POPPY, BERRY AND Orlando peered in through the flap to see what was going on. They saw a very frail and rather familiar-looking girl. She was bent double, crying buckets.
“I think that’s Tallulah!” whispered Poppy.
They all crouched down to get a better look and saw that a very short man, skinny except for his pot belly and dressed all in black, was talking to her.
“Pull yourself together, Tallulah. I’ve only decided that you’re not right for this show. I’m just not feeling your look for this collection, darling! OK?”
“But you were totally feeling it yesterday when we had the final fittings and dress rehearsal,” sobbed Tallulah.
“It is Tallulah. And that’s Ned Carew,” whispered Berry as the children strained to hear. “I bet Bryony wouldn’t admire him so much if she could hear him talking now!”
Poppy nodded.
“Well, I’m not feeling your look now, sweetheart,” Ned continued, seeming totally oblivious to how upset Tallulah was. “I’ve got a younger girl lined up – fresh from Europe. She’s so much more now. I just want what’s best for the collection and so should you. And right now, that’s not you! That’s all I’m saying. Don’t take things so personally, yeah? Get over it.”
Poppy was shocked. She couldn’t imagine anyone in the world being more beautiful or perfect than Tallulah, and she was really young too. Poppy thought she was probably about the same age as Saffron, although she’d been a world-famous model since she was Daisy’s age.
Ned strolled off as if he didn’t have a care in the world, leaving poor Tallulah in a crumpled heap.
“I’m over. He hates me,” she said to herself. “What am I going to do?”
Berry went in through the gap in the tent, followed by Poppy and Orlando. She walked up to the model and handed her a tissue.
“We still think you look lovely!” she said shyly.
Tallulah managed a small smile and sniffed. “Thank you! It’s just so awful that I’ve been dropped by Ned – he’s like God around here. No one else is going to want to work with me now.”
“But he’s really wicked. Just forget him,” suggested Berry.
“I’d like to but I don’t know what else to do. Modelling is all I know – I’ve been doing it since I was quite young,” explained Tallulah.
“Don’t worry, Tallulah,” said Berry. “You’re better than he is – I’m sure you’ll work something out.”
“You’re such sweet kids. Listen, I’d better go and call my agent. But thanks for being so nice,” said Tallulah, trying to compose herself. “I think you’re probably the only honest and genuine people around here.”
And with that she pulled a phone out of her bag and went off to make her call.
“That Ned guy is a right shark and deserves a taste of his own medicine. I’ve got an idea,” said Orlando as soon as Tallulah was out of earshot. “Quick, let’s follow him . . .”
Poppy looked at Berry, who shrugged her shoulders and said, “Why not? He’s been horrid to poor Tallulah. I don’t care how famous or talented he is, he shouldn’t be allowed to get away with treating people like that.”
Outside the tent, Ned Carew was untying his beloved little pooch, Chi-Chi.
“Come on, Chi-Chi-kins, Daddy needs brunch,” he said, heading off in the direction of the restaurant tent.
The two girls followed Orlando, who followed Ned Carew through a maze of tents all the way to the VIP hospitality tent. At one point they lost him, but he had just stopped to give an autograph to an adoring fan.
“You’re just the king, Ned. We love your styles,” she told him.
He smiled and said casually, “It’s what I do, honey.”
Finally Ned Carew tied Chi-Chi to another pole and went into the lavish VIP tent.
“I’ll have the full English all-day breakfast, and sharpish,” he demanded. “Extra mushrooms, eggs sunny side up, pancakes and hash browns – and hey, do me a side order of French fries. And I like organic maple syrup. Get me a full milk mocha latte too, with sprinkles.”
Poppy noticed that he didn’t say please or thank you, which she thought was very rude.
“Gross. He’s so greedy!” said Berry.
But Orlando wasn’t listening. Instead he was fumbling around in his bag.
“Ah-ha! Just what I was looking for,” he said, pulling some things out. “We need to distract him for a moment when his food arrives. I’ve got some salt and vinegar sachets for his coffee, and hot chilli powder and extra-strong mustard powder for his fry-up, all courtesy of the Central Park Plaza Hotel. We can watch him from here and see his face screw up when he tastes his brunch with my special seasoning.”
Poppy was starting to realize that she and Orlando had quite a lot in common. She liked the way he thought. “Cool idea, Orlando. He deserves it,” she giggled.
When Ned’s vast platter of food arrived, Poppy was tasked with creating a diversion to make him look away from the table, giving Orlando the chance to put his plan into action.
“What shall I do?” she asked as they saw Ned licking his lips in eager anticipation.
“Just think of something. Quickly,” instructed Orlando.
The only thing Ned seemed to care about was his little dog, Chi-Chi, so Poppy decided to untie the fluffy white pooch and carry her in to Ned as if she had just found her roaming about looking for her master.
“Excellent plan, princess!” said Orlando. “Off you go.”
Poppy stroked the sweet little dog and undid her leash, then popped her into her large shoulder bag and carried her undetected through the entrance of the hospitality tent. No one stopped her, probably because they thought she was the daughter of a designer, and she made her way over to where Ned was sitting.