Penny looked like the real deal in her Perfect Moment one piece, as she elegantly glided down MĆ©ribelās Piste des Animaux. Sheād booked a table at her favourite lunch spot, Le Clos Bernard, to celebrate Valentineās Day with Ted.
Penny had practically been on skis since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. Ted, however, was having a little trouble… Heād always been so sporty: rugby, tennis, cricket, sailing – you name it. So how was it that five days in and he hadnāt progressed beyond snow plough?! At least Penny was a patient teacher and he had someone as gorgeous as her to endlessly zigzag towards.
He caught sight of Le Clos Bernard and a vat of steaming mulled wine being dished out, and knew it had all been worth it. He could blame a few glasses of rosĆ© for wobbling on his way home, or even convince Penny it would be romantic to hitch a lift on the horse-drawn carriage…
What are Spring mornings for if not for this? thought Penny luxuriously. Her blue silk pyjamas, patterned with morning stars and dancing swallows, kept her warm and cosy as she listened to the patter of April showers against the window. Her golden Labrador snoozed quietly at the bottom of the bed. She could hear Ted rustling about in the background. Heād been awake for hours, disturbing the peace. What on earth was he up to? āPenny?ā she heard him say. His voice sounded oddly high-pitched. Penny opened one sleepy eye to find him next to her with a coffee. His hand was wobbling so hot black liquid slopped down the sides of the mug. āTed, are you alright?ā asked Penny, frowning. āAbsolutely fine!ā he replied, his voice getting more and more squeaky. āOkā¦ā she said, puzzled. āActually, there was something I wanted to ask youā¦ā He coughed nervously and got down on one knee. Penny was suddenly very very awake. Her hand flew to her mouth. āPenny, will you marry me?ā said Ted, holding out the most beautiful ring Penny had ever seen. She felt dizzy with joy. Finally, after many tears and nervous giggles, she managed to struggle out a āYes!ā Ted looked like he might faint with relief himself. āI had this grand plan of how I was going to propose,ā he said, ābut I couldnāt wait any longer! I hope this is ok?ā āThis is perfect,ā said Penny, ājust perfect.ā And she meant it.
Penny couldnāt stop staring at the ring on her finger. Ted had designed it himself and she loved it. They called their friends and family to tell them the news and listened to their delighted shrieks. Then, after more tears, and more laughter, they sat in their pyjamas and cracked open a bottle of champagne for breakfast.
The day had finally come. Penny was going wedding dress shopping with her mum. Sheād picked three she loved and booked appointments with Kate Halfpenny, The Mews and Alice Temperley.
It was hard to tell who was more excited. Pennyās mum was in her element: she had been bombarding Penny with pictures of wedding dresses since Ted and Penny had announced their engagement. Sheād promised Penny sheād get her some earrings commissioned as a wedding present, all Penny needed to do was choose the dress…
Penny was overwhelmed. There were so many beautiful things: champagne, dresses in every shade of cream, ivory and white, veils, shoes ā and then her motherās teary, beaming face. She adored the light chiffon and the cut of the Kate Halfpenny dress sheād chosen, the neckline of a French designer dress at The Mews that would look stunning with a pair of drop earrings ā but then she fell in love with a Temperley dress ā there was something a little different about it.
All three dresses were stunning and she couldnāt ask the one person whose opinion mattered to her. How was Penny going to decide?
