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G eorgina leaned against the side of the carriage.

Her head bounced against the wall when it hit a bump.

She moaned and lifted her hand to rub the ache that it had left behind.

She glanced out the window of the carriage at the scenery.

The area was beautiful, and it seemed as if they might be arriving at Havenwood Academy.

At least she assumed as much. The carriage still rolled along at a steady pace, but in the distance a castle loomed on the horizon.

It was surrounded by a black fence and nestled against a thick forest. The old castle was stark in its beauty, and she adored it on sight.

As they closed in on those black gates, she could make out more of the large stone fortress.

Climbing ivy spread across the exterior clinging to the walls almost lovingly.

Neatly trimmed shrubbery lined the outside of the school and there were several towering trees that hovered over the tall gates.

The castle should not seem welcoming, but something about it called to her.

Perhaps, in this one instance, her father had been correct.

She may actually belong at Havenwood Academy.

The carriage rolled through the gates and came to a stop at the entrance to Havenwood Academy.

Georgina glanced at the heavy brown door before exiting the carriage.

The door opened with a slight creak, and a woman stepped out.

The woman was small in stature with rich auburn hair streaked with gold pulled back in a simple chignon.

She wore a navy gown trimmed with white lace.

She walked toward them and smiled warmly.

“Hello,” she greeted her. “I’m Mrs. Havenwood.

Welcome to my academy.” She turned to a lady who stepped out beside her.

She had raven black hair pulled into a stern bun.

Her pale green eyes were stark against her pale skin. “And this is Miss Abernathy.”

“Hello,” Georgina replied in a timid voice.

Though she wished she had the fortitude to speak louder, she could not, and her voice faltered from her inability to fulfill that simple task.

She shrank back as she scanned the unfamiliar faces around her.

Among strangers, words always seemed to get caught in her throat.

Even with those she knew well she never could raise the timbre of her voice.

It was just the way she spoke. She feared her voice would always be soft and difficult for others to hear.

“Miss Abernathy will show you around the school and explain our rules,” Mrs. Havenwood told her.

“Many of our students will be departing for a break, but some will remain here for the entire summer. There will be lessons during that break, but they won’t be as extensive as during the normal term.

It’s more to keep the students occupied than anything. ”

Georgina nodded. That made sense to her.

What else were they to do with their time?

She hoped that Mrs. Havenwood wouldn’t expect her to answer aloud.

Thankfully, she didn’t seem to. The headmistress started walking into the castle.

“The room you’re assigned to has two other girls already in residence.

They’re two of the students that remain during the summer.

I thought that it would help you to acclimate if you had a room with occupants.

They can help you adjust to the school. They’re lovely girls.

” She smiled serenely. “Miss Abernathy will introduce you after she gives you the tour.”

“Of course,” Miss Abernathy said in agreement. “Lady Charlotte and Lady Jaclyn will be wonderful to have as roommates.”

Georgina hoped they were correct. She had never gotten along with any other ladies. But then again, she never had much conversation with them either. As her father had said, she needed to converse with people in order to become acquainted with them.

“I’ll have your trunks taken to your bedchamber,” Mrs. Havenwood told her. “Go along with Miss Abernathy now.”

She followed the petite instructor through the corridor.

Miss Abernathy stopped outside of a room and pushed open the doors.

Inside was a lovely sitting room decorated in several shades of blue.

It had a couple of settees and several chairs in those gorgeous shades.

Large windows were draped in silk cerulean curtains and sunlight streamed into the room giving it a soft glow.

“This is a favorite sitting room for many of the girls. They often have tea in here and read by the windows. You’ll find it filled on most days. ”

“It’s lovely,” she said softly.

“It is,” Miss Abernathy agreed. “Do you enjoy reading?”

Georgina nodded vigorously. It was one of her favorite activities.

Reading she could do without anyone else, and she could become lost in fictional worlds where girls were far braver than she.

At least then, she could pretend to be more than she’d ever been.

It was a desperately needed escape in her lonesome life.

“I’ll show you to the library now then. I suspect it will be your favorite room.

” Miss Abernathy smiled at her. She kept talking as they walked down the hall.

“My father was a vicar,” she explained. “He had strong opinions on a number of things. Most things actually.” She sighed.

Georgina could relate to that sentiment.

She felt that sigh to her very bones. Her father was much the same way.

“He had no qualms about sharing those opinions. He’d much rather I wasn’t an instructor at this school, but this is my life.

I decided this was best for me and ignored his proclamations and demands. We all must do what is best for us.”

Why was she telling Georgina all of this? Did Miss Abernathy know how her father had treated her? Was this her way of telling her to choose a path and stick to it? Did Georgina even know what she wanted? Perhaps it was time to ascertain what her desires actually were and make a plan of her own.

Miss Abernathy stopped at the end of the hallway and opened another door.

She stopped and smiled. There were two women in the room.

One had honey blonde hair, and the other one had hair tinted with a shade of red like strawberries kissed with gold.

“Ladies,” Miss Abernathy said as she strolled into the library.

“I would like you to meet Miss Georgina Williams. She’s going to be your new roommate,” Miss Abernathy explained.

Georgina followed close behind her and kept her gaze averted.

She couldn’t look directly at them. They were so beautiful and probably wouldn’t welcome a shy girl into their lives.

They glanced at Georgina. She glanced up and met the girl with honey blonde hair’s eyes. They were a lovely hazel, almost gold in appearance. What was her name? Miss Abernathy never said…

“Welcome to Havenwood,” the one with reddish blonde hair said and then smiled at their new roommate. “Have you seen our room yet?”

“She has not,” Miss Abernathy answered for her. “Will you please escort her to your room and show her around the school? She will be staying the summer with the two of you.” She pinned both of them with a look. “And I trust she will be welcomed into your room with no difficulties.”

“Of course,” the blonde girl said. “We would be happy to.”

The red-haired girl stood and walked over to Georgina and held out her arm. “I predict we are going to be great friends.” She nodded at the other girl. “This is my dear friend Charlotte, and I am Jaclyn.” Thank heavens. She had names to go with them now. That would make it much easier for her.

“Hello,” she said in a tone so quiet it was almost inaudible.

Jaclyn looped her arm with hers and led Georgina down the hall.

Charlotte grinned and followed behind them.

“I think you are going to like it here. Charlotte and I are always here. At least until our families decide we can come home.” She wrinkled her nose.

“We’re both running from scandals we don’t speak about. So if that’s why you’re here…”

“It isn’t,” Georgina said hastily. “I mean…” She opened and closed her mouth several times.

“You really caused a scandal?” They must truly be daring.

She’d never dare to do anything scandalous.

“What is that like?” Her cheeks filled with color as she spoke.

“No one ever notices me. I probably could dance naked, and they would look right through me.” Not that she’d ever do any such thing…

“Now that would be an interesting experiment,” Jaclyn said. “We might have to try it and see what happens.”

“Don’t listen to Jaclyn,” Charlotte said. “At least not too much. We wouldn’t want you to find trouble so soon upon your arrival.” She winked. “If you didn’t cause a scandal, why are you here? Especially as the term is ending in a few days.”

“My season was unfavorable.” She sighed.

It wasn’t nearly as simple as that, but she didn’t know how to explain it to them.

“And my father thinks I need more deportment and sent me here. He was tired of looking at me and didn’t care if the term ended.

He wanted me gone.” She believed that most fervently.

His disapproval was like another entity in the room when he deigned to be in her presence.

She hated that she disappointed him and did hope that being at Havenwood would help improve her shyness.

Georgina did not like being so awkward any more than her father did.

She wanted to be better, and she vowed to make a true effort to change that part of her she did not like.

“It appears that we all have that distinct commonality,” Charlotte said. Her tone held a hint of sadness as she spoke. “We’re a disappointment.”

“That may be true,” Jaclyn said. “But we have each other. We don’t need to please anyone but ourselves.”