Em was eager to give it a go. She took off jeans and shirt. Olivia held the dress so Em could step into it.
‘Almost perfect,’ Olivia said as she helped Em with the zip. ‘You need it taking in on the waist if anything.’ Olivia stood behind Em as she looked in the full-length mirror. She pulled the fabric tighter around Em’s middle. ‘Nancy knows a wonderful dressmaker in Barnstaple who’ll sort it out for you.’
‘Nancy knows about your kind offer?’
‘Oh yes. In fact, she was the one who put the idea into my head.’
Bless, Nancy. It was like having a guardian angel sometimes.
‘Well, what do you think?’ Olivia asked.
‘I think it’s amazing. Are you sure you want me to wear it? I’m scared I might drop some food down it or damage it.’
‘If you do, you do. It’s been hanging in this wardrobe for far too long. It’s yours now.’
‘Thank you so much.’ Em gave Olivia a peck on the cheek.’But perhaps I ought to borrow it? Then it could be my something old, borrowed and blue?’
‘What an excellent idea.’
Em smiled to herself. There was only one problem. ‘How am I going to get it home without Jack seeing?’
‘That’s a very good question. I think I will have to employ my little bird to bring it to Dashford for you. Leave it to me and Nancy.’
29
Lucy led Josh up the stairs to Nancy’s apartment. Despite the Saturday afternoon traffic in central London, they’d still managed to arrive on time. Jack was waiting for them by the open door. Lucy gave Jack a hug. ‘Happy birthday, professor. This is Josh,’
‘Pleased to meet you.’ Jack smiled and shook Josh’s hand.
‘Thanks for inviting us.’ Josh said. Lucy could tell he was weighing up Jack.
‘No problem.’ Jack stood back to let them into the hallway.
‘Which room are we in?’ asked Lucy.
‘You’ve got the sheep,’ Jack pointed down the end of the hall. ‘On the left.’
‘Sheep?’ Josh looked confused.
‘There are sheep on the wallpaper,’ explained Lucy, remembering the rural scene wallpaper from the last time she’d stayed here when Em received her portrait award last December.
‘Em’s out food shopping,’ Jack said.
‘We’ll just put our bags in our room, and then we’ll be sociable,’ Lucy said, walking down the hallway into the bedroom.
Josh followed her and shut the door. ‘Very nice. You have some well-heeled friends.’
‘Nancy is. I’m not sure about the rest of them.’
‘Who’s Nancy again?’
‘Em’s employer, Jack’s godmother and Mark’s mother.’
‘Are you and me the only people she hasn’t got a connection with?’
‘Yes.’ Lucy laughed. ‘She’s lovely. It’s good of her to let us use the flat.’
‘Well, if her son’s here, it’s not much bother if we stay too.’