Free A Perfect Proposal by Katie Fforde Page A

unlikely.’ Milly made a doubtful face, obviously not wanting her friend to get too worked up about something that had such a slim chance of succeeding.
    ‘I know, but I like a challenge, as you know.’
    They exchanged glances in the mirror. ‘Well, if anyone can pull something like that off, it’s you. You’re so resourceful.’
    ‘Thank you. And think how my family would sit up and take notice of me if I was responsible for making them all rich.’
    ‘They don’t deserve to be rich! And they don’t deserve you either. You’re far too nice to them.’ She paused and gave Sophie a little nudge with her elbow. ‘Now, if you’ve put on your eyelashes, let’s hit the town.’
    Sophie gave a little skip and then wobbled precariously in Milly’s high heels. ‘I’m so excited to be going out in New York! Even if it is only going to a boring old art gallery.’
    Sophie’s philistine attitude to modern art was an old jokebetween them and Milly ignored this remark. ‘Come on, you, and no putting off the buyers. If anyone asks you what you think of a painting, just say it’s amazing.’
    ‘Or bewildering.’
    Reasonably confident that Sophie wouldn’t deliberately do anything to embarrass her, Milly manoeuvred her friend out of the apartment door and locked it.
    As they travelled through the streets of New York in a taxi (paid for by Milly’s company) Sophie said, ‘It’s just like when we were at school, isn’t it?’
    ‘You were at school, I was at college. I didn’t blag my way into pubs when I was underage. Just because you were tall you could get away with it.’
    ‘I’m still tall,’ said Sophie primly, ‘and I still get ID’d.’
    ‘You will here, too. You’re not allowed to drink under twenty-one.’
    ‘I know. Fortunately I have a passport. Oh look! Broadway’s all lit up! This is so exciting! I can’t believe I’m here! Now we’re together it’s even more like being in an episode of Sex and the City !’
    Milly chuckled. ‘You might not have had as much fun being a nanny. You wouldn’t have been in the city, would you?’
    ‘No, a little way outside, I think, but I would have had a roof over my head, and food. I could have got on with my mission.’
    ‘Well, you still can.’
    Sophie hesitated. ‘I know. But I do need to find a job so I can stay here a bit longer than just a holiday. I need to earn some money to support myself.’
    Milly bit her lip. ‘I think finding work might be difficult.’
    ‘Everything’s difficult!’ declared Sophie. ‘But few things are impossible.’
    ‘Huh!’ said her friend. ‘That sounds like the sort of slogan you’d find embroidered on a cushion.’
    ‘It was on a little plaque actually,’ said Sophie, chuckling.
    Once at the gallery in Chelsea, Milly introduced Sophie to a few colleagues. Although they were friendly and welcoming, they were all busy and soon disappeared off. Sophie was left on her own.
    She made her way through the crowds of people, none of whom seemed to be looking at the art, until she found herself within viewing distance of a picture. She examined it carefully, giving it the benefit of the doubt, but no, she didn’t understand it, and she wasn’t sure if she even liked it.
    She tried a few more paintings, by different artists, but none of them moved her. She realised, sadly, that she really only liked paintings of things she could recognise.
    Having just interpreted the signs to the bathrooms, and made her way to the corridor that led to them, she suddenly spotted an elderly lady. Something about her was wrong. Sophie stepped out of Milly’s stilt-height shoes and ran.
    As she rushed past the few people in the way to reach her, Sophie thought that if she was in a film, this scene would be shown in slow motion. Fortunately, in a sort of reverse rugby tackle, she reached the old lady just before she collapsed.
    ‘Got you!’ she said, skidding to a halt and catching her target. Then she lowered her gently to the