It wasn't quite perfect, but Catherine smiled. She would not expect too much of Ellie. The fact that the girl was trying was enough for now. "Yes, like that. You look so fine when you do that. Couple that with your sweet look and you're sure to catch some gentleman's eye when the time comes, if I'm not mistaken." A lot would need to happen before there was any chance of that, Catherine thought, but it could not hurt to get the girl dreaming.

"Thank yeuw, Miss." Ellie said, blushing at the idea of her attractiveness while trying to pay attention to her accent. "A gentleman at Court?" Ellie's eyes sparkled and her voice lightened as her mind became preoccupied with the notion.

"Oh, well..." Her pale cheeks gained a little colour again. "I suppose that might be a little too ambitious, even for me," Catherine let her down gently. She herself certainly aspired to find a man with an aristocratic title. She meant to be Lady Catherine. But even for her with all her money and looks and manners, it was not as easy as she had once dreamed. "But certainly a well to do doctor, or a minister, or who knows what more you could dream for with a little bit of polishing." A lot of polishing, surely. But Catherine was very bored.