I wish I could make dolls. I would make beautiful impressions of all my favorite heroines from all my favorite books--Queen Susan and Queen Lucy to start, perhaps, then Lizzie Bennet, Jane Eyre--I'd have my work cut out for years and years!
Unfortunately, I can't make dolls.
But I can buy them. At least, if they're $20 dollars at Longs I can (It's amazing what I've found at Longs before). So here is Meliara, Countess of Tlanth, from Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel, one of my favorite fantasy/action/romances. It isn't really supposed to be her, but I think it's close enough.
At the beginning of the book, Mel is running around in a worn-out horse blanket, helping her brother, the Count of Tlanth, prepare for war against wicked King Galdran. However, after Galdran is defeated at the end of Book I, (That's not really giving anything away, is it?) Meliara has to go to court for the first time and learn how to act like the lady she is.
I added the single white rose in her bosom--"purity of intent"--a significant symbol in Book II. Now all I need is a miniature fan . . .
