Delaney and Selina sat in the common room of the school with one of Delaney's black skirts spread between them stitching little white flowers along its hem. Olive and Cora were teaching some girls Cora's age how to play cards and Constance was reading by the fire. It was sleeting outside this evening so everyone was staying in where it was cozy.
When there was an urgent banging on the front door, the women looked up for a moment but weren't really concerned, assuming it was just a classmate that got caught outside in the weather and was now trying to get back in.
"Cora," came the sound of a hoarse voice a moment later. Everyone in the room looked up to see a soaked and pitiful looking man panting in the doorway, his arm in a sling, and his clothes ragged.
