"Adeline," Ariel whispered excitedly, tugging me toward a red gown that shimmered faintly beneath the lantern light. "Check this out."
I reached out and touched it. The fabric was cool beneath my fingertips, smooth as moonlight despite its bold color. It pooled between my hands like liquid flame.
Truly, it was beautiful. But it would catch every flicker of candlelight. It would demand attention. It would make heads turn. And I did not want that.
"It is too bright," I said softly. "It would only invite attention."
Ariel frowned. "Is that not the purpose?"
I gave her a small smile. "Not for me."
She shook her head stubbornly. "No, Adeline. I am certain this would look beautiful on you. You always hide behind dull colors. For once, do not disappear."
Disappear. If only she knew how fitting that word was.
"I do not wish to stand out," I insisted gently, withdrawing my hand from the fabric. "There are enough girls here who desire that."
Ariel crossed her arms. "And why should they have all the glory? You are just as worthy."
Before I could respond, Madam Elowen appeared at our side, her sharp eyes flicking between us and the gown in Ariel's hands.
"That red would suit her," the seamstress said thoughtfully. "Her complexion would not be washed by it. Quite the opposite."
"It is too much," I replied quickly.
Madam Elowen tilted her head. "Too much for whom? For you or for those who might be unsettled by you?"
I blinked.
Ariel's grin widened triumphantly. "You see?"
"I truly do not require such a statement," I said, my voice steady though my pulse had begun to quicken. "Something modest will suffice."
The seamstress hummed, already lifting the gown from its hanger. "You will not know until you try it."
"I would rather not…"
"You must," Ariel interrupted, pushing the gown gently into my arms. "If you hate it, we shall never speak of it again. But, you will love it."
"I will not," I said quietly.
Madam Elowen gestured toward the fitting room at the back. "Only a moment. It costs nothing to see."
Girls nearby had begun to glance at us.
Even Mrs. Dorian's daughter looked over from her mirror, curiosity flickering in her eyes.
I did not enjoy being watched. And yet… Refusing now would draw more attention than complying.
I exhaled softly. "Very well," I murmured at last.
Ariel clapped her hands together in delight. "You will not regret this."
I doubted that. Clutching the red gown carefully to my chest, I allowed myself to be guided toward the fitting room.
I stepped behind the curtain with Mrs Elowen behind me.
After a while I emerged out of the room and Ariel's eyes widened as she sucked in a sharp breath.
"Oh," she breathed.
The chatter in the shop quieted as I felt heads turn towards my direction. Even the rustling of silk and the soft snip of scissors seemed to pause.
Ariel rose to me as though drawn by force and seized both my hands.
"Adeline…" she whispered, circling me so slowly I almost felt dizzy. "You look…"
She paused, searching for the right word. "…unfair."
A small, disbelieving laugh escaped my lips. "Unfair?"
"Yes," she insisted. "Unfair to the rest of us."
Before I could protest, she dragged me toward the tall mirror at the center of the room. The great looking glass was framed in carved oak, its surface slightly clouded with age.
"Look at yourself."
I hesitated. My throat felt dry as I swallowed, then slowly I lifted my eyes and forgot how to breathe like a proper maiden.
The girl staring back at me was not the one watering dying flowers that morning.
This girl did not look like the girl dying in less than one month.
The red gown was captivating in a breathtaking way. It rested off my shoulders, baring my collarbones in a manner both modest and daring, and clung elegantly to my waist before falling in graceful folds to the floor. The lantern light caught upon the fabric and made it glow like embers beneath ash.
I had never worn anything of this sort before. Not even in my dreams.
My fingers brushed lightly over the fabric at my waist, and a strange warmth bloomed in my chest. And to my own surprise… I liked it.
Ariel leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Tell me again it is too bright."
I swallowed as heat crept up my face. "It is still too bright," I said softly, though my voice lacked conviction.
≈≈≈
Finally, we returned to our cottage just as the sun dipped low behind the hills, casting the sky in strokes of amber and fading gold.
Ariel had chosen a beautiful green dress for herself, one that made her eyes brighter and her laughter even lighter. I had chosen a soft yellow gown for Mama, something simple yet warm, the color of early morning sunlight. She had protested when i showed it to her, and of course, I insisted.
We spoke with Mrs. Elowen about paying in installments. She did not seem troubled by it. Perhaps the excitement of the royal selection had softened even her strict business heart.
Ariel had walked me halfway home before turning toward her own house, promising to come early in the morning so we could leave together.
Now the cottage was as quiet as graveyard.
I had taken my bath, letting the cool water calm the restless beating of my heart. The scent of rosemary and cinnamon oil lingered on my skin as I stepped back into my room.
Tomorrow is the ball.
The thought alone made my stomach twist in a painful way.
I had never felt so nervous in my life. Not when I first bled. Not even when he first appeared to me.
I lay upon my bed and pulled the covers up to my chest.
Outside, the night was still. Crickets sang faintly beyond the window, and the moonlight slipped through the thin curtains, casting pale silver across the floor.
My eyes grew heavy and I drifted into a deep sleep. And just as I had expected, he came.