The Whisperers (Secret Desires)

Chapter 1: The Perfect Dress

PRESENT DAY, IN ANOTHER WORLD.

Kiehl stood staring at the dress before her.

There were many dresses that embellished the room: some scattered on the floor, others tossed upon each other with distaste, strewn on the plush bed. Sure, they were all beautiful, but this particular dress hung high above them all. Literally. This one hung on the door of her closet.

"Papa!" She summoned him cheerfully, excited with the sense of lingering anticipation for the next few days to come.

"Coming, my darling." He appeared as he always did, polished, pleasant and quite plump. As he stood in the emerald doorway of his daughters bedroom, he embodied what Kiehl thought the perfect father should be; kind-eyed, rosie-cheeked and, of course, willing to spend a few earnings on his only daughter. With his brown eyes and bushy eyebrows, he looked nothing like Kiehl.

The devilish girl looked back at him, averting her gaze from the dress that had impressed her so. Taking in his form, she laughed cheekily before addressing him. "Oh my goodness, you look dashing! But, have you been eating Madame Strouss' pumpernickel loafs, again?"

She watched him - holding back a snicker, as his cheeks coloured a shade rosier, and he brushed off crumbs from his recent snacking. He cleared his throat, eager to change the subject from his snacking habits . "So, what have you called me up here for, my dear?" He raised a brow. Kiehl scoffed, her honey golden curls bouncing with emotion."I wish to thank you, of course! You supply me with so many wonderful dresses and lavish jewelry - surely you must know of my gratitude!"

"Well..." her father shuffled on his feet, uncomfortable with the idea of a conversation about dresses, corsets, and femininity.

Of course, as she noticed his sudden bashfulness, Kiehl scoffed. "Honestly father! You have supplied me with an army of the most grandeur dresses the Skylands has ever seen! But enough about those..." She caught herself from wandering off topic, like she had so many times before.

"What I really wished to show you was...this."

Carefully, she uncovered the jewel of all the dresses, peeling the protective cloth off of it - revealing the thing of beauty that managed to stand out in her lavish and expensive room. Unlike the others, this dress did not push up her bust to increasing hights, or come with a bulky and impractical hoop skirt. Her fathers eyes widened in surprise, as he found himself no longer deterred from the interesting conversations to be had of women's fashion.

"B-but, it's so-"

She cut him off. "What? Too flashy?"

A gurgled noise escaped from the back of his throat.

"Flashy? Why, this dress is nothing short of-"

"Is it too riské? Be honest papa, I would never want to smear your good name."

"My good name? This dress will-"

"Oh, but father, surely you will let me where it to the ball, or perhaps even out on the town - if I must. It may look slightly odd - but I'll set an impression at least!"

"I'm not sure I'm seeing this properly." He coughed.

"What's not to be seen? Just think of all the conversations to be had! - About me, of course." Kiehl giggled, giddy with excitement.