Her petticoat’s reappearance hadn’t been in such a forgiving location. Found in the alley out back of Dutch’s poolroom, the cambric had been streaked with mud and smears of tomato sauce from pot roast bones. Had she not informed the police of the so-called theft early that morning, explaining how her clothing had gotten to two different places would have been embarrassing, to say the least. But at the moment, Edwina couldn’t think about Deputy Faragher’s visit to the school a half-hour ago when he’d informed her the clothing had been discovered and that she’d have to sign a release at the office to reacquire them. Presently, six students between the ages of sixteen and nineteen were assembled in the Huntington Finishing School, along with Crescencia Stykem, who was the oldest at twenty-two. They sat expectantly at their seats with good posture, all eyes on their teacher. Edwina’s hands lay atop the book of deportment, but gazing out into the fresh faces of these young ladies, she wasn’t quite sure how to begin.
