CHAPTER THREE
Frazer walked into the dance studio carrying the dress shop bags.
Dougal smiled from behind the reception desk. ‘Been Christmas shopping?’
Frazer put the bags down in the shop, sitting them on the small counter. The shop area was basically a compact space, tucked into reception, with a selection of shoes on the shelves. An empty clothes rail ran along one side opposite the counter. Everything was brightly lit with little spotlights.
‘Remember the vintage dress shop I was telling you about?’ Frazer said to Dougal. ‘The one with the ballgowns in the window.’
‘Ah, so you’ve bought up half their stock,’ Dougal joked.
‘Kind of.’ Frazer summarised the details while taking the three dresses out of the bags and hanging them up on the rail.
Dougal came over for a closer look. ‘Very nice. Perfect for the fairytale theme of the ball.’
Frazer stood back and nodded. Then he took his coat and scarf off, pushed up his sleeves and viewed the dress haul thoughtfully. ‘Mirren owns the shop. Her niece, Lily, was in earlier booking her assessment.’
‘The young woman with the blonde hair and pink woolly hat,’ Dougal recalled.
‘Yes, Lily designed these ballgowns. She’s a dressmaker.’
‘Handy.’
‘Extremely handy. And Mirren spotted a bundle of previously worn ballgowns and has ordered them from one of her regular suppliers. Twenty dresses are arriving at her shop tomorrow.’
‘Are you going to sell them here in the studio?’ said Dougal.
‘Some of them. I’ve worked out a fair deal with Mirren and Lily that suits everyone.’ Frazer reached under the shop counter for pieces of paper and a pen. ‘I’d like to keep these dresses hanging up here to promote the ball.’ He wrote reserved on two pieces of paper for the blue and yellow dresses and taped them to the hangers.
‘That’s a great idea. Clients keep wanting me to describe what type of ballgowns they should wear,’ said Dougal. ‘Dresses are available in other shops and online, but they want our advice.’
‘Well, this will show them the type of ballgowns that would be suitable.’
‘What about the pink dress? Are you reserving it?’ said Dougal.
‘No, it’s sold.’ Frazer added a sold note to the hanger.
‘That’s a pity,’ Victoria said, walking through to join them and admiring the dresses. ‘I would’ve bought the pink one for myself. It has a real fairytale quality to it.’ She wore dance leggings and a top that showed her lithe figure to full advantage. A ballerina–style wrap skirt was tied around her waist, and she wore black pumps. Her hair was pinned up in a sophisticated style, and her makeup flattered her lovely pale complexion. At the best of times, Victoria looked soigné, and she was invariably at her best.
‘I’m sure you have plenty of dresses in your wardrobe,’ Frazer said to her.
‘I do. But you can never have too many beautiful dresses to wear for dancing,’ said Victoria, feeling the pink chiffon.
‘Frazer has orchestrated a deal with a vintage dress shop down the road,’ Dougal told Victoria.
‘Is that the one that sells pre–loved fashion?’ She’d seen it often when walking by on her way to the studio.
‘It is,’ said Frazer. He gave her the short course of events.
Victoria’s ice blue eyes widened. ‘Twenty ballgowns arriving tomorrow? How exciting.’
‘I’m hoping to stock most of them, and we’ll tell clients they can purchase more dresses from the vintage shop,’ Frazer elaborated.
Two of Victoria’s clients walked in looking keen to have their lesson. Victoria led them away upstairs.
Dougal walked back over to the reception desk. ‘When is Lily having her assessment?’ He checked the schedule on the computer.
‘Seven o’clock tonight. Why?’
‘I thought she looked slightly anxious when she was in earlier.’ Dougal shrugged. ‘But I was so busy with customers I could be wrong.’
‘No, you’re right. I think she’s lacking in confidence when it comes to dancing. She’s more comfortable in her dressmaking niche.’
‘Hopefully, she won’t back out and cancel at the last minute. You know how some folk are. She seemed...edgy. Though maybe it was the effect you were having on her.’
‘What does that mean?’
Dougal smiled. ‘You know fine what I mean.’
‘The women love getting dance lessons from you,’ said Frazer. ‘And you dated one of them earlier this year.’
‘I did,’ Dougal admitted. ‘But I’m not the one that folk refer to as the heartbreaker.’
‘I’ve broken no one’s heart,’ said Frazer.
‘Not on purpose.’
‘Not at all. I make it a rule never to mix business with romance,’ Frazer said firmly.
‘Well, I sensed something between you and Lily. So don’t go breaking her heart, especially if she’s going to be designing ballgowns for you.’
‘Lily was only here for a few minutes. There was nothing to sense.’
‘Sparks ignite fast, Frazer. And you know I’ve got a knack for reading people.’
‘You read wrong this time,’ Frazer said, feeling he didn’t entirely believe this.
Before they could discuss this further, four clients came in for their lesson with Dougal. Smiling and welcoming them in, he led them through to the main dance floor for their lesson, leaving Frazer to wonder about Lily.
While he dealt with admin and bookings and discussed buffet menus with the cafe next door, Frazer found his thoughts drifting to Lily. For some reason, he couldn’t shake her completely from his thoughts. It was probably because he’d spent time with her that day, and was due to dance with her that evening. The thought of the latter sent a charge of excitement through his veins, something he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Dougal’s remark rewound in his mind as he tried to push the warning aside. ‘Don’t go breaking her heart.’
He really had no intention of doing any such thing. And yet...
Instead of twisting his guts into a knot, he concentrated on his business.
But then as he lined up a music play list for Lily’s assessment, thinking he’d gauge her ability to learn a classic waltz, maybe even a slow foxtrot and quickstep, he found himself looking forward to seeing her later. An unfamiliar feeling, at least for the past year or so. Romance had been complicated for him. No one special had waltzed into his life for a while.
Wishing one of the dance floors was free so that he could burn off the excess energy he felt, he instead organised the interviews he was due to have to promote the ball and the studio. One of the interviews was with a radio show. He called to arrange the interview, scheduling it soon.
The hourly lessons flew in, and Victoria and Dougal waved their happy clients off at the door.
With the main dance floor now available, Frazer put on his dancing shoes and burned away the following hour practising his moves, and working on new choreography.
One wall had mirrors that reflected the twinkle lights and Christmas decorations that adorned the studio. The light wooden floor was well–sprung to create an ideal setting for all sorts of dancing. The room was large, not quite a full ballroom size, but big enough to cater for the type of ball he had in mind. There was a stage area where he trained clients to perform for theatre shows and other stage events.
Frazer selected dramatic, heart–pounding music that resonated with his current mood.
And in the midst of his elegant and fast–moving spins, jumps and intricate steps, Lily kept crossing his mind. But romance really wasn’t part of his plans. He’d never been lucky in love. Quite the opposite. Though he hoped one day to change his luck when he met the right woman. Now in his early thirties, he’d started to feel the notion to settle down. Nothing in his life of dance had ever been settled.
From an early age, he’d performed on stage, toured with shows, taking part in the competitive dance circuits and won quite a few times. He’d partnered for a short time with Victoria. That’s how they’d met. But there was something missing in their performances, and his old instructors estimated it wasn’t lack of skill but lack of chemistry. They’d agreed to go their separate ways. Victoria had danced with Dougal too during one tour. So they all knew each other well. Due to their ability and friendship, Frazer had invited them to teach at his studio on the understanding that they were free to leave to pursue any dance show work they were offered.
This set up so far had worked well. Victoria was due to leave in January to go on tour, and was welcome to come back when the twelve week show was over. Being flexible with their plans, as well as his own, suited everyone.
‘Frazer, your clients are here,’ Dougal called through to him from reception.
Welcoming them in, Frazer set up the music for the couple’s next foxtrot lesson.
‘I notice you’ve got ballgowns hanging up in the shop,’ the woman commented. ‘But I see they’re sold or reserved. Will you be getting any other ballgowns in?’
‘Yes, they’re on order and due to arrive soon,’ said Frazer.
‘Oh, great,’ the woman said, sounding pleased. ‘I want to buy one for the Christmas Eve ball. We’ve booked our tickets. I’d love a fancy dress like that to wear for the dancing. I’ve never worn a ballgown before, just evening dresses, but nothing as gorgeous as the dresses you’ve got on show.’
‘Well, there’s a vintage dress shop nearby, and they’re supplying lovely ballgowns to the studio, or you can pop into Mirren and Lily’s shop to browse their stock of dresses.’
The woman smiled excitedly, and then Frazer began their lesson.
Lily put a sparkling red sequin cocktail dress on display in the window to replace the pink ballgown. ‘I’m tempted to buy this dress for myself,’ she said to Mirren. ‘I need to stop wanting half the stock in the shop or the dresses I make.’
‘I’m the same,’ said Mirren. She was studying the ballgowns they’d ordered, viewing the pictures and details on the computer screen, having a close look at each one.
Lily adjusted the cocktail dress. The sequins shimmered under the lights. ‘Really?’
‘Oh, yes. And the hankering to have more dresses than I know what to do with never wears off,’ Mirren revealed. ‘I used to think that one day I’d become blazé about them, but I never have. So fair warning. I just love dresses. I always have and I always will.’
Lily nodded. ‘Duly noted. I’d better earn plenty of money and buy extra wardrobes to plan for this,’ she said playfully.
‘Bert jokes about me having two wardrobes stuffed with dresses in our spare room. It’s a good job you chose to live in the flat, otherwise you’d have had to share your bedroom with my overspill of excess dresses.’
Lily smiled. ‘That sounds like my ideal room.’ She stepped out of the window and went over to the counter.
‘I’m just studying the ballgowns,’ said Mirren, pointing to one of them. ‘Most of them only need the hems and seams mended, like we thought. But I notice that a few of them need sequins added.’
‘Rows of sequin trims would be the easiest way to repair the necklines and around the edges of the sleeves,’ Lily suggested.
Mirren agreed. ‘And they won’t need any embroidery work, so that’ll save you time. I know the embroidery often takes you longer to finish than hemming or stitching the seams.’
‘It does, and I love embroidering by hand. But the ballgowns should be easier to mend.’
‘Ten ballgowns each,’ Mirren calculated. ‘Roughly five requiring some sort of repair. Between the two of us, we can handle the work and have the dresses ready for sale.’
‘Yes, and I’m looking forward to working with the lovely fabric of the dresses. They look gorgeous.’
‘They do,’ Mirren agreed. ‘I’ve had a look at the sequin trims that Ivy has in stock in her craft shop. I think I should order plenty of silver and gold trims. And probably pink sequins, blue and jewel tones. They don’t cost much.’
Mirren and Lily decided on what they wanted, and Mirren placed the order with Ivy.
‘Ivy has replied that she’ll have the order ready for me to collect on my way home tonight,’ said Mirren. ‘I’ll bring it with me in the morning.’
Lily had a look through her stock of items she’d used to make the new ballgowns. ‘I have sequin trims that will come in handy. And sequins on netting. I use this to overlay on some of the bodices.’
‘The netting will be useful,’ said Mirren. ‘We’re going to be up to our eyeballs in ballgowns tomorrow. The order has been dispatched and it’s due to arrive in the morning.’
Lily viewed the dresses on screen again, mentally calculating what ones she’d tackle first.
Then they got on with the rest of their busy day, repairing the dresses, mainly tea dresses, that had arrived earlier.
Lily locked the shop door at five o’clock and waved Mirren off.
After tidying up her work, switching off the main lights and leaving the Christmas lights on to highlight the window display, she went upstairs to relax before getting ready to head up to the dance studio.
The time sparked in, and soon she was rushing around, brushing her hair smooth from its ponytail, refreshing her makeup, putting on the tea dress, shoes, her warm coat and hurrying up to the studio in time for seven.
The night air was cold and crisp, and she sensed the excitement of Christmas in Edinburgh like she had done earlier in the day. Now in the frosty evening, it felt even more exciting with decorations sparkling in the shop windows. Cafes, bars and eateries were aglow with lights and busy with people out enjoying dinner and socialising.
Ahead of her, she saw the dance studio, the first time she’d seen it all lit up at night.
Lily’s heart started to beat excitedly and she told herself to calm down. All she had to do was dance well with Frazer. No big deal, she lied to herself.
His comment about joining him to dance the night away rewound in her thoughts, doing little to calm her senses. It was just a throwaway comment, she reasoned. He’d seemed embarrassed that he’d even mentioned it. So there was no chance of him inviting her to dance late into the evening with him. Was there?
Before she could unnerve herself with more silly questions, she’d arrived outside the studio. Inside, she could see Frazer standing chatting to Dougal and other clients.
As if sensing her watching him, Frazer turned and looked out the window as she approached.
Taking a deep breath, Lily stepped into the warmth of the dance studio.
Frazer wore a long–sleeve black top that hugged the lean, muscular contours of his physique, and the black trousers emphasised his long legs, creating a look that caused Lily’s heart to react.
She immediately scolded herself. Of course he would look fit. He was a professional dancer and he’d trained for years. But even though she reasoned with herself, she still felt the attraction bubbling under the surface.
Unbuttoning her coat, she saw a cloakroom where she could hang it up, and did so quickly, noticing it was almost seven o’clock. On her first night, she didn’t want to be late.
Frazer smiled, taking in that she was wearing suitable shoes and the pretty tea dress. It was the first time he’d seen her wear her hair down as she usually had it tied back in a ponytail when she was working in the shop. His heart reacted seeing her, but he was sure he hid it well.
‘Ready to dance?’ Frazer said to her.
Lily clasped her bag and stood there trying to appear confident. ‘I am.’
Dougal smiled acknowledgement to Lily as he continued to chat to the clients, and then Frazer led her through to the main studio just off reception.
As she walked away, she glimpsed the ballgowns hanging up.
‘We’ll begin with some basic moves so that I can gauge your ability,’ Frazer said walking into the studio.
It was beautifully lit with twinkle lights illuminating part of it, Christmas lights adding a colourful glow, and the mirrors reflecting everything. The stage was unlit, and a few chairs were set up near the door. Lily put her bag down on one of the chairs and looked around her in awe at the size of the room.
‘Wow! This is amazing. It’s like a ballroom.’ She’d intended having a look at the studio’s website prior to her assessment, but the day had been so busy and she hadn’t had the time to take a peek.
Frazer smiled and gestured around the room. ‘I love it. I think it has the potential to hold balls, parties, dance events galore. A friend of mine, Wil, a well–known professional dancer, opened a dance studio earlier this year. It’s in a small town further up the east coast. Not too far. His studio is a fair size, and I’ve been up to see it, and he’s been down here. He’s already planning to have his own dance shows, and I’m thinking of doing something like that too.’
‘You’ve certainly got the facilities,’ she said, gazing around, trying not to notice how tall Frazer was standing beside her when she saw them reflected in the mirrors.
‘Wil held a dance show, a wonderful performance, in a theatre near here. The theatre is owned by Huntly and Niall.’
‘I’ve heard about the theatre, though I’ve not seen it. Mirren is friends with Ivy, the owner of a craft shop near the theatre. My aunt says that the theatre has some great shows advertised for the festive season.’
‘I’d like to use our stage to put on shows. There’s potential to do so many fun things here at the studio.’ Frazer sounded enthusiastic.
‘The Christmas Eve ball certainly sounds like fun.’
Frazer pointed to a poster pinned up near the door.
She went over and read the highlights. ‘A night of ballroom dancing. Dress to impress in ballgowns and eveningwear.’
Frazer walked over and stood beside her, looking at the poster. ‘Bookings are soaring. Soon, there won’t be any tickets left.’
‘I noticed that the pink dress has been sold already, and the other two are reserved.’
‘I wrote the reserved notes and put them on the dresses so that they can be admired and used as examples of what type of ballgowns to wear for the dancing.’
For some reason he didn’t elaborate about the pink dress being sold, and Lily didn’t pry as she assumed it had been bought by a client in the studio.
‘Right, let’s get started,’ he said. ‘You said that you’re interested in learning ballroom dancing.’
‘Yes, especially a classic waltz.’
‘My favourite dance. I love a waltz.’
Lily started to relax a little and her nervousness was replaced with excitement.
‘But first, tell me a bit about your dance experience. The classes you attended when you were a wee girl.’
‘I learned some ballet moves, pirouettes, plié, chassé.’
‘Those could come in handy. Are you quite flexible? Do you stretch? Keep fit?’
‘I like to walk a lot. Most lunchtimes, I enjoy wandering around Edinburgh before I have lunch with Mirren in the shop. And I walk in the early morning, whenever I can really. I don’t keep fit per se, but I do practise some stretches, especially as I sit at my sewing machine a lot of the time, or sit while I’m embroidering. So I offset that with stretching and going for walks. But I have a busy schedule, and that seems to keep me fit.’
‘Core fitness is valuable. Walking and stretching. Excellent. We’ll start with that. But if you begin attending the lessons, you may find that you start to tone up parts of your body — arms, thighs, not that I’m suggesting you need toning. You look lovely.’
Lily tried not to blush.
‘Anyway,’ Frazer continued. ‘What else did you learn? Was it only ballet lessons?’
‘No, modern stage as well. Dancing around, interpreting the music, taking part in our own little performances. But I tended to keep to the background rather than be centre stage. I loved helping with the costumes. I was into my dressmaking when I was a wee girl.’
‘Well, that gives me an insight into your capabilities. So, let’s see how you manage to pick up the steps for the waltz. We’ll begin side by side. I’ll show you first, then you have a go.’ Frazer stepped forward, to the side, closed his feet together, then stepped back, to the side, and finished with his feet together.
Lily stood there and watched him.
‘This is the box step,’ he said. ‘The basic steps of the waltz. It’s easy, but the tricky bit is, you have to think about the sequence of steps. Once that clicks, you’ll be ready to waltz with me.’
‘Okay,’ Lily sounded keen to have a go. ‘I think I did some sort of box step for modern stage, but it’s been so long since I’ve had dance lessons.’
‘Follow me. Step forward with your left foot...’ Frazer started to teach her how to do the steps.
At first, Lily got them mixed up, then she got the hang of it.
‘Be aware of your posture, Lily. Head up, as you would in your ballet class. Keep your core strong.’
Something clicked, and she remembered how to hold herself properly.
‘Excellent,’ he said. ‘Now don’t look down. Don’t watch your feet. Look ahead, shoulders back but relaxed, and keep your back straight. Hold that posture strong.’
‘This feels like a workout,’ she said.
‘You’re just using muscles you haven’t exerted in a while.’ He went over to the music system. ‘Let’s try the steps to music, see if you can feel the rhythm of the waltz.’