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When she finished taking my measurements, Daphne stepped out of the way so Adelaide could approach. She held two dresses in her hands and alternated holding them up to my neck, envisioning how they might look on me.
“Try this one first,” she said, thrusting a bundle of tulle into my outstretched arms.
“Umm,” I murmured. “Can I—”
Adelaide had already turned her back to me and focused her attention on a bag of veils and tiaras. Sophia was still browsing through the racks of dresses while Emma and Daphne discussed something on a clipboard. No one paid attention to me at all.
I sighed, but headed toward the bathroom to change into the gown.
“Where are you going?” Adelaide asked with a worried expression.
“To change,” I said, lifting the dress in my hands to emphasize. Wasn’t that what she had just asked me to do?
She waved her hand frantically and whipped her head back and forth. “No. No. Do it here. No need to be shy. We’ve so many dresses to get through. You’ll just waste time if you keep going to the bathroom. Here, Emma or Daphne can help you.”
I stared, completely dumbfounded. I was used to handmaidens helping me dress and undress. Marjorie and I had already become comfortable in that way. But I’d never had anyone force me to do so. It made my skin crawl to have the choice taken from me.
But after twenty years of living with my mother, I was used to stifling my own thoughts and feelings for the sake of others. So I awkwardly lifted my blouse over my head and unbuttoned my pants, tossing them carefully onto the beige velvet stool beside me.
Emma held the first dress for me to step into, pulling it until I slipped my arms in. Then she carefully laced the corset back. I regretted all the cake I’d eaten earlier when she tightened it more.
I lifted the skirt of the dress and made my way to stand in front of my mirror. I startled myself when I saw my reflection.
A fucking horror.
The first dress was a lot of fabric. So much fabric, I felt lost in it. It was a gigantic heap of frills and over-the-top detailing. I wanted to vomit and, quite frankly, I thought a mess down the front might’ve actually improved the dress.
The sleeves were bulbous and larger than my head. The top half of the dress hugged my body closely, thanks to the corset, but the bottom flared out into a dome of a skirt, easily twice as wide as my stance.
I was speechless. I couldn’t even think of the words to describe this atrocity. I slowly turned to face the others. They’d stopped what they were doing now and were waiting to see the first option.
I immediately felt relieved when a collection of jaws dropped and eyes widened. Sophia even brought a hand to her mouth in shock. Adelaide’s cheeks turned pink and Emma and Daphne exchanged a look, a silent conversation that normally only twins would understand, but it didn’t take a genius to know what they were quietly conveying.
And then Sophia laughed. All that wine had gotten to her head. She sputtered into her hand and then apologized. “I’m so sorry, Emilie. That is not the dress for you. I will not allow my future daughter-in-law to look so atrocious on her wedding day. No offense, Adelaide. I’m sure that dress would look lovely on someone else.”
I caught her eyes, noticing the gleam in them that said she didn’t believe anyone would look beautiful in this monstrosity. But she didn’t want to hurt her dear friend’s feelings.
Adelaide let out an exasperated sigh. “How about we give the next one a try, then?”
The next few hours felt like a never-ending cycle. Dress off. Dress on. Dress off. Dress on. The monotony was only interrupted by grimaces and looks of horror. After the first dress, I thought it would only get better.
But I was wrong.
Somehow, each dress I tried on only got worse. I was on the verge of tears and drowning my sorrow in a fourth glass of wine. My tear-filled eyes and rosy cheeks didn’t help matters. I looked like a downright mess as I tried on the fiftieth dress of the night.
This was a complete disaster.
“Let’s take a break,” said Sophia, giving me a pitiful look. “More sparkling wine, anyone?”
At this point, Adelaide and the twins had also begun drinking. I needed some fresh air. I didn’t bother taking off the latest fiasco of a dress. I didn’t have the energy for it. The doors to my balcony swung open and the cool night breeze swept over my hot skin. Thank the gods this dress didn’t have a corset so I could inhale and exhale deep and slow.
The gardens below were quiet tonight. No lingering princes to eavesdrop on. Which was definitely a good thing because if he could see me in this dress, he’d ridicule me till the day I died. Oh gods, this was a nightmare.
I leaned against the railing and dropped my head into my hands. I was so tired and mentally drained. I just wanted to call it a night and perhaps we could try again tomorrow.
The thought of returning to the room made my head pound, but I knew I couldn’t hide out here forever. As I returned through the open balcony doors, my eyes caught on a slim white satin dress. Unlike the others I’d tried on so far, this one was simple and modest. But something about it drew me in.
I reached for it as I came back inside. It was soft and felt like water gliding through my fingers. The fabric glimmered in such a way that I almost wondered if it was laced with magical properties. Like the way light reflects on waves at the surface of the sea. It was beautiful.
