"It makes me look slender and it squashes down my chest while still give in an appealing shape," said Alissa, "Mama says having the right shape is important,"

Randy sighed. "It seems so unnatural..."

"And painful!" Remarked Alissa.

"Can't you loosen it?" Randy questioned. "Surely that isn't healthy."

"I can't reach the ties, Ellen has to help me just to get this thing on...and the whale bone ribs dig into me," said Alissa showing him her tightly laced back.

Randy grimaced. "It sounds terrible," he remarked. "A-are you sure it's supposed to be like this?"

"It is, you can help me get it off when we get back," said Alissa, "I don't think I can wear it much longer without fainting.'

"If it were up to me, no one would wear these ridiculous things," Randy muttered quietly.

"Well it isn't up to either of us," said Alissa taking his arm, "Let's head home and see if Ellen's made dinner yet,"

"Yes, that will be nice. And we will get you out of that horrible contraption immediately," Randy replied.

Once inside Alissa presented Randy with the ties of her corset, "Alright, let's get this thing off of me!"

Randy examined it carefully before untying the laces, loosening the garment so that Alissa could remove it.

Alissa let out a heavy sigh, angry red marks left behind where the corset had pressed into her, "I can't believe I have to wear those things for the rest of my life!"

"Do you really?" Randy could scarcely believe the idea; it sounded so incredibly awful to him.

"Well you know, it's just the done thing," Alissa shrugged, "I don't like it but Mama said that no one is going to want me otherwise," she sighed, "Sometimes I think maybe it's not worth it,"

Randy shook his head. "I will admit that it isn't my favorite figure."

"Really? What is?" asked Alissa as she removed the corset only to hear a loud shriek from her mother, who had just arrived to see the two of them.

"ALISSA! What are you doing? Don't undress in front of Mr. Baker! For heaven's sake you aren't a child anymore! Now apologize for putting him in such a position!" Lady Summerville bawled.

Randy pretended to look away for Lady Summerville's peace of mind.

Alissa was sent to her room and Lady Summerville apologized to Randy, "I swear that girl will never grow up, I'm terribly sorry!"

"It is alright; I suppose she has just gotten used to me," said Randy.

"That's no excuse! If she's going to become lady Stickbottom she needs to act the part!" said Lady Summerville, "Running about naked in front of the help is not what a lady does!"

"Certainly. ...Lady Stickbottom, you say?" Randy looked at her.

"Well, Winston is thinking of marrying her, he has a title and she has money, it's a good match," said Lady Summerville, "Alissa just needs to learn to be more subdued and demure,"

"I see." Randy gave a nod of understanding, though inside he was reeling. Lady Stickbottom! It was perhaps the most revolting thing he'd ever heard. Oh, poor Alissa...

"Yes, she's going to have to make a lot of changes, Sir Winston has a delicate constitution and he expects his wife to be quiet and attentive," said Lady Summerville.

"It may be a difficult adjustment for her," said Randy with a hint of sadness.

"Yes, but it's for her own good, she's far to wild as is, it comes from not having a father," said Lady Summerville.

"She is a very sweet and intelligent girl, though," Randy remarked. "She does well with her studies and rarely gives me any trouble."

"Yes, yes, but that won't make her into Lady Stickbottom!" said Lady Summerville dismissively.

"I suppose not," Randy conceded, though he was really quite glad of that.

"Soon I'm sending her away for a year, to an all girls boarding school, she can learn all about manners and society there," said Lady Summerville.

Randy nodded. "Does she know of this yet?"

"No, I haven't mentioned it, but it's not as if she has anything better to do," said Lady Summerville, "She'll be ready to go when I send her off,"

Randy gave another quiet nod and went to find some other task to which he could tend. He was not looking forward to Alissa's leaving--or her finding out about it. He had long since made sure to take note for his records that being of a higher class did not necessarily mean an easier life for a child...

Lady Summerville didn't tell Alissa that she was being sent away for a year until a day before the carriage arrived and as Ellen and Errol packed her things Alissa ran to Randy in tears...

"I know, dear," Randy said softly, attempting to comfort her with a pat and a vague mental wave of sympathy.

"I didn't want to leave! Why am I being sent away?! I was working on my studies and my music and everything I was supposed to," she sobbed.

"Your mother believes it will teach you to be more proper and... lady-like," said Randy.

Alissa sniffed, "I don't want to go....I'll be gone all year and what if you aren't here when I get back? I'll miss you!"

"I will not leave you," Randy promised. After all, she was still his assignment.