“You look beautiful,” Katherine murmured after she’d used at least ten pins to secure the band of gold leaves that crowned Isobel’s head.
“You’ve outdone yourself, Katherine,” Isobel whispered as she took in her make-up-free yet pink-cheeked face, her pinned-up brown hair, and the intricate tiara.
The gold band so perfectly complemented the golden embroidery that ornamented the skirt of her emerald green dress, which her uncle had gifted her the Christmas before they had left London. The delicate floral patterns were the only adornment on the otherwise plain and understated dress, and Isobel loved the exotic combination of its understated design and its rich material.
In the striking black dress that she had worn to the ball, she had felt elegant and regal, but the harsh darkness of
