The Crown Prince's Perspective (II)

When she appeared, everyone present caught their breath. Whether from admiration or from sheer astonishment, I couldn't say — but one thing was certain: the whole assembly was staring at her, unable to look away.

As for me — the gallantry of her, wrapped in a bold costume the like of which I had never seen, and her beauty besides, had stolen not only my eyes but my very heart, and I stood frozen, unable to move.

Her chestnut hair, swaying lightly in the wind, was tied loosely with a maroon ribbon — to keep it from getting in the way of riding, perhaps. On her head sat a hat trimmed with lace and feathers, fastened by a ribbon tied, hat and all, beneath her slender chin.

The dress that clothed her was a vivid wine red. Made of velvet, it reached to the calf, and through the deep slits cut front and back peeked a white skirt finely pleated in vertical folds. The skirt was cut shorter in front than behind, and at her feet showed the new Signora boots she'd worn before — more refined than when I'd seen them last, their finely worked patterns beautiful. The white frilled lace peeking from sleeves that puffed like daffodil blooms stood out vivid against the wine red. And on the collar, frilled and showy like the sleeves, a large sapphire brooch glittered brightly.

It was a dress the like of which high society had never seen. The common dresses in fashion at balls and the like were mostly bell-shaped skirts with wide-open necklines, laden with all manner of ornament. Cosette's, by contrast, was a simple thing, its ornament greatly restrained, covering nearly everything but her face. Yet that very restraint gave the brooch at her breast real presence, and the simplicity let the artful play of the dress's colors shine.

As I studied her costume, she set off walking with a light, airy step. In that instant, a stir went up from the nobles, myself among them.

"How… how bold…"

"So dignified, so lovely. To think a woman could look this dashing!"

"I could never wear such a thing — too embarrassing."

"No, a woman looking like this has its own appeal. Quite charming."

Every one of them, riveted to her, let slip impressions of all kinds. Not all of them favorable, naturally… But that was only to be expected. For her skirt, of all things, was divided in two, like a pair of trousers. Though whether one could call it trousers, I wasn't sure…

With every step she took, the white pleats, layered fold on fold, swayed. Boots of ruby-red leather, a deeper shade than the dress, gleamed, and the small jewels scattered across them winked.

This was…

In my own private judgment, she was beautiful. It was a fashion too bold by far, and yet everything but her face and hands was covered, and the line of her legs scarcely showed, so it could hardly be called unseemly. Above all, the clothes suited her active, free-spirited air, and together with her slender figure they gave off a wonderfully off-balance charm.

They were clothes that made you want to ride off with her, lively as she was, on and on without end.

Still — too bold by half. There was no question that both the clothes and she herself were splendidly appealing, but here and there I could see nobles looking dubious. When I glanced sidelong at my parents, Mother was gazing at Cosette with shining eyes, while Father, by contrast, wore a sour, hard-to-read expression.

Hmm… For now, at least, Mother's vote was assured.

Relieved, I turned my eyes to Lady Isabella. Having entered the grounds a little apart from Cosette, she had her brows raised in undisguised irritation.