Astrid was busy considering the experiment*l results, and had not made any particular note of the way in which Rowena had spoken, she only heard her remark.
"This does not sound like a compliment because it feels like a ridicule." Astrid grumbled to herself before she turned her gaze in the direction of Rowena there wanting to know what she just heard.
"Is she making fun of me, or is she actually asking?" Astrid wondered.
"Mrs. Bennett." "Oh, don't take offense," Rowena replied, rolling up her sleeves and resuming her pleasant demeanor. "I was just seeing what kind of person you are. A teacher has to establish that with each new student, and it's the same way for every profession, I'm certain."
Astrid regarded Rowena seriously and did not reply.
"I saw it all before though in the diner." All of a sudden Rowena mentioned what happened. "D'you know why I am really here, Mrs. Bennett? Not that I was free to come and coach etiquette—I'm booked up till the year after next actually. But Iona asked me." She's really a friend of mine, too, and I couldn't turn her down."
Iona is truly sorry. There's been a lot she did for you that you didn't realise. We all mustn't be too narrow-minded. It is not fair to judge someone solely on our present knowledge of them.' Still 'I dare say you don't quite take in high society doings yet, coming as you have from the bidie-in!"
To Verity and not be petty is all the importance to a respected lady !
To have good breeding is but little, & that a sorry ſort of ware. This Steadineſs proceeds only from the mind's being really at eaſe, and good natur'd. "You are too angry, Miſs Bennett; you can't ſee any fine things[,] or love them."
At last it felt like a threat.
"It is ridiculous that somebody you don't know would dare try to tell me,".
Astrid laughed. Well ain't that some shit. She held up her hand to Rowena. You know any proverbs?
Rowena frowned in concentration.
"Even if a Tiger has a broken leg and its teeth missing, it is still a fierce animal. In contrast, no matter how perfect a mouse is, it can never transform to become a fierce animal and can only stay within the muddy cave." Astrid softly spoke as she gently opened her lips.
"Just like you!" Astrid suddenly pointed directly at Rowena with her outstretched finger. "No matter how high flown your words are.
No matter how fine you talk, how fair you look, or courteous ye be, it cannot hide what nae strength of face will deny."
You claim to teach etiquette but people who lack manners call you a teacher that doesn't make you an educated and enlightened guide.
The manners were already there, but they were based on good nature and money. The poor people just wanted the money and the place, and the manners of the rich. You'll never get to that grade, Miss Hawkes, no matter how beautiful your manners are.
"You must pretty well feel like a perso youself I guess."
"What?" Rowena suddenly put up her upper body and narrowed her eyes.
The "pride" that she had inherited was just the pride of an aristocratic depressed family. It was for that reason but, she didn't want to be proud.
Who wouldn't want to be born into an aristocratic family and become a rich lady? Am I short of cash now? If I were rich, why would I need to learn etiquette still? Instead of meditating in her mind, Rowena let out a light sigh. 'I will only become a nouveau riche who goes shopping, gets beauty treatments and enjoys afternoon tea everyday.'
Rowena repressed her anger and lowered her voice to speak. Astrid had already opened the door. "Please leave. We've no use for you here." Then she took three twenties out from her wallet before placing them on Rowena's expensive handbag. " And here is where you can go .Here is your tip! It doesn't get more insulting than this" Not only did Astrid uncovered Rowena's pretence , she also exposed that she was in fact a cater waiter whom Astrid paid as a Lady.
Rowena's body vibrated with fury and steam nearly shot out of her nostrils, she was not ready to give up though.
"Ms. Bennett, you probably have no idea the kind of reputation I have in this industry," she said glaring at Astrid. "I just need to say that you're a bitch with a bad attitude and I can ruin you."
Her eyes glowed as she looked at Rowena- snakes eyes.
Is she trying to kill me? Astrid thought.
It amused her. "So what? It's not how I earn a living. As for you, Miss Rowena Hawke, in all likelihood, you will never be engaged again if you voice any derogatory comments about your offspring."
Rowena's face went suddenly blank.
Her chances of success today had a lot to do with how good she was at presenting a deadpan and unconcerned face. And if she ever indulged in actually commenting on Astrid's private life, well then, yes, Astrid's career might suffer a little.
But Rowena was the one who was most impacted by this. She is an etiquette instructor you know and she always insults her students publicly instead of teaching them properly. The upper class wouldn't have hired a teacher who talked so loosely behind people's backs and spread rumors as he or she pleased like an old cat, for they valued their own face too much.
Maybe she's criticizing Astrid now. What will stop her tomorrow from criticizing the other party's daughter?
Rowena felt like someone had just thrown a bucket of ice water on her.
Ginevra didn't know it had only been fifteen minutes but Ginevra looked confused. Most people fucked in the field—Rowena wasn't that funny a little girl–and she wanted to know why someone left very recently if they weren't, apparently, planning on going anywhere for the rest of the night.
Ginevra would know.
She ran into Iona, who had been on her way to find her as she was leaving the room. "I heard about what happened with Astrid." Iona said, touching Ginevra's arm and looking concerned. "Did Rowena somehow upset her?"
That should not be. Rowena is graceful and highly wise. How could she hurt Astrid's sentiments?
"Yes." Iona nodded her head. "I am well connected with Rowena. Her ways of talking or handling things is always appropriate and known to me. She would never get someone agitated.
Ah, there's no problem with Rowena; Astrid must be the one with the problem," Ginevra reasoned.
Ginevra knitted her brows in thought and she stopped walking towards the door.
She thought back to the day she had met Astrid, bossy woman who had even smacked Iona and she hadn't really pondered on it at the tome, it had all been too much and she had still been worried over Iona.
Astrid now seems to be to rude unkind violent. She can't.
She is a high nobility daughter. Why would she use physical violence when people insult her ? That's absolutely unreasonable. "So cruel and oppressive." Ginevra murmurs with herself. "It can't be helped" Ginevra immediately said "Afterall a child who grew up in the palace is better than someone who grew up outside and while she may certainly have talent, that appearance of her…she giving off such crude feeling in everything she do or say.. ."
Ginevra didn't really hate Astrid. She's my own daughter , for god's sake, I always want the best for her.
Fact was, though, that she just couldn't be taught and have good manner in over decade time of living by herself out there.
"Maybe Rowena quit of her own accord because she knew that Astrid was too rude and simple-minded to ever change," Ginevra postulated.
Her forehead creased with annoyance at the idea. She wasn't solely angry at Astrid. She had been ashamed and scared for her.
Which man can dare to marry with such a girl in the coming future? She can never belong by us to that class of people, of whose alliances we are used to choose for her husband one from among those less rich," Ginevra said.
Iona, my love." She touched the tender curve of Iona's cheek. "I hope you can help Astrid even more in the years to come."
It was as if she had meant to say: I hope you will help her to better herself.