“That’d be great.”
I can picture myself bringing Sam to Notting Hill and the antique market on one of his free days in the future. We could spend hours teasing one another about what we find. I can practically see if now.
Sam will discover a black tuxedo, cape, gentleman’s walking stick, and a top hat. He’ll step into a changing room and walk out dressed as a stereotypical magician. Meanwhile, I’ll already have found the perfect assistant’s number, a 1920s frilly red flapper ensemble.
I’ll change at the same time he does. When he finds me—surprise! I’ll be holding a plush rabbit toy for him. More teasing will ensue. Then we’ll purchase the garments and take a break from our shopping by grabbing a boba together. I doubt he’s ever tried it.
“Minerva?”
“Sorry, I was lost in thought.” I snap out of my daydream.
Clarissa and Sonya exchange knowing glances.
“And I’m sorry again for being so late this morning. I had a problem with the Tube,” I explain.
“Not a problem,” Clarissa says. “It’s happened to me a few times. The important thing is that you made it. I’m excited to see what you have in store for us.”
I do my best to quell my nerves and begin my presentation. “Fashion, as you well know, is subjective and ever changing. What’s popular one day may very well be out the next. For example, during the 1980s, brides favored puffy sleeves, shoulder pads, and dramatic ball gowns.” I pull up a Pinterest mood board with magazine photos from the 1980s and 1990s. “By the end of the decade, however, the industry had moved on to sleeker silhouettes.”
Clarissa and Sonya watch me with interest. I have their full attention. Changing the image, I bring out the first of my sketches. “As a designer, I prefer to avoid trends as much as possible. When I craft a garment, I aspire to create something that will stand the test of time. That’s why all of my looks come from silhouettes that have repeatedly shown up in collections decade after decade. They’re classic for a reason.”
I clear my throat. “When I thought about the type of dress you might like, Clarissa, I couldn’t see you in something that contained too much fabric. I also couldn’t see you wearing something overly traditional. So I sketched a tea-length lace and tulle dress with a three-quarter-sleeved polka-dot lace bolero that can be removed.”
Clarissa and Sonya take a few moments to inspect my work up close. I had originally thought a mermaid style would flatter her, but it seemed too obvious the longer I thought about it.
My voice shakes as I continue to speak. “I wasn’t sure if you’d planned to do a church wedding, but I thought the bolero being removable would provide you options to change the look of the dress as needed.”
“And what inspired you to add the blue belt and hint of blue tulle underneath?” Clarissa inquires.
Leave it to her to notice the tiny details. “Two reasons. First, I thought it would be a playful way to incorporatesomething blue into the dress. Second was that I read in an interview that your favorite feature of Lord Renbrook is his blue eyes. I, er, tried to match the shade of them from memory.”
“What did I tell you, Ris?” Sonya elbows her.
My heart is pounding as loud as a jackhammer. Thethud, thud, thudis pulsating through my skull.
“I’d anticipated today to be a friendly consultation. I didn’t expect you to have any actual sketches.”
I hold my breath.
“This isexactlythe dress I want for my wedding.”
A feeling of relief washes over me. She likes it. She really, really likes it. “I have two other options to show you too.”
“I’d love to see them.” Clarissa hesitates. “I feel as if I should mention one little detail though.”
“Oh, um, sure,” I respond.
“Paddy and I have had a change of plans. Our wedding isn’t going to be in six months. It’s going to be in six weeks.”
I gulp. Things just became complicated.
Eighteen
“Iknow this might come as a huge shock to you, but if anyone can do it, I believe you can.” Clarissa takes a deep breath. “Paddy and I have been engaged for a long time. We’ve postponed getting married so we could try and accommodate his mother and my mama and baba, but enough is enough. We haven’t been able to do whatwewant. It’s beyond time to start our lives together.”
“I hadn’t realized it had gotten to this point.” Sonya shoots her a look of sympathy. “But six weeks? That’s aquickturnaround.”
“It would’ve been sooner, except that was the first available date we could book at Town Hall for the civil ceremony. I would’ve preferred us to elope, but Paddy talked me out of it.”
