The mirror reflected a beautiful stranger, with flawless skin and glossy hair. Her eyes no longer looked tired, but they were still her mother’s.
“My robe.”
“Hmm?”
“Where’s my robe?”
“You won’t need that?—”
“No, there’s…something in the pocket.”
The valet frowned and drifted behind a curtained door, returning a moment later with the robe embroidered 1922. She handed it to Daisy.
Panic spiked inside her when she fished in her pocket and found it empty. She reached into the other pocket and sighed with relief when her fingers tangled with the thin chain.
The valet stared into her palm and looked back at the curtain. “You’re not supposed to?—”
Daisy’s hand closed around the locket in an unbreakable fist. “I can’t leave it.”
“It’s gold. Your dress is silver. The designers have very specific rules.”
Daisy looked into the valet’s eyes, lips flattening in a firm line as she silently pleaded. Finally, she said, “Please. Help me hide it.”
She gaped at such a request. “Where? The dress shows everything.”
“My hair?”
She took the robe, clearly flustered by the request, and walked it back to the hamper. A moment later, she adjusted the curtain. “You have to promise not to tell anyone I helped you,” she whispered.
“I swear.”
With a sigh, she reached into a hatbox and removed a small jewelry box. Inside, tucked in soft satin, sat a white feathered barrette with crystal tassels and pearls sewn into the cluster of plumes.
“I shouldn’t be doing this.” She stepped up on the pedestal. “Let me see the necklace.”
Daisy hesitated, and the valet scoffed, taking it from her.
Her brow knit as she focused on not destroying her hair, somehow managing to use one of the hidden pins to hide the locket inside a curl. “There.” She clipped the barrette on top, hiding it from view.
“Is it secure?”
“For now. But I can’t make any promises. If you want to ensure its safety, you should have given it to the steward for safekeeping. They have safes for valuables.”
But her locket wasn’t valuable. It was priceless. “Thank you.”
She returned to the box and withdrew another smaller box from inside. “Your earrings.” She carefully adorned the clips, and Daisy immediately registered the unnatural weight.
Diamonds cascaded like chandeliers from her earlobes, catching the light as they glittered. Daisy stood perfectly still, afraid to move and accidentally knock the precise perfection out of place.
“You’ll adjust. Everyone does.”
A soft knock sounded as Aunt V entered through the curtain, and for a moment, her professional composure cracked. “Oh,” she breathed. “Look at you. Well…” She clasped her hands together and smiled, obviously pleased with Daisy’s transformation. “I guess the stylist was already here to put the final touches on your hair. I’ll make a note.”
The valet shot Daisy a quick look, but said nothing.
“Just one last finishing touch.” Aunt V reached into the satin hat box and removed a lace confection, delicate with thin ribbons, filigree, and pearls. “Your mask.” She stepped closer, revealing the lace details. “Allow me.”
She circled Daisy slowly, adjusting a strand of hair here, smoothing the fabric there. Her eyes shone with something that looked dangerously like pride.
