor noticed her behavior. Sean asked as he escorted her to the academy that morning, “Why are you in such a good mood? Passed a lesson early or something?” Rose looked at him and shook her head saying, “no, I just actually may learn something from this new teacher that I don’t already know! The mystery of what her class is keeps my blood tingling!” Sean frowned then and asked, “what do you know of this new teacher?” Instantly aware that Sean’s protective demeanor may interfere, Rose eased his fears and told him all she knew. Which wasn’t much. “Madame Gruage is a specialized instructor”, Rose began. “She is fluent in many languages and has traveled many places”, she continued, admitting that she could learn more from a lady with experience in global enterprise than those that had never left Scotland. This seemed to make sense to Sean and calmed his tense muscles for now. The remainder of the ride was spent nervously chatting with Sean about what to expect in the interview and how rude the other girls at the academy were.

Rose was used to mean girls though, most debutantes hated her. Being the sole heir to an enormous fortune would have been enough, but she was blessed with a combination of features from her mother and father that turned out quite magnificent, if she didn’t say so herself. Her strawberry blonde hair was part blonde like her mum (except mum’s blonde was almost white) and the ruddy red of her father’s wiry curls. She had just enough of his curls to have that perfect wave almost like a loose spiral that most women envied. Her eyes were the brightest blue, like a beautiful summer sky surrounded by long dark lashes. She had just a skimmer of freckles across her tiny, pert nose that wrinkled more often than she’d like. Her lips were fuller on the bottom than the top and usually a deep pink unless she wore paint. Rose’s dad always joked she was part giraffe, like at the zoo, with her long neck and slender limbs. He stopped when she started blossoming into a lady. She had already developed her womanly curves, as she’d heard it phrased, by her 14th birthday. Maybe they wouldn’t get bigger, she had hoped everyday. Yet, here we are, creeping on half a year since her birthday and still growing! Rose was not short by any means and though most men her age preferred a lady petite, her long legs and slim frame kept them asking for her attentions. Which of course made the other ladies consider her as competition. Honestly, they need not bother! She had no desire to find a husband and could die a spinster for all she cared! Alas, she had always been the debutante everyone wanted but no one really cared about. Except for her father. If she ever found a man that made her feel as happy, she may actually consider marriage. Rose chuckled to herself at that thought, it would have to be one hell of a man.

Arriving at the academy Rose saw Madame Blanchard talking with another lady by the main courtyard, this must be Madame Gruage. She was shocked to see this lady in what... breeches?! They made her look slimmer and showed off her shape more than any imagination needed. She had long raven black hair braided down her back and wore a blouse tucked into her pant-breeches with what looked like riding boots. Instantly Rose reconsidered her choice of attire, she was not at all dressed for riding! Now more nervous than ever, her carriage pulled up to deliver her to whatever awaited with this woman.

Sean helped Rose out and she could tell he also noticed the lady’s attire, at least she assumed that was the cause for the color of his cheeks and his gaze constantly being averted. Trying not to giggle and make him more awkward, Rose asked Sean to make sure the horses were brushed and stretched before penning them in the stables. He gratefully turned to the task leaving her to meet this new instructor.

Madame Gruage was exciting! She spoke with a french accent and had brown eyes with a small mole beside her left eye near her temple. She told Rose of her trips to the orient and the silks to die for, Turkish coffee, bull running in Spain, the amazing food in Italy and France. It was wonderful, so many places. In turn, Rose was asked what she had learned from her father and what she hoped to learn from her time at the academy. Laughing, Rose admitted, “I’m not sure I’ll learn what I want here, I may have to search out private tutors.” To this she explained how she was hoping to learn more of self defense, law, book keeping, leadership and combat. Madame Blanchard almost choked on her croissant. Gruage looked ... impressed? Maybe shocked? Rose quickly explained, her father believed self defense was important for a lady to know and so she had some basic combat training. Gruage nodded at this. Rose continued that she has knowledge of some law and book keeping from taking care of her dad and helping him run the business while he was still grieving and barely conscious, after her mum passed away. The men at the docks would never listen to her so she had to pretend her dad was making all the decisions and filing all the paperwork when he could barely get out of bed. To this information, Madame Gruage tilted her head in thought before speaking. “You are very fortunate child to have such a dedicated father. I have learned deez things in my travels and much more!” “Dis is why I am hired here no?” Rose was overjoyed! When can we begin?! Madame Gruage smiled and said “after tea”. Rose laughed at how sophisticated this woman was and hoped to learn so many things from her.