‘It’s either that or I faint.’
‘Then I don’t care if she tells me off.’
It took a minute to unfasten all the hooks and undo the corseting but then she was free. Cat relaxed and leaned against the changing-room wall in mismatching bra and knickers, sipping prosecco. Nell too enjoyed the feeling of the bubbles popping on her tongue and the insides of her cheeks.
‘Did you like that dress?’ Cat asked, completely at ease in nothing but her undercrackers. The heating was on in the bridal shop and with the glow of a mid-morning prosecco they were both perfectly comfortable.
‘It was beautiful, but I could tell from your eyes you weren’t blown away by it.’
‘I just want to be comfortable on my wedding day. I want to look nice too and of course I want Kieran’s jaw to drop when he sees me—’
‘Which it will because he loves you and you’re gorgeous.’
‘But I want to feel nice as well. I don’t see why I can’t have both. I mean, getting married at Holly Lodge feels perfect. I think my wedding dress should feel the same, shouldn’t it?’
‘Definitely.’ Nell pushed her long blonde hair back over her shoulder. ‘I mean, I don’t know anything about getting married, but that’s how I’d want to feel.’
When Cat had heard the news that the hotel was now licensed to host weddings, she and Kieran had insisted on having their whole day there. Nell had been beyond grateful and had been clear it wouldn’t bother her in the least if they decided to go somewhere else, especially as this would be her first one, but they were not to be dissuaded. The only hitch was, they’d set a date with terrifyingly short notice. Eight weeks from today to be exact. Just thinking about it made Nell’s stomach tense with worry, and it was already a bit fluttery with the excitement of the day and the glass of prosecco they’d drunk while choosing the first few dresses.
Adding weddings to her business was a pretty natural step considering Nell loved all things romance to a slightly manic degree. She loved seeing people happy on one of the most important days of their lives and the prospect of being instrumental in making that happen had forced her business plans forward, even when life had become difficult. Since the opening of the Langdon Mansion Hotel, a giant plush, swanky place with a ballroom and lounge bar, business had, unfortunately, fallen off a cliff, but indulging her love of love, Nell had decided to branch out into weddings in an effort to diversify her earnings. Cat and Kieran were having a Christmas wedding and as far as Nell was concerned, there was nothing more romantic than that. Refusing to let her thoughts linger on her business’s failing finances on such a joyous occasion, Nell instead mentally replayed the moment in 27 Dresses when Katherine Heigl tries on all the bridesmaids’ dresses showing them to James Marsden. It was one of her favourite moments in the film.
‘Earth to Nell. Earth to Nell, this is your friend Cat calling.’
‘You should definitely have both,’ she said quickly, picking up their conversation where she thought it had left off. She had a habit of wandering off into her own world. ‘And it’s your day, so you should have the dress you want. If you wanted an Eighties-style, giant, pink taffeta dress with a bow on the bum, huge puffy-out shoulders and a matching parasol, that’s what you should have and sod everybody else.’ Nell ran a hand over her heavy fringe making sure it wasn’t sticking up. The wind had whipped her hair into a full-on Eighties rock god style on the way to Brenda’s car, but nothing stopped her loving the colder weather. In summer, when the sea was calm and clear, the air carried a freshness and the scent of flowers. Now, the air was crisper and cleaner, and when the tide crashed onto the shore it filled your nose with a salty sting if you were brave enough to walk along the beach.
‘Did you hear anything I just said, Nell?’
‘Yes! I was listening. Anyway, that “this is your friend calling” was more like them doing the scores in Eurovision.’
‘Yeah, I know.’ Cat giggled and took another sip of her prosecco. ‘Isn’t Graham Norton just the best.’
‘He certainly is. Let’s have a toast to Graham Norton.’ They clinked glasses and Nell savoured the taste as it swirled around her mouth. ‘Just in case I misheard you, what did you say?’
‘See, I knew you weren’t listening.’ Cat studied her friend for a moment. ‘Were you imagining that bit in 27 Dresses when she opens her closet and shows James what’s-his-name – the cute one – all the dresses, then she tries them on.’
‘No.’ Nell’s cheeks began to burn, and she turned her attention back to the bubbling prosecco in her hands.
‘Yes, you were.’
‘Wasn’t.’
‘Was too.’
Nell met her eye and it twinkled with the excitement of the day. ‘Maybe a bit, but I couldn’t help it. It just popped into my head.’
‘You know that film off by heart and every other romcom ever made. Oh look, they’re coming back. Mum’s giving me the death stare for being in mismatched bra and pants. I bet she says something. Just wait.’
Brenda tottered after the assistant who had a number of exquisite dresses over her arm. From Nell’s position, she could see a pale rose-pink, floor-length 1930s gown with beading on the top and a long skirt of some wafer-thin material that floated as she walked towards them. At the bottom of the pile, there was a gorgeous 1950s ivory tea dress made of a heavily laced white fabric, complete with petticoat. Judging by the way Cat’s eyes brightened as she craned her neck to see, Nell had a feeling that was the one she would go for.
The sales assistant hung the dresses on the hooks around the wide dressing room. ‘I’ve double
