‘This is cashmere,’ said Marilise, going to sit down again. ‘It will keep you warm enough to get from the car to the house.’ I stammered out my thanks, which she waved away. ‘I am enjoying myself far too much to be thanked. Now, shoes. What do you have with you?’
‘Just the black heels you saw before.’
She clicked her tongue in annoyance.
‘They are smart, and you have looked after them, so they will have to do, but I’m not happy about them with this shawl. I don’twant you wearing a black one, though, not right for Christmas, not right at all.’ She pondered for a moment. ‘Very well, this once you can wear the black shoes with the shawl, but you must promise me that you will buy some suitable shoes as soon as possible, for the next time you wear it. It is yours now, of course, the dress and the shawl.’
I gasped.
‘I couldn’t accept them, thank you, but I can’t.’
‘Well, of course you can. Two items of clothing that fit you perfectly and are doing no one else any good. Now get changed, quickly please, I am ready for my morning nap.’
Still unsure that I should keep the dress, but not wanting to keep Marilise from her sleep, I quickly put my own clothes back on and helped her into bed. I crept from the room, even more excited now for the evening ahead.
The taxi came just before the rest of the household sat down for supper, so Nick and I had a send-off committee. I had taken extra care when doing my hair and make-up, wanting to do the beautiful dress justice. I tried to stay calm as I thought about the evening ahead and remembered how it had felt to kiss Nick. As I walked down the stairs to see the little group gathered at the bottom, a smile spread across my face, even as I felt rather shy at the unaccustomed attention. Marilise nodded in approval, although she gave a delicate wince when her eye travelled over my shoes. Nick grinned broadly and stepped forward to take my hand as I descended the final few steps.
‘You look wonderful,’ he said. ‘That colour is stunning on you.’
Astrid seemed to be lifted from her anxious brooding and insisted on taking photographs of us together.
‘I know we’re making a terrible fuss,’ she said to me. ‘But we don’t often get dressed up like this and it’s such fun to enjoy it – even if I personally will be spending the evening folding socks.’
‘You’re making me feel like a teenager off to my first prom,’ grumbled Nick.
‘Indulge your stepmother,’ said Astrid, smiling and reaching out to straighten his collar. ‘You both look so lovely.’
‘Come here,’ said Nick, and pulled her into a hug, then took her phone and snapped a selfie of the two of them. ‘If you insist on photos of me with beautiful women, then there’s another one for your collection.’
Sofia and India were entranced by my dress, touching the beading gingerly and asking me to spin so that my skirts flew out, and Sofia conceded that it wasalmostas pretty as her snowflake costume.
The taxi ride was about twenty minutes, and Nick held my hand on his lap the whole way as he told me who I might meet at the party.
‘There’s Minty – Araminta – of course, who you’ve already met.’
‘Yes, I’m looking forward to seeing her again. We’ve been texting a lot and she’s hilarious; it’s making the whole wedding thing feel more manageable.’
‘Yes, she’s great, but I still don’t want to marry her, a fact which her parents, Colonel and Mrs Montgomery, have studiously ignored over the years. Expect them to look daggers at you tonight, but know that Minty and I are eternally grateful. I’ve never produced a girlfriend before, pretend or otherwise, and I’m hoping it will put the nail in the coffin of their ambitions.’
I bit my lip, unsure as to exactly what he had meant –pretend or otherwise.This whole idea had started as a façade to put the Montgomerys off but, given our growing closeness,it now had more than a slight ring of truth to it. But were we ‘girlfriend and boyfriend’? I wasn’t sure, and I wouldn’t have questioned it at this stage, normally.
‘Are you okay?’ asked Nick.
I gave myself a little shake. The best thing to do was enjoy myself: the party, the music, the dress, the company and try not to pick it apart unnecessarily. Paulo’s death had taught me well enough thatwhat will be, will be, no matter how we try to control things.
‘I’m great,’ I said. ‘And in terms of people to look out for, it’s likely that my sister Steph and her chief bridesmaid Dorothea will also be there, who you already know, of course. All I can say in advance is: sorry.’
I grinned and he smiled back at me.
‘Looks like we’re in for an interesting evening.’
SEVENTEEN
The taxi pulled up in front of an enormous, elaborate house, with pointed arches, spires and carved finials. The neat, low hedges flanking the drive were flecked with white fairy lights and there was an enormous wreath on the dark blue front door, but otherwise no Christmas decorations. We stepped out of the car and the front door was opened to admit us. A lugubrious man in a black tailcoat and white gloves greeted us by name and led us through the house, past closed doors and console tables groaning under enormous displays of flowers, until we heard the murmur of voices. He stood in front of a door, his hand on the knob and intoned:
‘Pre-concert drinks are being taken in the White Drawing Room.’
He then opened the door.
