Blistering, Amber repeated in her mind as Nelson helped her lean over the tub and dip her head in the cold water. Even though Amber was finally alone and able to release the emotion she had withheld thus far, she couldn't cry with her head inverted like it was. She focused on taking long draws of air and attempting to take comfort in the fact that her head did feel better, despite her shivering and the continued throbbing of her scalp.

When Nelson returned, she helped Amber stand; her legs were shaky from having knelt over the basin for so long, and she had to be a.s.sisted to the dressing room stool. Nelson carefully used a soft towel to pat Amber's head and remaining hair.

"Has my mother been told of what's happened?" Amber asked once Nelson wrapped the towel around her head.

The maid did not meet Amber's eyes as she turned back to the basin and used another towel to mop up the floor around it. "I informed Lady Marchent afore she left, Miss. She said she would look in on ya when she returned."

Amber pinched her lips together and looked into her lap, noticing the dark strands of hair that stood out from the pink and white of her dress, the entire front of which was soaked through. She worked to control her emotion before standing and stepping around Nelson to look into the tub. Even more auburn strands stood out against the porcelain bottom. How much could be left with this much gone?

"I should like to cut my hair, Nelson," she said, hating the tremor in her voice. She continued to stare into the basin as though it would somehow give her strength.

Nelson looked up at Amber in surprise, her gray eyebrows high on her forehead. "Miss? But a girl's 'air is 'er crowning glory."

The term made Amber's chest tighten. How many times had she heard that very idea shared when people admired her hair? How many times had Amber taken such compliments as further proof that she was above those people who were not as graced as she?

"I can't bear to see it coming out a bit at a time, and there's too much gone for new hair to ever become equal to what remains. I should think that arranging what's left in a shorter crop will make it easier for me to cope."

"Shall you wait and speak to yer mother first?" Nelson asked.

Amber lifted her chin. "If that is what I wanted, I would have asked for that from the start. Fetch some shears from the kitchen. I want it cut before you apply the remedy."

Half an hour pa.s.sed before Suzanne laid a thin plait of still-wet hair, tied off at both ends, on the dressing table. Though her hand was bandaged and surely as painful as Amber's head, Suzanne had offered to do the job herself, which Amber appreciated though she hadn't said so out loud.

Amber stared at the braid for several seconds, stunned to see the proof of what had been done. Without a word, Suzanne went about tr.i.m.m.i.n.g up the remaining hair on Amber's head.

Amber dared not admit, even to herself, the depth of feeling she experienced with each snip of the shears. It still felt as though she were trapped in a nightmare.

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Miss?" Suzanne asked when she finished, stepping back and putting the shears in the pocket of her ap.r.o.n.

"No, Suzanne," Amber said, too spent to remember the superior tone. She glanced at the white bandage wrapped around the maid's hand. "You may go."

"Thank you, Miss." Suzanne had placed a cloth beneath Amber's stool to catch the cuttings and folded it before leaving. "I'll tell Nelson that you're ready to be attended to with Mrs. Yarrow's salve. My hand is feeling much better since I treated it. Perhaps a hot bath would help you warm yourself?"

Amber nodded, but her eyes went back to the bound hair on the dressing table once the door shut. She reached up and ran her fingers over the woven strands. Her hair was beautiful and looked so strong and vibrant, woven together like that.

"It will grow back," she told herself in a soft voice another type of mother might have used to console her daughter in a situation such as this. "It will be as beautiful as ever," she continued in the nurturing tone she had only ever known in her imagination. "Until then, I shall love you no different than ever I did." The last words were broken by a suppressed sob, and Amber finally lifted her eyes to the reflection she had been avoiding.

Suzanne had cut the remaining hair so it followed the contours of Amber's head. It looked soft and smooth and very much like a man's hairstyle-or it might if hair had covered all of her head. The portion afflicted with the ointment was no longer smooth, but ragged and red with blisters.

Gruesome, Amber thought. Horrid. Ugly. Vile. Cursed. For every word of compliment she had ever received, there was now a word of derision and condemnation. Abominable. Wretched. Disgusting. Repulsive.

When she could think of no other words, despair overcame her.

What will become of me?

"Perhaps someone will want you for your money and connections," she answered herself out loud, feeling the brittleness of the realization that those were the only things she had left to entice a husband. How ironic that until now those things were all she had wanted from him.

Chapter 9.

Amber stood at her bedroom window, looking upon London just beginning to wake. The clear morning promised another sunny day, and Amber could scarcely contain her yearning to be part of it. It was Sunday, just over a week since Lady Marchent and Darra had learned of her circ.u.mstance, and she had not left her bedchamber since. Suzanne attended to her throughout the day and her mother looked in, but it had become increasingly clear that the Sterlingtons were going about their lives without her. Dr. Hankins had been told to communicate with the family only in writing. Amber felt it was to prevent her mother from taking blame for the ointment. He had found no solutions but would keep researching. Judging from the reduced amount of notes and flowers she had received these last few days, all of London was going about their lives without her.

She heard the door open and tugged at her cap as she did every time someone entered. Since cutting off the length of her hair there was no need to have anyone see her without the cap. She had even draped a blanket over her looking gla.s.s so as not to be caught unawares by her reflection.

"Good morning, Miss."

Amber turned in time to see Suzanne set the breakfast tray on the small table that had been moved from the corner of the drawing room to Amber's bedchamber. Amber hadn't asked for it, and her mother hadn't explained its appearance; it was simply brought in five days ago by a footman an hour before supper. As though Amber would forever eat her meals in this room.

She looked at the tray Suzanne had set down-toast, tea, eggs, and sausage-then turned to look out the window again while the maid poured the tea. Two women walked arm in arm down the sidewalk and though the time of day was not fashionable for a stroll, she felt a deep longing to be outdoors stir within her.

"I would like to dress today," Amber said when she turned back to the room, making a decision in an instant; the view from her window still fresh in her mind. It wasn't fair that everyone else should go about their lives and she could not, but so long as she supported the notion that she could be hidden away it would certainly continue. "I would like to wear the blue morning gown."

"Yes, Miss," Suzanne said, unable to hide her surprise. "Ring when you finish your breakfast-"

"I won't be eating breakfast in my bedchamber today," Amber said. "Are my mother and sister in the morning room?"

"Yes, Miss," Suzanne said, even more surprised.

"I would like to be ready in time to join them before they leave for church services."

Without her hair to arrange, Amber was ready in a short time. She removed the blanket from her mirror and took comfort in the fact that her eyebrows looked balanced and her eyes were bright. She pinched her cheeks and bit her lips to bring out the color while attempting to convince herself that having no hair showing from beneath the cap did not look so unnatural. She turned the ruffled fabric of the cap so that the blue bow was over her right ear. Then she took a breath and exited the room, feeling strangely foreign in the house she had made visits to all her life.

The upper hallway was empty, and she held her head high as she moved to the stairway, down to the main floor, and toward the back of the house where the morning room was located. She lifted her hand to push open the partially closed door, but the sound of voices made her hesitate.

" . . . get some new slippers and feathers, Mama? The ball at Carlton House is Sat.u.r.day, and I should love to wear something new."

"I suppose a few more accessories are in order," Lady Marchent said amid a c.h.i.n.k of silverware against china. "But there's no time to go to Bond Street tomorrow, not with the visit to the Fergusons and Mrs. Carmichael's garden party in the afternoon. We'll have to go shopping on Tuesday."

"Do we have to go to the Fergusons?" Darra pouted. "Their son looks at me as though I might pull a sword point on him and call him out."

Lady Marchent laughed, and the sound ran through Amber as though it were the very sword Darra had mentioned. That her mother and sister could talk and laugh as though there was nothing ill in the world was stunning even though Amber had already realized this morning that the lives of the people around her were continuing-only hers had been put aside. Somehow she had a.s.sumed that her mother and sister might not be so lightly affected by her absence, and it made her heart ache with a dismissal she felt foolish for not having expected.

The baize door opened at the far end of the hall and rather than explain to a servant why she was standing in the hallway, Amber took a breath and pushed through the doorway of the morning room.

Darra was facing the door and describing the style of hat she would like to arrange when Amber stepped into the room. Darra's words dropped off, and Lady Marchent turned to see what had drawn Darra's attention. They were both dressed in their Sunday finest, as though they would be attending church as a family.

In that instant Amber chose her strategy for this meeting: if they were to be unaffected, she would be as well. She pulled her shoulders back, lifted her chin, and arranged a casual smile on her face as though today were any other day and she had not been stashed away in her bedchamber for the past week.

"Amber," her mother said in a tone that did not hide her surprise. "I thought your maid was bringing a breakfast tray to your room."

"She brought a tray," Amber said lightly, moving smoothly to the sideboard where she picked up a plate and began to fill it from the selection of breakfast items laid out. "I see the cook made lemon buns." She looked over her shoulder and smiled playfully. "I had feared that perhaps I was being denied a full selection, and it appears I was exactly right." She put a lemon bun on her plate, took an extra-large slab of ham, and moved to take the seat opposite Darra at the table. She smiled sweetly at her sister. "How are you, Darra?"

Darra regarded her for a moment, obviously distrustful of Amber's mood. Finally, she looked away and set about spreading jam on a piece of toast. "I am well," she said simply.

"I am so glad to hear as much," Amber said, exaggerating her smile to match her tone. Acting this part was familiar and yet uncomfortable too. Perhaps because she had not played the role for so many days. Or perhaps confronting what could not be acted away left her less impressed with the falseness she could master so easily. "Did I hear you talking of a ball? I'm afraid I did not hear the date."

"Sat.u.r.day," Darra said, glancing up briefly before looking to their mother seated at Amber's left. The look exchanged between them filled Amber with remarkable jealousy. All the time that Amber had spent in her bedchamber, sick, frightened, lonely, and morose, had allowed her mother and sister to grow closer with one another. She chewed a bite of ham slowly, and then carefully cut another as she processed through this understanding without allowing it to show upon her features.

"Perhaps I shall be able to attend then," Amber said once she swallowed her bite and speared the next on her fork. "I have some ideas on how I can reenter society. I long to renew the acquaintances I worked so hard to procure."

"You cannot attend," Darra said quickly. "Nothing can hide what has been done. Everyone will know."

Amber shrugged and pinched off a bit of the lemon bun. "Everyone will not know, and you shall see that my absence has simply whet the appet.i.te of my admirers so that when they see me they shan't notice anyone else." Darra's face darkened. Amber continued though it was not with enjoyable intent so much as growing fear at her sister's defensiveness. "And their concern for my having been ill for such a time will have them pouring out their sympathies, I am sure. I am the Rage of the Season after all."

"They have forgotten you," Darra said, dropping her toast onto her plate. "You are most certainly not the Rage of the Season anymore."

The words sliced through Amber's facade, and she narrowed her eyes. "And I suppose you flatter yourself into thinking that you are the rage now? That you can somehow replace me in the eye of every bachelor in London? Do not get so high in your opinion of yourself as to ignore why you are here at all, Darra. Do not-"

"That is enough," Lady Marchent said, silencing Amber. "I'll not have you rail against your sister when she has done naught to deserve it."

"Naught to deserve it?" Amber said, turning toward her mother. "Do you not see that she is using my ailment for her benefit? That she is primping about as though-"

"I said that is enough." Her mother fixed her with an icy stare. "If you are going to sit with the family, then you will engage in polite conversation and keep your razor tongue in check. You should thank her for upholding the story of your illness."

Stunned at her mother's reprimand, Amber looked down at her plate, adequately chastised. There was no doubt as the breakfast continued that Darra and her mother would have preferred she have remained in her room. The thought left her terribly sad and wishing she'd never come down despite knowing she could not stay in her room forever.

After some time had pa.s.sed, Lady Marchent touched Amber's arm, causing her to look up at her mother. Lady Marchent smiled softly. "I am sorry to be so cross," she said, then flicked her eyes to Darra as though including her in the apology. "We are all trying to make the best decisions we can to move forward. We must be patient."

Did she mean that Amber should be patient about not attending events? "Mama," she said when she had adequately organized her thoughts in a way she hoped would make her intentions clear. She placed her knife and fork on either side of her plate and put her hands in her lap. "I would like to attend the season again."

Lady Marchent removed her hand and took a thoughtful sip of her tea. "I don't know how that is possible, Amber. You cannot expect that the affections you entreated before won't have been changed by your absence and situation."

Amber turned in her chair to face her mother more fully. "My hair is not all I have to recommend me."

"Certainly not, but its absence is . . . unseemly at best. Were you to attend the events as you did before, it would be an embarra.s.sment to your family as well as the hosts. You cannot ask such a sacrifice of those around you any more than you can expect your situation to be overlooked. I have thought more about you returning to Hampton Grove and feel-"

"I need to secure a match," Amber interrupted, unable to comprehend being sent away from London. "I cannot give up every expectation I have wished for, and I am unwilling to walk away from my ambitions."

"You cannot expect a man to look past such a . . . defect," Lady Marchent said. She glanced quickly at Darra, increasing Amber's worry that the two of them had spoken of this topic without her present. Lady Marchent took a breath and continued in a sympathetic tone, "It might be best for you to return to Hampton Grove for the remainder of the season, allow yourself sufficient rest. Should your condition repair itself, you can return next season prepared to exist in society again."

"I am not leaving London," Amber said, unwilling to consider the suggestion even when it was so kindly delivered. "Not after all the effort I put into making the connections I have made. By next season my dresses will be out of fashion and my prospects irrevocably changed."

"Fashion and prospects do not balance out your circ.u.mstance," Lady Marchent said, beginning to sound frustrated with Amber's stubbornness. But Lady Marchent had not said that a decision had been made, only that it had been discussed. That left hope for Amber to convince her otherwise.

"I feel certain I can secure a marriage even without my hair."

"Only if you expect to fool a potential husband," Lady Marchent said, looking at her and raising her eyebrows.

"Not forever," Amber said. "But I can delay his discovery of the fact until after we are wed. There is no reason to believe this change will be permanent."

Lady Marchent looked into her teacup while Darra joined the conversation. "You would fool a man into posting the banns despite your condition?"

"Yes," Amber said without apology, looking at her sister. "I would secure my future any way that I am able, and as the eldest daughter I owe it to my family to make an admirable connection." She turned to her mother. "You said not long ago that you wanted to see me cared for. Let me continue toward that goal for your sake as well as mine-and Darra's too."

"No one will look twice at you," Darra said. "They will know something is amiss."

"I was not soliciting an opinion from you," Amber snapped, sending a sharp look at her sister. She looked back to her mother and softened her tone. "My maid has worked with women who needed wigs and hairpieces to remedy thinning hair as they aged. I feel sure she could help me find a solution that will allow me to reenter society without causing embarra.s.sment to anyone. No one need know of my situation, and once I am married, my husband shall adapt. I shall make sure to meet every other expectation he might have of me. I want to make you proud, Mama. I want to remove your worry for my future, and I feel sure this is the best option." Not long ago she would have demanded her mother allow her to reenter society. Now she was begging.

Lady Marchent held Amber's eyes for a moment. She took another sip of her tea while Amber sat rigid in her chair.

Amber pleaded in her mind for her mother to see the wisdom of her idea. If she refused, Amber would have no reason to remain in London. The idea of returning to her childhood home without securing a marriage was too overwhelming to be considered. No, there was only one solution-one course of action she could commit herself too. "Please, Mama. Please do not deny me this chance to find a match." She thought back to the day in her mother's bedchamber when Lady Marchent had said she was proud of Amber's shrewdness. Certainly she could see the wisdom of this suggestion as well.

"I shall have to see what your maid can do before I give my consent to this," her mother said, not relieved of her concern but sounding hopeful at least.

"Mama!" Darra said in shock. Clearly Darra had enjoyed the additional attention she received when Amber was secluded, which only angered Amber all the more. She was the Rage of the Season; she was the one more admired.

Lady Marchent looked across the table to Darra and Amber was certain she saw regret in that expression. "I shall not consent lightly," she explained. "But we have put a great deal into preparing for the season, and if there is a possibility for Amber to make a connection I cannot deny her that, just as I would not deny you."

Lady Marchent pushed away from the table and stood, looking down on Amber with a calculating expression. "I shall have to see what your maid can do," she said again. "When you are ready for me to approve your presentation, I shall decide upon our course of action." She turned her attention to Darra. "We shall be leaving for church shortly. Do not dawdle over your breakfast."

Amber watched her mother leave the room. Left alone with Darra, Amber turned to her sister and smiled triumphantly. "I am still the eldest daughter," she said with confidence. "And the Rage of the Season. If I am sent away, you can expect I shall insist you be returned with me."

For a moment, Darra's expression was unreadable and then her eyes narrowed and she leaned forward. "Did you not notice that the only reason Mama agreed to your plan was because marrying you off to some fool would free her of you?" She stood and glared at her older sister as she threw her napkin on the plate. "Because I certainly did."

Chapter 10.

It was five days before Amber had an adequate remedy for her missing hair. Suzanne had searched every wigmaker in London and finally found a quality hairpiece that was near Amber's true color. It was not exact, which was worrisome, but when compared with the alternative of not appearing in society again, Amber was willing to concede. The idea to sew her own hair into a bonnet was abandoned so as not to have two competing hair colors.

In addition to the wig, Amber fashioned a headpiece-essentially a scarf fastened with beads and flowers-that she hoped would be complementary to the new color even as it drew attention away from it. The wig included curls to frame her face and hide the portion where the edge of the hairpiece met against her skin. The wig ended in a length of ringlets that could be tied to the side so as to hang over her shoulder, as Amber had often worn her own hair. Amber was optimistic and yet anxious about the result as Suzanne helped her dress for an afternoon tea. If her mother did not accept her attempts to appear the part, she would likely not be able to attend the ball tomorrow night.

When she was convinced of her mother's favor, Amber sent for Lady Marchent and then a.s.sumed a pose of confidence when her mother entered the room.

"The color is not exact," Lady Marchent said immediately.

"I have come up with an explanation for it," Amber said, eager to share her cleverness and ignoring the increasing itch beneath the wrapping on her head necessary for the wig to be attached. She would withstand any matter of discomfort if it meant she could return to society and secure a match. "I have heard talk of colored rinses meant to enhance one's hair color. I shall explain that while recovering from my ailment, I was morose about my pale complexion and made the erroneous decision to attempt one of these rinses." She lifted her eyebrows and chin to emphasize the rest of her story. "It went awry and rather than adding to my countenance it detracted from it. In the process, however, I was reminded again of the ills of vanity. I shall share the experience with abject humility and take it as a chance to laugh at myself, which will then soften people's impression. I think I can use it to my benefit quite well."

Lady Marchent did not seem convinced, but Amber remained hopeful as her mother walked around her, taking in Amber's appearance from every direction. When she faced Amber again, she nodded. "It is my confidence in your ability to manage yourself that earns my agreement rather than the condition of the . . ." She waved her hand toward the wig as though searching for the correct word. "Affectation," she finally said. "It shall be a small group at the Middleton's tea this afternoon where we can judge the strength of your story based on the reception it receives."

"And if it goes well, may I attend the ball at Carlton House tomorrow?" She did not want to appear too eager but being shut up for so long had her trembling with the excitement of returning to society and recapturing her position. "Many of my suitors will be there, Mama. I'm most anxious to return to their favor."

Lady Marchent nodded but still looked reluctant. "If the tea goes well, I shall consider it."

"Not consider it," Amber insisted, a bit restored to her usual strength of character. "You promise I can attend Carlton House if the Middleton tea is a success. I'll let you approve my presentation as I have today, of course."

"Very well," her mother said. She looked over Amber again, and when she met her eye, Amber saw sympathy there. Lady Marchent took one of her hands in both of hers. "I hope I have not given the impression that I have not considered your position within these circ.u.mstances. I am not so unfeeling as to realize how difficult this has been for you."

Amber blinked rapidly, taken off guard by the emotion spurred by her mother's compa.s.sion.