‘Would you want a sit-down do, or people standing around eating canapés?’ asked Meg, who had her own list.
‘People will have travelled, lots of them are staying, I think they should have a proper meal,’ said David, who liked nothing better than to feed people.
‘I agree,’ said Antoine. ‘We will be in the orangerie, after all.’
‘I’m doing a new mural, or at least a new bit,’ said Félicité. ‘One for you and Papa.’
‘Nothing too outrageous, please, chérie,’ said Antoine.
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ said Alexandra. ‘I think you should have a free hand.’
After Antoine, David and Henri had gone off to do other things, the women remained, sharing another pichet of rosé and a plate of macarons – Meg’s first attempt at making them. There was still important planning to be done.
‘I’ve done some sketches for the dress,’ said Lizzie. ‘Obviously we won’t get fabric until Alexandra is completely happy with the design.’
‘I just want something very simple,’ Alexandra began.
‘And chic,’ went on Lizzie.
‘Long or short?’ asked Vanessa. ‘You’d look lovely in either.’
‘I think you should wear a long dress,’ said Stéphie, ‘with a crown.’
‘So do I!’ said Alexandra, glad to fit in with Stéphie’s ideas.
‘And me,’ agreed Lizzie. ‘I’ll make a toile. I’ve got time.’
‘What’s a toile?’ asked Stéphie.
When it had been explained that a toile was a version of the dress in cheaper fabric so it could be fitted perfectly, Stéphie said, ‘Can I have it afterwards?’
‘Of course you can,’ said Alexandra. ‘We can take it up a bit.’
‘What about bridesmaids’ dresses?’ asked Félicité.
Alexandra overheard a small gasp from Lizzie and realised it would be far too much work for her to make them as well.
‘Can’t I wear the one I wore for Grand-mère’s wedding?’ said Stéphie. ‘I love that dress! Do I have to have something different?’
‘Did you like the dress, Félicité?’ asked Lizzie nobly, probably hoping the answer would be yes.
‘It was all right,’ said Félicité. ‘I don’t mind wearing it again.’
‘I was really sorry to miss seeing you in the ones you had for Penelope and Jack’s wedding,’ said Alexandra. ‘But only if you’re sure …’
Félicité hadn’t been as excited to have another wedding to plan as Stéphie had, although she had enjoyed the way Alexandra’s friends had drawn her into the group. ‘I’m sure,’ she said.
‘So you and Félicité will have dresses,’ said Alexandra. ‘What about my English bridesmaids?’
‘I’m sure we can buy dresses,’ said Meg. ‘How do they put it? Prêt-à-porter?’
‘Ready to wear?’ said Lizzie. ‘Would they be nice enough?’
‘The shop where we had our dresses made in Nice had some nice things,’ said Félicité. ‘My mother recommended the shop so of course it was terribly expensive.’
‘No need to worry about that, I’m about to come into a fortune!’ Alexandra couldn’t help laughing. It was all so crazy. ‘We can go and look and if they’re not nice enough, we’ll try another shop. Now, can you pass the macarons? They are awfully good, Meggy.’
‘It was difficult to get them off the paper but I am quite pleased with them,’ said Meg, inspecting the pale green circle she was holding.
