Catherine smile. "Perfect, we'll start this Thursday, then." She closed the piano and got up. "Would eight suit you? I will arrange for someone to pick you up and bring you home of course."

Ellie beamed with excitement at the prospect of singing lessons and a night off. It was the most thrilling thing to happen to her since this teatime chat. Her mind raced ahead, already planning for the future. Her in a carriage.. ooh it would be ever so fancy so grand. Convincing Miss Pennyweather of the need to be absent wouldn't be too difficult, she wouldn’t even notice Ellie was gone. What dress should she wear for the lessons? The green one would be perfect—neither too formal nor too wild for a Thursday evening.

"Thank you very much Miss Ennington, you are ever so kind."

And so Catherine's little project officially started. Out of the goodness of her heart, she would endeavor to improve young Ellie Russell until she was fit for better society. What satisfaction it would give her to polish the girl! How useful she would feel as she would spend her empty winter days instructing and planning! And what a victory it would be for her if, in a few years time, the girl was mistress of the home of some clergyman or doctor.

She took Ellie to see the horses, they collected the books, and then they parted. As promised, Jared drove her all the way back to Miss Pennyfeather's shop this time. He was equally reticent on the drive back to town, but when the young maid had gone inside, he shook his head and muttered to himself: "I don't know what that featherbrained chit is up to this time, but I don't like it. I don't like it."