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Summary
It had been three centuries since the gifts first appeared in England nay the world, and in that span of time they had been transformed from curiosities whispered of in alleyways to fixtures of polite society. The ton had learned to measure them as carefully as fortunes, bloodlines, and beauty.
A useful gift, if it left the body unblemished, was as valuable as a large dowry. A lady whose hands could coax roses to bloom even in January might secure a match above her station. A gentleman whose stamina was beyond compare might command respect in both Parliament and the hunting field. A child born with a knack for coaxing color into fabric could make a family fortune in trade.
But society’s admiration had its limits. Beauty was always the measure. A gift that scarred the flesh, twisted the body, or marked one too visibly as “other” was considered no blessing at all. Such gifts were whispered of as deformities, proof of God’s displeasure, a curse upon the house. It was not enough to be powerful; one must be pleasing.