AFTER LUNCH THEY waved goodbye to Tallulah, promising to call her later, and reluctantly headed off to Ned Carew’s show. Much to the girls’ surprise, Orlando seemed to know the route rather well.
Poppy and Berry sat next to Saffron and Bryony in the front row even though none of them were very excited about the show now that they knew what a dreadful man Ned was. As the girls chatted, no one noticed Orlando sneaking off to check on his latest bit of mischief – an invisible trip-wire across the runway.
Just then, the lights dimmed and Ned Carew made his entrance. His eyes were watery and his face was bright red – he was probably still burning up from all the hot chilli pepper and mustard on his brunch! He waved to the cheering crowd and made his way to the podium to introduce the show. But as he neared the stand, as if in slow motion, he tripped, arms and legs flailing. He fell flat on his face. Splat! It also became clear that he was wearing a wig. His hair was tilted to one side, revealing an expanse of polished head which wasn’t nearly as tanned as his face.
There was a moment of silence, followed by nervous giggling from the crowd. Ned dragged himself up and glared at the audience. He tried to regain his composure, and some minders dashed over to help him to the microphone. He began to talk, but sadly for him, someone had snipped the wires.
Orlando grinned with complete satisfaction as Ned Carew swept furiously from the stage.
“Heads will roll for this!” the designer screeched. “No one makes a fool of Ned Carew!”
Everyone was starting to shift around uncomfortably in their seats when, all of a sudden, Ned’s new model, Amélie, appeared on stage. She seemed rather confused and embarrassed, as if she had been pushed on from the wings. Someone must have decided that the show must go on, but she was far from happy about it. There was no music and the audience were all chatting and laughing. She tried to sashay down the runway in a very tight-fitting sailor suit and platform shoes, with what looked like an enormous chef ’s hat on her head. The audience clearly thought the whole thing was rather ridiculous now that all the cool trappings of the fashion show had fizzled away. Before long there were even some boos. Amélie’s face began to crumple. Her debut was proving to be a disaster and she was furious. She turned and sped back up the catwalk so fast that she nearly tripped in her high heels.
“I quit from Ned Carew!” she cried, fleeing from the stage. “He’s a loser!”
Poppy and Berry couldn’t wait to tell Tallulah all about the Extravaganza. They knew that Orlando had played a huge part in giving Ned Carew his comeuppance and they were secretly very proud of him.