“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 Wickshire. She did not want Lady Wickshire 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 assume 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 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 in the direction of the Lady Wickshire.

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 Wickshire, 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 goodwill. 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 Wickshire, 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 practise 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 assure you, I only meant to show Lady Wickshire around and let her get a view of 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 very much 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 institution?” 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 were 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 institution. 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 assumed that at home, she could learn how to take care of the household. Everybody let their children come and let them stay afterwards, because of times like this; when their children could meet eligible bachelors from all over the Eastlands.

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 in their society. The look on the faces of those around made the headmistress turn red, half from anger, and half from embarrassment. 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 has 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.

Everybody's face took another turn for the worse. 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 whatever 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 but 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 freeze. Lucy? That was the first name of the Lady Wickshire. Never had they heard someone call her that before. There was only one person apart from Lord Torgenn, that could call Lady Wickshire 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 Wickshire, felt their scalp go numb.

The woman Nanny Han was just as popular as Lady Wickshire. She was someone who nobility though did not bow to, talked to as an equal. She came to the kingdom with the late Lady Torgenn as her nanny. When Lady Torgenn had married into the Torgenn Earldom, her nanny followed her to her

matrimonial home. She was mostly the spokesperson for the lady at times; as the late lady usually sent her out on errands. Her popularity soared when Lady Torgenn died in an accident leaving behind her five-year-old child.

With the loss of Lady Torgenn, the Dukedom was under stress. The late lady had amassed enough fortune for the Torgenn household to be rich for an eternity. She had opened trade routes and grown the family to a height unimaginable. In her absence, some came to call. The greed of men rose as they set their eyes on the Torgenn fortune. That is when Nanny Han stepped up. Without her wit and ability, the household would have fallen. She took the helm till Lucy was old enough to make decisions. Only then did she step back, allowing Lucy to take control and instil fear in all. Everyone knew in their hearts that if someone could raise a child like Lucy, they must be beyond simple.

Of course, this was not so for the ladies and some of the younger generation, as they did not know much of this history. Still, they bowed to the mighty ancestral power of the elder woman's glib tongue. The headmistress may not be as good as the elderly woman, but Lady Wickshire's answer to the elderly woman's instruction told her it was best to directly withdraw.

“Yes, Nanny Han,” Lucy answered obediently.

“Forgive me then, for my intrusion. I will take my leave,” the headmistress directly excused herself, but Nanny Han had no intention to let her off.

“A young woman in a societal gathering without a chaperone; it is she that let their family's young lady walk around without supervision, that this old woman should be throwing words on. I do not blame you; you at least have enough home training to know when to withdraw,” Nanny Han said in a harrumph. The leaving headmistress was already in enough shame. The last words of Nanny Han almost caused her to trip on her skirt.

The eyes that followed her walking away said it all. Sure, she was a headmistress, but she was still a girl not a half head of age; a young woman still at the age of marriage. She should not be going around society without a

chaperone. It seemed as though this was the first time it occurred to them that this was the person teaching their daughters. What good could she possibly have to teach them?

The headmistress heard it all and her already lowered head seemed to fall another degree. She felt the disdain from those eyes and could not keep her head up. She knew this was dangerous; her profession could be at its last leg with this. Rumours flew like wind and worked the same; it spreads fast, and people need it to survive. Her reputation had never taken such a hit before.

She returned to where Wensworth stood, in anger. Wensworth saw her coming his way, and almost ran the other, but held himself in place. Not only would he make a laughing stock of himself if he ran, but the headmistress may also take offence and his career would be over.

He looked away tactically; as though he had not witnessed what happened, but the veins protruding from his temple said another thing.

Why did this woman have no sense whatsoever? He had always thought she did; so, where had all her common sense gone? She was just accused of walking around society without a chaperone, like a loose woman, and her first reaction is to walk toward a man?

Any man could do, but him; a person that had been seen in her company so many times without a chaperone. This was bad. The way he saw it, rumours were flying already. Now, he was about to be swept into it.

“Who is that woman, Wensworth?” the headmistress asked and Wensworth knew she had arrived by his side. He turned to look at her with undisguised anger.

“I just wish I could just kill her,” the headmistress said, not noticing the anger in his eyes.

“Did I not say you should not go? Yet you didn't listen. Why are you here?” he asked through his teeth. Only then did she notice his angry eyes.

“You are on their side too?” she asked with disbelief.

“Can't you think? You should....” he started to warn her away.

“Tell me who she is, Wensworth. I asked you a question!” she insisted.

“Let's talk later; now is not the time. Read the situation, Anne,” he said through his teeth.

“You don't want to get on her bad side? Is that why you are chasing me away? You tell me who she is, or I will not leave. If you want me to leave faster, you better tell me faster,” she said in anger. Wensworth took in a deep breath to calm himself.

“She is Nanny Han. She used to be the nanny of the late Lady Torgenn. She also raised Lady Wickshire after her mother's death. All that the Torgenn Dukedom has today would have disappeared the moment the Lady Torgenn died, but Nanny Han stepped in. Though she is just a nanny, the noble society; at least the noblemen, see her as an equal. The respect they have for Lady Wickshire, they have extended to her. I told you not to go, didn't I?” Wensworth explained.

“If you knew this, why didn't you explain?” the headmistress asked.

“With your arrogance, why should I?” Wensworth sneered.

“Don't talk to me in that manner, Wensworth,” the headmistress warned in surprise.

“Can't you use your head? She just accused you of strutting around without a chaperone,” Wensworth said.

“Strutting? Wensworth when did you begin to join others against me?” the headmistress asked almost in tears.

“Think straight. I've always been seen around you. Everybody knows why that is; for work. Everybody knows I am the most respected matchmaker, that is why they say nothing. Now you have been tagged a loose woman and the first thing you do is go to a corner with the same man everyone sees you with. Now, what are they thinking?” Wensworth's anger seemed to have resurfaced at the thought of how slow this woman was.

The headmistress turned to look around. She saw the eyes of those women watching her. The look in their eyes was not the same as before. She knew that look; they assumed she and Wensworth occasionally tussled in bed. As though pursued, she immediately turned and walked away from Wensworth, who

sighed in relief. Still, the damage has been done, he thought.