‘Ugh no,’ said Nina, appearing over her shoulder. ‘Definitely not. Try this.’ She held up a plain pale blue satin dress. I know it’s doesn’t quite fit the bright and patterned brief but I think it will suit you.’
As soon as Hattie tried it on, she knew it was the dress. The almost halterneck line showed off her slim shoulders, and the wide sash criss-crossed just under the bust, with the skirt falling away, slightly lower at the back, with a curved hem. It was elegant, classy and she loved it. It was exactly what she was looking for. Even better, it was Ted Baker and in the sale marked down from two hundred and fifty euros to one hundred and twenty-five.
‘Perfect,’ said Nina.
‘I think it is.’ Hattie twisted her body in the mirror.
‘It’s very you.’
‘Do you think so?’ asked Hattie, delighted by the comment. It was the her that she really felt like deep inside. The her she always aspired to being and had never quite got there.
‘Right, next one.’
‘But this is the one.’
‘I know,’ said Nina with a smug grin. ‘But there’s no reason not to buy more. I brought these. You might as well try them. I also found these amazing palazzo pants. Aren’t they gorgeous?’ Hattie had to agree, the flowing black silk pants with big blue and pink flowers were striking.
‘With a plain black vest and a pashmina they’d look wonderful.’
‘I’ve got a black vest and a pink pashmina that would match.’
‘See – even better.’
By the time Nina had finished bullying her into trying everything, even a shaggy lime green jacket with a black bias-cut slip dress, Hattie settled on the blue dress for the wedding, the palazzo pants because she had to have them and, as Nina pointed out, she already had something to go with them, and a pretty summer dress in sunshine yellow that finished just above the knee and swished delightfully around her legs when she walked, making her feel feminine and flirty.
‘Do we need shoes?’ asked Nina, her dark eyes bright with mischief. ‘A handbag?’
‘Shoes, yes.’
They found the most perfect gold court shoes with slender high heels that went with all three outfits and did amazing things to Hattie’s legs. She didn’t even look at the price but just handed over her credit card.
‘That was fun,’ said Nina. Her own bag contained a pair of high-heeled suede ankle boots she’d fallen in love with.
‘It was, thank you.’
‘It really was my pleasure.’ Nina swung her rope-handled bag happily. ‘I’m so glad you got the perfect dress.’
‘So am I,’ said Hattie, knowing that she would feel wonderful in the dress and shoes on her cousin’s wedding day. She couldn’t wait to wear her new clothes.
ChapterTwenty-Seven
‘Wow! You look busy,’ Hattie said when she walked back into the kitchen after their return from Paris. She watched as Fliss sliced strawberries with manic precision.
‘How was gay Paris?’
‘Wonderful. I went shopping.’ She held up her bags. ‘Cinderella has a dress for the wedding. I also met some friends of Luc’s, you’d love them.’ Before they left the city they’d had a late lunch with Sebastian and Nina. ‘They’re even more into food than you if that’s possible.’
‘Where is he?’
‘He dropped me off, he’s gone straight to see Marthe.’
Hattie wasn’t going to tell her that Luc had seemed very preoccupied on the way back. She’d not exactly been chatty herself, she had too much to think about, wondering in the main if she ought to put some distance between them.
‘While you’ve been gallivanting, some of us have been chained to the cooker.’
Hattie laughed. ‘And you’ve enjoyed every minute of it.’
‘Might have,’ said Fliss but her lips narrowed as she selected another strawberry, slicing through the rich red flesh. The smell was so good, Hattie risked a finger and snagged a slice.
