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Cinnamon finally remembered what I had said earlier and what had been said to me.

"What is it all about?" she asked.

I shook my head.

"I have no idea."

She thought a moment, pressing her lips together.

"Be like a witness in court. Don't say any more than you have to," she advised. "Especially if it has anything to do with you-know-what."

I nodded, my heart now pumping like Daddy's submersible well.

When everyone was gone, the room felt so cold and dark. I wrapped my arms around myself and paced with my head down. Then I paused and I watched the doorway and waited. Where was she? What did she want? Finally, she appeared. It was more like she swelled in the doorway.

"Quickly," she said, gesturing for me to come closer. "I haven't much time."

More curious than afraid. I stepped up to her and she reached down and seized my hand with surprising force, turning up my finger to look closely at the ring Chandler had given me. I cried out as she twisted my wrist and squeezed my fingers.

"What is this?'

"A friendship ring." I said.

"It looks more like an engagement ring," she asserted with dark, suspicious eyes. "Who gave it to you?"

"My boyfriend," I said. "Today. You gave permission for him to be here."

"It looks too much like an engagement ring. I won't have any of my prodigies looking like she is on her way to the altar. I don't waste time on young women who have only dishes, washing machines, and diapers in their eyes. You are not to have a serious relationship yet,"

"What?"

"You heard me. No one gets engaged or develops a serious romantic relationship while studying and living here." she ordered. "It takes away from his or her serious concentration and it puts an unnecessary onus on us while we are trying to develop your professional persona. Remove it at once. If you must keep it, keep it where it will not be seen, preferably buried in some drawer,

"I've spoken to you once before about this. and I thought you understood. I want my pupils, especially my young women, to have an air of virginity about them, a purity that makes them wholly desirable. Whether you are a virgin in fact or not," she added with her lips twisted, "Well?"

The tears that were burning my eyes made her look foggy and cloudy.

"Can't I keep it on and tell people I'm not engaged if they ask?"

"I will not debate it. We cannot permit our special guests to wait a moment longer. Are you a part of this school or are you not? Did you waste your parents' time and money or did you not? I'll see to it that you are taken to the airport and put on a plane for home this very night," she threatened.

I sucked back my sobs and slipped off the ring. "Very good. Come along," she said.

"May I go to the bathroom and wash my face first?" I asked. My eyes felt like shattered marbles.

"No," she said. "It's better that you look a bit frightened. They enjoy it."

She started out, waited for me to follow, and then continued to the ballroom, where everyone was already having champagne and filling the air with laughter and compliments. I heard Edmond Senetsky's voice booming above all others, bragging about how he had found his mother her newest students.

"It's like visiting garden after garden and plucking the most beautiful of flowers. Quite a little bouquet of talent. eh?"

Chandler, who wore a look of worry on his face because I hadn't arrived with my fellow performers, was standing with Barry across the room. He started toward me the moment he saw me enter. but Ms. Fairchild was there first, ordering me to take my place with the others. We were to greet people first, like newly married couples greet their guests, standing in a line. I was handed a glass of champagne and told to take my place between Rose and Howard.

"Where's Evan?" I asked, gazing around and not seeing him.

"I had to send him back to his hotel," Rose said. He looked tired. and I can't spend that much time with him now. He'll be here tomorrow before he heads back,"

I nodded, half listening. My body was still trembling from the demands Madame Senetsky had just made. My hand was shaking so much, in fact. I had to sip some champagne quickly so it wouldn't spill from the glass. I glanced at Ms. Fairchild to see if she was watching and condemning me for drinking too fast. She did have her eyes on me, but she didn't look any different, her eves still their normal critical selves, searching for a reason to whip one of her precious rules at us.