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“We have just enough time to get you ready,” she said. “But we must hurry.”
Rowena allowed her maid to lead her into the main chamber. Sally made short work of helping Rowena into her blue ball gown and gloves. When it came time to styling her hair, however, Sally paused before beginning work on the usual chignon Rowena chose to wear.
“Miss,” she said cautiously, “might I suggest something a bit different for a change?”
Rowena was surprised, but she eventually nodded to her maid.
“Of course,” she said. “What are you thinking?”
Sally grinned, turning her mistress’s head back toward the vanity.
“Just trust me,” she said.
About twenty minutes later, Rowena was looking at herself in the mirror in amazement. Sally had styled half her hair in a loose top knot, allowing the rest of the soft curls to cascade down over her shoulders. Rowena could hardly believe the transformation as she looked at her reflection, and she couldn’t help smiling.
“Do you like it?” Sally asked.
Rowena nodded, glancing at her maid in the looking glass.
“I love it,” she said. “Oh, Sally, you have done a splendid job with my hair.”
Sally blushed, but she was beaming with pride.
“I am thrilled you like it, miss,” she said. “I just felt that you should look and feel as beautiful as possible tonight.”
Rowena nodded, blushing as she looked away from the mirror. She did, indeed, look lovely, which was not something to which she was accustomed. It made it too easy to forget she was a spinster rather than a young woman in her prime, celebrating her engagement to a fine gentleman of theton.
Just then, the door to her bedchambers opened. Rowena turned to see Nancy enter the room. Rowena stood from her seat at the vanity and smiled at her sister.
“I am almost ready, Sister,” she said.
Nancy looked her over with wide, amazed eyes.
“You are a vision,” she said, gazing at Rowena fondly. “May I speak with you alone for a moment?”
Rowena nodded immediately, glancing at Sally. The maid curtseyed without a word and left the room, smiling as she closed the door behind her.
When they were alone, Nancy smiled warmly at Rowena. She reached into her reticule and handed her younger sister a small jewelry box.
“I want you to have this, Ro,” she said.
“What is this?” she asked, looking at Nancy curiously.
Nancy gestured eagerly to the box.
“A present. Open it,” she urged.
Rowena did as her sister asked, gasping as she looked inside.
“A sapphire bracelet,” she whispered, gently removing it from its cushioned box. “Oh, this must have cost you a fortune.”
Nancy shook her head, and Rowena saw a tinge of familiar sadness in her sister’s eyes.
“That was a gift from Colin,” she said. “He gave it to me on my last birthday before he died.”
Rowena’s eyes widened, and she held out the box to her sister.
“It is beautiful, Nancy,” she said. “But I cannot possibly accept it. Not when it is such a special keepsake to you.”
