And for a few days, time passes uneventfully.

The next few days pass in a blur of quotidian activity. The girls spend their time reading, sewing, going on walks, and occasionally visiting the town. (And, in Alice's case, amusing herself with Deborah whenever she can get away with it.) As the week draws to a close, their father, George Foxhaven, finds himself alone in his study, going over his books.

George is a slightly pudgy man of fifty-seven years. While he's never been much good at the social and political side of life, he's good at the economic one, and he is devoted to his daughters. He reviews his books with pleasure, seeing that the family fortune remains secure.

Of course, he reflects, their fortune and dowry isn't the only thing that will determine his girls' prospects...there's also their reputation.{if Anne < 85} And he's heard some alarming things about Anne, lately.{endif}{if Rebecca < 85} There have been some vicious rumors about Rebecca circulating.{endif}{if Esther < 85} Esther seems to have gotten herself into some trouble, though nothing serious.{endif}{if Peggy < 85} Silly Peggy does seem to have attracted some of the wrong sort of attention.{endif}{if Alice < 70} There have been some truly disturbing stories about Alice going around - what has that girl gotten herself into?!{elseif Alice < 85} Alice has always been a bit of a troublemaker, and she seems to have gotten herself into a minor spot recently.{endif} Reputations, fortunately, can be burnished, given enough cash.

George considers his options carefully. Spending too much of his savings will reduce the amount available for decent dowries for the girls - which could have the adverse effect of making them less desirable or even (perish the thought) making it impossible to wed one of them off at all! Five is a lot of daughters, after all. Still...money talks, and one of the things it says most effectively is, "We come from a Good Family."

A/N: You will not be able to select a girl if boosting her rep by X would increase it over 100.