Steps One Shots (ish)

Lesson in Ladyship (part 1)

Alright this is a play on an idea I had a while back. It's set in Victorian Britain. It's kinda inspired by a whole host of shows including Victoria, The Crown, The Great and the scenes in Greatest Showman where they're both kids, and a tinie little bit from TudorPrincess12 and her Love Lust and Lace shorts.

Setting - Can we all just imagine, accept and move on from the fact they are all early teens/preteens yet again in this one and it's the Victorian era now. At the start of this Lee is 15, Faye and Lisa are 14, Ian's just turned 13, Claire's almost 12.

Faye, as she instructed everyone to call her outside the house, would have attempted to sneak into the house without her mother noticing if her rowdy little brother hadn't joined her on the lane outside.
"What did you do?" He asked her, shocked to find his older sister outside their home so early in the day.
"Oh according to the head mistress my 'etticut is all wrong and my attitude is terrible' I told her what I thought of that and she told me to go home. Dare I ask what you did this time Ian?" Faye said.
"The usual messing around and being loud out of turn. I'm apparently going to get kicked out if I do it again. Bring it on I say." He replied with a grin.
A footman opened the door and looked at the duo with a bow. "Young Master Tozer, Lady Fayre. Your mother has requested you go to her at once." He announced.
Faye tried not to roll her eyes at the use of her full name, and headed though the door the footman was holding open. She assumed her brother followed. The footman shut the door and led them to their mother's sewing room.
"What are you two doing home so early? Oh Ian don't tell me you got suspended again." Their mother scalded. "And you Fayre. For goodness sake girl when will you learn your lesson? Girls do not pick fights."
"No mother, I'm sorry mother." Faye mumbled. She didn't get what was so special about all this being girly stuff anyway.
Ian followed her apology.
Their mother shook her head. "I should get you both a tutor like we have for Clarabella. Then you at least won't be a problem Ian. And maybe she could turn you into a proper young woman Fayre, in fact I'll see about you joining your sister. You know what I shall ask your father about it tonight. You should know though he'll be very disappointed in you both."
Faye tried her best not to roll her eyes and waited impatiently for her mother to send her away. She had things she might as well practice and do if she was at home. Ian let out a snicker and was told to stay behind when she was sent out. He knew where to find her if he wanted to join in when their mother was done with him.

First, she went up to her room and took of the hideous dress she often wore for school, and looked for something more her colour. She found it eventually, a casual pale yellow silk dress that her mother complained about constantly but Faye particularly liked. She dreaded the day she'd turn 16 and would have to get rid of it for more womanly clothes. She gently laced up the front, tying it up with a little bow and smiled at her reflection. Then she headed down to the room set aside for entertaining guests, and glanced at the piano. She wanted to play but without any sheet music to hand she wouldn't know what. She had a couple of pieces she'd tried to write, but she tried to keep them hidden for fear of how her parents would react, though she had memorised them for playing when she was alone. She bit at her lip and looked round.
"Well there's no-one else in here you might as well practice Faye." She muttered as she sat down at the piano. She lifted the lid and admired the neat keys before instinctively lining her fingers up to play a chord. She pressed the keys down gently and listened to the notes ring out around the room, then she set about playing one of her own pieces.

She'd been so caught up in her playing she hadn't noticed one of the young maids come in. It was Elizabeth, who growing up had been one of Faye's closest friends until her father had died and condemned her and her brother to the life they had now.
"Oh I'm sorry Faye... uh Lady Fayre... I didn't realise you were in here. And then I was enjoying hearing you play too much to be able to leave." She told Faye.
"Its okay." Faye replied. "Do you want a go Lis, I know you used to play."
Elizabeth smiled sadly. "I'd love to, but I don't think I'm allowed. But I come in and admire the piano anyway sometimes."
Faye looked at her old friend. "Look I'm here, so I'll take the blame for you if someone finds out. Father's already going to be fuming when he gets home, I might as well tip him over the edge."
Elizabeth smiled and sat down on the bench next to Faye. The brunette had always been shorter than Faye, but sat there in the ragged, ill-fitting dress she was wearing she seemed so tiny she might as well have still been a young child. But it didn't matter to Faye, the fact that she wasn't even meant to be this close to the girl didn't bother her either. What was the worst that could happen to her now she was being condemned to 'womanly lessons'? Elizabeth began playing, gently at first as if she was scared, then louder, harder more confident. She didn't care what people thought. When she was finished Faye hugged her.
"We can't be seen like this Faye... Sorry Fayre." Elizabeth said, pushing her once friend away. It hurt her inside to do so, but she didn't have any other choice, she couldn't risk losing her job here.
"Lisa it's fine, no-one will see. And anyway, we were best friends before, why shouldn't we be still? You haven't changed from who you were before all this really, and neither have I."
Elizabeth sighed. "But... But we... Okay."
"It's another year Lisie. Then Lee will be able to ask for your house back."
"And until then I have to try and stay out of trouble." Elizabeth replied.
"Well you're proving better at it than me and Ian ever have, so I'd of thought that counts as a win." Faye replied with a smile.
Elizabeth smothered her laugh, just as William walked into the room. "Fayre you haven't seen your brother have you? I've been summoned to keep an eye on him but I can't seem to... wait, sorry... Elizabeth? What were you doing?"
Elizabeth stood up as quickly as she could, not wanting a lecture from her brother today.
"I haven't seen him since I left him in mother's sewing room earlier." Faye replied, acting casual about the whole affair.
William ignored her, prowling across the room to his sister. "What are you thinking Elizabeth?" He asked.
"Lee look... I just... I wanted to feel how we used to just one more time. And I have to keep practising, Faye... I mean Lady Fayre was just helping me." She replied.
"Actually, I invited her to come play because I know how badly she misses what you two had." Faye replied. "I know I shouldn't because it could get you both in trouble but I would have fully taken the blame if anyone other than you caught us."
"How stupid and innocent can you be Lisa? We are never going to get the house back. This is our lives now." William replied.
She shook her head. "No. I refuse to give up. We will go home one day, and I shall play piano and wear pretty gowns and you shall be able to have conversations with other smart men." She retorted. "No offence to Ian of course, I'm sure he'd be able to join them..."
Faye shrugged. "I've said worse about him so it doesn't bother me what you say."
"Look let's not talk about this now Lisa, I have to find Ian." William said, before excusing himself from the room.