A/N: I AM SORRY PLEASE DON'T HATE MY OHMYGOD I AM SOOOOOO SORRY! So I haven't written in 10 months. I don't know about you, but I think that might be a major complication. Not to worry, my darling readers! Here is the chapter I certainly hope that you have been waiting for, written by yours truly this time. (: Enjoy!

I brushed any residue off the front of my dress and raised my chest properly, my chin rising properly. I stepped forward and my wrist wrapped around Felicity's, and we turned around each other slowly and curtsied, giggling sheepishly.

Ms. Nightwing stood at the front of the room, nodding to the beat with her hands clasped behind her back. Her lips formed a straight line, and she practically glared at the couples strewn around the room, dancing.

The harpist strung out the last notes and finished with a decisive rising movement. She raised the harp to a standing position, stood up, raised her body, and curtsied for us as we clapped politely. As she rose, I couldn't help but notice the shy smile playing at the corners of her lips, and I felt my heart go out to her and her love for music.

"All right, ladies." Ms. Nightwing's voice rang out in the large room, and echoed off the pale blue walls. "That is enough for one day. Ann, improve your posture. Cecily, your facial expression is remarkably prominent. Be soft! And Gemma, good Lord, watch your footwork!"

I blushed profoundly and stared at my feet as I felt many eyes around the room direct their gaze at me, but soon again, Ms. Nightwing began to speak again. "Go to your rooms and prepare yourselves for dinner. Tomorrow, you are to go to the theatre for a miraculous showing of the psychic, Marcia Duprileau." Her façade was transparent, and her false enthusiasm obvious.

The girls, on the other hand, were excited. The left in clumps and talked of what to ask the psychic, and of what she would know.

Pippa and Ann, who had been partners, trotted over to Felicity and I, holding hands girlishly. Pippa squealed as the two fell into step with my large ones. "Won't this be simply extravagant? I simply adore the supernatural!"

Felicity sighed uncaringly and twirled her finger around a ruby curl that hung from my hair bun, inspecting it. "I find it rather drab. What do you find in the least bit entertaining about a woman clever enough to pretend that she knows of the dead and other such mystical fallacies? I find it awfully dull." She whipped her hair back with a flick of the hand and set off at a fast step, her arm hooked through mine so that I had to continue with her.

"Pippa is a simple child," she said with conformity. "She sees black and white, and no other colors. There is only 'yes' or 'no'. That bold girl; she is lucky she has her miraculous beauty. She will not get along with that awful personality."

I walked with her silently, no response coming to mind. I never felt this sort of resentment between Pippa and Felicity before, but Fee didn't seem to think there was anything odd about her speech. We walked up the steps to the rooms briskly, and we gave each other a passing nod in place of a small farewell. I did not want to disturb Felicity, especially when she was upset.

I came into my room and sighed resignedly. It had been a week since I had seen Kartik. My menstrual cycle had come to a close, and I was relieved of the aches in the pit of my stomach and the massive flow of blood that made me unbelievably nauseous. It was because of pure luck that I hadn't fainted.

I had thought of him numerous times, of our last encounter, and of what I had discovered. Kartik was a beautiful, sadistic creature of the dark. I wasn't frightened; not in the least.

And the kiss. Oh, the kiss.

It was glorious. I could not think of anything but that. His hand on my waist was magic. My heart racing was a simple encouragement. He was reckless and strong. And then, his lips at my throat…

My breath hitched as I thought back to it again and made the silent decision that tonight was the night I would go to the boathouse, where he had asked me to seek him.

Evening prayers and dinner passed by quickly. Soon enough, I found myself entering Felicity's fantastic tent of scarves with porridge settling at the pit of my stomach.

Felicity, Pippa, Ann, and Cecily were there already. When I entered, Cecily wrinkled her nose unattractively. "Gemma, darling," she purred, "there is simply no room for anyone else in here."

"Quite right, Cecily," Pippa chirped. "Maybe you should leave."

Cecily huffed in a fashion practically man-like and stormed out. I giggled and sat between Ann and Pippa. In the center of our circle was a box of assorted chocolates.

"My mother sent them from Italy," Felicity piped, as if reading my mind. The glee in her voice was unmistakable.

I reached my hand and, halfway to the box, looked up and asked, "May I, Fee?" She nodded her consent. I reached my hand in and popped one into my mouth.

"So," Pippa started excitedly. "What happened with you and Kartik? We've been simply dying to know."

I hesitated and looked around at my friends. I could tell that they were aching to ask this for a while now. Perhaps they had sensed my uneasiness on the topic before, but for whatever reason, they had decided to ask at that very moment.

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked playfully.

"No time for games, Gemma!" Felicity announced. "We want to know simply everything that happened when you went for your bonnet last week!"

"What?" I responded. "I simply got my bonnet and came back."

"Oh, no!" Ann responded slyly. "We saw you through the window in our bedroom, Gemma! You were with Kartik."

I sighed resignedly. "I don't know what is happening. Kartik and I had a moment of pure romance, but I am unsure of what course they may take in the future, which is why I am to search for him tonight in place of coming with you to the campfire."

"Well, take care of whatever business you must," Fee responded, "with your lover."

I waved my hand at her passively. "Oh, posh."

"Oh, how simply romantic!" Pippa responded in a sweet, heavenly voice. She clasped her hand by her neck and looked up, as if daydreaming.

"You foolish girl," Felicity responded rudely, "This is serious! If Gemma wishes to take care of it instead of be with us at the campfire, then that is what she must do."

"Fee, you mustn't think that way!" I pleaded. "I would simply love to be with you, my darling, but you understand that there is something important that I must take care of with Kartik."

Felicity snapped her fingers. "I knew it!" she announced. "You two have a secret. You're not telling us something. Bad idea, darling. I always find out in the end." The way she said that, it was practically cruel, but I ignored it.

I sighed. "I will tell you when I am ready."

"When will that be?" Pippa asked eagerly.

"Soon," I matched.

"How soon?" Ann responded impatiently.

"Ann, you are being unreasonable!" I exclaimed. "I will tell you when I am ready." She sighed, looked down at her crossed ankles, and nodded.

Once we were dismissed, we went to our rooms. I looked through my dresser until I found a suitable dress; I seductively low-cut green dress of silk fabric. The color shone off my pale skin and ruby-red hair.

Brushing any residue off my dress, fixing my hair in the antique mirror one last time, I slipped through the door quietly to find Kartik.

A/N: How was that, my lovelies? I certainly hope it was good, considering I haven't worked on this story for so long. Again, I am terribly sorry! Please review, tell me what you think , and all that jazz.

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