and fairly dragged her to the
door, throwing a final remark over her shoulder at her brother.
‘Was that your car waiting downstairs too? Goody, I hate driving in London.
Now,’ she said turning to Lexie, where shall we start? Knightsbridge I think, oh this
is going to be such fun.’ I tell you what though if I take you to a little boutique I know
where you will get everything you need, that will leave us enough time to pop in at my
favourite stylist to tame that mop of curls too. Just let me make a quick phone call to make
sure they are expecting us and then we will be all set. Oh you do smell nice, what is that
perfume I don’t know that one?’
Mared kept up her steady stream of chatter as they were driven through the
crowded streets. Lexie couldn’t help but be charmed and soon the younger girl’s good
humour, proved to be highly infectious and she found herself relaxing and enjoying herself.
Who could not she began to realise, enjoy being driven in such luxury, a big limo with
every comfort laid on, even the almost cliché champagne!
As they swept into one of the most exclusive shops Lexie had ever seen she
became grateful for Mared and her seemingly bottomless font of knowledge where
anything to wear was concerned. Not to mention the fact that the rather intimidating shop
staff melted into almost embarrassing obeisance as she was instantly recognised. Lexie
doubted very much that she would have been met with such attention had she been alone.
The boutique was down a side street, tucked quietly away from the expensively
elegant hum of celebrated purveyors of couture, that characterized that part of London.
From the street outside you would have been forgiven for thinking it was a private building
and walking straight past. Once through the elegant glass doors though, one was
transported into an Aladdin's cave of designer wonders. Mared seemed to be on first name
terms with not only the sales staff but with the designers themselves too. Before Lexie
could protest she was whisked away to be measured, before a seemingly never-ending
stream of garments were produced for her to try on. None of which were anything like the
stuff she usually wore, and of course there was not a price tag in sight. The whole thing
made her feel surreal, as if she’d suddenly been transported into a parallel, dressing up
doll’s universe. In an effort to regain control she reminded herself that this was no jolly
outing, a shopping spree to be enjoyed. This was yet another example of his, of Gethyn
Mathias’ way of showing her who was boss. Sending her out to buy such personal things
with his money, buy a black dress, he’d dictated, well she thought as an idea dawned.
That’s just what she would do, buy black and only black. She would get the essentials,
undies etc and three or four little black dresses, so that she was equipped to play the part
he insisted on, but no more. Then when this farce was over she would leave them behind,
she would take nothing with her from this nothing that she had not bought and paid for
herself.
‘That’s it, I’ve had enough.’
Holding out an outstretched arm up she stopped the shop assistant in mid stride.
The girl looked confused, her arms full of clothes she just stood there waiting for the next
order from this odd little customer. Mared, busy trying to decide between two big soft
leather bags, looked up at Lexie’s impassioned plea and rushed over. ‘
What’s wrong, don’t you like them?’ ‘
They are all fine, but I have decided that I want to see only black dresses, simple
black dresses, nothing else.’
Mared was incredulous, ‘are you mad, we have big bro’s plastic and permission to
melt it and you want black dresses?’
It took some doing to convince Mared and the shop assistant, but half an hour later
they emerged with one small tan leather case into which were packed half a dozen little
black dresses, simple clean lined, very expensive designer
door, throwing a final remark over her shoulder at her brother.
‘Was that your car waiting downstairs too? Goody, I hate driving in London.
Now,’ she said turning to Lexie, where shall we start? Knightsbridge I think, oh this
is going to be such fun.’ I tell you what though if I take you to a little boutique I know
where you will get everything you need, that will leave us enough time to pop in at my
favourite stylist to tame that mop of curls too. Just let me make a quick phone call to make
sure they are expecting us and then we will be all set. Oh you do smell nice, what is that
perfume I don’t know that one?’
Mared kept up her steady stream of chatter as they were driven through the
crowded streets. Lexie couldn’t help but be charmed and soon the younger girl’s good
humour, proved to be highly infectious and she found herself relaxing and enjoying herself.
Who could not she began to realise, enjoy being driven in such luxury, a big limo with
every comfort laid on, even the almost cliché champagne!
As they swept into one of the most exclusive shops Lexie had ever seen she
became grateful for Mared and her seemingly bottomless font of knowledge where
anything to wear was concerned. Not to mention the fact that the rather intimidating shop
staff melted into almost embarrassing obeisance as she was instantly recognised. Lexie
doubted very much that she would have been met with such attention had she been alone.
The boutique was down a side street, tucked quietly away from the expensively
elegant hum of celebrated purveyors of couture, that characterized that part of London.
From the street outside you would have been forgiven for thinking it was a private building
and walking straight past. Once through the elegant glass doors though, one was
transported into an Aladdin's cave of designer wonders. Mared seemed to be on first name
terms with not only the sales staff but with the designers themselves too. Before Lexie
could protest she was whisked away to be measured, before a seemingly never-ending
stream of garments were produced for her to try on. None of which were anything like the
stuff she usually wore, and of course there was not a price tag in sight. The whole thing
made her feel surreal, as if she’d suddenly been transported into a parallel, dressing up
doll’s universe. In an effort to regain control she reminded herself that this was no jolly
outing, a shopping spree to be enjoyed. This was yet another example of his, of Gethyn
Mathias’ way of showing her who was boss. Sending her out to buy such personal things
with his money, buy a black dress, he’d dictated, well she thought as an idea dawned.
That’s just what she would do, buy black and only black. She would get the essentials,
undies etc and three or four little black dresses, so that she was equipped to play the part
he insisted on, but no more. Then when this farce was over she would leave them behind,
she would take nothing with her from this nothing that she had not bought and paid for
herself.
‘That’s it, I’ve had enough.’
Holding out an outstretched arm up she stopped the shop assistant in mid stride.
The girl looked confused, her arms full of clothes she just stood there waiting for the next
order from this odd little customer. Mared, busy trying to decide between two big soft
leather bags, looked up at Lexie’s impassioned plea and rushed over. ‘
What’s wrong, don’t you like them?’ ‘
They are all fine, but I have decided that I want to see only black dresses, simple
black dresses, nothing else.’
Mared was incredulous, ‘are you mad, we have big bro’s plastic and permission to
melt it and you want black dresses?’
It took some doing to convince Mared and the shop assistant, but half an hour later
they emerged with one small tan leather case into which were packed half a dozen little
black dresses, simple clean lined, very expensive designer
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