When Liv zipped herself into the dress, it was a perfect fit and made her feel like a princess. As she stepped out from behind the curtain, tears sprang to Carol’s eyes. ‘You’ve foundthe one,’ she gasped.
Liv smoothed a hand over the ivory silk. She loved it so much, but knew her mum couldn’t afford the dress, and neither could she and Jake. ‘I’m not so sure,’ she mused, trying to find fault with it. ‘Maybe it’s a little tight on the waist.’
‘Are you sure? It looks perfect to me.’
Liv looked longingly at her reflection in a mirror. ‘I’ll try a few more dresses on first, to help me decide.’
As they continued to browse other stores, Liv spotted a simple white sheath dress in a charity shop window. It was pretty and elegant, though didn’t light up her senses. The price tag said forty-five pounds. ‘That one is lovely,’ she said, tapping the glass.
Carol stared at it for a while. ‘It is… but it’s secondhand, love.’
‘There’s nothing wrong with that,’ Liv said firmly. ‘And it’s crazy to pay a lot for something I’ll only wear for a day. I’ll go inside and try it on.’
The dress was a little too large on her shoulders. Liv didn’t feel the same love towards it, but it was a practical choice. She stepped out of the changing room to show her mum. ‘I really like it,’ she said.
Carol smiled. ‘It does look very nice. But don’t let the cost sway you. Choose the one that’s right for you.’
Liv tugged down the skirt and put her hands on her hips. ‘This is the one. Mission accomplished.’
At home, she adjusted the shoulder seams so the dress fitted better,and she got it dry-cleaned. However, as she walked down the aisle with Jake, Liv couldn’t help yearning for the dress she didn’t buy.
In the hotel suite, Liv ran her hand down Essie’s luxurious dress and she turned around in front of the mirror. This time, she was wearing something beautiful that she truly loved, and she felt like she could float. She held on to her clutch bag and took a deep breath as she left the room.
The dining room was decorated with black-and-gold-striped wallpaper and large gilt animal heads on the walls, including a lion baring its teeth. Liv thought all the overseas publishers might display the same expression when they found out Essie wouldn’t be attending.
Marlon appeared at her side. He looked dapper in a tweed three-piece suit and a tie with piano keys running down it. ‘No Essie?’ he said, in a voice that was quiet by his standards.
She shook her head. ‘So sorry.’
‘Ireallyneed a word with you,’ Marlon said and took hold of her elbow. He led her to the corner of the room.
Liv pressed a hand to the wall to steady herself. The urgency in his voice made her think her pretences had been discovered. ‘Um, yes?’
He lowered his voice even further. ‘I’ve read Essie’s first chapters and I’m confused,’ he said. ‘Her writing is… different.’
Liv felt her earlier confidence ebbing away and found it tricky to meet his eyes. ‘Essie wrote them very quickly,’ she said, thinking how feeble it sounded.
‘It’s fresher.’
‘What?’ Liv lifted her chin. ‘It is?’
Marlon nodded. ‘It reminds me of Essie’s first couple of books.She was good but still finding her way as a writer. Her work had raw edges but shone. These chapters read like she’s falling in love with Georgia again.’
Liv could see how Georgia’s decline had been mirrored by Essie’s own. She was helping both women back onto their feet, and could feel Georgia’s personality shining through, in the manuscript and within herself. ‘I actually think she’s doing that,’ she said.
‘Will you tell her what I said? Spur her on?’ Marlon said. ‘Come on, let’s eat.’
When Liv followed him to the dining table, she wore a Cheshire cat grin, feeling her work had his stamp of approval.
Laughter tinkled around the huge table and Liv heard several accents she couldn’t place. Marlon waved a hand to announce their presence, and fifteen pairs of eyes pivoted towards them.
‘I’m afraid Essie can’t join us tonight,’ Marlon boomed. ‘However, we’re blessed with the company of her delightful assistant, Liv.’
Several smiles around the table stiffened.
She stood helplessly until Meg circled a finger in the air. ‘Livvy, do join me.’
Liv gratefully sank into a chair next to her.
