In an alternate England of 1851, spirited fourteen-year-old Sophronia is enrolled in a finishing school where, she is surprised to learn, lessons include not only the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but also diversion, deceit, and espionage.

In an alternate England of 1851, Sophronia Temminnick is the only hope for her friends, her school, and all of London when she must put her espionage training to the test to thwart an evil Picklemen plot. Alternate England, 1851. Lessons in the art of espionage aboard Mademoiselle Geraldine's floating dirigible have become tedious. Sophronia would much rather be using her skills to thwart the dastardly Picklemen, yet her concerns about their wicked...