Chapter 2

The main room was large. Paintings inspired by the local landscape hung on either side of the room. A stair case made of mahogany wood stood before them with a landing halfway up before veering to the left and upward once more. It was as Grand and old as the rest of the house.

"Thank you, Mr. Boeing, take her things to the turtle room." The footman gave a small bow and quickly disappeared up the stairs with Maples belongings.

"Turtle room? Whatever can that mean?" Maple inquired picturing turtles swimming about a very soggy room.

"That is your assigned room. All of the students' rooms are themed in the spirit of our studies. Accompanying the turtle room, you will find, the finch room, frog room, duck room, and so on and so forth. There are seven rooms housing two young women each."

"Only fourteen women?" Maple interjected. "Goodness, I suppose I let my imagination get away from me this winter. I predicted at least fifty attendees!"

"Certainly not!" The woman chuckled amusingly. "Our funding could not support such numbers, Miss. Darcy." She paused, letting her smile shrink to politeness. "You may call me Miss. Nemous. I will be instructing you on all things regarding insect behavior. I hear that is a great interest of yours."
Delighted, Maple returned her smile with more vigor. "It is indeed! Wonderful to make your acquaintance, Miss. Nemous."

"Likewise, shall we finish our tour, Miss. Darcy? I should hate to miss supper."

Exhausted from a long day and with a belly full of dinner, Maple climbed the stairs trailing her tour guide. Her eyes felt heavy and had begun to sting a half hour ago. Every part of her yearned for rest.

"This one belongs to you." Miss Nemous stopped in front of one of several painted doors lining the hallway. This one was painted a deep forest green.

"Ah, the aforementioned turtle room."

"Indeed." Miss. Nemous raised her palm bringing Maples attention to the painted turtle centered at the top of her door frame.

"Oh!" She exclaimed. She then took a step back leaning on the railing opposite her door. All four of the doors residing this hallway displayed their designated animal in a similar art style. Simple. "How convenient." Is all she managed to say.

Miss Nemous smiled. "That should be it from me. Tomorrow is a open day where you may explore the grounds further and meet more of your peers. Breakfast will be served at seven and will be followed up in the main room for orientation." She paused. "Your roommate has not yet arrived. We should be expecting her in the early morning." With that, she gave a small nod and headed back down the stairs.

Maple turned the doorknob with her head full of curiosity. She had not seen any of her peers excluding the two young women that had stared down at her from the window upon her arrival. Even still she did not get a good look at them.

The room was unremarkable. It had a window overlooking the garden but it was too dark to see much of anything. Two slim beds sat on either side of the room, tucked and ready for sleeping. A tall mostly empty bookcase stood at the far end of the room, on one side of the window, a writing desk on the other. It became immediately apparent that they would be sharing not only their physical space but their working space too.

Maple sighed. She was exhausted after a long day of travel and having to take in so many changes in a single day. Even so she lit an oil lantern, changed into her sleeping gown, unpacked her stationary, and began writing to her father.

The first draft was crumpled up and tossed away after deciding it was to chastising. Her father may have intentionally kept the secret of a share room from her but upon reflection she decided he had done it in her best interest, though, more likely it was in his best interest to avoid a dealing with a tantrum. Maple disliked that thought though she knew it to be a likely outcome on her part. She had grown up an only sibling and as her mother died very young, she was not used to having to share her time or space with any female other than her lady's maid. But she found the resolve to be different. Why should she be in a huff? This would be an excellent opportunity to show her father that she is not so spoiled that she can be in intimate quarters with another gentle lady.

With this new resolve she began another draft, filled with an account of her travels and the first day at the school. It was a pleasant letter with its only complaint being that the dinner she shared with Miss. Nemous being a bit cold due to their taking too long touring the grounds. A glowworm had caught both of their attentions which then lead to them turning over a few medium sized rocks to inspect the colony of woodlice.

Once satisfied that her letter was pleasant enough, she lit her wax and sealed the letter. She extinguished the lantern and made her way to bed by moonlight. Her last thoughts before sleep washed over her were of the strange girl she would be living with over the next several months. She hoped that she was pretty. And that thought surprised her but it also excited her. Then she was asleep, dreaming of a beautiful woman with long brunette hair.