Page 93 of From Notting Hill with Love…Actually
Oscar in his emerald-green geometric-print shirt and purple designer jeans and Ursula in her sixties-style white minidress, black tights, and black pumps sat on a velvet half-moon settee in the center of the changing room.
They were a stark contrast to Cruella (or Priscilla, as her business cards told us she was really called) who was wearing a gray jacket and skirt suit, and white high-necked blouse. Her silver hair was tied up tightly at the back of her head in a very efficient looking bun.
She stood away from them at the side of the room making notes in her folder. Or my wedding “objective,” as I was supposed to call it.
“What do you think?” I asked, spinning around in front of them. “Is it too much?”
I’d always thought when it finally came to the time for me to choose my own wedding dress the task would be easy. I’d go for something slim and sleek, simple and not too fussy. But when I’d got into the shop for the first time a few months ago and seen all the dresses and the books of samples, my common sense had gone right out of the window.
It wasmyday, after all, and this was theonlything I was having my say on. Why shouldn’t I choose something a bit more…memorable?
“It’s…big,” Oscar said, tilting his head to one side.
“Is it?” I asked, hurrying over to one of the many mirrors lining the walls and turning to and fro in front of it. “Where, around the bodice?”
“No, I mean the skirt is big. I just imagined you in something a little more…fitted.”
“So did I originally,” I said, coming back over to them. “But when I saw this I knew I had to have it. It just makes such a statement.”
“It sure does that,” Oscar said, pursing his lips.
Ursula nudged him.
“I think it looks lovely, Scarlett. It’s so romantic to have a dress like that these days.” She stood up and came over to me. “It’s like the sort of wedding dress you imagine you’re going to have as a little girl.” She looked wistful. “Big tulle net skirts, a beautifulbodice encrusted with pearls, maybe even a long train carried by six pretty bridesmaids…”
I could tell Ursula had thought a lot about this.
“I’ve got the white tulle skirts, Ursula,” I said, swishing them about a little. “And the bodice is embroidered—with tiny white beads though, not pearls. But I’m afraid I have to draw the line at the six bridesmaids and the long train. I’m just having Maddie.”
Ursula shook her head. “I’m sorry, I got a little carried away there for a moment. Sean always said I was too romantic for my own good.”
“What do you think?” Oscar asked, looking over his shoulder at Cruella.
She slowly lifted her head from her notes and her electronic organizer.
“It’s quite suitable,” she said, looking at me over the top of her rimless spectacles.
“Glad you approve!” Oscar turned back to us, sticking out his tongue and pretending to slit his throat with his finger.
“She doesn’t have a choice,” I whispered, as we all leaned in toward each other in a conspiratorial huddle. “This is theonlything I’m allowed;shecan’t quibble about. It was part of the deal in me allowing David’s parents to hire her.”
“However,” we heard her say, “Idohave an issue with your choice of bridesmaid’s gown. Perhaps we could take a look at it when you’ve finished here. It’s hanging in the next room.”
I rolled my eyes. We all stood up straight again from our huddle.
“Maybe I can help?” Oscar said, winking at me. He leaped up and bounded over to Cruella. “I run my own verysuccessful fashion chain based in Kensington. I have more experience in gown dilemmas than you’ve had…” He paused as he looked at Cruella’s bony frame. “Than you’ve had carb-free meals, darling!”
I watched as he guided Cruella in the direction of the exit.
Ursula smiled. “It really is a princess of a dress, Scarlett,” she said, gently stroking some of the fabric. “You’ll have a happy ending when you wear this dress, that’s for sure.”
I looked at myself in the mirror again.
“You said before that Sean said you weretooromantic, Ursula. Isn’t he ever, then?”
Ursula turned and faced the mirror too.
“Why do you ask?”
