Significance of the dress

Louise took note of the brown cloth that stuck out from the surface of the ground. She turned to look at the butler, who had a stunned expression on his face. Right now, she wasn't sure if it was because he was worried that she had caught him red-handed or if it was because he hadn't expected to see the cloth sticking out from the ground. 

If the cloth had been found in any other place, she would have believed that it was an ordinary cloth that had been washed into this part of the forest during the rainy season and had been buried over time. But this was Reed's manor.

When she leaned forward, the butler stopped her, "Milady."

Louise turned to look at Gilbert, who had the ever serious-looking look on his face. He said, "Let me get that," he offered so that she wouldn't reach out for the cloth and pull it out.