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The dress is a showstopper A thing of beauty And so I would’ve never dared try on myself Partly because of the label Valentino

That’s why I’d thought it was Isla’s The label And the fact that the cut of it would lend itself to both our body types Except ht to add heels Anyway, I’ve died and gone to designer heaven and in truth, finding this beauty on ot in the car at all

What girl doesn’t love to get gussied up like she’s going to a ball?

Once my domestic tasks are taken care of, I decide to have a wander around the castle Let’s see if I can find out how the other (Hollywood) half live

While Claish ht be nowhere near the size of Kilbair, it’s still the kind of building I wish I’d brought a bag of crackers to so I could at least leave a trail back to my room Hallway after hallway, door after door, but as I reach the first floor, I noticearound confidently, so at least I can ask for directions if I get lost Milling around, toing and froing, fetching and carrying, at second glance So I decide to head on out to the gardens

I lift my hand to shield my eyes as I step out onto a terrace furnished with teak Lutyens benches and tables shaded by huge parasols A pair of weather-worn stone lions guard the steps down to a carpet-like lahere a giant chessboard, complete with child-sized chess pieces, stands

It looks more like the set of a period dra hitters, which I think is infinitely better

“Oh, hi!” I offer as I notice the elderly wo in a wheelchair in the shade of the castle’s walls Delicate frashell blue slacks and a old watch and at her neck a double string of pearls The only incongruity in her whole outfit is her sunglasses Large red frao ea

“I wish it was,” she replies, her voice papery

“I’m sorry?”

“Hi,” she repeats, as though I’d misheard And I had not Just h”

“Oh Right” Weird And unexpected in one that looks so neat and proper But okay

“Ye can get marijuana on prescription in California, you know?” Mari-joo-wana is how she pronounces it

“Yeah? I mean, yeah I heard that”

“Aye” I can feel her eyeing h the dark fraht you looked like an American”

“You can tell by just looking?”

“You have’nae the right skin tone to be Scots Not blue enough,” she adds with a sage nod

“Do youto be fun, I can tell

“No, lassie, not at all You’d be doin’ an old wo her company The name’s June, by the way I’m Dylan’s concubine”