If I understand it, it was much more than just preparing the young lady to come out (not that this discussion has made that out as an exclusive goal). A lady of Georgiana’s standing would expect to run a large household with an equally large staff. To do so without uproar and commotion was the responsibility of the lady of the house, and required skills that, especially for a shy girl like Georgiana, would need a good deal of practice and instruction from her elders—a companion like Mrs. Annesley, and/or, I expect, from a female relation with a large house of her own. In my particular case, I have Colonel Fitzwilliam’s mother assisting in that capacity. Georgiana would need to learn to deal with all manner of issues, including budget decisions, approving new staff, or new staff positions, setting menus and arranging social events, and dealing with pilfering and male/female carryings-on below stairs. Just think of a shy fifteen-year-old trying to handle that with twenty or more servants!
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