The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #1 by Caroline Carlson Page B

because he was in charge of propping up Treasure Island . “Maybe finishing school isn’t so bad after all,” he said as he curled up next to the soft leather cover. “It’s making my ears feel awfully tingly, though.”
    The gargoyle swished his tail in Hilary’s direction, and she patted it. “Perhaps you’re allergic to finishing school. Curtsying and minding one’s manners are enough to make anyone itch.”
    There was a sharp knock at the door, and Philomena entered without waiting to be invited. “How rude!” Claire mouthed to Hilary.
    â€œCome along, both of you,” said Philomena. “You really should brush your hair, but there’s no time. We’re going to be late enough as it is.”
    â€œLate for what?”
    Philomena rolled her eyes at Hilary. “For your meeting with Miss Pimm.”
    H ILARY AND C LAIRE followed Philomena through the stone halls, taking care to stay a few steps behind her so they wouldn’t be hit in the face by her bouncing hair. Miss Pimm’s office was as far away from the dormitory wing as it was possible to be without ending up in the next town over, and Hilary thought this showed surprisingly good sense on Miss Pimm’s part. As they walked, Claire chattered away, telling Hilary everything she’d heard about Miss Pimm from her sister, Violet. Violet said Miss Pimm had once been a great beauty, and quite important in High Society besides. It was rumored that she’d even been friendly with the queen. But she fell in love with an aeronaut, who plummeted over the side of his balloon basket during a terrible storm. After his death, Miss Pimm was so distraught that she abandoned her family and her High Society duties to follow her heart’s desire: establishing a school for young ladies of quality. Hilary couldn’t imagine how opening a finishing school could be anyone’s heart’s desire, but clearly it had been Miss Pimm’s, and Hilary very nearly admired her for it. Running away and pursuing one’s dream was quite a piratical thing to do.
    By the time they reached a doorway marked simply with the image of a dancing sheep, Claire was nearly out of breath from storytelling. Philomena opened the door and curtsied to a woman sitting behind an ornately carved desk. “The new girls,” she murmured.
    â€œThank you, Miss Tilbury. You may go.”
    Philomena swished her hair and walked away, leaving Hilary and Claire standing in the doorway.
    â€œMiss Westfield and Miss Dupree?”
    Hilary nodded, and Claire attempted a wobbly curtsy.
    â€œI am Miss Pimm.” The woman rose from the desk and pulled two chairs away from the wall. “Please take a seat.” Behind Hilary, the heavy door slammed shut.
    Miss Pimm was very tall, taller than Hilary’s father. She had a pleasant face—to Hilary’s surprise, she was actually smiling—and a braid of snow-white hair wrapped around her head like a crown. On the collar of her purple silk jacket, she wore a silver dancing-sheep pin. All in all, she looked like she might be someone’s beloved great-aunt, the kind who gives wonderful presents and is always a bit of a bother when she comes to visit. Her desk was a jumble of papers, punctuated by the occasional fountain pen, and on the edge of the desk nearest Hilary, an ink sketch of an old-fashioned gentleman in a balloon basket smiled out from a silver frame.
    Claire nudged Hilary with her elbow and nodded at the picture frame. “Her lost love!” she whispered, and clutched her hands to her chest with a sigh.
    Thankfully, Miss Pimm did not seem to notice. “Welcome, girls,” she said, beaming first at Claire, then at Hilary. “I’m so glad you could join us for our summer session. I have already heard so much about both of you.”
    Oh, no. What had she heard about Hilary? Considering that her application had been forwarded to Miss