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"Do I?" Henry asked quickly, panic rising in her eyes She wanted to look perfect As perfect as she could, at least, hat graces God had bestowed upon her She desperately wanted to show Dunford she could be the kind of woman he'd want by his side here in London She had to prove to hiirl

"Of course not," Belle said reassuringly "Maown had it not looked perfectly enchanting on you My cousin Emma wore violet at her debut It shocked some, but, as Mama said, white makes Emma look yellow Better to defy tradition than to look like a pot of custard"

Henry nodded as Belle did up the buttons at the back of her gown She tried to turn around to look in thehand on her shoulder, saying, "Not yet Wait until you can see the full effect"

Belle'sher hair, curling it here and teasing it there Henry waited in agonized suspense Finally Belle popped a pair of dia necklace around her throat

"But whose are these?" Henry asked in a surprised voice

"Mine"

Henry immediately reached up to her ears to remove the jewelry "Oh, but I couldn't"

Belle pulled her hand back down "Of course you can"

"But what if I lose them?"

"You won't"

"But what if I do?" Henry persisted

"Then it will bylent them to you Now be quiet and take a look at our handiwork" Belle smiled and turned her around to face the mirror

Henry was stunned into silence Finally she whispered, "Is that me?" Her eyes seeloith innocent proant French twist and then pulled feathery tendrils out to curl old in the candlelight, lending her an alical," Belle said with a smile

Henry stood slowly, still unable to believe the reflection in the glass was really hers The silver threads in her dress caught the light when she moved, and as she walked across the roo not quite of this world, al to control soh her She had never known, never dreamed she could feel beautiful And she did She felt like a princess-- like a fairy princess with the world at her feet She could conquer London She could glide across the floor even racefully than the wo and dance until dawn She s

She even thought she could make Dunford fall in love with her And that was the headiest feeling of all

Thedownstairs with Belle's husband John and their good friend Alexander Ridgely, the Duke of Ashbourne

"So tell lass "Who exactly is this young wo? And how did you et yourself a ward, Dunford?"

"Came with the title It was even more of a shock than the barony, to tell the truth Thank you, by the way, for co by to lend your support Henry hasn't been out of Cornwall since she was ten or so, and she's terrified at the prospect of a London season"

Alex ihed "I'll do rinned, and said, "You'll like this girl, Alex I guarantee it"