‘It’s fine,’ I reassured her, helping her to a sitting position. ‘No rush at all.’
She smiled at me.
‘I have always loved to get ready for parties. When I was young, my sisters and cousins and I would spend hours preparing, purely for the joy of doing it, as much as to look nice, which of course we also liked. We would sometimes have a drink of schnapps, weakened down with water on my mother’s instructions, fruity in the summer and minty in the winter. Wewere impossibly giggly before that, anyway, and it made us worse.’
‘It sounds like fun,’ I said. ‘My friends and I, sometimes, never even made it out because we were having so much fun getting ready.’
That felt like a long time ago.
‘Well, we will not do that tonight. The Westmans throw very good parties, and I wish to go.’
‘Of course.’
I helped her out of bed and through the steps needed before she could get dressed, then when she was ready in her robe and underwear, she directed me to the wardrobe.
‘I have a gown I have been looking forward to wearing again for many years, Laura. You will find it on the right-hand side, the red one.’
Carefully, I moved aside the fragile clothes until I found a beautiful, beaded, cranberry dress and lifted it out, heavy on its hanger.
‘This one?’
‘Yes! That is the one. I wore it once to an ambassador’s reception and she was pea green with envy in her navy silk. Carefully now, don’t snag the beading.’
I helped her into the dress, and she leant on me as I did up the zip and hook and eye fastening, then tugged gently until it sat straight.
‘It’s a perfect fit!’ I said with delight, helping her to the mirror so that she could admire herself.
‘Of course,’ she said calmly. ‘My body may not work the way it once did, but I have not lost or gained an ounce. Good. Now, my make-up.’
I watched as she applied powder, eyeshadow, mascara and lipstick, each in heavy golden packaging, their glamour putting my plastic-cased drugstore buys to shame. Maybe it was time Itreated myself. Then I brushed her hair and put in two circular clips she handed me.
‘I am all but ready,’ she said. ‘Now, what about you?’
‘It won’t take me long,’ I answered. ‘Don’t worry, we won’t be late.’
‘If only I did not need so much help,’ she sighed. ‘We could have got ready together with some schnapps, like the old days.’
I smiled.
‘Maybe we can do something about that next time.’
‘Maybe, now go, go, or we’ll be late.’
She waved me away as she took a few steps to an armchair and retrieved her phone. I hurried across to my own room, checking my watch. Only fifteen minutes before we were supposed to leave. Twisting my hair into a quick knot, I jumped in the shower, then pulled on the simple black dress and low heels I had with me for such an occasion.Probably even more boring than the ambassador’s navy silk, I thought, and grinned wryly at myself in the mirror as I ran a brush through my hair and swiped on some make-up. I looked presentable, and that would have to do well enough.
‘I’m ready,’ I said, going back into Marilise’s room.
‘Hmm,’ she said, looking up from her phone and surveying me. ‘The dress is classic and fits you well, but you lack a certain pizzazz, my dear. Don’t you have any other jewellery? The necklace is pretty but so simple for a party.’
I put my hand to the single teardrop pearl that I always wore.
‘It was a present from my husband,’ I replied, the familiar lump coming to my throat. ‘I prefer to wear it.’
‘Very well, but here.’ She took her stick and moved the few steps to her dressing table, waving away my offer of help. ‘I’m sure I have something – ah, yes!’
She took out a side hair comb with a dazzling spray of jewel flowers and beckoned impatiently at me to sit on the stool.Steadying herself on my shoulder, she put down her stick and with a deft movement, swept my hair up at one side and pushed the comb in firmly.
‘Now look,’ she commanded, pointing in the mirror. ‘Much better.’
