Their carriage came to a rattling stop in front of a relatively nondescript storefront with a crowded display area filled with feathered hats, a milliner's. Galadin leaned against the side and peered at the darkened store wondering why they had stopped.
Outside, rain splattered loudly across the carriage, drumming across the wooden roof until it rolled down the glass in crystlaline rivulets. He could see it streaming down the gutter, picking up garbage in a stately procession.
He glanced around the other windows, half afraid they had headed the docks to throw him on a boat as an embarassment. The rest of the surrounding buildings were clothiers, milliners, and shoemakers. It didn't look or smell like the docks.
Galadin jump at her sudden question. He looked to see his mother sitting primly on her bench. Her straight back revealed her discomfort. She didn't want to be there.
He turned to her. He knew she wanted him to agree to go back, to pretend to be a man for her sake. It didn't feel like an option anymore, he finally had a chance and his heart ached for the chance.
She glanced at him, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Please?" he finally said.
Maran sighed. "If you do this, you can't go back. You can only come to the presentation once, as a woman or yourself. If you come to your senses, you'll have to leave forever."
"Leave?"
"Town," she said sharply. "You will have to leave."
Tears began to burn his eyes. He desperately wanted to do it but he could also feel doubt rising. What if he had made a mistake? Would he ruin everything? He sniffed and wiped his eyes.
"This is the finally chance to---"
Someone knocked on the door.
Both of them jumped.
Outside, a man with a bowler stood outside. He peered inside. "Maran and Galadin von Kasins?" He had a low, rumbling voice. Despite wearing a black suit that fit his broad shoulders perfectly, he had the appearance of a sailor with a deep tan and weathered lines on his face. His appearance reminded Galadin of Benard, though the new man was much older than Benard.
Maran sighed and shot a glare at Galadin before she unlatched the door. "Last chance, don't do this."
The other man opened the door with a bow. "Good evening, I am Kendrick bo Martin. I was sent out to escort you to the lovely Lily bo Martin."
Beyond him, the sheeting rain suddenly stopped. Galadin looked around in surprise. It continued to rain everywhere including the top of the carriage, only the area around Kendrick was still.
Galadin's mother sighed dramatically. "Come on."
She allowed Kendrick to help her out.
When it was his turn, Galadin hestiated. It was tradition to have a man help a woman out of carriages. He held out his hand and then pulled it back, unsure of how to ask.
Kendrick smiled and then held out his hand.
Galadin held his breath. When Kendrick winked, he hesitatantly placed his fingertips along the broad palm and let himself be drawn out. The little action brought a thrill coursing through the younger man's veins. It felt good, it felt right.
Kendrick favored him with a smile and then lead both of Galadin and his mother down the block to the only store that still had lights on. The front was filled with elegant dresses with matching hats and shoes. They were arrayed in a rainbow of colors, the graduation from yellow to purple was almost perfect.
> Lily bo Martin's
>
> An Emporium of Fabrics and Colors
>
> Comprehensive Coordinator of a Lady's Fashion
There wasn't a single suit on display. Galadin stared in shock, his mouth opening slowly as he stared at beautiful dresses. He could feel a sob of joy rising up in his throat.
"Get inside before anyone sees you," muttered his mother.
Galadin ducked his head and went inside.
Two women greeted him. One was slender with small breasts, blonde hair so brilliant it looked white, and a elegance that made Galadin instantly jealous. He could have sworn he was looking at one of the many pictures that hung on the ball walls. She was almost exactly what Galadin fantastized about becoming.
The second woman was fat and beautiful. Her dress threatened to burst out of her top, the deep valley of her clevage no doubt drawing the attention of any man nearby. Her wide hips swayed with her steps as she came up to Galadin and his mother. "Welcome to Lily's. I'm Mindil da Kasin ne Pavin."
Maran pulled a face and jerked her attention to the side. "Lily?"
Lily, the slender blonde, inclined her head and smiled. "A pleasure to meet you, Maran da Kasin de Kamer."
"Thank you for staying up past your normal hours. If it wasn't a delicate matter, I wouldn't have asked."
Lily glanced at Galadin who flinched. "Your daughter?"
"Yes, he decided he wanted to go as a debutane," she said with a sound of disgust.
Galadin flushed and considered running away.
The smile on Lily's lips didn't move. She gestured to the back room. "Why don't we get you measured. Mindil? Please get the dame a bottle of the '32?"
Maran looked surprised at the vingte. A bit of the frown on her lips faded as she let Mindil lead her to the comfortable-looking chairs in the front.
Lily gestured for Galadin. "And what would you like to be called?"
"G-Galadin" he answered automatically and then realied she had asked a different question than he expected. "I... I never answered that. Do you think you could call me Glorias?" It was the name he always dreamed of having.
She didn't seem to hestiate. "Oh, that's a lovely name. Are you planning on going as a girl or a boy dressed as a girl?"
He stopped in shock, stunned by a second question in a row that came easily off her lips. She didn't seem bothered by Galadin's desires at all.
"I'd like to be a girl."
"That won't be a problem, Beautiful. Do you want me to walk you through everything?"
"Please?"
Lily lifted her hand to Galadin's short hair. "Would you like longer hair? I have a stylist friend who can lengthen them and I'll color it to match."
Galadin smiled, tears in his eyes. "May I be a blonde? A pretty one." He blushed. "I always wanted to be one."
She reached up and stroked his hair. There was a soft smle on her lips as she moved for a moment. With her other hand, she gestured toward a full lenght mirror.
He peered at himself. When he saw a brilliantly gold hair on top of his head, a stark contrast to the dark brown, he let out a choking gasp. "It's beautiful."
Lily smiled before pulling out a long length of tape. "I promise you, by the time you show up at that ball, you are going to steal the show."
