Sinful Nights: The Six-Month Marriage/Injured Innocent/Loving

When Claire shook her head, she positively beamed.

‘Well, you couldn’t have chosen a better time to look, because we’ve just taken delivery of our winter stock. Let’s get the basics out of the way first, shall we, and then we can concentrate on the “fancies”. What does your own taste run to? Any particular make?’

Claire shook her head, unable to tell her that it was so long since she had bought herself anything that hadn’t come from a chain store that she had no idea what to ask for.

‘I like the outfit you’re wearing,’ she managed at last. ‘But I’m afraid …’

‘This is an Escada, and they do a lovely range. It’s one of my favourites. I’

ll take you into our separates section and you can have a look. I’d say you were only a size 10, if that, so you won’t be hard to fit.’

Half an hour later, Claire had chosen a slim-fitting grey skirt with a beautifully detailed silk satin blouse in cream, with padded shoulders that gave her a silhouette that she privately thought was almost film-star-ish. To go with it, the saleswoman suggested a sweater with a bird motif on it, in toning greys and creams, with a touch of blue to go with the very ‘county’ tweed jacket in the same range of colours.

Clare loved them all.

‘It really is a “go anywhere” outfit,’ the saleswoman told her, and Claire knew that she was right.

Having settled on them, the woman produced half a dozen day dresses in a variety of styles and colours, and Claire allowed herself to be persuaded into one in bright red, with a diamanté-speckled bow at the throat and rows of demure pintucking down to a dropped waist and slightly flared skirt. It would be a lovely Christmas day dress, and luckily it was the kind of red that she could wear. As this, too, was added to the growing pile, she tried to stifle her growing feeling of guilt. Surely Jay had never meant her to spend so much money, but it seemed that he had, because now the saleswoman was directing her towards the evening clothes section of the shop, which stretched a long way back from its small shop window.

‘I think this would suit you,’ she told Claire, producing a pretty blue knitted dress with a design on it in sequins and bugle beads. ‘This Frank Usher is dressier—great for parties, and then we’ve a range of cocktail suits.’

In the end Claire found she had added three more outfits to the growing pile.

‘Now, all that’s left is your wedding outfit. Had you anything in mind?’

When Claire shook her head, she smiled. ‘Well, I have! I’ll show it to you.’

She came back with an outfit which she showed to Claire. It was pure silk, with a pleated skirt and a blouson top, and a ribbed waistline and cuffs. On the white background was printed a design in soft blue and terracotta, and Claire fell instantly in love with it.

‘Try it on,’ the woman urged. ‘It really is lovely.’

It was. The pleated skirt swayed and clung with every step; the buttons up one side finished mid-thigh so that every movement gave an enticing glimpse of leg. The knitted cuff on the waistband of the top ensured that it fitted snugly, and bloused properly, and Claire knew that if she searched for a month she could never find anything as attractive. But the price …

She was just about to refuse it when Jay and the girls walked in. She saw Jay in the mirror and noticed the way he came to an abrupt halt and just stared at her.

His stillness worried her, and she turned quickly to the saleswoman. ‘It’s lovely, but I’m afraid it’s too expensive. I …’

‘No. She’s having it,’ contradicted Jay flatly. ‘I don’t care how expensive it is,’ he told Claire when she started to object. ‘You’re having it.’

‘You looked very pretty in it, Mummy,’ Lucy informed her when she re-emerged from the changing room. ‘Didn’t she, Heather?’

‘Yes.’

‘We’ve been in a toy shop, Mummy, and they had a doll’s house, and teddies … and everything …’

‘I seem to have spent an awful lot of money, Jay!’ confessed Claire.

‘I should hope so. That’s why I brought you here. Dressing well will be part of your new role, Claire. If I couldn’t afford it, you wouldn’t be here. You’ll need to get shoes, now, won’t you and …’

‘If I might recommend somewhere,’ the saleswoman suggested, overhearing. ‘There’s a very good shop not very far away, and for good underwear, if I could suggest “Understudy”—it’s only four doors away. They specialise in couture underwear.’

Claire could feel the heat crawling up under her skin. It was ridiculous to feel so embarrassed, but she did.

‘Right, them,’ said Jay when everything had been packed and the bill paid. ‘First underwear and then shoes.’

‘Jay, you’ve spent so much already; I don’t need …’

‘What is it? Are you frightened that I might demand some sort of payment?’