Chapter 2 – Kingston (Part 10)

Thanks to the clear road without any congestion, it didn’t take long to reach the destination. Ember Crossing is an intersection located on the east side of the central square, with shops lined up along the wide street. The place where Ellen parked the car was a four-story building made of milky sandstone that stood out among them.  

“Are you Miss Evelyn Dale?”  

The person who greeted her as she passed through the entrance was a woman who appeared to be in her late 40s. A tall, slender woman in a black dress. Her sophisticated attire made Evelyn feel a bit intimidated.  

“I’ve been waiting for you. I’m Margaret Rosenfield.”  

“Hello, Mrs. Rosenfield.”  

“Please call me Margaret. I’ve never been married, despite appearances.”  

“Oh. I apologize.”  

“Not at all.”  

Margaret smiled brightly, not minding at all. Then she walked over and personally helped Evelyn take off her coat. Handing the coat to an assistant standing by, the woman nodded towards the inside.  

“Mr. Clifton is inside. Let me show you the way.”  

So he was already here. 

Thinking this, Evelyn displayed a polite smile. The woman who was smiling at her alternated her gaze between Evelyn’s eyes, as if observing her. It was a gaze that seemed meaningful in some way.  

The place she guided Evelyn to was on the right side of the second floor, a space separated by a narrow passage and curtains. It was surprisingly spacious, making Evelyn inwardly amazed at how such a space could be hidden. As she quickly scanned the inside, the man’s profile suddenly entered her view, almost like a collision.  

He was sitting in an armchair covered with purple velvet. Sitting with his long legs crossed, he was reading a book. On the low tea table in front of his knees was a teacup. He was even served tea. It seemed he had been there for quite a while.  

“The guest has arrived.”  

Margaret playfully elongated her words. The man lifted his head from the book. Upon spotting Evelyn, he closed the book, placed it beside the teacup, and stood up.  

“Miss Dale.”  

Bryant greeted her with impeccable politeness. Evelyn, standing a bit further away, slightly bent her knees in response.  

“Mr. Clifton.”  

“I’m glad you came. I hope my driver brought you here without any inconvenience.”  

“Very much so. He was extremely kind.”  

“That’s good to hear.”  

He nodded with a smile. Then he pointed to Margaret standing beside him and said,  

“Though a bit late, let me introduce you. Miss Margaret Rosenfield is, as far as I know, the most popular designer in Kingston. She’s as busy as her reputation suggests, but she kindly made time when I asked for help.”  

“I couldn’t resist my curiosity. When Mr. Clifton mentioned a ‘very important guest,’ I had to make time even if I didn’t have any.”  

“You show me such generous hospitality because there’s a lady involved, Miss Margaret.”  

“This is the first time Mr. Clifton has personally brought a lady here.”  

The two of them, exchanging words with smiling faces, seemed to have a significant familiarity with each other. ‘The first time he’s personally brought a lady’ meant it wasn’t his first time coming here. A man who frequently visits a women’s dress shop. Evelyn quickly thought about it, and Margaret spoke to her with a bright smile.  

“You need a dress for a formal event.”

The designer started by glancing over the dark green dress as if gauging the customer’s taste. Though her smiling lips remained unchanged, she didn’t seem entirely satisfied. It’s the best outfit she had. Evelyn felt grateful she wore it.  

“As you know, it’s difficult to have a new dress made within the deadline. But fortunately, we have some sample dresses prepared. Do you have a particular style you prefer? Any design you’ve thought of beforehand?”  

“Not really. Actually, this is my first time wearing this type of evening dress.”  

“Oh.”  

“So I think it would be better to seek your advice rather than my own opinion, Miss Margaret.”  

“I see. Then it would be good to first try on the dress Mr. Clifton selected.”  

Margaret said, alternating her gaze between the man and the woman. To the bewildered Evelyn, Bryant added an explanation.  

“I chose from the ones recommended by the designer.”  

“To be precise, he selected three out of the fifteen I showed him.”  

“I’m afraid my lack of discernment might be revealed.”  

“Miss Evelyn, I assure you, it would be difficult to find a gentleman with a better eye for women’s clothing than him in Kingston.”  

Margaret laughed, crinkling the corners of her eyes. Looking at the man standing beside her, Evelyn didn’t know how to react. 

What should I say? Should I express my gratitude? Thank you, Mr. Clifton, for your thoughtful arrangement and for helping with the clothing selection?  

Feeling a bit awkward, Evelyn entered the dressing room. Margaret, who followed her in, closed the curtain and approached.  

“Try this on first. Not only is the design lovely, but it should feel very light. It’s fashionable not to wear corsets these days. Women as slender as you, Miss Evelyn, don’t really need them.”  

“But I need a formal outfit.”  

“Oh, of course. You’re going to meet someone very particular, aren’t you? Choose the dress for that occasion from those two over there, and wear this one when you go to Queen’s Hall.”

Margaret spoke with certainty as she approached Evelyn from behind. With skillful hands, she removed the dress and quickly loosened the corset strings, continuing to speak.  

“Once you try it on, I guarantee you’ll love it.”  

Evelyn, who was quickly left half-n*ked, awkwardly covered her chest. The dress Margaret brought was a low-saturation red. The fabric shimmered like blood.  

It was a seductive satin.  

“Oh my, it’s a perfect fit. We only need to adjust the length a bit.”  

It looks so good on you, doesn’t it? 

Margaret gushed with an even higher tone. The clerk beside her eagerly agreed. However, Evelyn felt only awkward. Her reflection in the full-length mirror. The unfamiliar feel of the clothes enveloping her body.

The satin dress felt excessively light. Without the pressure of a corset, it felt strangely empty. It was like not wearing clothes properly. It felt like she was only wearing a chemise before bed.  

Most shocking of all was the deeply exposed back down to the waist.  

“Um, Miss Margaret. This is too…”  

“I know. It’s too beautiful, isn’t it?”  

“Pardon? Yes, it’s certainly a beautiful dress. But for me, it’s a bit… well, the back is a bit… I think it might be uncomfortable for me.”  

Choosing her words carefully so as not to offend the designer, Evelyn looked at her back in the mirror. Seeing her fully exposed back, she could no longer hide her embarrassed expression. Margaret, standing beside her, chuckled softly and reassured the conservative customer.  

“Evening wear should be extravagant. It’s not everyday wear. At a reception, a plain outfit can look shabby. Once you see the hall, you’ll understand that this is nothing. Besides, the front is very modestly covered, isn’t it? It’s the charm of contrast.”  

“……”  

“Trust me. It’s a sophisticated yet not old-fashioned design. It suits you very well.”  

The designer’s persuasion sounded convincing. As she said, the neckline at the front was high, and the shoulders weren’t exposed. The front view was impeccable and to Evelyn’s liking. And the red satin. This bold color she had never considered surprisingly brought her a sense of satisfaction. The deep red dress matched her hair color well. Thinking that far, she couldn’t help but imagine the man choosing this dress.

What kind of expression did he have? Did he seriously examine each dress thoroughly? Or did he casually pick a few that caught his eye? During that time, did he think of me? Did he remember my face, hair, and figure?  

For a moment, Evelyn felt as if she was within his gaze. And so, without realizing it, her heart fluttered again.  

“Shall we go out?”  

The gentleman will be surprised. 

Margaret, with an excited face, gestured to the assistant. Evelyn moistened her dry lips as she looked at herself in the full-length mirror. Since he arranged the place and even helped choose the dress, she needed to hear his opinion. 

What reaction would he have? Would he like it?

As she turned towards the curtain, her heart grew heavy with tension.  

The thick, long velvet curtain swished open. Her obscured view cleared, revealing the parlor scene. The man sitting in the armchair lifted his head. Their eyes met, and he slowly rose from his seat.  

“What do you think, Mr. Clifton?”  

The triumphant voice of the designer felt distant. So did the assistant’s touch, adjusting the hem of the dress. Evelyn’s attention was entirely focused on the man’s gaze.  

She met the man’s eyes, who quietly looked at her. Inside, Bryant’s eyes were a deep blue. His gaze moved from the woman’s face to her neck, collarbone, chest, and arms. Evelyn felt as if his gaze left a translucent trace on her skin, like the mucus of a slowly crawling snail.  

Bryant didn’t show a satisfied expression. He didn’t approach with affectionate compliments. He simply stood comfortably in place, observing her as if appreciating art. With a demeanor that seemed almost coldly composed. As if evaluating a sculpture in a gallery.  

“It’s beautiful.”  

The man, having finished his appraisal, gave his conclusion. It was a brief remark.  

“……Thank you.”  

Evelyn replied with a slight smile. But the designer standing beside her frowned.  

“Is that all?”  

“I don’t think more praise is possible.”  

“Then I’ll interpret it as high praise.”  

“Of course, Miss Margaret.”  

The man nodded with a smile and took out a pocket watch from his pocket. The quick-witted designer gestured to the assistant with a smiling face. The thick velvet curtain swished closed in front of Evelyn’s eyes again.  

“Shall we hurry a bit?”  

Margaret, whispering in a lowered voice, began to remove the satin dress.

“He said he has another engagement. He mentioned it earlier. Social gatherings are common on weekends.”

Evelyn nodded. Today was Sunday. It was a time when social people gathered at clubs or each other’s homes to spend time together. She couldn’t help but think about the man who had taken time out of his busy schedule to come all the way here.