Tilly turned. “Yes?”

“This is going to sound silly…”

Tilly’s brow furrowed. “What is it?”

“I try to avoid calling the girls ‘ladies.’”

Tilly’s eyes widened slightly. “Oh.”

“It’s just…” She hesitated. “It suggests that as teachers—as role models—we place certain qualities on a pedestal, reinforce particular patriarchal values. I guess, long story short, I think it’s damaging. It has connotations, implies expectation.”

“Expectation…” Tilly repeated.

Kate nodded. “They are girls, women. Not ladies.”

Tilly reached for the last bite of her toast and leaned back against the counter. She winked. “Duly noted, Ms. York.”

“Every time I see that stone freakin’ statue, all I want to do is jump off the back of the ferry and drown.”

Rolling her eyes, Kate rested her forearms on the deck rail as the passenger ferry made the smooth morning crossing from Mornington to East Island via Lords. She watched as Lexi’s expression twisted into the scowl of a soldier conscripted against their will. “So glad to hear you’re happy to be back, Lex.” She grinned at Emma.

Emma tore at the wrapper of a muesli bar with her teeth and leaned back against the railing. “It’s better than being at home,” she said. “Two whole weeks…” She shook her head. “I was bored out of my mind.”

Lexi sighed. “How the hell could you be bored on the mainland? You live in Mornington and you already have your Ps. I live on a goddamn farm. When I get my own car and I don’t need my parents to drop me off at the pier, I swear to God, I’m not coming back to Lords until Monday mornings.” She groaned, grasping the railing and extending her arms from her body like she was about to be seasick across the deck. “I can’t believe I have another two years here.” She turned her head and glared at Emma. “You’re so fucking lucky that you graduate next year.”

“Hey,” Kate warned, “Language. There are children on the ferry, heading for the pioneer village.”

In the cool morning wind, Emma copped a mouthful of Lexi’s long blond hair. She swatted at her face. “God, tie your hair up, Lex.”

Kate smirked as she watched Lexi gather her hair into a messy bun. It always amused her how the girls would return to the mainland dressed to the nines, readying themselves to meet boyfriends waiting for them at the dock. Returning to St. Joan’s, they were in sweatpants—pyjamas in Lexi’s case—hair wild and cheeks pillow-creased.

Lexi turned to Emma. “Hey, wanna hear what Holden told me last night on Facebook? You’re going to be really impressed.”

Kate sighed. “Lexi, I don’t want to hear it. You want to tell her something scandalous?” Kate said. “Go starboard.”

As the girls wandered further up the ferry, Kate turned. Sixteen-year-old Molly was seated on the bench, chatting to the relatively new Year Seven student, Cassie. She’d been pulled from her previous boarding school after being the victim of horrific bullying when Kate had first met Cassie last term. Her family and psychologist had all decided that changing schools was her best option. And she had done well at St Joan’s. But now, Cassie’s eyes were red-rimmed and although it was only ten fifteen, she looked exhausted from the near-anxiety attack she’d had hugging her mother goodbye at Mornington.