Page 29 of The Big Dip in Crumbleton
Libby rolled her eyes dramatically and ushered Scarlett towards the stairs.
‘My room’s this way,’ she said, leading Scarlett to the end of the hall.
Libby’s bedroom was a riot of colour and texture – bright fabrics draped over chairs, fairy lights strung across the ceiling, and an entire wall dedicated to photographs and postcards. The double bed was buried under what appeared to be half a clothes shop.
‘Sorry about the mess,’ she said, hurriedly clearing a space for Scarlett to perch on the edge. ‘Right… let’s start pulling some options for you.’
‘How many options do I need?’ Scarlett laughed with mild alarm as Libby started to grab dress after dress out of the wardrobe.
‘As many as it takes to find the perfect one!’ said Libby.
Scarlett’s eyes widened as she stared at Libby’s armful of silk, satin and sequins. ‘Are we expecting royalty at this dance?’
‘Better,’ Libby grinned. ‘We’re expecting the entire population of CrumbletonandCrumbleton Sands, all dressed in their finest after wearing nothing but surf gear for months.’ She held up a sparkly emerald dress. ‘Now, let’s get started!’
The next hour passed in a whirlwind of fabric, laughter, and increasingly outlandish fashion commentary from Libby.
Scarlett found herself modelling everything from a floaty bohemian maxi dress –“Too hippie, even for Crumbleton”– to a skintight red number that made her blush just looking at it –“Maybe save it for the second date.”
‘This one’s nice,’ said Scarlett, twirling in a simple navy wrap dress. It was nice and comfy, covering her completely from neck to knees.
Libby tilted her head critically. ‘It’s… okay.’
‘Okay?’ Scarlett echoed, examining her reflection in the full-length mirror. ‘What’s wrong with it?’
‘Nothing’s wrong with it,’ Libby said diplomatically. ‘It’s just... safe. The kind of dress you’d wear to a work function when you want to blend into the background.’
‘And that’s bad because...?’
‘For one thing – because I only bought that dress to chop it up for fabric,’ said Libby with a laugh. ‘Plus, tonight isn’t about blending in! It’s about making an entrance, having fun, letting your hair down.’
Scarlett bit her lip, not wanting to admit how appealing that sounded. When was the last time she’d done any of those things? Until recently, her life in Bath had been a carefully constructed routine of work, occasional dinners with colleagues, and quiet weekends catching up on sleep. Even her clothes reflected that sensible, unremarkable existence – practical, professional, forgettable.
‘I don’t know,’ she hedged. ‘I’m not really a “making an entrance” kind of girl.’
Libby’s expression softened. ‘Look, it’s your choice. If you want to wear the navy, that’s totally fine. You could basically make a bin bag look chic.’
‘But...?’
‘But I think you could be bolder,’ said Libby. ‘You’re gorgeous… and I’ve seen how my brother looks at you…andhow you look at him, come to that!’
‘Is it that obvious?’ muttered Scarlett.
‘Only to someone with eyes,’ said Libby. Then, with studied casualness that fooled no one, she added, ‘He’s single, you know.’
‘Oh. Is he?’ Scarlett tried not to grin.
‘Completely unattached,’ Libby confirmed, rummaging through the pile on the bed again. ‘Has been for years. Since he disappeared to Australia. Not that he talks about his love life with me, of course, but I’d know if there was someone.’
‘I don’t get it,’ said Scarlett with a frown.
‘Get what?’ said Libby in surprise.
‘Someone that cute… and not a hint of romance for years?’
‘First off, EEEWW that’s my brother you’re talking about!’ said Libby, wrinkling her nose. ‘And second… the end of his last relationship was rough. It took him ages to get over it. Until he set eyes on you, in fact.’
‘Don’t be daft!’ said Scarlett, staring intently at the navy dress again.
