Oliver squeezed her hand. ‘Well, you shouldn’t.’
Each time her gaze found Oliver, she felt a little more drawn in. His quiet confidence, the way he seemed to see through everything, made her wonder if she could ever be part of his world. But then, the image of her grandmother’s smiling face and the comforting hum of the café filled her mind. That was her world, her heart’s home. She couldn’t imagine leaving it behind, not even for a fleeting moment.
The car pulled up outside a boutique that seemed to have stepped straight out of a film. ‘I’ll return for you both at three p.m.,’ the driver said with a respectful nod as he held the door for Clemmie.
Clemmie and Oliver strolled down Rosewood Street, a world of exclusivity and elegance unfolding around them. Oliver flashed her a reassuring smile as they approached the entrance of one of the most luxurious boutiques on the street.
Inside, the air was perfumed with subtle notes of vanilla and jasmine, and dresses, each more exquisite than the last, lined the walls like masterpieces in a gallery. Soft golden light bathed the room, and the plush carpet absorbed every step, creating a cocoon of quiet luxury. A poised personal shopper, immaculately dressed in a tailored suit, approached them with a smile.
‘Good morning! How can I help you today?’ she asked, her tone perfectly pitched between enthusiasm and professionalism.
Clemmie hesitated, her nerves bubbling to the surface. Sensing her discomfort, Oliver stepped forward. ‘We’re looking for a very special dress for the royal garden party tomorrow,’ he explained, his deep voice resonating with authority.
The personal shopper’s eyes lit up with genuine excitement. ‘The royal garden party? You’ve come to the right place!’ She turned and gestured towards a colleague in the corner, who appeared almost immediately with a tray bearing two flutes of chilled champagne and a selection of delicate truffles. Clemmie’s eyes widened as she accepted the glass, feeling like she’d stepped into a dream. She’d never been treated like this before, never imagined she could feel so… important.
‘Please, make yourselves comfortable,’ the personal shopper said, directing Oliver to a sumptuous red velvet sofa. He sank into it with casual elegance, his eyes never leaving Clemmie as she was guided towards a rack of dresses.
The dresses were breathtaking. Fabrics shimmered in the light: silks, chiffons and satins in every colour imaginable. The personal shopper began selecting pieces. ‘This one would bring out your eyes,’ she said, holding up a gown in deep emerald green. ‘This one, the embroidery is all hand-stitched.’
Clemmie nodded, still overwhelmed but beginning to appreciate the thrill of the experience.
Behind the privacy of the dressing-room curtain, Clemmie tried on dress after dress. Each time she emerged, Oliver’s reaction was the same, his eyes lighting up with approval and delight. ‘Stunning,’ he said when she stepped out in a sleek navy dress. ‘That colour suits you,’ he commented.
‘It’s beautiful but just doesn’t feel right,’ shared Clemmie.
‘What about this one?’ the personal shopper asked, appearing with a dress that immediately captured Clemmie’s attention. It was a timeless design, a cornflower-blue creation that fell just below the knee. The soft A-line silhouette wascomplemented by delicate embroidery along the hem and bodice, with subtle beading that caught the light. The fabric moved like liquid silk, shimmering gently as it flowed. The capped sleeves and a modest V-neckline added an air of refinement, making it perfect for the regal yet relaxed setting of a garden party. ‘This is part of our latest collection. It’s perfectly elegant,’ the personal shopper said, her tone brimming with confidence.
‘I actually love it!’
Back into the changing room Clemmie went and as she slipped into the dress her heart was pounding. When she turned to face the mirror, she barely recognised herself. The dress hugged her in all the right places, its elegance making her feel a quiet confidence she hadn’t known she possessed.
‘Are you ready?’ called Oliver. ‘We’re dying to see.’
Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the dressing room.
Oliver’s reaction was immediate and breathtakingly sincere. He stood up, his usual composure momentarily replaced by awe. ‘Clemmie…’ he said, his voice almost a whisper. ‘You look… perfect.’
Clemmie felt a blush creep up her cheeks, but she couldn’t stop smiling. ‘Do you really think so?’ she asked, smoothing the fabric nervously.
‘I don’t think,’ Oliver said, his eyes locking onto hers, ‘I know. This is the one.’
The personal shopper clapped her hands together, her excitement genuine. ‘It’s absolutely divine on you. Shall we look for the perfect accessories?’
They moved to another section of the boutique, where rows of shoes, handbags and hats awaited. Clemmie’s nerves had completely disappeared, replaced by a bubbling excitement. ‘What do you think of these?’ she asked, holding up a pair of strappy silver heels.
The personal shopper tilted her head, considering. ‘They’re lovely, but I’m thinking…’ She pointed to a pair of elegant ivory ballet flats. ‘From experience, you don’t want to be thinking about your feet in a pair of heels at a royal garden party. These match the dress perfectly.’
Clemmie sat on the nearby sofa and tried them on. They fit like a glove. ‘Definitely these,’ she said, standing and walking up and down the room just like her granny used to make her do whenever she tried on new school shoes.
Next came the handbag. The personal shopper presented a chic clutch embellished with subtle beading that mirrored the embroidery on her dress.
‘This one,’ she said confidently. ‘It’s made for you.’
Finally, the hat. ‘A garden party calls for something fabulous, but a royal garden party calls for something extra fabulous,’ the personal shopper declared, guiding them to an array of fascinators and wide-brimmed hats. Clemmie tried on a few, but it was Oliver who found the winner, a delicate creation in the same colour as her dress, beautified with a soft spray of feathers and pearls. ‘You look like royalty,’ he said, grinning.
Clemmie laughed. ‘I feel like royalty,’ she replied, sipping the last of the champagne and eating truffles from the silver-plated tray.
She changed back into the dress she’d arrived in and they made their way to the counter to pay for everything. Oliver turned to Clemmie. ‘I told you this would be fun.’
