Victoria sighed as she tied off her thread and started another needle. Florence had talked of little else the past few days than her keen dislike of Sarah. “From what I hear, it is your own fault for playing that nasty trick on her,” said Victoria referring to Florence deliberately tight lacing Sarah into her corset. Florence played with the lace edge of her sleeve. “I’m sure I do not know what you mean,” she retorted with all the haughtiness of the Queen. Victoria’s only answering remark was a knowing smirk. Their conversation ended when Mary brought in the evening tea tray, knowing Sarah, Elma and Mrs. Needham would soon be joining them. It was the usual practice at Mrs. Mildred Needham’s Studio of Virtuous Young Beautiful Women Artist Models for everyone to gather in the drawing room after supper for a final cup of tea and to discuss the day’s events and tomorrow’s assignments before retiring above stairs to their boarder rooms.
