A difficult lesson, but necessary. Any reputable school ought to offer at least one course in vampire defense. Eton has three.
Finishing School
The fine art of finishing others
—Etiquette & Espionage, page 28
If a baker’s peel is required to deliver a lady her tea, so be it. Choose fashion over function, always.
What a wondrous age this is for the Empire!
Aethernautical training may soon need to be added to our curriculum — with an emphasis on graceful embarking procedure for ladies (Airdinghies were not designed for copious skirts!).
If a lady is subjected to stale conversation with a tiresome gentleman, she should nod her head while contemplating her escape and/or his assassination.
If a lady is simply tired, she should get used to keeping London hours. (Vampiric dinner guests don’t just entertain themselves!)
Either way, a public display of sleepiness or disinterest is most unladylike.
So often do we find ourselves looking at old oil paintings of our mothers and wondering “What were they thinking with those sheer classical drapes and high-waisted dresses?”.
Such practical cycling dress!
Parasol manipulation is only one of several real world skills debuts can expect to learn from Professor Braithwope aboard Mademoiselle Geraldine’s Finishing Academy.
—Gail Carriger, Etiquette & Espionage (page 88)
