CHAPTER NINE
Edinburgh sparkled in the morning light. Frost highlighted the beautiful city, and Lily breathed in the crisp, cold air as she headed out of the bakery and walked back to the dress shop.
The lights in the shop window glowed a warm welcome, and Lily hurried inside carrying a bag containing a slice of lemon drizzle cake for Mirren and a piece of Christmas pudding for their morning tea.
Lily wore a soft white jumper with her burgundy cords and had rushed out without putting her coat on.
‘It’s a brisk morning,’ Lily said from the back of the shop, taking her boots off and putting her pumps on.
Mirren sat at her sewing machine, mending the straps on one of the ballgowns. ‘I’ve nearly finished this dress too,’ she said, as her machine whirred along the seams.
‘I’ll put the kettle on.’ Lily set up the tea and cakes, hearing Mirren make short work of the mending.
‘There we go, another one done.’ Mirren stood up and gently shook the dress, checking the straps, and then hung it on the finished rail. ‘We’ll have our tea and then finish packing up the dresses for Frazer to collect.’ Mirren bagged another ballgown while Lily made a pot of tea. ‘It’s great having you here to help at the shop,’ she called through.
‘I love working here.’ A pang of longing cut through her heart at the thought of leaving in January.
‘You can always pop back for a wee visit,’ said Mirren, assuming there was a high chance Lily would accept the job. ‘Though I’ll understand if you’re too busy with your design work in Glasgow. But it’s not too far to drive over from the west coast.’
Lily’s heart took another hit. This was true, but it might as well have been the other side of the world. Lily had let three years go by without a visit to Edinburgh. Steeped in her dressmaking business, the time had sparked in. Would the same thing happen again if she worked on the new design collection in Glasgow?
‘I told Bert about the job offer,’ Mirren added. ‘He says it sounds like a great chance for steady work in their design studio.’
Lily carried the tea tray through and sat it down behind the counter.
The shop was closed to customers, but a cheery face peered through the window. He waved to them and indicated that he wanted to come in.
Lily went over and unlocked the door.
He stepped inside, shivering from the cold, wearing only his long–sleeve dance top and trousers.
‘I know you’re closed, Lily, but Frazer is busy teaching extra foxtrot and waltz lessons at the studio this morning and then during lunchtime,’ said Dougal. ‘I’m fully booked as well during lunch with my cha–cha–cha clients, so I’ve just run down to pick up the ballgowns.’
‘This is Dougal,’ Lily said to Mirren, introducing them.
Dougal smiled brightly. ‘Nice to meet you, Mirren. Sorry I’m a wee bit early.’
Mirren smiled, pleased to meet Dougal as she’d heard so much about him. ‘You look frozen, Dougal. Would you like a cup of tea?’
Dougal rubbed his hands together for warmth. ‘I wouldn’t say no. I should’ve put a jacket on, but I just ran down while I wasn’t busy. Victoria is teaching the tango. Lots of folk are booked in for lessons today.’
Mirren went through to pour Dougal a cup of tea while Lily showed him the ballgowns. ‘We’ve bagged most of them and it’ll only take a few minutes to pack the others.’
Dougal admired the dresses on the rail. ‘These are sensational. Clients are going to love them.’ Then he glanced at the tea tray, specifically noticing the cakes. ‘Is that Christmas pudding?’
Lily offered him the slice. ‘Yes, help yourself.’
Dougal picked it up and smiled at Lily. ‘Cheers for this. I love Christmas pudding.’ He bit into it and nodded as Mirren came through with his tea.
Lily gave Mirren a look not to say anything.
Mirren put his tea down and tried not to laugh as Lily hurried through to the kitchen and came back with a piece of shortbread.
‘I can taste the cinnamon,’ said Dougal, savouring the taste. ‘But I think they’ve added a pinch of nutmeg. I taste orange zest and ginger. And it’s rich with raisins and sultanas. I always put plenty in my Christmas cake, along with other mixed fruits like cherries.’
Mirren blinked. ‘You make your own Christmas cake?’
‘Every year for the past several years. I took patisserie lessons and cooking classes. I would’ve ventured into chef work if I hadn’t been so passionate about dancing.’ He shrugged. ‘But it comes in handy for cooking tasty meals for myself. I live on my own, but I make sure to cook delicious meals when I have the time.’
‘I’ve made my Christmas cake,’ Mirren told him. ‘I’ve iced it too.’
‘Traditional royal icing?’ said Dougal.
‘Yes,’ said Mirren.
‘Oh, perfect. That’s what I use. I make a chocolate cake for New Year and top it with smooth, rich, dark chocolate ganache.’
‘I’ve never perfected my ganache,’ Mirren admitted. ‘So when I make a chocolate cake I use the buttercream icing filling to decorate the top.’
‘That works well too,’ Dougal agreed. ‘What about your Yule logs?’
‘Well...’ Mirren began.
Lily ate her shortbread, took a sip of her tea, and started packing the remainder of the ballgowns while her aunt and Dougal exchanged recipe techniques.
As they chatted happily, hitting it off right away, Lily put seven bags down near the window ready for Dougal to take away with him. They were bulky rather than heavy, but Dougal was fit and strong and she surmised he’d be able to carry them on his own up to the studio in one load.
‘And I add a pinch of chilli to my chocolate mix to add a touch of pizzazz to the flavour,’ Dougal elaborated to Mirren.
‘I’ve never tried that, but I’ll have a go,’ said Mirren, enjoying chatting to Dougal.
Dougal drank down the remainder of his tea. ‘I’d better be heading back to the studio. Thanks for the tea and Christmas pudding. I’ll see you and Bert at the ball,’ he said to Mirren. ‘And I’m expecting a dance,’ he told her playfully.
Mirren giggled. ‘I’ll mark you on my dance card.’
Dougal smiled at Lily. ‘I’ll see you tonight. I noticed the schedule. You’ve got a lesson at seven with Frazer.’
Lily nodded, and watched him lift up all the bags in one go.
‘Can you manage those?’ Lily said to him.
‘Nae bother,’ Dougal insisted, and as Lily opened the door, he hurried away up the street loaded with the ballgowns.
Lily locked the door.
‘Dougal’s a nice young man,’ said Mirren. ‘And he sounds like he really knows his cooking.’
‘I like Dougal,’ Lily agreed. Then she looked at the empty rail. ‘Have we finished all the ballgowns?’
‘Nearly. Just two more that need minor repairs. Sequins sewn on. That’s all. We’ll keep them here at the shop. There’s a link to our shop on Frazer’s website. People can buy the ballgowns here or from the studio. But we’ve got to get on with sorting more party dresses.’
Lily lifted two dresses from the to–do rail. A gold vintage cocktail dress, and a tea dress.
‘The cocktail dress is missing a few sequins,’ Lily assessed, checking it over. ‘I’ll tackle that. While I’m working with sequins, I could finish the repairs to the two ballgowns.’
Mirren nodded, happy with this plan. ‘I’ll mend the cap sleeves on the tea dress.’
Lily selected strips of gold sequins from their little haberdashery, and began sewing them on to the cocktail dress where there were gaps in the design.
Mirren threaded up her sewing machine with a fine red thread that matched the tea dress.
They chatted while they worked.
‘I was planning to go to the Christmas craft afternoon at Ivy’s shop tomorrow,’ said Mirren. ‘I usually lock up the shop for a couple of hours while I attend the craft afternoons. Do you want to come with me?’
‘I’ll watch the shop for you,’ Lily offered. ‘You won’t need to close it.’
‘Ivy’s craft events are great fun. There’s knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery. All sorts of crafts. Would you not like to join me?’
Lily hesitated, thinking that now she was here, she could look after the shop and Mirren wouldn’t need to close it, even if it was only for the afternoon.
‘It’s always a laugh as well as crafting,’ said Mirren. ‘And there’s tea and cake. Ivy’s husband, Bob, works as a baker and he supplies the cakes.’
The more Lily heard, the more she was tempted. ‘But you’d need to close the shop.’
‘That’s no way to live, Lily. There has to be a balance between work and fun. The Christmas crafting is going to be more like a party. Come with me,’ Mirren urged her.
‘Okay. I will. I’ll bring my embroidery. And maybe buy wool for a new knitted hat for the winter.’
Mirren reached under the counter and pulled out a large box filled with various balls and skeins of yarn.
Lily laughed. ‘Is there anything left in Ivy’s shop,’ she joked.
‘You know what I’m like for my knitting. I’ve made Bert’s Christmas jumper. A gorgeous cream Aran cable knit.’ She reached into the box. ‘But this is gorgeous sky blue yarn with a hint of sparkle in it. It’s double knit, and knits up well if you want to make a woolly hat. I’ve two 100 gram balls, so it’s enough to knit a hat and make a pompom. Or you could use this sparkly white for the pompom.’
Lily liked the yarn immediately. ‘I’ll take a ball of the blue yarn and white for the pompom.’
Mirren sat the yarn on the counter. ‘Do you have a pattern?’
‘Yes, and knitting needles.’
‘I’ll let Ivy know you’re coming along.’ Mirren sent a message on her phone.
Ivy replied:
The more the merrier. Bob is baking frosted cupcakes galore. Tell Lily that Heather wants to talk to her about her dressmaking .
Mirren told Lily. ‘Heather is the wardrobe manager for the costumes at Huntly and Niall’s theatre. It’s up the road from Ivy’s craft shop. We’ve been friends since I met her at the craft afternoons.’
‘What do you think Heather wants to know about my dressmaking?’
‘I would think it’s for the theatre costumes. I’ll phone her.’
‘Yes, I’m interested in the lovely ballgown–style dresses that Lily designs,’ Heather explained. ‘I saw the feature on Frazer’s dance studio website. I’m planning the costumes for shows we’re having in the theatre early next year. One has a dance theme and we need beautiful ballgowns. I thought maybe Lily could be commissioned to design and make them. They need to be light, like the pink and blue chiffon dresses she designed.’
Lily heard what Heather was saying and nodded.
‘My niece is here in the dress shop. Do you want a wee word with her?’ Mirren offered.
‘Yes, put her on. I’m working in the theatre today.’ Heather sounded delighted to chat. In her forties, wearing her auburn hair in a messy bun, and her spectacles dangling around her neck from a beaded chain, Heather managed all the costumes for the new theatre. An expert seamstress, Heather made a lot of the costumes herself, but with so many new shows in the planning, she wanted to buy some as well for the leading cast.
Heather and Lily chatted about the dresses.
The wardrobe department was tucked at the back of the theatre where there were rails filled of costumes for the shows. Lily could hear the bustling activity in the background. An afternoon matinee performance was taking place on stage. Those involved were hurrying to make costume changes.
‘I noticed Frazer commented that you make your own patterns,’ said Heather, unperturbed by the buzz in the wardrobe area.
‘I do. I design everything myself, from the patternmaking to the actual dressmaking,’ said Lily.
‘I’m looking to buy ballgowns that match the theme of the new show. Have a peek at the theatre’s website. You’ll see the forthcoming shows listed for the New Year. I’m busy making costumes and would love to buy three ballgowns like yours. They need to be light, chiffon mainly, in pale blue, pink and pastel tones. With glitter. Do you use fabric shot through with sparkle? Or just sew on sequins?’
‘I use both. I’ll check out the theatre’s website,’ Lily told Heather.
‘I’ll chat to you tomorrow at Ivy’s shop,’ said Heather.
Lily handed the phone back to Mirren.
‘I know Lily is helping you at the dress shop,’ Heather said to Mirren. ‘But those ballgowns of hers would be perfect for the theatre show. However, there’s no pressure if Lily is too busy. I’ll understand.’
‘We’re all busy at this time of year,’ said Mirren. ‘But let’s chat tomorrow.’
‘Yes, I’ll see the two of you then.’
The call ended on an exciting note.
Lily checked the theatre’s website. ‘It’s a lovely theatre.’ She saw that it was owned by two wealthy young men, Huntly and Niall, around the same age as Frazer and Dougal. The list of shows extended from the current Christmas shows into performances for the New Year.
‘Bert and I went to one of the shows a few weeks ago. It was great. The auditorium is far bigger than I’d imagined. Inside it’s retained a lot of the original styling from the past.’
‘I don’t want to work as a costume maker for the theatre, like Heather, but I’d be interested in designing a few chiffon ballgowns for the shows.’
‘It would get your name into another circle of publicity,’ said Mirren. ‘And although those dresses look gorgeous, we both know you can make them without too much work.’
Lily nodded thoughtfully. Of all the dresses she’d made, this style was so easy for someone with her dressmaking skill to run up in her sewing machine.
With thoughts of designing dresses for the theatre, and attending the Christmas craft afternoon, Lily continued sewing sequins on the cocktail dress.
By the afternoon, the daylight had faded, creating a cosy feeling to the shop, lit with the twinkle lights and the Christmas tree.
Lily put the gold cocktail dress in the window display, along with the tea dress Mirren had mended.
Mirren tidied up and put her coat on. ‘I’m away. I’ll see you in the morning. I hope your interview goes well at the studio tonight.’
‘I’m excited about it,’ said Lily. It had been a busy but happy day. Now it would soon be time for the interview and her dance lesson.
Lily went upstairs to freshen up and get ready.
She put a red wrap dress on, knowing it was comfortable and easy to wear, and the colour felt festive.
With time to spare before her interview, she looked through the kitchen cupboards and decided to have a bowl of Scotch broth for a warming and tasty dinner. Taking it through to the living room, she ate it while sitting at the window by the glow of her Christmas tree, and gazing outside.
It hadn’t snowed all day, but as the day darkened, everything sparkled with frost in the cold December evening.