May followed him in and then stopped abruptly. Her eyes and nose were assailed with so many new sensations that it made her feel dizzy. It seemed to her that she smelt crimson velvet and green silk; a woman passed leaving behind her a perfume like sunshine on clean linen and all around her light sparkled off glass and silver with the sharpness of freshly cut lemon. Then her senses cleared and she was able to distinguish counters of polished mahogany and shining glass, bearing rolls of coloured ribbon and piles of gloves and silk scarves and lace collars; and beyond them what she thought at first were real women dressed in lovely gowns, until their stillness told her that they were simply models. It was like Mrs Kelly’s picture book come to life.

Mr Freeman said, ‘Well, how do you like my shop?’

‘It … it’s like a fairy land, sir …’

‘Fairy land? That is exactly it. I want to create a place where people can come, not just to buy things, but to enjoy a new, delightful experience. I intend this to be what is being called a department store. The idea is that people will be able to obtain everything they require under one roof. So instead of going to the dressmaker for a new gown, then to the milliner for a hat, then to the shoemaker for shoes and then perhaps to a different shop to buy a shirt for their husband or a toy for a child, they will be able to get it all in the one shop.

Mr Freeman beckoned to a pretty young woman in a white blouse and a dark-blue skirt. ‘Elsie, this is May. She has a commission from my wife to buy ribbons and lace to revive an old gown. Will you show her what we can offer, please?’

Elsie bobbed a curtsy. ‘Of course, Mr Freeman.’

He looked at May. ‘I’ll leave you with Elsie and come back later. Get whatever you need.’

Elsie gave May a friendly smile. ‘Let’s see what we can find you, shall we? Over here.’

For the next half-hour May was in heaven. Together, she and Elsie compared colours and textures in a variety she had never dreamed existed. When she explained what it was that she wanted to do, Elsie entered into the spirit of the enterprise and they unrolled ribbons and formed them into bows of different sizes, until finally May was satisfied that she could bring her design to life.

‘What about sewing thread?’ Elsie asked, and there were further choices to make.

‘And needles?’

‘No, thank you. I have needles.’ Nestling at the bottom of May’s box was a small wallet covered in blue silk and containing a selection of sewing needles, a parting gift from Mrs Kelly.

They had just made the final decisions and Elsie was wrapping her purchases when Mr Freeman returned.

‘Have you got all you need?’