After Ruby and I attended that rather unsuccessful tea party at Countess Rowan's house, I couldn't get what had happened out of my head for a long time.
The event, which I had hoped would be a pleasant and useful introduction for Ruby, turned out quite differently than I had hoped. The girl felt uncomfortable and constrained there.
All this left an unpleasant aftertaste — both for her and for me. I felt a sense of failure, as if I had let her down by failing to create the atmosphere of ease and security that she so desperately needed.
However, I couldn't just accept it.
Yes, the first attempt to establish Ruby's relationship with her peers had failed, but that didn't mean we should give up. I understood perfectly well how important socialization was for a child, especially when it came to the heiress of a noble family.
