“HI, GIRLS AND boy!” Saffron smiled as Poppy, Berry and Orlando sat down. “How’s your morning been?”
“Totally cool!” said Berry.
“We’ve had the best time ever,” agreed Poppy. “Just wait until you hear about it all. I love Fashion Week!”
Berry took up the story and told Saffron and Bryony all about the shows, the goody bags, their sketches and about Clara Hughson’s amazing offer (she decided that it might be best to leave the Ned Carew episode out for now).
“How amazing!” enthused Saffron. “We’ve had a positively dull time compared to you. I’d love to help you with the Clara Hughson show, but it’s going to be hard work – there’s hardly any time.”
“Yeah,” agreed Bryony, “you’ve been having a much better time than us. My big interview with Ned Carew was cancelled at the last moment for some reason his publicist didn’t make clear. But never mind about that. What a mad dream, Clara Hughson offering you guys a slot. I’m going to take you two lucky charms everywhere with me.”
Berry looked up and was surprised to see Tallulah at the entrance of the tent, looking a bit lost and lonely. She waved, and Tallulah started heading towards them. Saffron and Bryony could hardly believe their eyes.
“Do you mind if we say how we met you, Tallulah?” asked Berry when the supermodel arrived at their table. She pulled up a chair for her.
“No, go ahead. It’s going to be quite obvious during this afternoon’s show anyway,” responded the broken-hearted model wearily.
Saffron and Bryony were shocked when they heard the full story of Ned Carew’s decision to drop his top muse so abruptly and insensitively.
“He’s mad! Quite mad!” said Bryony. “I only ever buy Ned Carew because I want to look as stylish as you! I don’t feel nearly as enthusiastic about his Extravaganza this afternoon now, but I’ve got to go as part of my brief from the magazine, especially since he cancelled the interview this morning.”
“Seemingly he has a younger model who’s in the show instead of me. He only discovered her recently, in Europe. I guess I’m history now. If only he’d told me before I flew out here. I feel very hurt and humiliated,” said Tallulah. “But as for your interview, I’ve heard he’s not feeling too well,” she said, winking at the children. “Indigestion or something.”
The three children looked pointedly at their menus, all blushing furiously.
“Poor you,” said Saffron. “No one deserves to be treated like that. Why don’t you stay and have lunch with us? Maybe that will cheer you up.”
“Oh, that would be lovely, thanks,” smiled Tallulah.
They ordered a wonderful-sounding lunch of asparagus and parmesan risotto followed by blueberry pavlova, all washed down with sparkling organic apple juice.
“Perhaps I could do a really big spread on you in Buttons and Bows, to keep your name in the fashion arena,” suggested Bryony over lunch. “It would make up for me not getting the interview with Ned Carew and also show him that you don’t need him to succeed.”
“How kind. That sounds good. We could hook up again back home, after Fashion Week,” suggested Tallulah.
Soon the conversation turned back to the Clara Hughson slot, which was all news to Tallulah.
“This will be a show like no other!” stated Berry. “We can showcase Saffron’s designs and our ideas too!”
“Yeah!” agreed Poppy. “Clara really liked our designs.”
“It’s all going to be incredibly tight, time-wise,” said Bryony. “Let’s see – we’ve only got a couple of days to pull it off.”
“Well, if I can help in any way, I’d be very happy to do so,” said Tallulah. “I can sew pretty well after all these years of watching seamstresses.”
“Thanks – that would be awesome. Do you think you could also model in the show too?” asked Berry shyly.
“Of course I could, if that’s any use,” said Tallulah modestly.
Throughout lunch all the girls chatted excitedly about ideas for the mini-show they were to produce. Meanwhile, under the pretext of needing the loo, Orlando excused himself from the table; when he came back, he looked very pleased with himself indeed. Poppy and Berry knew he was up to something – they just didn’t know what . . .
