The wax had fallen on one side of the bodice and could not be covered up in any symmetrical way. There was not enough fabric left for an entire new bodice. But as her eyes blurred over with tears again, the stain seemed to take shape and resemble a flower. Selena blinked her eyes then drew in her breath.

That was what she could do. She could embroider something to cover the wax.

She dried her eyes and assessed the damage more carefully. The dress itself was done. True, she would not have time to add the trim on the bottom, but that was not the most pressing need. However, if she were going to turn the stain to good account by creating a flower design, she would have to start immediately. It was already growing late, and tomorrow's time belonged to Lady Harrowden and Rebecca, both of whom would likely keep her running around all day.

Selena selected the embroidery threads in a color that would set off the blue cambric—matching blue, gold, white, and green. The easiest thing would be to embroider a peony with a small leaf and stem and to have the stem trail down to cover the dripping wax that led to the high waist. True, it was not in fashion to have something embroidered only on one side, and it would probably look strange to have a stem embroidered down into the ribboned seam. But Selena could not admit defeat and wear one of her old gowns. She refused to let Sir Lucius see her in a dowdy old dress, and she would not give Rebecca the satisfaction of thinking she had no taste.

In determined movements, Selena laid the threads before her on the small table and imagined the design clearly, testing the size with her fingers, so she could produce it on the dress without an error. Perhaps it was the sin of pride that made her want to rise above her station and let people know she had not been raised to the role of a servant.

Selena threaded a needle. If she was going to be a companion and a governess, she had better go about the idea of service wholeheartedly. However, it was unthinkable that she appear gauche at the most elegant ball in the neighborhood. She would not give Mrs. Holbeck further cause to think ill of her.

It was not until nearly three o'clock in the morning that she was able to put away her needle. The candle had guttered, and Selena had had to light a new one. The fire in her room had died down, and she didn't dare ask anyone to come and revive it. When she slipped into bed, it was some time before she could thaw enough to fall asleep, and the morning rays were not kind to her when they slipped between the curtains and lit the dimness of her bedroom.

"You do not look well, Selena." The countess studied her face more closely than Selena would have liked when she came to Lady Harrowden’s bedroom with her correspondence. "You will have to do something about your appearance if we are to attend the ball tonight. You have not been seeing properly to your hair since you've arrived and must take better care to have it suitably done."