From Coal to Diamond

Chapter Four

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into a year, and a year into two. With every passing moment, Elizabeth grew into her place. No longer did she feel like the out of place girl who was not sure she was supposed to be there. Instead, she started to gain the poise and airs of a well educated woman. Her wardrobe expanded with every new month.

During the year, quite a few of the girls got proposals and moved out of the school. Mary had gotten engaged and married to a nice gentleman who owned a medium sized textile factory. Elizabeth was her maid of honor. Clara had a gentleman who started courting her, and then a second came in and she was at a loss as to who she should be favoring.

For her, things were just beginning. Madam Marion had sent a butler up with a letter asking her to come down to her office. As it was nearly bedtime, Elizabeth followed her butler down the stairs. The lights were dimmed so she could see where she was going, but not well.

The butler knocked three times, and Madam Marion's voice could be heard letting them in. He opened the door, but motioned for Elizabeth to walk in. "Thank you Jacob." She walked through the door, shivering slightly.

When the door closed behind her, she jumped slightly. Furrowing her brows, she held herself as she turned to Madam Marion. "Is everything alright? Did I do something?"

"No, of course not. Come sit, it is warmer over here." Madam Marion put down her book and motioned to the chair next to her. "Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to have a serious discussion with you."

Her heart pounded as she walked over and sat in the chair. "Are you alright?"

Madam Marion smiled and gave a quiet laugh. "Yes, dear. I am fine. It is your future I wish to talk about. You have learned a lot in two years. I think it is time for you to be out in society. To possibly be courted by a nice gentleman."

Elizabeth opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to figure out how to respond. Not in her wildest dreams did she ever think someone would want to court her or find her entertaining for any amount of time. "I don't have a dowry, Madam Marion. And no legacy to my name. Are you sure you really wanted to spend this time on me?"

A soft smile came to her lips as she leaned back to pick up a small box from her desk. "And that is why I had you come down tonight. Before each of my girls goes to her first party as being out in society, I give them a gift. Tonight, I will give you yours. While you have no name or status, you will have a dowry." She opened the small box to reveal an aether ring.

"Madam!" Elizabeth's eyes grew wide as she watched the lightning in the glass shimmer. "That's far too much."

"Listen to me. Aether represents all that is otherworldly. The lightning mixed with purple swirls you see comes from when the storms are just right. Those with airships go up and collect what bits they can. From there, jewelers of enough skill capture that into glass. The skill all this takes is what makes jewelry with aether stones so valuable." Madam Marion reached out and took Elizabeth's hand. "And now, as all my girls who finish schooling do, you have one of your own."

Watching as Madam Marion slid the ring onto her middle finger, Elizabeth felt her breath catch in her throat. She had never held anything so expensive in her life, let alone have it actually be hers. "I can't. I can't take this."

As she started to take the ring off, Madam Marion wrapped her hands around Elizabeth's. "Dear Elizabeth. This is what I give all my girls. You are no exception. You have worked hard to get to this point. The least I can do is make things a bit easier for you going forward."

Stunned speechless, Elizabeth could not take her eyes off the ring. "This is so much money, Madam Marion. I simply can't get used to this. You hold onto it." She started to take the ring off again.

And again, Madam Marion put her hands at rest. "You need to get used to this. You are worth so much more than you think of yourself. And you need to start believing that. There is only so much I can say before you need to take the rest on yourself."

Standing up, Madam Marion gave Elizabeth a small kiss on her forehead. "Now. You need to go to bed. We have a party tomorrow night and you will need to be dressed and rested. It may not have your name on it, but this party is for you." Helping Elizabeth to stand, she walked her over to the door.

With a quick kiss on the cheek, Madam Marion opened the door and ushered Elizabeth out. Her butler was still at the door, a large smile on his face.

"You knew?"

"Of course I knew. You're not the first student I've watched go through school here." Jacob puffed out his chest.

Lightly slapping his chest, she took his arm and started back up the stairs. "Why didn't you at least warn me? I thought I'd done something terrible."

"What, you thought you'd go down there and never come back? You've heard of other girls getting called down and being fine." Jacob chuckled as he escorted her.

"No. I haven't. I've been the newest girl. Everyone else apparently has already been deemed suitable. There's less and less girls here every day it feels like." She bit the inside of her cheek as she thought. Leaving Madam Marion alone in the large building felt terrible.

Jacob pat Elizabeth's hand. "She'll always have us. And she does find new girls. She's just very selective. Having girls who won't learn or will take advantage... she won't stand for that. Don't worry though, she will be fine."

Her head was spinning with all she had learned. The expensive jewelry that she had meant to steal off Madam Marion two years ago, was actually something so sentimental. She was glad she had not managed to steal the jewelry.

"What did you do before you worked here? I know I've asked, and you keep saying you'll tell me eventually, but I have to try again." Elizabeth tugged at his arm slightly, causing them to stop on the stairs between the second and third floors.

He shook his head and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. It's my story. I don't feel like it's the time for other people to know. I just don't feel very comfortable with it. I'm sorry."

Elizabeth smiled, though she was only more curious now that he once again told her that she couldn't know. "Well, hopefully you'll find me trustworthy sooner or later. You already know my story."

A grin crossed his face as he started leading her back up the stairs. "I'm sure I'll tell you before you leave with your new husband. It's just not a story, it's my life."

She followed him up in silence. "You will make sure you stay happy, won't you? I don't like the idea of leaving anyone here. This is home to me now."

"I will be fine. I have plenty of things to live for, and I do have someone I am hoping to court sometime soon. So please. Look after yourself. You were just given a great opportunity. And there will be men flocking to your side." He opened the door to her room. "Please, sleep well and think of your future."

Sighing, she entered her room, and he closed the door behind her. As much as she loved the idea of having a family of her own, everyone here had been her first real family. Madam Marion had given her everything she had wanted and needed from life. How could she leave it all behind?

Walking to her bed, she laid down and looked at the curtains across the four poster bed. Everything made her feel like a princess. Perhaps she could see if she should be the person who takes on the school after Madam Marion. She would need someone to take care of the place.

As she was thinking of what she could do if she ruled the school, she fell asleep.