I know he’s not on the rebound from Gigi, because he’s told me so. But I don’t want to move in with him for the wrong reasons, because it’s expedient, or even if it just seems that way. So marriage isn’t anything that we’ve talked about and I don’t want him to feel forced into it by Moss and Dinah’s romantic dreams.

He’s watching me with a smile as I clutch the gown. He mouths, ‘I love you’ at me, and then he covers his eyes. ‘I don’t want to see it yet,’ he says. ‘I want you to surprise me.’

KIM

I’m in Betty’s parlour, wearing navy stilettos and a Jean Muir navy jersey dress with plenty of stretch, hopping from one foot to the other because my toes are crushed together, tortured and squashed unnaturally into tiny cones of leather, hurting like they’ve never hurt before.

‘Kim, don’t be such a baby,’ Annabel says briskly, flicking her pale hair away from her face. ‘Are you ready? One more time!’

For some reason, Mercia and Betty, who I normally think of as my friends, find this all very amusing, but Annabel is unsympathetic. She starts the music again, issuing orders.

‘Go! Swing your hips, Kim! Don’t slump! Keep your head up! Strut, don’t mince! That’s better! Keep going! Aim for the window! Stride, stride, stride, stride … No, no, no. That won’t do at all. Watch me!’

I’m ruing the day that Betty got rid of the kilims because I would happily break my ankle at this moment so I’d never have to swing my hips again.

‘I’m just going to put the kettle on,’ Betty says, taking pity on me, and I gladly kick off my navy shoes and slump next to Mercia on the sofa.

To my surprise, once the shoes are off and I’ve propped my feet on a stool in the shape of a carved elephant, my mood improves and life immediately starts looking up again.

‘This is my reputation on the line,’ Annabel explains, by way of apology. ‘The whole world will be watching us!’

Not the whole world, but fashion archivists from museums in Japan, the USA, France and the UK have all expressed an interest in Dinah’s Dior gown, a gown which I am told changed fashion forever.

I can’t say I’m surprised. Thanks to Fern, I already know the incredible power of a frock.

As I rest my feet, I notice that Betty has one of our invitations on her mantelpiece.

Fern Banks Vintage and Cato Hamilton Auctioneers.

You are cordially invited to a charity vintage designer fashion show and auction in the West Yard, Camden Lock for Refugee Aid.

Lots include Christian Dior’s ‘Bar’ Suit ‘New Look’, 1947 from the collection of Mrs Dinah Moss.

Viewing from 10 am to 5 pm

Fashion show and auction from 7 pm