Peony is approaching her 16th birthday with all the blissful self-belief of the cherished only child. Her father is a wealthy nobleman and her mother (importantly) a still-loved first wife. She has been indulged by her father and her servants. Her amah and her mother and aunts have done their best to instil in her the four virtues of womanhood so that she will make a good wife - but her stitching is imperfect and her fingers skitter on the zither and her paintings of butterflies and flowers will win no contests. She knows the traditions however and honours them.