Aplomb

Bertie Wooster was in the study when his butler (okay, manservant)
Jeeves approached and coughed discreetly.
"May I ask you a question my lord?"
"By all means, Jeeves," said Bertie.
"I am doing the crossword in The Times and I have found a word with
which I am unfamiliar."
"What word is that?" said his lordship.
"Aplomb, my lord. "
"Now that's a difficult one to explain I would say it is
self-assurance or complete composure."
"Thank you, Sir, but I'm still a little confused."
"Let me give you an example to make it clearer.
Do you remember a few months ago the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
arrived to spend a weekend
with us at Aunt Agatha's place?"
"I remember the occasion very well, my lord. It gave the staff and
myself much pleasure to look after them."
"Also", continued Bertie Wooster, "do you remember when the Duke
plucked a bloom for the Duchess in the rose garden?"
"I was present on that occasion, my lord, ministering to their
needs."
"While plucking the rose, a thorn embedded itself in his thumb very
deeply."
Jeeves replied, "I witnessed the incident, my lord, and saw the
Duchess herself remove the thorn and wrap a bandage on his thumb
using
her own dainty handkerchief, after sucking the thumb gently to stop
the bleeding. Yes, my lord, I did see everything that transpired
that
evening."
Bertie Wooster: "Jeeves, the next morning while you were pouring
tea
for Her Ladyship, the Duchess asked the Duke in a loud voice,
'Darling is your prick still throbbing?'
"And you, Jeeves, did not spill one drop of tea!
Now that is aplomb!"