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and really, who could argue with a statement like that?
    Amber left the shop five minutes later, the ring on her finger, the amount having been split between two credit cards and a cheque.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ the sales assistant had said, ‘lots ofour ladies do this all the time. One of our regular ladies keeps buying pieces from the same collection and she tells her husband she picked them up on eBay for fifty bucks apiece.’
    Amber had smiled, hadn’t given anything away, although she hoped the assistant wouldn’t recognize the Winslow name, wouldn’t gossip to anyone about how she couldn’t tell her husband how much she was spending.
    Although she was sure Richard wouldn’t mind. She was just trying to prove to him that she could be responsible with money. That she didn’t have to immediately and automatically buy everything she fell in love with, without thinking about the cost.
    Amber has just finished spritzing herself with perfume when the doorbell rings. She reaches the door at the same time as Lavinia, waves Lavinia away with a smile and opens the door to find Julian and Aidan standing on the doorstep.
    ‘What a wonderful position,’ the taller of the two, Aidan, says as he introduces himself and walks inside, looking up and down and around the foyer before turning back to Amber.
    ‘I love that you’re on the top of this hill,’ Julian says. ‘We were just saying how jealous we are of your views.’
    ‘But you’ve got that divine beach house right on the water.’ Amber smiles, leading them in and taking them into the formal living room. ‘The article in the Gazette had the most wonderful photographs. Isn’t the balcony off your bedroom right over the water?’
    ‘Well yes,’ Julian admits. ‘It is rather wonderful. But what do you want us to do for you?’
    Amber shrugs, because the truth is she hadn’t really even thought of employing a decorator until everyone in the League started talking about Amberley Jacks and how they were coming to town and how desperate everyone was to use them.
    Amber had always done the house herself. She and Richard used to go to estate sales to pick up pieces – a nineteenth-century armoire that stood in the family room, some beautiful French needlepoint rugs that in fact they are standing on now.
    She had kept the house fairly neutral, and had always been happy with it, but when Nadine, one of the League’s queen bees, had turned to her and said, ‘Of course you must be getting Amberley Jacks in to see you,’ Amber had nodded and said, ‘Of course.’
    And now here they are, examining her living room. ‘I just thought maybe you could give me some ideas,’ Amber starts vaguely. ‘I quite like this room, although maybe it could do with some curtains. Yes. I’d love your help with the curtains.’
    Julian and Aidan both stand up and turn slowly around, each of them echoing the other with their hands held softly beneath their chins in a silent prayer.
    ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’ Julian takes a deep breath and looks excitedly at Aidan.
    ‘I am.’ Aidan smiles.
    ‘We’re thinking…’ Julian pauses as a slow smile spreads on his face. ‘Lavender!’ he announces with a flourish.
    ‘Yes! Lavender!’ Aidan says. ‘It would be fabulous in here.’
    ‘A gorgeous soft lavender on the walls, and then we need to bring this whole look up to date.’
    ‘What about my sofa?’ Amber asks meekly. ‘Would this go with lavender?’
    ‘Ugh no.’ Aidan looks at the sofa with horror. ‘But I’m thinking a wonderful rich-plum sofa. Very modern. It would make this room very fun. Very now .’
    ‘Oh yes.’ Julian claps his hands together with excitement. ‘Plum is my favourite. And then bookshelves. You need some detail.’ He turns back to Amber. ‘Mrs Winslow, can I be honest?’
    ‘Call me Amber, and yes, you can be honest.’
    ‘These new houses, whilst wonderful, are boring, boring, boring.’
    ‘Yes,’ echoes Aidan. ‘Dull, dull,