Page 93 of The Language of Love

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Annis stared at her reflection.

And stared.

Behind her, her new maid’s smile turned to a worried frown. “Don’t you like it, Miss Annis?”

The it in question was the new hairstyle that Grace had insisted upon implementing first thing.

“You have the most beautiful hair I’ve ever seen, Miss Annis. My fingers have itched to do something with it ever since the first time I saw you.”

Annis had laughed at that. “Now is your chance, Grace. You are in charge of my appearance. You must do as you see fit.”

Grace had squealed with delight.

And now, as Annis looked at her image in the glass, she could not regret that decision to allow Grace to trim her hair.

“You have done a lovely job,” Annis said softly.

Grace clasped her hands together and grinned. “Oh, thank you, miss.”

She’d tidied it up, claiming it was too beautiful to cut short. “I’ve never seen hair like this on a grown woman—only children. Beggin’ your pardon, miss,” she’d added when she’d seen Annis’s wry look.

“Oh, you’ve not insulted me,” Annis had assured her. “I’m long past the age of being embarrassed by such a shocking shade.”

“Embarrassed! But why?”

“Because it is a child’s color.”

But she had to admit the elegant style her new maid had chosen made her look almost pretty.

Of course, a lot of that was because of the ball gown she was wearing, the first that wasn’t secondhand.

“It is an excellent color on you,” Henry’s gaze had slid critically over the gorgeous periwinkle blue silk, which had been one of the handful of readymade garments. “The cut and design are exquisite, but I wish the quality of the material was better.”

To Annis’s shock, Freddie had laughed—perhaps one of the most uninhibited sounds she’d ever heard her elegant friend make.

“What is so amusing?” Henry had asked, raising one imperious brow.

“It is some of the nicest silk I’ve seen until what you brought today. You are spoiled, my lord.”

His lips had quirked into a faint smile. “Perhaps.”

Annis saw her maid frown as she looked at the beautiful gown. “What is it, Grace?”

“With that neckline you need something around your neck, miss.”

Annis thought unhappily about her grandmother’s pearls. Yet another thing Mr. Leech had stolen from her.

“Well, I shall have to do as I am.” She picked up the matching reticule Freddie had insisted on.

There was a knock on the door.

“Yes?” she called out

Coombs’s head appeared in the doorway. “His lordship is here, Miss Annis. He is waiting for you in the library.”

“Goodness. Is it time already?”