Page 95 of Save You
“I’d never have thought it would be this hard to find a suitable dress forA Midsummer Night’s Dream.I wish we hadn’t chosen it as the theme now.”
“It’s a gorgeous theme.And an Elie Saab dress would work perfectly for it,” I sigh.
Ruby types the name into her browser search bar and then squeals enthusiastically.“Yes, they really would be perfect.The appliqué flowers are stunning and…oh God, they cost a fortune!”
“Oh, ah, yes.But that isn’t the problem.The thing is, you have to try a dress like that on in person, and I can’t do that right now.”
Quite apart from the fact that it would be totally OTT to go to a school ball like that.I’m saving the dream of Elie Saab for my wedding day.Or someone else’s—all my friends will probably be married before me.My love life now consists entirely of reading old messages from Graham and bursting into tears, as inconspicuously as possible.
It’s a fiasco.
“We could ask Ember to help,” Ruby suggests hesitantly.“She’s great at finding stuff online.”She glances cautiously at me.“We don’t need to tell her any more than she needs to know.”
“Don’t you think she’ll work it out for herself?”I ask.
“She might.Ember has a nose for secrets,” Ruby muses.“But even if she does, I hope you know that she’d never tell a soul.”
I take a deep breath.Over the last few weeks and months, Ruby has proved what a good friend she is.She might be the best friend I’ve ever had.I can’t imagine her going behind my back.And if she trusts her sister, then I can too.
“If you think Ember can solve my dress problem, then I’m very happy to ask her.”
Ruby beams.Then stands up.“When is Percy bringing James to pick you up?Do we have time?”
“Training won’t be over for another half hour,” I say after a quick glance at the clock.“So there’s no way he’ll be here before quarter past seven.”
“Perfect.”Ruby opens the door and beckons to me.I follow her onto the landing.Ember’s door is directly opposite Ruby’s and slightly ajar.Ruby knocks twice.
“Ember, do you have a minute?We’ve got a dress emergency.”
“Sure, come in,” she calls.
The two of us walk into Ember’s room.It’s the same size as Ruby’s and pretty cluttered.A bed, a desk, another narrower table with a sewing machine on it, a tailor’s dummy with a dress hanging from it…My eyes widen.
“Is that your dress?”I ask Ruby in disbelief.
I’m longing to take a closer look at it, but I remember my manners in time.“Hi, Ember,” I say with a wave.
Ruby’s sister is sitting on the floor beside her bed with rolls of fabric and assorted swatches laid out in front of her.Her hair isup in a huge messy bun and a few strands have come loose.There’s a pen between her teeth.
“Hi,” she mumbles, putting more swatches down so that she can take the pen from her mouth.“What kind of emergency?”
“Lydia needs a dress for the Spring Ball.Ideally one by Elie Saab, but that’s not an option at the moment.Do you have any ideas where we could get something to fit the theme?We’ve already tried all the websites you suggested.”
“Elie Saab would be perfect.His clothes are so gorgeous.”Ember sighs.“I’ve got loads of them on my dresses board on Pinterest.”
“Aren’t they?”I say, stepping closer to the dummy.I glance over my shoulder at Ember.“May I?”
She nods.“Sure.”
I study the dress in detail.It’s in pale rose with a tulle skirt and an embroidered floral bodice.On closer inspection, I notice that it’s in two pieces.I presume that Ember is planning to use the wide silk ribbon to join them where it’s currently pinned together.
“Did you sew this yourself?”
Ember nods.
“It’s stunning,” I say straight up.
Ember’s cheeks color a little.“We were in luck—I only really bought the tulle for fun.It’s not great quality, but nobody will be able to tell once it’s finished, unless they really know their stuff.”
