‘We’ll have to think about clothes,’ said Alexandra.
‘Right!’ Meg agreed. ‘We’re not turning up at Vanessa’s looking like poor relations.’
‘Or poor fellow students Vanessa met on her cooking course,’ Alexandra agreed.
‘Let’s look at the invitation again,’ said Lizzie. ‘We’re asked to arrive at teatime on the Friday.’
‘So we’ll need something to wear for dinner that night,’ said Alexandra.
‘And clothes for the following day. Then it’s the party on Saturday night,’ said Lizzie.
‘Fancy dress would be easier in some ways,’ said Alexandra. ‘Think of those trunks of clothes I’ve got in the attic.’
‘Tea gowns, morning gowns, things like that?’ asked Lizzie. ‘I see your point. In those days you knew what was expected. But I’m sure it’s just evening clothes we need to worry about. We can just wear slacks and jumpers during the day, surely.’
‘As long as we have shoes we can go for walks in, we’ll be fine,’ said Alexandra. ‘In my experience, weekends in the country always involve walks.’
‘I must check David’s going to be around for Clover,’ said Meg.
‘You could probably bring her,’ said Alexandra, ‘but she might have to stay in kennels or in the kitchen at night. Would she be all right doing that?’
‘I doubt it,’ said Meg. ‘She’s got so used to sleeping on people’s beds.’
‘I’m sure we could smuggle her upstairs if we had to,’ said Lizzie.
‘I’d rather leave her here with David if possible,’ said Meg.
‘He’ll be up soon,’ said Alexandra. ‘I think he went to see a friend in a play last night, which explains why he was so late home.’
‘Did you hear him come in, then?’ Meg asked.
Alexandra nodded.
‘Is it all right for me to use the phone?’ Lizzie asked. ‘I might give Gina a ring and see if she’d like to see me. I feel a bit guilty that I haven’t seen more of her since I’ve been in London.’
‘She did throw you out on your ear,’ said Alexandra. ‘Not that I mind about that at all! Her loss was our gain.’
A few days later Lizzie was sitting in Gina’s sitting room, her hair newly trimmed. In a bag at her feet was a good haul of remnants from the fabric department of Peter Jones.
‘No need to ask how life is treating you, Lizzie,’ said Gina, handing her a glass of sherry. ‘You look wonderful! Are you in love?’
Lizzie nearly choked. ‘Ah – no! What makes you say that?’
‘The stars in your eyes, darling. Are you sure there’s no one?’
Lizzie took a large sip of sherry and felt she might as well confide in Gina. While her housemates knew some of how she felt it wasn’t a good idea for them to know quite how badly she was smitten. She had her pride and they were already far too keen to try and matchmake between her and Hugo.
‘Well, there is someone I really like but he’s spoken for. And there’s no earthly chance anything is going to change. He’s practically engaged to this perfectly beautiful girl who does modelling.’ Her rueful smile was intended to make it clear there was nothing to be done about it.
‘Oh, a model!’ said Gina, refusing to pick up the signal. ‘That means she’s all skin and bone and flat as a pancake in front.’
Lizzie considered this. ‘Well, she is pretty thin, but she wears lovely clothes.’
‘I bet you’re prettier, and you have a bosom.’
Gina obviously didn’t understand. ‘Clothes look better if you don’t have a bosom and Electra has long hair which she wears up or down. Either way it’s always perfect.’ A sigh escaped her. ‘And she makes me feel childish and immature with my short hair and miniskirts.’ But it wasn’t only that. It wasas if Electra knew how Lizzie felt about Hugo and thought it was ridiculous and pathetic.
‘Skin and bone and behind the times,’ said Gina.
