Lost Lighte

Chapter 8 (part 2)

Tilya and Hadley kept their arms linked, until she finally pulled away when they reached the village center. She had spent nearly the whole trek through the woods explaining to him who Lukas was and how they met, without divulging any important information. Eventually, she was able to settle his nerves, and they caught up with each other’s lives until reaching their destination.

It had been a long time since she had gone shopping for more extravagant clothing, and she was excited about doing it with one of her good friends.

Since moving to the outer limits of the village, Tilya wasn’t too keen on the latest fashion trends, and so Hadley had lead her to a popular gown shop situated between a perfume store and a shoe store. Walking inside, Tilya nearly burst with excitement.

Numerous dresses were displayed on wooden mannequins throughout the front half of the store, with the majority of options hanging on countless racks in the back half. The first dress to catch her eye was all yellow.

The satin-y yellow bodice was thin and structured to elongate the torso gracefully, sporting layers of yellow frills along the low V-shaped neckline. The sleeves hugged the upper arms of the mannequin, broadening into a bell shape at the elbows, with multiple rings of pale-yellow lace climbing down the widest part of the sleeves. The skirt of the gown fanned out in a trendy cylindrical shape, achieved by the cage crinoline underneath, and nearly touched the floor. Ruched, pale-yellow lace covered the majority of the skirt, with the very bottom being decorated by ruffles that sported a golden hem. It made her heart flutter.

She stepped up to it, fingering the fabric of the dress, and was about to ask the shopkeep how much it would be before Hadley said something behind her. “It’s a beautiful dress, but I don’t think it quite fits you.”

Tilya frowned and turned to look at him. “What is that supposed to mean?” she asked, dropping the hand that was admiring the fabric.

Hadley stepped towards her and put his hands into his trouser pockets, shrugging. “That dress is for someone with more simplistic beauty. You need a dress that is undeniably breathtaking.” He took a look around the shop.

Tilya felt her cheeks heat, and she swiftly turned back to face the dress, bringing a hand up to touch her face.

She was open to suggestions, but she would keep that yellow dress in the back of her mind.

The shopkeep had suggested numerous different dresses for her; a poofy pink gown with puffed sleeves and a lace-y bodice; a green, velvet option with long, fitted sleeves that ended in golden lace-y ruffles; and a white gown with countless embellishments on them that added way too much sparkle for Tilya’s liking.

By the time they had finished going through an exhausting amount of options, night was falling and Tilya was about to seal the deal on that yellow dress.

“This. This is the one.” Hadley had called from across the room. Tilya whirled to see, and her breath caught.

Hadley held up a deep-purple dress made almost entirely of silk. She quickly walked up to him and took the dress from his hands. The fabric was so soft it felt like water running over her fingers, and the color of the dress itself was beautifully intense. The way the light caught the silk fabric made the dress look like a rolling ocean of amethyst.

Tilya turned to the shopkeep with a sparkle in her eye. “I’d like to try this one on, please.”

Minutes later, she was stepping out from behind the partition, and Hadley exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

The dress had to be tailored, but it complimented her pale skin and iridescent hair, as if the dress itself was made for her.

They opted to use one single layer of thin, lavender tulle underneath to give the dress minimal volume, but overall it was a flowing, sheathlike gown, pooling slightly at her feet.

The sleeves were simple straps of the same fabric, only a few inches thick, and they hung off her freckled shoulders in an elegant curve. The neckline was a complimentary sweetheart shape, which accentuated her collarbones and cleavage without being too provocative.

On the lower back of the dress was a long piece of black mesh and lace that ran in a triangular shape down to the very bottom.

Tilya spun, splaying her arms out to show the dress off to Hadley. The silk from the excess fabric swirled above the floor like a rippling flag. Once finished, she faced him with a beaming smile. “What do you think?”

Hadley stood speechless, his gaze fixed on the dress, her face, her body. He took a small step towards her, holding his chin between his thumb and index finger. “You look… breathtaking.” he breathed with a shaky laugh.

Tilya swallowed a girlish giggle and clasped her hands behind her back, swaying side-to-side gently. “I think we have a winner, no?” She turned her head to the shopkeep, who was standing a few paces away, eyeing her up. The woman offered her a graceful smile, and bowed her head in agreement.

Hadley held out a hand to Tilya, who gladly took it while sporting a feline grin. He raised their hands up, and she did one more spin from underneath before the shopkeep stepped up to them.

“I shall take your measurements now, my lady.” the shopkeep spoke. Tilya nodded and was tugged away to another room by the woman.

They both emerged fifteen minutes later, with Tilya in her original dress and the shopkeep with a notebook in her hand. She followed Tilya and Hadley to the front door of the shop, and gave them a polite bow as they exited.

No more than an hour after leaving the dress shop, Tilya returned home with Hadley’s hand in one of hers, and a metal vase in the other. They walked to the front door of the cabin, and she turned on a heel to look up at her friend. A strand of golden brown hair had fallen in front of his face, and she brushed it away gently, smiling. Hadley flushed.

“I had an excellent time today.” he spoke softly, inching closer to her. He tried to fight the urge to vigorously wipe his sweaty palms on the sides of his trousers. Staring into Tilya’s vibrant eyes, it was as if the world around them had disappeared.

Tilya nodded in agreement. “It was most definitely a lot of fun. I haven’t had such a nice time in ages.” She lifted a finger to scratch at her temple as she looked down at her shoes. “It almost felt like I was a wealthy woman again.”

Hadley frowned and gripped her chin with two fingers and a thumb, raising her face up to look at him. The grip his thumb had on her made her lips part as she stared up at him. The two were mere inches apart at this point.

“Hey,” he whispered, his breath warm against her face, his gaze intense. “You’ve done an amazing job at caring for your family. I know times have been tough for you these past few years, but you have been so strong through it all, and that is something to be proud of. Things will get much easier from now on with your father working again.”

Tilya pursed her lips and nodded in silent understanding. Hadley released her chin.

“Who knows, maybe soon we will become neighbors.” he finished, a broad smile spreading across his chiseled features. Their laughter filled the air until it faded out into an awkward silence.

Tilya could feel her body growing cold from the toes up as she noticed Hadley was beginning to lean in towards her. She could see the intent in his eyes, and felt one of his hands begin to snake its way around her waist. His lids began to flutter shut, and at that moment Tilya briskly stepped away, clearing her throat.

“Well it has certainly been a… wonderful night, Hadley.” She reiterated, placing her hand on the knob of the cabin door behind her. “I truly can’t wait to dance with you at the ball.”

Hadley gave a resigned sigh, but put on a polite smile and bowed to her. “The feeling is mutual, my lady. I pray you have a good rest of your night.”

Tilya nodded and shut the door behind her.