A/N: Well... I don't have much to say about this chapter... I guess the only thing to say is, enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-two
Buying Dresses
"Darcey! You'll never believe what happened! Come on! Guess!" Meg exclaimed after pulling her into the room and closing the door. Darcey started to guess but was interrupted. "I had the most amazing time. We talked and he held my hand. I fell asleep and he held me in his arms. He must have fallen asleep after that because, when I woke up, he was asleep. He was so sweet and escorted me to my room. He kissed my hand and bid me good night. It was so sweet." She sighed happily. Darcey resisted the urge to roll her eyes or giggle. Her friend was completely hopeless when it came to Garren. She had fallen irrevocably in love. "Do you think he likes me back?" Meg asked in a whisper, fear in the back of her eyes.
"Of course he does! I've seen the way he looks at you. He's just as in love with you as you are with him." Meg blushed but Darcey saw she was thinking hard about what she had said. Why were people so blind when it comes to love? They are not able to see that they are in love or that the other person is in love with them. Why was love so complicated? Even if they can see the truth, some still choose to ignore it or are unable to do anything. Some are too afraid to love and avoid the situation which ends up hurting them more than it would have hurt to try their luck at love and fail in the process.
They both were lost in their thoughts until Meg seemed to snap out of the bonds of her mind. She smiled at Darcey. "Enough of this. It's your birthday and I am determined to take you shopping, and buy you some gifts. No arguing. I'm taking you." Darcey tried to change her mind but Meg put a hand over her mouth. "Shush. You are doing me a favor. It's been too long since I've been shopping and I need to get my mind off the entire situation. Please! Come with me."
Darcey sighed though she couldn't help but smile. "Oh, alright. If you insist." Meg squealed in joy and ran to her money. When she returned, they linked arms before heading out. They were about to go out the front door when someone called Darcey's name.
"Ah, Darcey. I've been wondering where you were. Where are you going?" Lionell asked, sprinting over to them.
"I'm taking Darcey shopping for her birthday," Meg said. She continued in a stage whisper as if Darcey would not be able to hear her. "I'm going to buy her something and then we're going to get some pastries from the bakery." Darcey elbowed Meg in the ribs. Why did she tell him that? He didn't need to know it was her birthday.
Lionell chuckled. "You do that, Meg was it? Darcey needs to enjoy herself. Have fun girls."
"We will," Meg said walking away with her arm still linked with Darcey's.
"Wait. Darcey, will you go to dinner with me tomorrow? For your birthday of course." Darcey nodded mutely. Lionell grinned at her. "Great. We'll leave at seven. Until tomorrow."
Meg nudged Darcey causing her to blush. "Someone likes you." Darcey's cheeks were still burning and she pulled Meg out the door so they could get going. Meg chuckled and started talking to cover up the awkward moment. "Let's go to the dress shop. I want to buy us dresses. Maybe we can find Masquerade costumes! I just love Masquerade! Don't you?" Darcey nodded. They entered the shop and one of the helpers approached them.
"My name is Mademoiselle Leroy. I will be assisting you. What have you two lovely ladies come here for? Dresses? Chemises? Corsets?" The girl was about seventeen years old with curly brown hair pulled back with a pink ribbon that matched her dress. She had a lovely figure and a pretty face. "If you tell me what you are envisioning, I can help you find what you are looking for."
Meg clapped her hands in excitement. "This is going to be so much fun!" She introduced themselves to the girl and they moved to the back of the shop to try dresses on. It had been a very long time since the last time she had been in a dress shop.
The girl found an armful of dresses for each of them to try on. They each picked up a dress from their piles and entered the dressing rooms. Darcey changed into the new dress and looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was a sunny yellow with ruffles on the sleeves and the bodice. She didn't usually wear the color but she had to admit it was pretty. She come out of the dressing room and laughed at Meg. She was making a funny face at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a cobalt blue dress with thin shoulder straps, that were no more than a half-inch wide. "That is a very pretty dress."
Meg made a face. "It doesn't look good on me." She turned to look at Darcey. She looked at her for a minute before grinning. "Let's switch." They traded dresses and soon came back out. "You look perfect in that! Much better than I did." The dress shimmered in the light making the blue silk appear to be made out of water. The cut was very simple with a long skirt. It was very flattering to her gentle curves and slim figure. "You look amazing."
"You do too. You look like a drop of the sun fell out of the sky and turned into a girl. Like sunshine personified." The yellow dress with Meg's blond hair, truly made her look like the sun. Darcey almost expected to feel a warmth coming off of her. Meg twirled, giggling. After some urging, Darcey did the same. When she spun, the skirt swirled around her legs, causing ripples like a stone dropped upon the surface of a pond. Darcey stopped and grinned at Meg. "I think we have found our costumes. All we need are masks."
Meg grinned back. "It seems we have. Now we need to find something for your dinner outing with Lord Dreamy." Darcey blushed. The two girls proceeded to try on dresses until they each found two more. Then they found underthings and stockings. Meg paid for their purchases and with an extra coin thrown in, was assured that the one dress for Darcey would be finished being altered and delivered to the opera house by the next afternoon and the other things would arrive the day after.
The girls stopped by the bakery on the way home and picked up some pastries to eat on the walk back. They shivered in the chill air and walked faster. It was warm for being the beginning of November but the evenings still brought a bitter cold as the day wore on. By the time they got back, it was time to retire for the night. They said their good nights and parted ways until the next day.