"Will you have a look?" Adeline turned the drawingpad and passed it to Amelia. Compared to before she seemed to be less confident.
The drawing was not as detailed as the one's that Adeline had prepared beforehand but the design was still clearly communicated. Compared to the other designs this one was simpler and less decorated, yet it still gave off a vibe of luxury.
The whole dress was colored in a solid light lilac color except the bodice that was adorned by an interiquate floral application in gold. In the center of the flowers Adeline had drawn small jewels. The neckline was a wide v-neck that, although still deep, was more conservative than on the previous dresses. The fluttering sleeves resched passed the elbows but thanks to the see-through fabric they did not overwhelm the overall simple silhuette.
"It's perfect..." Amelia murmured without realising it.
"Really?" Adeline looked relieved. "I have been thinking of this design for quite a while but since the silhuette is so simple I've never presented it."
Amelia could understand why. Although she was far from knowledgeable about fashion she had at least been able to make out that structured bell-skirts and off-the-shoulder sleeves were just about mandatory for balls from looking at Adeline's previous drawings. This design could not be any more different.
"For this gown I'm going to make the crinoline slimmer at the top while still maintaining its volume at the bottom. It's a shape that has started making traction in the capital but it has yet to become popular here". Adeline leaned over the table and pointed a finger on the drawing to emphasize her words.
"I made the dress lilac since it will complement your skintone and bring out the color of your eyes, but if you like I can change it to be any color you like."
"No, I like this one. The entire dress is absoulutely splendid as it is." Amelia met the womans gaze and held it to communicate the sincerity of her words. "But may I ask, what fabric will it be made of?"
Since the arms had been drawn to be visible to the fabric Amelia gathered that it not be made out of cotton or silk, but it was obviously not going to consist entirely out of expensive lace either.
"I will be making most of it out of a soft tulle." Adeline smiled triumphantly. "It is commonly used to make curtains or underskirts but I have found that it makes beautiful shapes on dresses when it's layered."
Amelia nodded. She did not know nearly enough about dressmaking to offer any worthwhile comments but she was certain that Adeline would make it turn out beautifully.
"Well if you don't have any additional requests or inquiries I believe the matter of the ballgown is settled. Then I'd like to move on to the order of daytime dresses that the butler made. Do you have any special requests for color or fit?"
Amelia had not been made aware of Gordons order and was taken aback.
"I... have no specific requests. I'm sure that whatever you make will be perfectly satisfactory." She forced herself to smile.
"Very well. Then I think we're all done, dear. My seamstress will just take your measurments while I discuss some things with the butler." Adeline began gathering her things that were spread out all across the coffetable, but she abruptly stopped as if she'd thought of something important.
"Right, I ought to thank you. The fact that I have met with the rumored Ainsworth girl will surely attract a lot of buissness to my shop. I bet that all the ladies will flock to me for the juicy gossip." Her eyes glistned of glee and the corners of her mouth crept into a mischievous grin. She only seemed to realise the implication of her words when she locked eyes with Amelia, the person who the rumors concerned.
"Ah, I apologize. But you do not need to worry about me running my mouth, dear. If I went around casually gossiping about my clients personal lives I wouldn't have any left. The thing is that not everyone knows that, now do they?"
They said their goodbyes in a polite manner. Before Adeline left she'd grasped Amelias hands and insisted that she'd always make time to design for her. Amelia almost started to giggle as the womans reason for doing this had been made so obvious.