Howl's Twisted Castle

20: Dunbeath Highlands

Howl had left a rather large cedar trunk at the foot of the bed the night before, and after raiding it out of sheer curiosity, I found the dress he had mentioned. I ran my hands along the perfectly spaced stitches in the bodice, down the panels on either side and around the back, feeling the texture of the luxurious wool.

This dress was a dress I'd never find in a shop in Ingary. Our dresses were made of light, cotton based materials that consisted of floral prints, pastels and shades of beige. This material, however, was made of fine wool, weaved in a plaid pattern. It was strikingly similar to the green jacket that Markel was so fond of wearing, so much so that I wondered if they were purchased from the same shop. Instead of the deep forest green that Markel's jacket had, this dress was made of navy blue homespun wool interrupted with rows of black, grey, white and brown running parallel and perpendicular to each other.

The bodice was tied in the front by a long strip of silk that laced up at the top. Pinned at the waist on the right-hand side was a brooch. It was slightly tarnished from years of storage, but I liked it all the same, so I left it alone.

The cedar chest also contained a dark grey woollen cloak, and a pair of leather boots and gloves, both of which fit me well enough. I put on the dress, which was heavier than I had first imagined. Once I adjusted it, I instantly knew Howl was right about it. The wool was surprisingly soft, not itchy like most wool I had handled before. Not only that, the dress itself provided some much-needed warmth.

I removed the housecoat from the mirror in the corner of the room to get a better look at my outfit. Without a doubt, it was a beautiful piece, and I thought it seemed a shame that it had been stored away for so long. The rich navy blue fabric tapered out from the edges of the bodice, cascading down until it covered the toe of my boots. 

I tucked the gloves away in one of the cleverly hidden pockets of the dress. Spying my needles on the nightstand, I decided it might be a good idea to keep one or two on hand. The silk thread I bought only a few days ago would be perfect if I needed to mend the dress, so I quickly tucked it away along with the needles. A seamstress is always prepared.

I smoothed out my hair, tying it in a tight braid over my shoulder. Using a scrap of navy fabric that I had left over from my sewing projects, I wrapped my braid into a bun and tied it off using the material as a fastener. I then draped the cloak over my shoulders and was now ready for whatever Howl had in store for us today.

***

Howl was already waiting for me on the main floor when I decided the staircase. He wore a tailcoat fashioned out of the same navy wool that as my dress. It was completed with a pair of tan breeches and knee-high leather boots that made him appear even taller than he was. 

I pulled the cloak around my shoulders and made my way over to him, taking a few calmer breaths. My excitement was starting to get the better of me, and I was feeling it even more now that I saw him waiting for me. Howl looked up from his book and blinked at me as though he'd seen something strange. 

"Is everything alright?" I asked, startled by his reaction.

"Yes, it's just. . . Been awhile since I've seen that dress worn by anyone," Howls expression turned sombre, but quickly he fixed it with a smile.

My heart hurt for him; seeing another person wear the dress of a person he loved must be a hard burden to bear, but I wanted him to know how much I truly appreciated his kindness. I smoothed the creases in the dress and curtsied. "It's a beautiful dress Howl. I promise I'll take better care of it than I do with my dresses."

He seemed like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it. Instead, he made his way over to the far wall of the kitchen and removed the picture from the wall. Setting it aside, he took a piece of chalk out of his pocket and gestured for me to come over to him.