When the Princess Rescued the Prince - fantasyREADERS

“Well, if you are getting bored, we can stop for
today,” the Governess said, offended.
“I’m not bored,” said Portia. “I just can’t shudder
right.”
The Governess demonstrated again.
Portia tried again, but all that happened was her ears
wiggled.
The Governess gave a heartfelt sigh. “Never mind,
enough for today. I feel a spell of the vapours coming on.
Doubtless it will last all week, with any luck….”
To cheer up the sick Governess, Portia
determines to lean how to shudder. She and
Priscilla begin by visiting a Governess Supply
Store.
It was a neat little gray house with white zinnias
growing in the window boxes. “How can I learn to
shudder properly?” Portia asked the shopkeeper. “It is a
surprise for my dear Governess.”
The shopkeeper frowned. “Shuddering is supposed to
Come Naturally to young ladies,” she said.
“Unfortunately,” said Priscilla, “it has not. Do you
have a remedy for difficult cases?”
The shopkeeper thought for a while, then fetched a
little golden Butler Doll, in a little black lacquer box just
the right size for a pocket. “Perhaps the doll will know,”
she said. “He is full of general knowledge: he was
designed to accompany young persons on the Grand Tour,
and knows protocols in three hundred languages.”
Thinking of this, Portia almost shuddered accidentally,
but unfortunately controlled herself.
“That is very – many,” Priscilla said politely.