The sort of Catherine's choosing, if she'd had her way. But it would be harder than she'd thought. Yes, Miss Russell was a pretty girl and she seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. But it had clearly been filled with pauper philosophy all her life, and Catherine was not so sure now whether she could undo the damage. "Ah, but you have some time before you need to worry about that, don't you? You can't be older than sixteen?"

Ellie head bobbed as she counted up her years. She used to count on her fingers, but working with money in the shop daily had reformed that bad habit. Customers had no time to wait for Ellie to count their change on her digits.

"Yes, I am sixteen." She answered happily

"There, plenty of time to get an idea of what sort of man you'd like to marry," said Catherine. "Is there any sort of coming out in your community?"

"I dunno.. hmn.. with enough planning a couple of families might put together some tables in the yard for a fish bake and a dance, but if ye.. sorry if you are poor then girls do without. Why? Is there a special event in your world?"

Well that was certainly no way to find a proper match, Catherine thought as she sipped her tea. She put her cup back down on her saucer in her hand. "I had a ball here in my home. It's common for us. Well, some girls are presented at court," she said wistfully. "But you need to be a member of the aristocracy or really well connected. My aunt and uncle tried..."

"At court? Like up before a judge?" Ellie didn't understand.

That provoked a genuine giggle from Catherine. She quickly covered her mouth and blushed. She didn't mean to make Ellie feel foolish. "Why no, dear. I'm sorry. I should have explained. I meant presented to the queen. At the queen's court. And thereby of course presented to everyone who matters, especially potential suitors."

"The queen!?" Ellie's face must have been a picture. "Oh wouldn't that be a joy? I'd be struck dumb if it were me."

"But you see, my dear, that is why etiquette matters," Cathy said slyly. "It's far less awkward if everyone knows how to behave and can do it under pressure, because that is how they behave day in day out."

Ellie deliberately looked down at her tea cup and frowned in answer to her host's statement. She reached hesitantly for it.

"Like this, wasn't it Miss?" She asked, sipping as gently as she could remember so to do"