33Although Maria Christina had planned to spend most of the day alone, Helen had insisted her morning be spent at the beauty parlor, washing, shaping, setting, manicuring, and pedicuring, during which the young woman from Metsovo sat rigidly as she was being made over, astonished at the very idea, while Helen chatted with whomever. The rest of the day was spent shopping for a cocktail dress for her debut.
After several hours of trying on dresses in three different fitting rooms, Helen finally chose a Dior copy, one of black lace over pink satin, with a sweetheart neckline that revealed a hint of cleavage. With just a touch of make-up Helen had expertly applied, and a strand of her pearls around her protégé’s long swan neck with its smooth porcelain skin, Maria Christina was totally transf
