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books balanced on their heads. As far as Orlando was concerned, things were getting just toosilly, so he headed off to the hotel pool.

    â€œI don’t think I’ve been this excited about a show since my first ever one,” laughed Tallulah. “I’m so glad that things have worked out like this.”
    â€œAs long as there are no trip-wires, I think I’ll be just fine!” giggled Poppy.
    â€œLet’s empty that bag of Orlando’s,” said Berry, laughing.
    By the evening, everyone was feeling tired but confident that they had a lovely collection to showcase the next day. They decided to go out to an ice-cream parlour to celebrate and treat themselves to some delicious sundaes.

Chapter Eleven
    MIDWAY THROUGH THE next morning, with the show only hours away, they packed all their wonderful creations, including the accessories, into tissue-lined boxes and called down to the lobby to order three taxis to take them over to the Carlyle Hotel, where their show was due to start later that day.
    When everything was ready, in an effort to forget their nerves, Poppy and Berry decided to take a peek at Clara’sbridal show from the wings. It was a heavenly display of romantic white and candyfloss-coloured gowns. There were metres of tulle, silk organza and taffeta, plus duchesse satin galore and the most gorgeous flowers. Even though the dresses were stunning, Poppy still thought that none of them were quite as wonderful as Saffron’s wedding dress had been.

    Clara Hughson came on stage at the end of her show to a standing ovation. She thanked all her models, assistants and seamstresses, and then she thankedeveryone for coming and encouraged them to stay for the extra part to the show.
    â€œI think you are in for a lovely surprise. Some young designers have really caught my eye and they are about to delight you with a display of their own designs. The show, ladies and gentleman, is called ‘Freedom’. I think it speaks for itself.”
    The audience clapped and cheered and the photographers got into position. The main lights dimmed and the spotlights shone. Then some very fast pop music started up.

    Poppy was first on, opening the show in a cute ivory-white shift dress, embroidered with autumn leaves, teamed up with flat mid-calf-length boots and her mum’s daisy hat. She had an absolute ball posing at the end of the runway and had to be reminded to make her way off stage so that Berry could come on! She tried to remember everything Tallulah had shown her about how to walk on a runway, but as soon as she was out there she forgot all the tips and just walked naturally. This seemed to delight the crowd and the photographers, who were all cheering her on.
    Snap!
Snap!
went the cameras again as Berry came on in her amazing bright-green Big Apple dress. It had a simple boat neckline and a tulip skirt. Berry wore it with black leggings and flat pumps. The crowd roared with approvaland Berry got totally into the walk and the posing, complete with hands on hips and a flick of her fabulous red hair, which looked incredible with the vibrantly coloured dress.
    Poppy and Berry made their changes quickly, with help from Saffron, Bryony, Delia and even Clara herself, and each time they came on in their simple but stunning designs, they received a rapturous reception from the crowd and the photographers kept on clicking. The audience gasped with surprise and delight when Tallulah made her entrance and sashayed downthe runway in a pretty appliquéd skirt and peasant blouse combo, accessorized with Holly Mallow’s fabulous jewellery.

    For the finale, Poppy appeared in her Liberty dress – inspired by her trip to the Statue of Liberty. She stepped elegantly down the runway with her arm outstretched, holding a bouquet of flowers in place of a torch, which she then presented to Tallulah. The photographers clicked non-stop and Poppy smiled and posed so much that her mouth went numb.

    The