Caroline hissed, sotto voce. The party of varied Quinns drew near to their first entrance of the Season at the much-famed Pump Room. Elspeth cast a glance at her brother, telling him with her reassuring smile that he needn’t really fear a skinning from his cousin. Or so she fervently hoped. Harry was holding his own so far with Roderick, but perhaps just barely. The cousin was enough older and enough larger, and certainly enough of a bully, that Harry had to exercise all his wits to stay one step ahead of disaster. Then the perils of her little brother were forgotten. Elspeth barely suppressed a gasp as they entered through the large double doors. She was quite sure she had never been in such a large room in all of her life. And so magnificent! “Don’t gawk so, Elspeth,” hissed Caroline. “People will think you’re a perfect fool.” “But it is so remarkable, Caroline!” Elspeth replied, too awed and excited to register her cousin’s insult. “I’ve never seen anything so grand in my entire life!”
