After nearly two more hours in the hands of the maids, the sisters were finally fully prepared, and by the time they descended downstairs, the day had already begun to lean toward evening.
They were led into the living room of the mansion and left there to wait.
All three of them settled on the couch, careful with the heavy spread of their gowns. Sitting down was a task by itself. Esther had to gather the pale blue layers of her skirt twice before they fell properly around her legs. Hermione adjusted the back of her red gown with a look of annoyance, then shifted until the fabric stopped pulling at her waist. Airam sat with far less visible trouble, though even she needed a moment to arrange the deep dark purple of her skirts so they would not crease badly beneath her.
The gowns were beautiful.
They were also heavy.
