Author's note: The fun goes on. ;-)

.

Judith winked conspiratorially. "We're going to make Tommy agape!"

Barbara knew that Judith schemed something.

It's going to be a nice hens day today. she thought amused but at the same time still was a little awkward thinking of the costs Judith wanted to absorb. She payed the coffee and yet again sighed in surrender. When a Lynley has set his (or her) mind on something there is no easy way to object.

"You know what, Judith, you're stubborn like your brother."

"Yes, kind of." Judith answerd laughing. "Come on, first thing is that dress for you. I know where we'll find the right stuff."

Judith nearly pulled Barbara through some streets and finally pushed her into an extraordinarily expensive looking small boutique where she was greeted heartily by the shopkeeper.

"Ah, someone comes for my rescue out of dull sewing! Judith! What a pleasure!" The Asian man in flamboyant wardrobe and with an exotic haircut rushed round the counter, gave Judith an exalted cheek-to-cheek air kiss and then turned to Barbara, gracefully stretching out his hand.

"Hello." she said hesitantly.

"Hello, luv, nice to meet you. I'm Pan-Yong."

Barbara was a bit taken by surprise, hit by colours, odour and flittering. He's a butterfly. she thought, shaking his hand and being afraid that he would leave pixie dust on her fingers.

Judith introduced Barbara to him. "This is Barbara. She needs a dress for our New Year's Eve party at Howenstow that will sweep Tommy off his feet. And I know you will have one, Pan-Yong."

While chatting with Judith about the New Year's Eve party, Pan-Yong sized Barbara up.

Then he crossed his arms, put his finger on his chin and sighed. "Hmmm... well... I think, I know, darling. Wait a second." With this he flittered away.

Barbara looked questioningly at Judith who suppressed a laugh.

"Don't ask! But he is the best advisor in this case, you'll see. I bet he'll bring the right dress at once and we're out here in a flash."

Barbara looked around. There were few dresses and evening gowns displayed and all were absolutely different. One could find the little black dress, as simple as possible, and also a something, best described as a peacock vestment, and obviously everything between those extremes.

"He's got millions of surprises in the backstore. I wonder what he will present." Judith said.

"Oh, so do I!" Barbara chuckled.

Pan-Yong returned with two dark green dresses of which he held one against Barbara, shook his head and chucked it carelessly across a table. The other one seemed to answer his notion and he nodded.

"Oh, yes, darling. You have to try this. Shoo! Off with you to the changing room! I'll get us some Prosecco, ladies!" He gently pushed Barbara into the direction of the changing room.

"No objections, Barbara. He knows what he's doing!" Judith laughed.

Barbara stood behind the curtain of the huge changing cubicle and had a closer look at the dress. It was dark green like the emerald she wore.

As if he knew.

But she couldn't find the price tag.

Seems to be unaffordable for me. she thought sadly. I can't let Judith pay that.

Outside Judith sensed that Barbara made no move to change into that dress.

"Barbara, put it on! Remember what I said in the bistro. I mean it!"

Barbara sighed and started to change.

Judith turned to Pan-Yong who was just returning with three glasses of Prosecco.

"Do I understand that we also need some shoes, a handbag and a new haircut?" he smiled with a sparkling thrill of anticipation in his eyes.

Judith nodded.

"Oh, then cheers, luv, we're going to have some joy." He scribbled something and gave it to Judith.

"If she's going to wear this dress, and I know she will love it, take her to Ramon, convey him my greetings and give him this."

Judith knew that Ramon was the hair stylist in St. Ives. The sketch of Barbara's new haircut was simple and showed only little changes in the already existing hairdo.

Not too much. It will please her. Judith thought.

Pan-Yong curiously asked her details about Barbara and Tommy.

"Are they an item?" he asked innocently smiling.

"Oh, they so are." Judith giggled.

"I can hear you, Judith!"

"Ah, change into that dress, Barbara!"

Judith and Pan-Yong went a few steps away from the curtain and lowered their voices.

"It took several years for them to realize it but now..." Judith made a vague gesture meaning that it's indeed a hot relationship.

"What a pity." Pan-Yong sighed. "Your brother is so cute. A shame that he's interested in girls..." He made a mockingly frowning face and they giggled.

"Will she be his Lady Asherton?" he asked bluntly.

Judith looked at Pan-Yong slightly irritated. Sure! was her first thought. Then she tried to imagine them marrying. Judith would have loved to have Barbara as sister-in-law but if Tommy one time would dare to ask she wasn't sure that Barbara would say yes. Barbara would quote all the differences and probably back off. And apart from that it was way too early for that kind of question, so she told Pan-Yong.

"Is it? I think it's always only getting nearer at too late. We're all not growing younger." Then he whispered. "You will pay, won't you?"

They exchanged a look that said everything and then sealed that topic.

"She seems to be a lovely one. I wish him all the best." he chirped and right in that moment Barbara stepped out of the cubicle.

With both pairs of eyes on her she felt slightly embarrased and soothened the green silky cloth wich was already wrinkle-free.

"Sweetheart, you look gorgeous." Pan-Yong bursted out, rushed over to her, handed her a glass of Prosecco and picked here and there at the cloth.

Judith grinned. "Oh, yes, this will make him agape. How do you feel, Barbara?"

Barbara shrugged. Her usual dresses weren't that pleasant next to the skin but also they weren't as expensive as this one probably was.

"Feels good." she answered guardedly optimistic. Indeed, it feels fantastic.

"And it looks good, Barbara, believe me."

Judith asked Pan-Yong if he was satisfied with the choice and he murmured something about the applique that it's not Barbara's style and had to be removed, hummed a little when pulling down the cloth to reveal more of Barbara's cleavage and wrinkled up the hem of the skirt a little. Then he stepped back and nodded.

"Yes. As soon as we all returned from the shoe shop you take her to Ramon and I'll finish this dress and find her a fitting handbag." And with an encouraging smile added "Tomorrow morning you can come and collect it."

"What? Shoe shop? Handbag? Ramon? Who is Ramon? Are you crazy, you two?" Barbara protested.

.

Author's note: If anybody has a problem with how I wrote Pan-Yong, I can tell this: I've once met a young man exactly like this one - a nice, lovely and polite person but indeed a living cliché. And he knew it and he made his fun with it. I've just changed some details and his name for sure and beamed him and his shop to St. Ives.

Just wanted to let you know. I don't want to step on anybody's shoes... err - toes! Hahaha - shoes! Shoes! Barbara needs shoes!