The morning of the wedding flew by in an absolute blur as everyone got ready and headed to the wedding hall.

Once there, Daphne and Colin were tasked with keeping the younger ones in line and ensuring that Hyacinth and Gregory did not argue or do anything that would disrupt the guests. Eloise was off in a corner with Penelope, catching her up in the latest news of the search for Lady Whistledown. Violet greeted the guests as they entered, helping the staff to make any last minute changes to the decoration that she thought necessary. Anthony sat in Benedict's dressing room, giving him guidance as to the proper things to say during a wedding and anything else he needed to do.

Madeleine sat at the vanity in her dressing room, attempting to pin up her hair. Her lady's maid stood off to the side, preparing the veil and ironing out the smallest of wrinkles in the dress.

Madeleine's mother had always done her hair for her, somehow knowing how to do hundreds of different hairstyles at the drop of a hat. She would often tease Madeleine about the importance of a lady's hair, and how a good hairstyle can make or break her appearance.

"I do not entirely agree with that Mama, I think my dress would look just as beautiful if I had my hair down than if it was pinned up." Madeleine quirked an eyebrow as her mother stood behind her, preparing her daughter for her first ball.

"You will always look absolutely enchanting, my darling. But a proper updo is what shall set you a step ahead from others whose Mamas have simply pinned their hair up with minimal effort." She winked, her hands delicately placing pearl-studded pins in Madeleine's hair where needed.

"On your wedding day, I believe I will do your hair just like this. But I will leave out a few pieces in front to frame your darling face. This style suits you very well, and it certainly brings out the brown in your eyes." She smiled warmly at the girl, resting her hands on her shoulders.

Madeleine was growing frustrated as she attempted to mimic the hairstyle her mother had given her for the ball. Every pin she placed seemed to slip right out, her fingers unable to find the proper grip when she could not see the back of her head. Each time she tried, it was crooked. Or it did not hold tight enough. Or it did not look good enough. She could not seem to get it right no matter how hard she tried. She was not one to give up, though, and she continued working at it until she had gone through at least twenty hair pins.

She finally managed to get it right, smiling in relief as she stuck the last pin in. As she turned to ask her maid how it looked, however, the pins slid and the hair came undone.

"You must be kidding me!" She half-shouted in frustration, taking the pins out and nearly throwing them on the table in front of her. Angry tears were beginning to form in her eyes as she grew more exasperated. She had spent twenty minutes on a hairstyle that fell out with a simple turn of her head.

"Oh, I wish I could help you, my lady. I am afraid I have no experience in doing hair." The maid gave her a sympathetic look and Madeleine shook her head.

"That makes two of us. My mother was the one who always did my hair, I have not the slightest idea how she made it look so easy." She picked up the brush, giving her hair a once-over before attempting to style it again. As with each attempt prior, the bobby pins were too loose and simply refused to hold her hair in place. She cried out in frustration and threw the brush across the room, hot tears running down her cheeks.

She knew it was ridiculous to cry over a hairstyle, but she also knew that she was really crying over the lack of a mother to help her in this situation.

She placed her head in her hands as she weeped, feeling utterly defeated. She heard the door open but she did not lift her head, assuming it was one of the maids.

It wasn't until she felt a warm hand on her cheek that she looked up, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, my dear. You did not think you would be doing this alone, did you?" Violet whispered, gently wiping the girl's tears as she kneeled before her. Madeleine sniffled and shook her head.

"I had always pictured my mother helping me, for all my life she has known exactly what to say and do. I do not know how to do this without her." She let out a weak sob and Violet sighed, pulling the girl into her arms and holding her tightly.

"Madeleine, I know it must be truly difficult to face this special day without your mother by your side. I know she would have wanted to see it." Violet whispered, stroking the girl's hair softly.

"I am not your mother by blood, and I will never be able to replace the incredible woman she was. But I will absolutely not let you go through this alone, do you hear me?" She pulled away, taking Madeleine's face in her hands and gently wiping her tears. Madeleine took a deep breath and nodded, mustering up a sad smile.

"Thank you, Violet. That means the world to me." Her voice was shaky and laced with heartache. Violet gave her a caring smile and nodded.

"Come on, let's get you all fixed up." She rose and moved to stand behind Madeleine's chair, gently brushing through her hair. Madeleine took the reference image off of the desk, a charcoal drawing her mother had torn out of a beauty publication years ago.

"My mother did my hair like this for my first ball and she told me this is how she would do it for my wedding. I tried, but I just can not seem to figure it out." She handed Violet the drawing and the woman examined it before smiling at the girl through the mirror.

"Oh, I will be able to do this no problem, I have done many similar styles on Daphne before. You just relax now, all right? This is your big day and the preparation is just as important, it should be a happy memory." She gave the girl an encouraging squeeze on her shoulders before turning to the maid, asking her to fetch Madeleine a cup of chamomile tea.

Madeleine's sadness soon dissipated as Violet chatted with her, keeping the conversation light and cheerful. In a mere ten minutes, her hair was finished.

"There you go. See how that looks." Violet smiled, holding up a handheld mirror so that she could see the back. Madeleine smiled brightly, it looked absolutely beautiful.

"Oh, it is utterly perfect! I do not know how you managed to do that, thank you, Violet." She smiled, feeling much better now. If she could not have her mother by her side, she was glad to have Violet, who had practically served as a second mother all of her life.

"There is a simple trick," Violet winked, holding up a canister of liquid bandoline. "If you simply apply this on the hair pins before you insert them, they will hold." Madeleine nodded in amazement, listening intently as Violet explained it.

"Do not fret, my darling, I have picked up quite a few tips and tricks through the years and I will always be here to teach them to you." She smiled at the girl. "Now, let's do your makeup."

Violet pulled up a chair beside the girl and turned to face her, applying a light foundation and powder. She explained that the best makeup was the makeup that looked natural, showcasing her natural beauty. She used a homemade rouge on the girl's cheeks and lips and finished with a light mascara made from petroleum jelly and coal dust.

"There, you look absolutely riveting. I do believe my son may simply faint at the sight of you." She chuckled, fixing her curls to frame around her face.

Violet helped the maid get Madeleine into the dress and veil, ensuring that it was absolutely perfect. Madeleine could not stop thanking Violet, unsure of what she would have done without her. Finally, the three finished. Madeleine took a deep breath as she looked in the mirror, absolutely taken aback by her own appearance. She still looked very much like herself, but the combination of the makeup, the dress, and the veil somehow made her look like an entirely new woman at the same time.

"I believe you are ready, my dear. Do you feel ready?" Violet took the girl's hands, giving her an encouraging smile. Madeleine smiled and nodded, squeezing her hands.

"More ready than ever." She giggled softly, unable to contain her excitement to marry Benedict. Violet beamed and handed the girl a bouquet of white roses, fixing her veil to fall seamlessly around her hair.

"Violet, will you walk me down the aisle?" Madeleine asked abruptly, her voice a bit nervous. Violet couldn't help the tears that formed in her eyes and she nodded, smiling at the girl with love.

"I would be honored to." She whispered, taking her hand and guiding her to the wedding hall. The maid trailed behind, holding the train of Madeleine's dress to keep it from being stepped on. They reached the closed doors of the wedding hall where two men stood, waiting for the bride. Violet nodded at the men and Madeleine took a deep breath, smiling as the doors opened.