Page 161 of A Very Bellamy Christmas

Stacia swallowed, suddenly aware of the weight bearing down on her neck. “You are sure?”

“Aye, I’m sure of it, Miss. You’re such a tiny, dainty lady that all that hair is too much. Er, beggin’ your pardon.”

Stacia smiled. “Don’t apologize. I appreciate your honest opinion.”

“I cut everyone’s hair. I will do a good job. I promise.”

Stacia hesitated.

“I can do it right now if you like.”

“Now?” Stacia repeated. She reached up and felt her hair again, as if to check that it was still there.

Dora nodded.

“Very well,” she said after a moment. “Do it.”

Thirty minutes later Stacia could not stop staring at her reflection. “Why, you’ve made me pretty, Dora!”

Dora laughed as she swept up the long tresses that littered the floor. “You were pretty all along, Miss Martin.”

She kept stroking the brown curls, which looked glossier and far healthier. She felt at least a stone lighter, although of course that wasn’t possible.

Dora’s hand landed lightly on her shoulder and Stacia met her gaze in the mirror. “Did I cut it too short?”

Only then did Stacia realize that her eyes were glassy with tears. She shook her head vigorously, sending the curls dancing. “No, you did a wonderful, wonderful job.” Stacia reached for her reticule, which was on the dressing table. “Here, let me—”

Dora set a hand over hers and Stacia looked up to find the normally smiling girl serious. “No. Let me do this for you. After what I helped Lady Kat do to you and his lordship…Well, I’m sorry, Miss. You’re not angry?”

“No, I am not angry. But I really would like to pay you.”

“The haircut is a gift. And now I must run! I will be back half-an-hour before the ball.” She turned and was gone before Stacia could argue about the money.

She turned back to the mirror and smiled at her reflection. She looked…pretty.

She couldn’t wait until Andrew saw her.

***

Several hours later Stacia found herself gazing at her reflection for the second time in one day. Her attention this time fixed on her bodice. “Are you sure this isn’t too low?”

Dora laughed. “It’s perfect, Miss. You look perfect.”

Stacia wasn’t so sure, but she had fussed enough. She turned to the other woman and made a shooing gesture. “You must hurry and dress, Dora. You’ve wasted all your time on me.”

“I’ll not be late. At least no later than I want to be. Thomas Gresham has been flirting with Lady Shaftsbury’s maid.” She scowled. “Tonight I will show him what he lost.” And with that, she sailed from the room, chin high.

Stacia almost pitied the unsuspecting footman.

Lady Needham had also sent along a matching pink reticule and pink and cream burnt velvet shawl. She slipped the latter over her shoulders and then picked up her fan.

A flick of the wrist revealed her favorite lines from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29:

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth sings hymns at heaven's gate.