Natsuko's pride glowed at Miss Chang's warm words, and then chuckled with real mirth - the herd was not all that wrong.

'It rather depends on your tastes Miss Chang, and your expectations.' the last had an emphasis all women understood - love, money or position? That was often the choice and it was rare that all those things aligned. Natsuko had resigned herself to that not long after getting out of leading strings, especially for women like Suki.

She nodded thoughtfully, 'There are balances to be found in most things. I hate to be so serious but often, it is less a case of what will make you happy, and more a case of what won't make you misrerable, what can you live with, or what will let you forge a life that it will not humiliate you to lead.' Suki took a sip of her tea, washing away the heaviness her mantra left on her soul.

'I'm privledged Miss Chang, in that my money is my own, I have already inherited, I have no father to please and I do not need to marry, to be financially secure in life and yet I do not wish for a spinster's censure. she took one of the small cress sandwiches, 'I should wish to like my partner in life, to respect and even care for them, but I seek position and not love.' it was frank, and not at all romantic - perhaps not the type of thing a young lady on the eve of her debut would like. 'I know that I am of a mind and temperament that few English men will like' she explained, and although known in English society for her fashion and social presence she had graduated with golden robes and if she had had few other advantages she would have been well able to survive by her wits and make something of a career for herself. 'and so I hide that portion of myself, until my position will allow me express it without endangering the other aspects of my soul. It was honest, more honest than she had perhaps been with anyone in a long time, 'and it may require more patience, but my happiness in the long term is better served by holding back my troops until the battle is won.'

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