Lady McPadraic was a fainter alright. Was it a weak constitution? Was it the fact that she laced just a little too tight? Was it prolonged boredom, so that the tiniest excitement was now too much? Or was it spite? Perhaps all of it.

The only good thing about her fainting so often was that her husband was not too disturbed by it anymore. "You shouldn't have used such a word in the presence of a lady." Arthur said, forgetting for a moment that he was talking to a lady. "Never mind, now, thank you." He took the smelling salt, but when she didn't wake up, he admitted: "Yes, we probably should." He rang the bell again, and ordered a footman to get the doctor and bring a stretcher.

A few moments later two servants came in with a stretcher. "Please take Lady McPadraic to the fainting room." Yes, she had a room devoted to recovering from her fainting spells. When the servants took her away, Arthur turned to Vela. "I am sorry, Miss Rosewine. My wife was brought up a fine young lady. She's too delicate for such... worldly topics..."