Katherine stood beside the small water basin in her room, pouring water from a pitcher over her inkstained hands for what seemed like the hundredth time. Instead of making her skin its normal creamy white, however, the blue-black of the ink was only turning a dusky shade of purple. "Damn it!" The water she was pouring rather frantically onto her hands had chosen an inopportune time to spill, making a long soaked trail down the front of her dress. Hastily trying to get the wet garment off, Katherine shouted, "Marie! Marie, could you come help me?" for the maid, who immediately rushed in.

As the two women worked off Katherine's dress, they heard a knock on the door downstairs. "Damn, damn, damn!" Katherine exclaimed rather miserably, practically starting to cry. She had not been herself in recent weeks, and even the smallest things like wet dresses were setting her off. Marie, seeing her mistress' recent temper starting to rear its ugly head, took Katherine's shoulder, offered her a smile, and went off to get the door, pulling a dress from the wardrobe on her way and handing it to Katherine. "Thank you," Katherine replied miserably, slipping the simple dress onto her body.

"Miss Katherine!" Marie called from downstairs, and Katherine, knowing it must be a guest, hurried from the room, hastily trying to adjust her dress so it hung properly. She forgot to grab gloves, her inkstained hands bare for the world to see, but figured she could come up with a suitable excuse for them as she descended the stairs.