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    The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain
    The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain
    The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain
    Ebook40 pages36 minutes

    The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain

    By Stephanie Burgis

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    About this ebook

    The last thing Agatha Tremain wants to do is leave her solitary study of magic behind to make a glittering social début in London. When she's forced into town by her sinister aunt, though, she discovers she's not the only girl who doesn't fit in there - and everything she's ever believed about magic may be wrong.

    A witty, romantic Victorian fantasy novelette about a girl determined to claim her own power...and the unexpected romance that she finds along the way!

    Previously published as "The Unladylike Education of Agatha Tremain" in the anthology Willful Impropriety: 13 Tales of Society, Scandal and Romance and in Inscription Magazine.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStephanie Burgis
    Release dateFeb 14, 2018
    ISBN9781370056811
    The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain
    Author

    Stephanie Burgis

    Stephanie Burgis grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, but now she lives in Wales with her husband (fellow writer and ebook cover designer Patrick Samphire), their two sons, and their very vocal tabby cat, Pebbles (who basically owns Steph's Instagram account). She writes wildly romantic historical fantasy for adults (most recently, Scales and Sensibility, Good Neighbors, and the Harwood Spellbook series) and fun, funny MG fantasy adventures for kids (most recently, The Raven Heir and the Dragon with a Chocolate Heart trilogy).

    Read more from Stephanie Burgis

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    • 5/5
      Just a short, funny read. I just love a story where a girl doesn't need a guy to save her. Hopefully I'm not giving too much away.
    • 4/5
      Short and sweet and so lovely to meet a heroine who doesn't take things lying down.
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      Sweet, funny, magic, lesbians, happy ending - what’s not to love?

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      I believe this is a story about a lesbian. I just wish they would have said something about it in the reviews.

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    Book preview

    The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain - Stephanie Burgis

    The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain

    THE DISASTROUS DÉBUT OF AGATHA TREMAIN

    STEPHANIE BURGIS

    Five Fathoms Press

    CONTENTS

    A Quick Note

    The Disastrous Début of Agatha Tremain

    Afterword

    A QUICK NOTE

    This novelette was previously published under the title The Unladylike Education of Agatha Tremain in the anthology Willful Impropriety: 13 Tales of Society and Scandal and in Inscription Magazine. The title has been changed for this edition, but the story remains exactly the same.

    THE DISASTROUS DÉBUT OF AGATHA TREMAIN

    At the age of sixteen, Agatha Tremain let down her skirts, pinned up her hair, and set herself to running her father’s household. Her first step was to forge her father’s signature and dismiss her hated governess. Miss Blenheim left with her perfectly straight nose held high in the air, trailing bitter premonitions of disaster like wriggling serpents in her wake.

    Agatha’s second step was to teach herself magic, using the books in her father’s library as her guides.

    The first time Agatha entered the library to find an introductory text, her father looked up at her with vague approval from his customary seat by the fireplace. When Sir Jasper’s eyes focused on the book she took from the shelves, though, his normally mild face darkened into anger.

    Do take great care with that work, my dear. There are no fewer than five different points of contention in his arguments, and three outright fallacies. I should hate to see you taken in by such folly.

    I’ll take care, Papa, Agatha promised. She stepped off the wooden stepladder, brushing dust off her fingers. I shan’t believe anything without proper evidence.

    I’m very glad of it. But, I say... Sir Jasper blinked. I don’t mean to be rude, but are you permitted to be in here at all? I thought that creature Blaggish—Blagmire—

    Miss Blenheim? Agatha waited for his nod. I sent her packing this morning. I’m old enough to look after myself now.

    What a relief. I never could abide that woman. He began to subside back into his chair, but an expression of sudden surprise halted him mid-movement. Good Lord, I am hungry. Have I missed luncheon, by any chance?

    You’ve been in here for two days, Papa. Agatha sighed. I’ve ordered a hot supper for you. The servants should bring it shortly.

    Oh, good. I was afraid I might have to leave.

    Her father settled happily back into his book. Agatha pulled up a second armchair beside him. Carelessly crushing her skirts beneath her, she set her booted feet upon the footstool in front of the fire and began to read with a feeling of vast contentment.

    The Tremain land was set fifteen miles out of town and nearly three miles from their closest neighbors. As a young girl, left to

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