“This is my friend Samantha, and she is desperate for something a little sexy.”

“I am so sorry Carolina isn’t here. She will be so sorry she missed you. She’s with a client,” the salesgirl apologized.

“Well, call her and tell her Samantha Acton is here,” Judy had no problem advising her.

“No, please don’t disturb her. I’m fine. Really.” Samantha examined a clutch bag. “You have lovely things.”

Judy almost lunged at a low-cut pink cashmere wraparound dress.

“Oh my God! I think I’d have an orgasm if I saw you in that.” Judy pawed the dress. “And believe me, I don’t have orgasms all that often.”

Samantha’s mind skipped again to Judy in the pink wet suit and Albert in the harness.

“Would you like to try that on?” The saleswoman asked.

“Do it! Do it! Do it!” Judy began pushing Samantha into the dressing room. “I mean, only do it if you want to.”

Samantha stared at herself in the dressing room mirror. She was slipping into a $6,000 dress that Judy Tremont had picked out for her and that Barry Santorini could possibly then unravel at lunch with the pull string. The entire scenario felt like she had taken the wrong turn into what her mother referred to as “Nouveau Hell.”

“Oh my God,” Judy squealed when Samantha walked out of the dressing room. “If you don’t buy this, I’ll kill myself.” Judy stamped her foot and then turned to the salesgirl. “Wouldn’t Mrs. Herrera want Samantha to wear this around town? I mean, I bet Nicole Kidman and all those movie stars never pay for their own clothes on the red carpet. Well, Samantha is better than a movie star. I mean, if there is New York society right now, you are looking at it.”

The salesgirl nodded. “Is there an occasion you need the dress for?”

Samantha’s interest was piqued. “I’m chairing the Friends of the Whitney luncheon.”

“Plus you know she was featured in Manhattan magazine as a style icon.”

“I think we could work something out,” the salesgirl said.

“I knew it!” Nothing made Judy happier than a shopping coup. “Just one photograph and this will be the ‘it’ dress of the season. Oh,” she added as she pointed to a satin blouse, “can you send that blouse to my house in whatever colors you have? It’s adorable.”

“Certainly. I think it comes in black, white, green, and blue. I’ll send all of them.”

Bill dropped Samantha at her house exactly two hours after the shopping spree began.

“God. I love feeling this accomplished.” Judy gave Samantha a kiss as the doormen rushed out to the car. “Now I can deal with the rest of my day.”

“I had a great time.” Samantha turned to Judy. “I never do stuff like that.”

“Oh, anytime you want to do something really expensive and superficial, just call me.” Judy laughed wholeheartedly.