The Fashion Princess (6 page)

Orlando was fast asleep but fortunately not snoring! Once the show was over, they woke him up and decided to flop on the grassy square in the main courtyard until it was time to meet Bryony and Saffron.

“I know!” said Poppy. “Let's sketch our own designs. They've got to be better than the ones in Aliens!”

“Good idea,” said Berry, opening her goody bag to get out her sketchpad.

“Saffron has taught me to do proper fashion drawings like the ones she does,” said Poppy. “I just adore drawing clothes.”

“Me too,” said Berry. “I'd love to be a fashion designer just like Saffron one day. Not like the silly pretentious designers here.”

Much as Orlando tried to distract them, the girls were very focused on their drawing. So much so that he eventually gave up with the tormenting and went off to explore.

“What kind of stuff are you going to design?” Poppy asked.

“I dunno – how about you?” said Berry.

“Well, I really love New York, or what
I've seen of it so far,” replied Poppy. “Maybe we should do designs based on this city?”

“Hey, nice idea. I'm going to do a Big Apple dress!” said Berry. “But it will be something we could really wear, something pretty.”

“And I'll do one based on the dress the Statue of Liberty wears. It'll be a perfect party dress,” decided Poppy.

After sketching for a while, Berry looked up and was amazed to see one of her fashion heroines walking by.

“Poppy, look!” she whispered. “That's Clara Hughson over there. She's my absolute favourite designer of all time. She makes the most amazing party and wedding dresses. They look like they're out of fairytales.”

“Wow!” said Poppy. “That's so cool.”

“I sent her some of my designs once
too,” explained Berry breathlessly, “and she replied and said she really liked my ideas. Oh my gosh, she's coming this way – look!”

“Hey, girls,” said Clara. “You look about the same ages as my daughters back home. Which of these tops do you think they'd prefer?”

She held up two different styles, and Poppy and Berry both pointed to the same striped top.

“Just what I thought!” agreed Clara, glancing at their pads. “What are you guys sketching?”

“We're just trying to design some things that people can really wear, not like the stuff we've seen in the shows,” explained Berry.

“I know exactly what you mean, girls,” replied Clara. “Shock tactics are so tedious – I've always tried to design for real women. These look really great, you know. They're so fresh. Tell you what, girls, I've got a spare slot at the end of my Bridal Extravaganza at the Carlyle Hotel in three days' time. If you can come up with a few more cute ideas like these, I'll give you the slot! Oh – I'm Clara Hughson, by the way. The only snag is that you'll have to make up the outfits yourselves and model them too. It would be like putting on a whole little
show of your own. Are you interested?”

“Wow! That sounds amazing,” exclaimed Berry. “We'd love to do it, wouldn't we, Poppy?”

Poppy nodded enthusiastically, not fully understanding what was involved, but thinking it sounded cool anyway.

“Call me and let me know if it's coming together,” said Clara as she handed them her business card. Then she looked at Berry. “You know what, I feel like I've seen your work before.”

Berry smiled and explained about the fan letter and designs.

“What a coincidence!” exclaimed Clara. “We were destined to meet, obviously. You've really got talent, Berry, and so has your friend.”

And with that, she was off to mingle with the throngs of journalists, designers and models who were wafting around the glamorous event.

“Now I really am dreaming. I've met my
absolute
all-time favourite designer and a world-famous supermodel on the same day, and we're going to put on our own show. This is amazing!” said Berry.

“I know!” Poppy could hardly believe how exciting this trip was turning out to be. It was just like something out of a storybook!

Just then Orlando came back from his recce looking worryingly happy.
Berry was sure he was up to some sort of mischief.

“Gosh, it's time for lunch with Bryony and Saffron already!” she said. “We'd better go to the food tent now or we'll be late.”

“
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.