Sibella had been so frightened going into it, but motherhood suited her. Little Rose was growing by the day, and everyone at Highhurst doted on her, Sibella most of all. The little girl was mischevious but sweet, frequently running away from servants trying to catch her and unexpectedly playing hide-and-seek, but she always came running when her mother called.

Golden curls bounced around her shoulders, and the tails of the sash on her dress flew out behind her as she ran down the hallways of the castle, giggling while Miss Shingle chased after her. She ran straight past Phoebe, who had her nose in a book and almost did not see the girl coming. The brunette stepped quickly to the side out of her path, smiling at her laughter.

Hearing the car horn honk outside in the driveway, Rose stopped abruptly before tearing around the next corner and sprinting into the entry hall, moving almost too quickly for her small legs to keep up.

Monty tried his best to catch her as she ran by, but she was just a tad too quick for him, and she slipped away, running for the front door. Just as she reached it, the door swung open and Sibella stepped over the threshold, returning home.

"Mummy!" Rose shouted, and Sibella bent down to meet her. The girl hit her at full speed, but Sibella used her momentum to lift her and spin her once in a circle before swinging her up to settle on one hip. Rose flung her arms around Sibella's neck. The blonde woman smiled broadly as she embraced her daughter.

"Hello, my darling," Sibella spoke, kissing the girl's forehead, then wiping away the lipstick mark left behind.

"I missed you, mummy!" Rose exclaimed.

"And I missed you! But I've brought you a present!"

The girl gasped, her whole face lighting up, her smile growing even bigger than it already was. Sibella set her down to reach for the bag she carried, while Rose bounced slightly in excitement. From the bag, Sibella produced a small pouch, which she handed to her daughter. Rose fumbled with the drawstring for a moment before tugging it open and peering inside. Reaching in with small fingers, she drew out a piece of jewellry, set with pearls. With wide eyes, she turned her face upward to beam at her mother.

"It's a clasp for your hair, to hold back all those curls! The pearls are only paste, but when you're older you shall have real ones."

"Put it on, put it on!" The girl insisted. She could hardly contain her excitement as she held the clasp up to her mother.

Sibella knelt beside her, taking the clasp from her. Pulling back two sections of golden curls, she positioned the clasp at the back of the girl's head, snapping it closed over her hair, while Rose bounced all the while.

"There," murmured Sibella, resting her hands lightly on her daughter's shoulders to let her know that she was done. The girl whirled around to smile at her mother, then turned to Monty with the same expression of utter joy.

"Phoebe, Phoebe! Look, look, look!" She shouted. Unable to remain still any longer, Rose took off running towards the library.

Sibella smiled, watching the girl run off. Her heart was warm and full, for she loved to see her daughter happy.