Daniel followed her gaze, then let out a stunned laugh. ‘She brought us straight to Eliza Valentine’s shop.’
‘What the hell?’
Daniel paid the fare and they stepped onto the pavement. The woman was already through the shop door, still pulling the suitcase behind her.
Fern let out a stunned, breathless laugh. ‘Well, that saved us a phone call. Come on, let’s go and see what we can find out.’
ChapterTwenty-Five
As soon as Fern and Daniel stepped into the boutique they were hit with the scent of roses and vanilla drifting through the air, mingling with delicate strains of classical music from hidden speakers. The space was a haven of soft lighting and elegance, a stark contrast to the chaotic jumble of antiques they’d left behind at No. 17 Curiosity Lane.
Fern glanced around. Rows of wedding dresses lined the walls, each shimmering beneath the glow of lavish chandeliers. Gossamer layers of lace and tulle cascaded from hangers, their delicate embroidery catching the light, whilst others were displayed on mannequins.
At the heart of the boutique, a velvet chaise longue sat beside a low table bearing crystal flutes of champagne, golden bubbles rising lazily to the surface. The moment they stepped inside, a woman in a sleek black dress and pearl earrings spotted them. Her eyes lit up with practised enthusiasm as she glided towards them, moving with the grace of someone who had spent years guiding nervous brides through the most significant decision of their lives.
‘Oh, congratulations!’ she gushed, clasping her hands together as she reached them. ‘You must be the couple who’ve just set the date! How exciting!’
Fern froze and Daniel grinned. Fern opened her mouth to correct the mistake, but Daniel spoke first, leaving her staring at him.
‘That’s us,’ he said smoothly, throwing an arm casually around Fern’s shoulder. ‘We couldn’t resist coming in to take a look, could we, babe?’
She glared. Did he actually just call her ‘babe’? He was enjoying this far too much. She could hear the amusement in his voice, feel the smug grin radiating from him as she turned back towards the woman. ‘Actually?—’
‘We haven’t told many people yet,’ Daniel interrupted smoothly, squeezing her shoulder as if to silence any protest. ‘You know how it is. Best to keep things low-key until all the plans are finalised.’
The sales assistant practically beamed. ‘Oh, of course! You must be over the moon. And what a perfect time to start looking for the dress.’ She gestured grandly to the beautiful gowns. ‘I can already tell, you’ll be an absolute vision.’
Fern’s pulse quickened. This was spiralling out of control. She opened her mouth to correct the misunderstanding, and this time she was faster than Daniel. ‘Actually, I’m so sorry,’ she interjected quickly, stepping slightly out of his grip. ‘My…’ She hesitated, struggling to find the right word. What exactly was Daniel to her?
Daniel raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, waiting for her answer.
‘Friend,’ she finally settled on. ‘My friend here is just having a joke with you. I can only apologise.’
The boutique assistant still looked perplexed, and, to be fair, Fern couldn’t blame her.
‘We’re not here about a wedding dress,’ she continued, then faltered. ‘Well… that’s not strictly true. But not one of yours. Actually, that’s not strictly true either.’ This was going well.
The woman’s confusion deepened.
Fern tried again. ‘A woman just walked in here. I think she accidentally took our suitcase off the train. The strange thing is, we were heading here, too.’
As if on cue, the woman in question emerged from a door at the back of the boutique.
‘That’s her,’ Fern said, relieved.
The assistant moved towards the woman, engaging her in a hushed conversation before both returned to Fern and Daniel. The woman glanced at the suitcase in their possession and her expression shifted.
‘Oh dear, I think you may be right,’ she said, looking genuinely apologetic. ‘That does look like my case. All black cases look so similar, don’t they? I’m terribly sorry, I took yours by mistake. I’ve just carried it upstairs. Let me go and get it.’
She turned to the assistant with a warm smile. ‘Do get them both a glass of something fizzy, would you?’
A moment later, Daniel looked like he was having the best time, sitting on a plush velvet couch with one hand holding a glass of fizz and the other placed on Fern’s knee. ‘Friends, now, are we?’ he leaned in and whispered.
‘You need to behave yourself. Are you incapable of being serious for five minutes?’
He took a slow sip of his champagne, eyes twinkling. ‘Not when it’s this much fun.’
It wasn’t long before the woman bustled back in, this time wheeling the case behind her. Her cheeks were flushed, and she offered a sheepish smile.
