[Lavinia's Pov]
Lady Evelyne, with her lovely pink hair and dangerous brain, had floated out of the garden like an elegant whisper of doom.
Meanwhile, I slumped onto the velvet chair beside Papa like a wilting flower in a royal tragedy, dramatically flopping my arms over the sides and sighing like the ghost of a tired duchess.
"I can't believe I'm going to study again," I muttered to no one in particular, staring into the middle distance as if knowledge itself had betrayed me in a past life.
Then I turned my big, hopeful eyes to the nearest maid and said, with the sweetest possible voice: "Can I get a tea? Please? With honey. And maybe a tiny pastry on the side. Or seven."
Before the poor maid could even blink—
"NO."
Papa's voice thundered from his chair like the royal boom of doom.
I turned to him, scandalized. "What?! Why not?! I want to drink tea too! You're drinking it like it's holy water!"
