Sure, it was extravagant, but she deserved it. Nellie Lovett examined her figure in the mirror and studied her new purchase. It was a pale pink satin and had a slender a hoop in the skirt. The torso was white up the center and was adorned with burgundy criss-crossed ribbon up its middle and outer edge. The deep hue also flattered the lace on the hem, three-quarter-length sleeves, and neckline which was rather square from the neck down but made a curve over each side of the bust. It suited her, but she would only wear it on special days. Today fitted the dress' purpose wonderfully; today was Valentine's Day. She had also bought a burgundy apron to go around her waist while working in the shop to try and avoid the flour that would inevitably find a home on the satin's surface. She tied on the apron and looked in the mirror again. It was not like her to be this concerned over the way she looked, but she loved this dress and felt like she could bake all of London in to one fantastic pie. She tied two little ribbons in her hair, one on each side where her haphazardly draped auburn locks were placed. Also considering the fact that it was Valentine's Day, love was in the air and she could only hop that some of it could find a way in to her Mr. Todd's stuffy shop.
He was pacing in front of the window as usual. He hated this day. He hated it because it was the one day out of the year where he truly wished he could feel the love that he let go of and the rest of the world seemed to hold to so dearly. He decided to close the shop for the day since the only people coming to the place today would be couples coming in for pies. The little bell chirped as he left and he felt the warm scent of pies reach his senses. The door on Mrs. Lovett's shop greeted him as well, but when he sauntered inside he thought he had seen a ghost. The pink satin, the burgundy lace and ribbon, the white center, it was all there. It was the dress that Lucy was wearing the day that he saw her last. For the first time in years he began to feel his heart melt a little bit. He felt the outside corners of his eyes dip down and his lips part in a sorrowful frown. He watched Mrs. Lovett silently as she so merrily delivered pies to hungry customers. She noticed his more than melancholy presence and went to go question his company. When he had seen her notice him staring and came to talk to him he turned on his heel and headed speedily back to his shop.
He came to rest once again in the only piece of furniture that decorated his grim space. He let his forehead fall into his hand as he relaxed and elbow on the arm of the chair. Perplexity overcame his feature when he began to think over the events of the past five minutes. When he had seen the gown on Lucy, it gave her a certain confidence and elegance, but when Mrs. Lovett had been wearing the dress, she gave elegance to the garment itself. She beautified the dress more than it beautified her, and she was the most stunning valentine he had seen in years.