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She turned round for Clara to examine her scalp herself, and while Clara was sorely tempted to truly dig a pin into her scalp now, she merely removed the hair in several places and discovered nothing of the sort.

“There is no blood, Miss Bowles, nor a mark of any kind.”

Unlike the back of Clara’s hand, the imprint of the woman’s fingers across the back of it.

“As if I can trust you now,” Miss Bowles mumbled. “You are dismissed. And do not return. Margaret shall simply have to see me with her burnt fingers.”

She pointed to the door, as if Clara was a hound forced to leave the warmth of the indoors for the cold outside.

Clara remained where she stood for a moment, fighting everything within her to not scold the woman’s treatment of her. But when Miss Bowles eyes narrowed—as if she was contemplating Clara’s actions far too deeply, Clara left without a curtsy nor another word in response.

As she made her way back to Miss Sterling, her disgust increased. She very well could be dismissed for this, but Clara hardly cared. She would never be struck again. If Miss Bowles dared, why, Clara would⁠—

“Oh, Clara,” Miss Sterling said, a look of commiseration moving across her features as she opened the door, clearly awaiting Clara’s return. “Tell me what has happened. Was Miss Bowles as terrible as ever?”

Clara could hardly respond. “I...I fear I must keep her actions to myself, Miss Sterling.”

“You most certainly do not. Please tell me, Clara.”

Her warm eyes, filled with compassion and concern, broke Clara’s resolve. But instead of the sorrow she might have felt, Clara felt only more anger.

“The chit struck me.”

She raised her hand, a red mark still lingering on the back of it as the sting progressed to a painful throbbing.

Miss Sterling gasped, taking Clara’s hand in hers. “That despicable creature. I never...” She shook her head, then pulled Clara across the room before holding out a jar of salve. “Use this. It ought to help with the stinging.”

Clara was no stranger to the soothing comfort of rose-scented salve. It had been Mother’s favorite. She graciously accepted the kind offering, rubbed it into her hands, then motioned to Miss Sterling’s hair. “Now what would you like this evening?”

“If it hurts too greatly...”

But Clara gave her head a firm shake. “No, I am perfectly capable, I assure you.”

Miss Sterling gave her a wary look, then took her place behind the vanity.

After a short discussion on what she had in mind, Clara concocted a beautiful hairstyle with plaits, curls, and pearls strung throughout. “Will that suffice?”

“More than,” Miss Sterling said. “You have once again outdone yourself.”

Clara smiled, the time she’d spent with Miss Sterling already replacing the moments she’d suffered through with Miss Bowles.

“Will that be all, then?” Clara asked after helping the woman into her gown.

“Yes, but I...” Miss Sterling hesitated. “Clara, I must share something with you. I...I know you are not what you say you are. A maid, I mean.”

Clara started, her stomach twisting in knots. “Whatever do you mean? Of course I am.”

“Well, yes, of course you are now. But I know you have not always been. I know you had to have been a member of the upper class before coming here.”

Her mind swirled, fear overcoming her. Had Mr. Cole told her? No, he couldn’t have. He’d promised. But then how had the woman discovered the truth?

“How...Did someone...” But Clara couldn’t finish her words.

Miss Sterling shook her head. “No one told me. Your actions, your behavior, your language, they’ve given me all the clues I need.” She paused. “And, of course, there’s the fact that you’ve just called Miss Bowles a chit, and no upper housemaid or lady’s maid would ever speak in such a way about a lady.”

Clara’s lips parted in surprise as she realized she had, indeed, called the woman that very word. “I do not know what to say,” she said.

“You needn’t say a word,” Miss Sterling said. “I do not need to know why or how you came to be a maid. You must know, however, that I am on your side. And I hope that one day, you return to your rightful place in Society.”