Читать книгу The Naughty Bridesmaid - Diane Redmond - Страница 5

Chapter Two

Victoria and Ben were planning a really posh wedding. Ben and his best man were going to wear top hats, striped trousers and tails. Every time Ben said the word “tails” Sophie giggled and Mango wagged his own short little tail.

“Not his kind of tail,” said Ben, pointing at Mango’s little curly tail. “I’m talking about coat tails.”

“And what’s Victoria going to wear?” asked Sophie.

“I’m not allowed to know that!” said Ben.

“You’ll have to ask her that yourself.”

Sophie decided that the best way of having a secret conversation with Victoria was to go for a walk with her – and Mango, of course. With Mango on his lead they set off for the common.

“I made my dress months ago, before Ben proposed to me,” Victoria told Sophie.

“Wow! Did you know he would ask you to marry him?” Sophie asked.

“I knew he would – it was just a question of when he would,” Victoria answered confidently.

“I didn’t even know you could sew,” Sophie added.

“Oh yes, I love sewing!” Victoria exclaimed. “Before I started modelling I was at art school studying fashion design. We had to do everything there – from cutting out patterns to sewing – then we had to model the clothes we had made.

“Wow!” gasped Sophie, deeply impressed. “So what have you designed for your wedding dress?” she cried.

“Well, you know the glittery tops embroidered with beads that have been all the rage this winter?”

Sophie nodded. She knew exactly the tops Victoria was talking about because she’d seen her favourite girl band wearing them on TV.

“I’ve made one of those in padded cream silk, decorated with beads and embroidered with cherubs.”

Sophie’s big blue eyes opened wide in amazement. “Wasn’t that difficult?”

“It wasn’t difficult but it was very complicated,” Victoria admitted. “Then I made the skirt which is silver organza over white silk.”

“Have you got a veil?” Sophie asked.

“Yes, a very long one – and a diamanté tiara. Oh, and you’ll have a beautiful golden headband,” Victoria added.

Sophie was SO excited she danced up and down.

“Please, please tell me what else I’m going to wear, Victoria,” she begged.

“WOOF!” grumbled Mango, as Sophie’s legs got tangled up in his lead.

“Wait until we get to the common and let Mango go, then I’ll tell you,” laughed Victoria as Mango tugged impatiently at his lead.

They found a bench by the river, where they sat down. Victoria then took a sketchbook and pencil out of the rucksack she was carrying. As Mango scampered at the waters’ edge, yapping at the ducks, Victoria quickly sketched out Sophie’s bridesmaid dress.

“It’ll have a tight cream bodice trimmed with gold embroidery and a long billowing skirt of gold organza,” she explained.

“It looks beautiful!” gasped Sophie.

“You’ll wear your hair long and loose and have little satin slippers on your feet,” Victoria added, as she sketched in Sophie’s face and blonde hair.

“I’m going to look like an angel!” laughed Sophie.

Hearing Sophie’s excited voice, Mango came rushing up and started to nibble her shoelaces.

“I think he wants to play,” Sophie said.

Victoria laughed. “I don’t think Mango’s as impressed with the dress as you are!”