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Casey was still staring at the mirror. “This is … really upsetting,” she said, her voice unsteady. “I don’t know who I am anymore.”
“You’re still you,” Naomi said with unexpected understanding. “Put your morning gown and shawl back on and I’ll take you to Gwyn.”
Casey numbly obeyed and they went up the stairs to Gwyn’s private office, which adjoined Rhys’s. On the way, Naomi flagged down a maid and ordered tea and cakes to be sent to Gwyn’s office.
When they reached their destination, Naomi opened the door and ushered her inside. “I’ll leave you and your wardrobe alone for a while,” she promised.
Gwyn was sitting at a wide desk with neat stacks of paper in trays. She glanced up and was still for a long moment before she rose and offered a comforting hand. “Casey, you look like a butterfly emerging from your chrysalis with great reluctance.”
“Very great reluctance!” Casey said, trying to conceal how upset she was. “I’m a stranger to myself.”
“After so many years of disguising your true self, it’s not surprising that you don’t recognize who the mirror shows you.” Gwyn moved to the sofa opposite the desk and tugged Casey down beside her. “But this is as much a part of who you are as the very skilled accountant and the brave young clerk who saved two lives. Would it have been easier if your transformation was being done more slowly?”
Casey thought a moment, then shook her head. “The sooner this is over, the better. But the changes are stirring up so many old memories.” She stared down at her knotted hands. “When I was small, my hair was waist length and shining blond. My mother would brush it out and tell me how beautiful I was. I looked very much like her, actually.”
“So that’s a good memory?” Gwyn prompted.
“Yes, but before he threw me from the house, my father chopped my hair off to a boy’s length,” Casey said, shaking. She drew a deep breath and touched her hair with her right hand. This was her, the blond daughter of a blond mother. She had been so lucky to have a wonderful mother even if it wasn’t for long enough.
“The more I hear about your father, the more I hope he died in a ditch,” Gwyn said in her soft voice. Soft but implacable. “Preferably in agonizing pain.”
The words were so startling coming from Gwyn that Casey gave a choke of laughter. “One can only hope! But he is the past. Now I’m concerned with the present and the future.”
“You have so many possibilities ahead of you, and you can take as long as you need to make your choices.”
I choose Cameron. The thought blazed through her. Luckily the tea and cakes arrived, which were a welcome diversion.
As the last of the tea disappeared, Gwyn said, “Have you seen the ballroom? The decorations are almost finished.”
Casey swallowed her last bite of ginger cake. “I’m not even sure where the ballroom is. I’d love to see it.”
“Then let’s go down.” Gwyn rose and led the way.
Intrigued, Casey followed Gwyn down and across the house. Gwyn opened a door to reveal a sweeping expanse of polished wooden flooring and high-ceilinged grandeur. “Here we are. Impressive, isn’t it?”
“It’s huge! I had no idea there was such a magnificent ballroom here.”
“It’s only a part-time ballroom. Three rooms on the west side of the house have been opened up into each other and the furniture was removed so there’s plenty of space for dancing,” Gwyn explained. “Most of the decorating is done, but as you can see, there is still plenty of activity.”
Gwyn introduced Casey to several young Tremaynes who were creating bouquets of looped red ribbon to decorate the tartly scented garlands of greenery. Casey scanned the room, her gaze stopping when she reached the nearest corner. “Is that a decorated spruce tree? It’s lovely!”
“Decorating trees at Christmas is a German tradition and the royal family brought the custom to England with them. Rhys and I saw one when we visited one of the royal princesses. We liked the idea so now we always have a Christmas tree here.”
Casey moved closer across the room to inspect the tree. The top almost reached the ceiling and the tree was decorated with bright ribbons and ornaments. “What a fine custom,” Casey said as she studied the ballroom, and imagined dancing here with Cameron. If he made it home in time.
CHAPTER 15
Late the next day, Naomi summoned Casey for the final fitting of her ball gown. Apparently, there had been much discussion in the house about the gown, and half a dozen other females were present to view the results. Casey wasn’t comfortable with being the focus of so much attention, but everyone was so kind, and Naomi deserved the chance to demonstrate her skills.
By the time Casey arrived in Naomi’s room, a full-fledged tea and cakes party was in progress. Gentleman Jack was curled up on a pillow, watching with what looked like amused approval. Even Gwyn was there with an interested smile.
Naomi shooed Casey behind the screen and helped her remove her morning gown. Then she produced the ball gown, which was covered with muslin to protect its grandeur until it was time for the grand unveiling.
“You enjoy putting on a show, don’t you?” Casey asked as Naomi carefully removed the muslin, then gently lowered the ball gown over her head.
“I certainly do, a trait that will serve me well when I have my own shop,” Naomi agreed as she did up the ties on the back. She brushed the skirts down, then combed and fluffed Casey’s hair before gesturing for Casey to turn around for closer examination.
She gave a nod of satisfaction. “You look splendid! Now step around the screen to show the breathlessly waiting audience. And be sure to look in the mirror yourself!”
