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‘Thank you,’ she said ‘For helping’ It al the words, but she felt a sense of relief when they were out, as if she had been holding onto the time

Her mother’s blue eyes widened ‘Of course I want to help My baby, getting rand but I’ve seen more up-to-date ruins’

‘Part of it is ruined’ Daisy was surprised at how protective she felt towards the stately building

Her lance ‘I , it’s a major project Some of the rooms have been untouched for years’

‘I just wish you had checked with Seb before organising the cleaners’ Only her et an aranised in under two hours It had been a shock to arrive back fro appointments to find the car park full of various trade vans, the house overrun by ladders, buckets and pine scents

‘Most of the fa and decorating are your preserve, darling, but cleaning and touching up before the big day is verypresent to you both’

Daisy tried not to sigh Seb employed one cleaner as responsible for the offices as well as the house and she barely made a dent in the few areas he used It would be nice to see the ienic standards: the paintwork fresh, the wood polished and the sash s glea At the saic ith extravagant generosity, to think that ardless of how it made the recipients feel

There had been a bleak look on Seb’s face when he surveyed the workers He had withdrawn into his study pleading work and Daisy hadn’t felt able to follow him in there

The car drew up outside the iconic golden stone building that housed Rafferty’s, London’s prener store

‘It’s siown to be made for you I am owed a lot of favours but even I can’t work miracles But then I remembered what a fabulous collection Nina keeps here at Rafferty’s She has proown altered to fit you in the ti/summer collections in Fashion Week last year so there will be souely put upon, as if she were being expected to put an outfit together from a duster and an old feather boa, not premier one of the several haute couture outfits that had been made specifically for her

Daisy felt the old shiver of excitement as they exited the car and walked into the famous do and beco as you had the money Would she become the bride of her dreams?

They were met at the door and whisked upstairs to the bridal departallery decorated in Rafferty’s distinctive art deco style The entrance to the departh an archas open to the public and sold an array of bridal accessories including lingerie, shoes, tiaras and some ready-to-wear bride and bridesmaids dresses But it was the room beyond, tactfully hidden behind a second, curtained arch, where the real ic lay This room was accessed by appointment only Today, Daisy and her mother were the only customers

It needed little decoration and the walls were painted a warany The sparkle and glath, every shade of white froh to deep creaold, vibrant silver, pinks and rich brocades

Daisy was glad of the cosy-looking love seats and chaises scattered about Soher head whirl

‘Cha the city’s brides for nearly forty years, canon, chilled and opened

‘No, thanks’ Daisy thought rapidly ‘I want a clear head There’s so much choice’

‘A large glass for htly out of breath ‘I sense it’s going to be a long afternoon Rose says hi, don’t make her wear frills and definitely not shiny satin’

‘They’re all so beautiful’ Their ne, a wistful look in her eyes as she fingered the heavy silks, slippery satins and intricate laces ‘Obviously I wouldn’t have changedto your father for the world It was very romantic, just us, in a tiny chapel I was barefoot with flowers in aze enco, I a, noto have the day you always dreamed of’