She entered the car and settled down into the soft, leather upholstery. She had no idea where she was going, but she trusted her new Master and new it was bound to be an experience! The driver settled into position and the engine purred into life. Making sure nothing was coming, he smoothly pulled out into the mid-morning traffic. As requested, he stopped the car beside the tube station and placed the black bags into the clothes bank and then once more joined the flow of traffic making its way into the centre of London.
Stephanie was excited and a little apprehensive. Her Master had told her that she was going to have a busy day but hadn't told her what this day would consist of! She watched through the window as the car moved through the West Way and Marylebone Road, passing by the Royal Academy of Music, before crossing over Oxford Street and eventually ending up outside a small, discreet establishment in Great Marlborough Street. Just a couple of hundred yards up the road she could see the establishment of Jasper Conran, a very well known, English designer. The façade of the building the car had pulled up in front was in the classic style, pale and elegant. The chauffeur exited the car and held open the door for Stephanie. He held out a hand to assist her as she stepped out onto the pavement and looked up at a dark navy front door. There was a discreet brass plate beside the door which read "Chantal's". The chauffeur rang the doorbell and within moments it was opened.
"The young lady has an 11am appointment," the chauffeur said to the woman at the door and handing over a small card.
The woman glanced at the card, then smiled warmly at Stephanie and ushered her inside. Stephanie was impressed with the view that greeted her. Deep, wine coloured carpets covered the floor and the furniture within screamed of taste and elegance. She was ushered through what was obviously a lobby area and into a large room with plenty of elegant but comfortable looking chairs. A distinguished looking, grey haired woman entered from between a pair of curtains at the far end of the room and came forward to greet them.
"You are Miss Stephanie, yes?" she asked with the faintest trace of a French accent. "Mr Bourne has been in contact with me regarding your wardrobe. I have the items ready to display to you, if you will please be seated."
As Stephanie took the seat indicated, bemused, the curtains drew back and a young woman entered. She was wearing a stunning dress, form fitting but elegant, made of silk brocade. Somehow, Stephanie managed to stop herself from gaping as she realised she was inside a couturier designer's showroom being shown an array of outfits that were to be for her! The proprietress, for that is who Stephanie realised she must be, leaned over and gave Stephanie a list.
"This is the colour range that Mr Bourne has specified for your outfits," the woman told her. "Please choose which colours you would like for each outfit as it passes."
Stephanie spent the rest of the morning sipping tea and looking at an array of outfits ranging from summer dresses through to evening wear. By the time she had seen everything, she had a complete new wardrobe that included everything she might possibly need from business attire through to casual days out and intimate nights in!
The range of colours that David had specified were all striking. Jewel tones of red, purple, blue, turquoise, jade, etc, and bright colours like the buttercup yellow of the dress she was currently wearing. There were one or two items that he had already specified were to be either a crisp white, or a stark black, but other than that, it was clear he had no intention of allowing Stephanie to fade into the background!
The woman rose, drawing a rather stunned Stephanie to her feet as she did so.
"It is all rather overwhelming, yes?" she asked, smiling.
"Yes it is," Stephanie said ruefully. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me before!"
"Do not worry, Cherie," the woman said. "Mr Bourne is a valued client and I have seen him do similar things on many occasions! I think you have found a good man there!" she said, her eyes twinkling.
Stephanie smiled shyly. This woman, who was so elegant, had a gentle, almost motherly air about her and Stephanie felt subtly reassured in her presence.
An intercom chimed discreetly in the corner of the room and the woman moved over to answer. She exchanged a few murmured words before returning to Stephanie's side.
"It seems, Cherie, as if we must say our goodbyes," she said. "Rest assured that I have your measurements and your new wardrobe will be delivered at the beginning of next week. Now you must hurry, your driver is waiting for you outside," she said and gently ushered Stephanie out.
She walked down the steps in a daze. Couturiers only designed for a very select number of people and their clothes were subsequently extremely expensive. She shuddered to think just how much money this morning's outfit were costing her Master. There was no way she could ever possibly repay him for what he was doing for her!
The chauffeur held open the car door for her and she absently smiled at him as she seated herself inside. She never even noticed when the car pulled away. After a short trip, she realised they were slowing down. A glance outside the window showed her they were in Regent Street and pulling up outside a very smart shoe shop. Once again, the chauffeur held open the door and assisted her out of the car. He walked with her into the shop and beckoned to one of the assistants.
"Miss Day," he told her, "she has an appointment."
The assistant smiled at Stephanie and asked her to take a seat. She then walked to the desk and typed a query into the computer. She smiled as she saw the list scroll down in front of her. Mr Bourne had ordered an extensive range of shoes, from court shoes through to sandals, every day wear to evening wear. There was also an asterisk beside the entry informing her that she needed to let the owner know Miss Day had arrived, which she duly did before moving back to where Stephanie sat.
She explained that Mr Bourne had already placed an order but that the shoes were hand crafted and required detailed measurements. She took out a tape measure and made a number of measurements, including, to Stephanie's surprise, some around her thighs! When she was finished, the phone on the desk rang and she moved to answer it. She listened to the voice on the other end, then said that she understood.
Returning to Stephanie, she asked her to follow her through to the back room. Stephanie rose and followed the assistant through a door discreetly placed in the back of the shop. She halted in amazement at what she saw. The room was lushly appointed with deep red carpet and curtains and walls covered with black, flocked paper. The room was surrounded with shelving, upon which a variety of shoes and boots had been arranged. These, however, were no ordinary shoes and boots!
All of the shoes had stiletto heels of a height well above 5". Some looked like ballerina pointe shoes but with heels that kept them upright and made of either matte black or patent leather. Other had wide ankle straps which were closed with small padlocks. The prevailing colours were black, red and purple.
Stephanie's wide eyed gaze moved to the shelves containing the boots. They ranged in length from just below the knee to top of the thigh. They ranged in style from those lacing up at the front, to side lacing to zips. Again, all heels were stiletto and a minimum of 5" high.
A stern looking woman strode into the room and nodded curtly to the assistant, who silently handed over the sheet of measurements then withdrew back to the shop showroom.
"Sit!" the woman commanded and without even thinking, Stephanie obeyed, sinking down onto a hard, leather clad stool.
"Take off your shoes!" she ordered.
Stephanie reached down and removed her shoes.
The woman moved to the shelves and selected several pairs of shoes and two pairs of boots. She brought them back to where Stephanie was sitting. Relief flooded through her as Stephanie realised that none of the pairs of shoes were those of the ballerina type! They looked incredibly uncomfortable and impossible to walk on. Still, the shoes that the woman had brought with her were severe enough!
The woman gripped Stephanie's ankles one by one and placed the first pair of shoes on her feet. They fit almost like a glove but the woman wasn't done! The shoes were one of those pairs that had a wide ankle strap and in short order, the woman had wrapped them around Stephanie's ankles and secured them. There was a very small gap between the leather and her skin. The woman made a small sound of displeasure and removed the shoes from Stephanie's feet. She repeated her actions with the second pair. These were the same as the first, but instead of a matte black, they were made of patent leather. When the ankle straps were fastened this time, they fit snugly. That pair came off, to be replaced with another pair of the same kind but this time in red leather. Again, the straps were slightly loose and the woman made another sound of displeasure. That pair were also removed, to be followed by the same pair in purple. This pair fit perfectly. The next two pairs were strappy sandals that again fastened with small padlocks. One pair was black, the other a deep purple. Finally, the woman reached for the boots. The first pair rose to mid-calf, lacing up the front. The second pair rose to just under her knee, also lacing up the front. Both pairs came with separate cuffs that locked around the top of each boot. Both pairs fit Stephanie like a glove. Finally, the woman was satisfied.
