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Perhaps...she was a nobleman's by-blow?

If that were the case, Lady Eleanor would never have accepted her as a student, and it might also be why Emily could be rather prickly and quick-tempered at times. It was her way of discouraging people from asking too many questions, just to remain qualified as a student.

Mayhaps she could take the initiative and befriend Emily, Rhapsody mused. Both her Social Graces professor and therapist did say that she had to occasionally push herself to her emotional limits, so as not to fall back on old habits.

Satisfied with her plans, Rhapsody switched her attention back to her next class. It was finally her turn to attend a one-day lecture of Earthly Obligations and Pleasures, and as with the previous sessions, today's guest lecturer would be another surprise.

The classroom was nearly full when she entered, and as she quickly made her way to the last row of seats, she felt a palpable wave of excitement sweep over the class. Everyone was giggling and whispering to each other, and she could've sworn that she heard the marquis' title being mentioned.

How curious.

Rhapsody took her seat, and upon lifting her head, it was then she saw the marquis himself, green eyes bright with devilishamusement. He was today's guest professor...and he had not even told her?

How wickedly deceptive!

"Good afternoon, ladies."

He spoke in his usual precise fashion, but the sensual drawl of his voice lent the words an almost sinful intimacy that had the girls gasping and looking as if they were seconds away from swooning. The reaction of the class was altogether expected, but strangely enough, it didn't sit well with her at all.

How odd,Rhapsody thought, and even odder was how her discomfort turned into disgruntlement when the other girls continued to ogle him. Her Master was only discussing the outline of his lecture, but oh, the way they were looking at him, it was as if they were undressing him with their eyes!

A funny, little sting stabbed her heart as she watched the marquis stride towards the chalkboard. He looked rather exquisitely dashing today, almost improperly so, with nary a coat or cravat to limit a woman's appreciative view of his imposing physique. His fine lawn shirt, pristine white and unbuttoned a couple of inches down, stretched tautly across the massive breadth of his shoulders and revealed a flawless V-shaped expanse of his bronzed chest, while his breeches, black and tight-fitting, emphasized the muscular length of his legs.

Rhapsody looked around her and saw the other girls actually tugging the necklines of their dresses down to show more of their cleavage. Her gaze then drifted back to the marquis, who appeared unmindful of her presence.

Her, Rhapsody!

His pet and, more importantly, his heartkeeper!

Her!

And it was then a burst of intuition seized her, and Rhapsody's hands quickly flew up to cover her mouth lest she ended up gasping out loud.

Her current therapist, in one of their latter sessions, had taught Rhapsody a rather nifty trick when she was confronted by any unfamiliar emotion.

First, a checklist: a desire to monopolize a person one had a relationship with, an inexplicable dislike towards members of the same sex, a sudden rise of volatile feelings...

Second, a comparison: she went through her mental database of emotions and their most commonly known symptoms. Which emotion had a list of symptoms that best matched what she had identified?

Third, an analysis: only one emotion was a near-perfect match.

She! Was! Jealous!

The realization had Rhapsody's dark eyes darting towards the professor -er,she meant the marquis - and as if sensing her gaze, her Master turned towards her at that exact moment.

Their eyes met, and Rhapsody did not even pause to think twice.

She bit her lip. Hard. And for far longer than three seconds.

Without missing a beat, Mihail addressed the class, saying, "To better illustrate what it means to be a perfect pet, I would need a volunteer—-"

The other students already had their hands raised in the air even before the marquis had finished speaking, and in their giddy eagerness, they were blind to the fact that the marquis only had eyes for one of them.

"Lady Norwood?"

The whole class fell into an abrupt, stunned silence, and even Rhapsody was shocked rigid in her seat.

"Come forward, please."