Alice stood in front of the pier glass inspecting herself. The flow of sleek cream colored satin made her appear to be taller than she was. Or perhaps it was the matching dancing slippers with the daring little heels studded in Czech crystals.

"And now mademoiselle must have the fan." Madame DuPlassey snapped her fingers and a minion extended a charming confection of cream colored lace stretched over ivory brisée sticks trailing braided silk ribbons. "Mademoiselle should hold the fan so." Madame positioned Alice's fingers and showed her how to manipulate the fan to maximum effect.

"I don't know when I'll ever wear a ball gown such as this," Alice commented doubtfully. "Really, I think just a tea dress and a dinner gown or two ought to be enough."

"But no!" Madame shook her head. "Your man has explained how matters stand. You are to be appropriately outfitted, your hair is to be styled by the coiffeuse, and you are not to be seen until you are dressed!" She waved her hand for emphasis. "The bills are to be sent to your friend's man of business." Madame clicked her tongue. "All the same you young ones. No thought for tomorrow. You will not always be 18, mademoiselle. And your friend may not always be so ready to provide things for you." She shook her head and added cynically, "Encourage him to give you diamonds. For you I think also sapphires in platinum would be good. Pearls…." She shrugged in fine Gallic dismissal. "Pearls are all very well in their way, and you will see how nicely seed pearls can accent a silk dinner gown. But who is to say they are pearls and not merely fish scales over glass beads?" She patted Alice's shoulder. "Diamonds, mademoiselle. One can never regret receiving diamonds."

"Yes, Madame DuPlassey. I'm sure you're right." Alice smiled thinking of the little cameo with the tiny diamond Sir Horace had given her. No matter what else he might choose to bestow on her, nothing would ever be more precious to her than that brooch.

"Very well. You have enough for your immediate needs. Not tomorrow, but the next afternoon, you shall return for fitting of the rest. After that, my assistant, Mademoiselle DuCroix shall wait upon you at your residence to address your additional requirements." Madame snapped her fingers again. "Desirée, be so good as to advise mademoiselle's man that she is ready to go home. The coiffeuse should be there already." As an assistant rushed to comply with her mistress's directive another minion undid the seemingly thousands of tiny buttons that fastened the bodice of the satin gown. "Also tomorrow morning, Mélusine Duffeaut will wait on you. She will advise you as to complexion crèmes, rouge, rice powder, Italian mascara and other such things in the privacy of your home." Madame thought a moment. "Perfume you must have, and nail wax. But for you, no nail varnish. That is for low women of no account."

Somewhat overwhelmed by Madame's eloquence, Alice sat while the unnamed minion replaced the satin dancing slippers with kid walking shoes of the exact shade of the tailored walking suit. A heavy woolen three-quarter coat trimmed in ruched velvet with a hat and gloves to match completed the ensemble.

The dazed girl followed Madame DuPlassey to the door of the establishment and allowed Kinver to seat her in the admiral's second best town carriage. The forward seat overflowed with band boxes containing unmentionables and other assorted finery. Alice could not help but rejoice in her new possessions. She wondered wistfully how long it would be until Sir Horace could visit her to see the marvels Madame had wrought.