Chapter 84. The Dress That Changed

By early March, the dress needed a small alteration.

Diana had expected the appointment to make her happy. She had been looking forward to seeing the ivory fabric again, to the long sleeves and the soft fall of the skirt, to the back she had chosen because it made her feel like herself.

Instead, she stood on the fitting platform while the seamstress examined a place that no longer sat quite as it had before.

“It can be adjusted,” the woman said. “We have room.”

Diana nodded.

Her mother was watching from the chair beside the mirror. She didn't rush to reassure her. Diana loved her for that and, unreasonably, wanted her to do it anyway.

Nothing was wrong with the dress. Nothing was wrong with her.

Still, the reflection was different from the one she had kept in her mind.

The seamstress asked her to turn. Diana obeyed, watching the ivory skirt move around her ankles.

“Would you prefer a little more ease here?”

“Yes,” Dian