The dress emitted a glimmer under the lights of the fitting room. It was an off shoulder dress made of the finest silk that exuded an aura of sweetness. The neckline dipped and the back dipped lower; it gave of a feeling of elegance and maturity. In contrast the skirts were full and girlish, and it was made with a train behind it. There was a filet lace overlay covering the open back down the skirts over the train. A simple bow was placed at the lower back of the dress which trailed down to the hem. It was a dress that would flatter the wearer to the fullest.

Before the dress, Iris felt so guilty it strangled her, yet, as a woman she could not stop the thumping of her heart.

As she looked at the dress, something seemed familiar,

‘Mrs Macy, did I make the lace for this?'

‘Yes, you did. I decided to use your lace for this dress.'

Iris had thought the design looked familiar..

When she made the lace, she had always assumed that the item had been paid for already and what it was going to be used for was already decided before she was commissioned to make it. She rarely knew who the lace ended up with.

But something still niggled...

‘Mrs Macy, did it really only take a month to make this dress?'

Ernest and Iris had only been engaged a month. She would naturally have asked Mrs Macy to make her wedding dress, but to have done it so quickly; Iris could not hide her surprise.

Did she hire a lot of seamstresses to help?

While it wasn't impossible, it would have taken Mrs Macy, who was also a designer, a lot of effort. She was as old as Iris' parents.

Mrs Macy gave her a placating smile and said, ‘Yes, it did. On hearing that you were marrying his Majesty, and you wanted me to make the gown, I was so excited I got started on it right away,'

‘Oh really? Thank you, Mrs Macy.'

Iris had been working with tailors for a long time, making her lace so she knew how much time and effort was required to make such a dress.

Mrs Macy took Iris' hand and encouraged her to try her dress on, while Iris was still worried about Mrs Macy's well being.

‘Come Lady Iris, we need to see how it fits.'

Iris took of her day dress and put on the wedding dress. As she wore the dress, she found it tad difficult to put her hands down the sleeves-

Hmm?

She wondered why. Mrs Macy should know Iris' sizes for she had been making dresses for her for a long time. Hmm, what was happening? It felt a bit uncomfortable around her upper body as well.

Mrs Macy came up to check the fit, ‘Hmm, it looks like your bust has changed a little,' she said.

‘Eh?'

‘Nothing to worry about, it is very easy to fix.' Mrs Macy said reassuringly. She was probably trying to ease Iris' mortification that she had gotten fat, but the thought of her bust made Iris flush.

It could not be.

It looked like it was as Ernest had said; her bust had grown.

Ernest never relented with fondling her from dusk till dawn making her very embarrassed.

Mrs Macy turned her to the large mirror and asked, ‘What do you think?'

Iris returned to the present and looked at her image in the mirror. Seeing herself, she leaked a gasp of surprise.

‘It...it looks lovely.'

Unlike the kind of dresses that unmarried ladies wore, there were neither frills nor an over-abundance of ribbons. It was a simple design that aimed to flatter the wearer's features. Iris thought the dress rather suited her defiant features and nature.

Mrs Macy softly smiled at Iris who was blushing at her image.

‘Lady Iris, seeing you in this dress makes me realise that clothing without many frills will suit you better, don't you think so, Mrs Katri?'

Katri came closer and nodded in agreement, ‘Yes, you look absolutely beautiful, milady.'

‘Thank you, Mrs Macy. Thank you, Katri.' Iris said with a happy smile at the two women.

Mrs Macy clapped her hand happily, ‘Soon, you won't be restricted in what you wear. I believe that your grace and beauty will be more polished than before.'

For unmarried ladies, they were fashion-fixed to only pastel coloured dresses that supposedly represented freshness. On the other hand, married women had no restrictions what colours or styles they wore.

‘Congratulations, Lady Iris. I am glad you were able to meet a good man like His Majesty.'

Iris gave a wry smile and replied,

‘Maybe…'

Mrs Macy and Katri fell into discussion about Iris' future fashion after she was married.

With the help of a friendly seamstress, Iris began to take off the wedding dress. She had once heard from Mrs Macy that a bride wore white on her wedding day had meaning. The white denoted purity and innocence. She had thought it was suitable for a young lady without impurity to wear pure white, when she heard. But now, Iris has lost her purity.

Although, in this case the person who took it was going to be her husband, so it would not be a problem if things were not happening in order. In truth, it was rather common for couples to get married and have a baby that came a bit early in the timeline.

That being said, she had used a love potion to get her husband. She did not feel as though she had the right to wear white.

When she looked at herself in the mirror, her heart was painful with guilt.

She sighed. The seamstress helping her tilted her head in askance, ‘Lady Iris, are you having wedding blues?'

‘Hm?...Er no...that…' It was impossible to deny, so Iris did not say more. She realised if she said no, she would have to explain the reason for her glumness.

The seamstress smiled as she said, ‘You don't have to worry; His Majesty the King loves you very very much. He even-'

‘Colette! Do I have to remind you to move your hands not your mouth?' Mrs Macy said sharply.

Colette's eyes widened at the admonishment. She cast her gaze down, ‘I'm sorry, Mrs Macy.'

She curtsied to Iris, ‘Pardon me, Lady Iris.'

Iris shook her head denoting she didn't mind at all. Colette dutifully helped Iris take of her dress.

He even…?

What was Colette going to say?

Maybe that even though His Majesty was not good with women, he was only fine with Iris…?

That was likely. Even amongst the commoners, they would hear about the rumours that the King was not good with women, especially if they work in a shop frequented by aristocratic ladies.

Iris was convinced that was the case. She picked up her day dress to wear, when Mrs Macy stopped her.

‘Lady Iris, do you mind trying one more dress on?'

‘Mrs. Macy…?'

‘I'm sorry to trouble you, but I would really like you to try this dress on, Lady Iris.'

Ernest had sent her to try on the wedding dress, before it was completed. Nothing had been said about other dresses being ordered.

Mrs Macy smiled softly, ‘It is a bit sad, but I made a dress for a customer but due to spraining her ankle, she isn't able to attend her fitting. She is of similar sizing to you, so I hope you will help me with this dress.'

Iris frowned. She wasn't busy today. Rosemary could not have any embroidery tutoring because she had a whole day of lessons.

‘Of course,' Iris said, ‘I am happy to help.'
‘Thank you, Lady Iris.' Mrs Macy gave a relieved sigh.

Iris was more tired because of accumulated fatigue, so trying on the dresses was extra effort. It could not be helped that she was distracted. Yet, no matter how similar in size two women were, it was impossible to size a dress for one woman with another.

Iris didn't think much of it because she was so sleepy but she wondered; for whom, was such a wonderful dress that robbed eyes and hearts?

One night a week later...