Breaking the Rules (26 page)

‘You hit the nail on the head, my love,’ was his response. He looked at James, and murmured in a lower voice, ‘I have a feeling we’re going to need some security, and as quickly as possible. Unless I’m mistaken, there’s going to be a feeding frenzy with the press. I need her protected at all times, James, and I don’t care what it costs.’

‘I agree. She was absolutely magnificent, and the press are already crazy about her. You can see in their behaviour here this afternoon that she’s got the “it” factor. I’ll get onto it right away. The best plan is for us to get you your own car, and I’ll provide a proper driver and an assistant—the second chauffeur, in other words. Both are ex-SAS. They’ll shoot first and ask questions later.’

‘Oh, my God!’ Larry exclaimed, looking at James in horror. ‘Are you serious?’

‘I’m only kidding. But they’re as tough as steel, and that’s what you need. Experienced operatives who have the training and the guts, and can spot danger before anyone else is aware of it.’

Caresse hugged M, and clung to her arm. ‘You were the dream girl, the supermodel, and I was bursting with pride, as if I was your mom. Congratulations.’

M hugged her again and laughed. ‘I’m glad I made you proud, Caresse. And I’m proud of you, the way you’re running Farantino’s.’

Looking pleased by this unexpected compliment, Caresse grinned. ‘Luke’s pleased, and a bit surprised. He said he’d no idea I was such a good businesswoman.’

‘I’m glad he realizes just how valuable you are. You’ll do well with the studios, Caresse, and Kate is keeping him on to do all the photographs of me for this collection and prêt-à-porter, that I do know.’

‘Yes, he told me. Here’s Kate now, coming our way.’

‘There you are, sweetie!’ Kate exclaimed as she joined them. ‘What are you doing hiding away in this corner? Jean-Louis wants you to come over and have a glass of champagne, perhaps something to eat. Also, he would like to introduce you to a few people.’

‘Of course, Kate. Oh, is that my lot? Over there.’ She waved to Larry, Geo and James, who were hovering near the window. ‘Oh, look, isn’t he a darling? He’s blowing kisses to me. That’s so sweet. I’d better go and give him some real ones.’

‘It’s nine o’clock, darling,’ Larry said, after she’d hugged and kissed him. ‘Aren’t you done in?’

‘Not really,’ M responded, linking her arm through his. ‘More like exhilarated, on a big high. Surely
you
know what I mean, my lad. Isn’t it like that after a first night?’

‘It is indeed, and you were fabulous, my darling M. A real star.’

‘Not a star, no. That’s you, and only you, Laurence Vaughan. I am just a model.’

Changing the subject, Larry said, ‘Peter Addison is a nice chap, and he seems to have the press eating out of his hand—’

‘But what?’ she interrupted.

He laughed. ‘You know me too well already, Mrs Vaughan. I was going to say I just hope he’s not working you too hard. You’ve been photographed nonstop from four thirty to eight thirty, first at the Grand Palais and now here. Aren’t you tired?’

‘No, I’m fine. Honestly, darling. Anyway, they’ve a right to get something for all that money.’

‘What money?’

‘The money they’re paying me. But I can’t go into it now. Later, I’ll tell you later. Let’s go and rescue Geo from that plump chap who’s almost but not quite making her his dinner.’

O
n Tuesday 30 January, M was hailed as the biggest new supermodel in years, guaranteed to join the ranks of the top girls. The day after this showing of the Tremont spring/summer collection, her picture was in every newspaper across the world.

Two days later, on 1 February, Jean-Louis Tremont and the House of Tremont invited the entire press corps to attend an afternoon champagne reception. The idea behind it was to meet M on a more casual basis, talk to her and take candid photographs. It was soon after the arrival of the press that Kate Morrell announced that their new discovery, M, had been recently married. Within minutes, she entered the reception room holding hands with her groom, the famous actor Laurence Vaughan. That he was also a movie star added to his appeal.

The press went wild, took the couple to their hearts, and in a sense sent them spinning off into another stratosphere. Overnight they became the new ‘in’ couple. The interview at the champagne reception at the House of Tremont was glamorous, charming, and also touching because it was obvious they were so much in love, and it immediately went online. By the end of
the first ten days of M’s modelling career, that interview had been viewed by a hundred million people on YouTube, and M and Larry had become international phenomena overnight. Remarkably, they remained calm, held themselves together, coped with everybody in a pleasant way; they were never impolite or temperamental. In other words, they were highly professional and took everything in their stride.

M’s family were happy for her immense and sudden success, and somewhat amused by all the fuss. Certain members of Larry’s family acted in a similar way; however, a couple of them were nasty about it, making catty remarks to their mother. Miranda called it a disgusting display of vulgarity; Edward, eaten up by jealousy, said that his brother had found his true forte at long last—as a celebrity married to a model.

Larry, as independent as always, did not care what his family thought, or anyone else for that matter. All he cared about was the wife he adored. His priority was keeping her safe. He was more than satisfied with James Cardigan. From the very first, James had been extremely capable, devoted and efficient, and he had put two ex-SAS soldiers in charge of them; both were crack officers at the top of their form: tough, experienced and dedicated. Fortunately, M and Larry found them compatible. They genuinely liked Stuart Nelson and Craig Lowe, who were extremely alert and always on the ready, but also polite. Most importantly, their presence comforted Larry, made him feel secure about M’s safety.

By the end of February, a number of things had become their daily routine. M was busy with the last of the prêt-à-porter shows, and completing Luke’s photographs of her in those clothes.

Larry had finished learning his lines and was impatient to start filming at the beginning of March, tired of having too much time on his hands.

On the last Sunday in February, Larry and M were sitting relaxing in their suite at the Plaza Athénée Hotel. M was going over her schedule for the week, and Larry was flipping through the script, looking at sides on which he had made notes. Suddenly a thought struck him, and he looked across at her.

‘Will you be able to come to London with me when we move the production over there in April?’ he asked, instantly dreading the thought that they might be separated if M had commitments for Tremont in Paris.

‘Yes, I will, Larry,’ she answered, turning the pages of her engagement book which was on the desk. ‘I just have one thing outstanding, and that’s the charity fashion show I promised Jean-Louis I would do. It’s on the twenty-second of March, and then I’m free as a bird.’

‘I’m glad, darling, I couldn’t bear it if I had to leave you here and go alone to London.’

‘Neither could I, and listen, after that I’m actually free until July. That’s when Jean-Louis will be showing the fall/winter collection, both haute couture and prêt-à-porter. And incidentally, Luke told me the other day that Kate Morrell wants him to photograph the shows. He’s thrilled, so you can imagine how Caresse feels. Except that she misses him, I think.’

Larry’s dark brow lifted, and he asked, ‘Is there something developing between those two?’

‘I’m not sure,’ M answered with a laugh. ‘Maybe it’s too soon after Frankie’s death—but then again, maybe it isn’t. And I would think she’s a bit lonely in New York, although the studio is booked solid, Luke says, and there’s Alex to look after.’

Larry burst out laughing. ‘He’s just turned eighteen, for heaven’s sake!’

‘I thought he was younger,’ M muttered, and closed her engagement book. Changing the subject, she said, ‘Will you mind living in a very girly-girly flat in London?’

‘No, as long as it’s your girly-girly flat.’ He threw her a sceptical
look, asked, ‘Is it really like that? All frilly and full of pink? I don’t

think I believe you, M. You’re not the type.’

‘What type am I?’

‘The delicious type,’ he answered, flirting with her. He put the script down, stood up, walked over to where she was sitting near the window, and put both hands on her shoulders. Bending down, he kissed her on the cheek, and said, ‘How about a little siesta, pretty one?’

‘When you say siesta, are you using it as a euphemism for a little of the hot stuff?’

‘Absolutely and most definitely.’

‘Then I’d love to have a siesta, mister.’

‘I wish we could have a siesta every afternoon,’ M murmured a short while later, snuggling up to Larry, putting her arm over his body. ‘I always feel wonderful afterwards, so relaxed and happy. Do you think that’s how the Spanish feel after their siesta?’

Larry chuckled, held her close to him, loving her so much. She could be so quaint at times. He said, against her hair, ‘I think the famous Spanish siesta is a little different to ours, my love. But I can’t be certain, of course.’

‘Neither can I. Well, never mind. Listen, Larry, I’ve been meaning to ask you something. How long will Stuart and Craig be with us? Looking after us, I mean?’

‘Funny you should ask, I was discussing that with James yesterday afternoon. He agreed with me that we should keep them on for the next few months, until everything normalizes. If it ever does. James has the feeling there’s always going to be enormous press interest in us, paparazzi chasing us, that sort of thing. But the excitement about us will probably taper off by the end of the year. The chaps don’t bother you, do they?’

‘No, not at all, and they’re ever so discreet, so nice—unobtrusive, actually. I was just curious, that’s all.’

‘I can only say I’m glad we’ve had them around this past month, M. It got chaotic at times, with the overwhelming press turnoutswherever we went.’ Putting his hand under her chin, tilting her head, he looked into her face and asked, ‘So, how does it feel?’

M stared back at him, looking puzzled, and asked, ‘I’m not sure I know what you mean.’

‘Being you. The famous, mysterious M. The supermodel, born overnight. Some are even calling you the new Gisele Bündchen. Tall, thin, gorgeous. The darling of the paparazzi. The most photographable woman in the world. The favourite face on magazine covers.’ He grinned at her a little cheekily. ‘I’m glad to see it hasn’t gone to your head, missus.
Yet.
’

‘Gone to my head? It’s actually gone to my feet! Which I’m constantly standing on for twelve to fourteen hours a day at the moment.’

‘You must be tired, sweetheart, it’s been pretty tough,’ he said sympathetically, even though he knew she had tremendous energy and stamina.

‘Yes, it has. And yet it hasn’t, because I’ve…
enjoyed
it. Enormously. Anyway, what about you? You’ve had quite a month yourself, Larry. But I suppose it’s a bit different for you, because you’re used to fame. You come from this famous family, theatrical royalty they call you…all of you great Vaughans. And have you forgotten that you became a star overnight? When you played Hamlet on the stage when I was ten and you were twenty-two. Younger than I am now, actually.’

He burst out laughing. ‘By a year, that’s all.’

‘And your first movie was a huge, fantastic hit, and you became a film star overnight. And you’ve never looked back. So how did
you
feel then?’

‘I guess I felt sort of surprised, M, I really did,’ he answered honestly. ‘I was a bit taken aback after the success of
Hamlet.
I thought, bloody hell what’s happened to me? And then I thought, this is bloody amazing. Because you see, I hadn’t put fame into the mix when I became an actor. Because you don’t do it for the fame, do you?’

She remained silent.

He gave her a long, questioning look, a brow lifting. ‘Or did you do it for that?’

‘Don’t be silly! I did it to
prove
something.’

‘
Exactly.
That’s why I did what I did. What I still do. And for the joy of doing the work. It’s never fame or money, although the latter’s useful. I’ve often pondered on my work, and I act because I love it, and I want to meet the challenge of it every day. I have to sort of…grab it by the scruff of the neck, and shake it, and say I
can
do this job. And I will succeed. And so I do.’ He paused, released her gently, pushed himself up on the pillows, and continued, ‘Anyway, you come from a famous family, too; you’re accustomed to fame.’

‘It’s a different kind of fame, though, and it was never
mine.
It was, and is, theirs.’

‘That’s right, but it’s still fame.’

‘You began this conversation by asking me how I felt, and you know what, I feel great, Larry. I wanted to prove to my family that I could make it without them, and I did. And without the use of their name. I feel a lovely sense of gratification because I did it all by myself. Well, look, I know I had help from Larry and Kate, and Frankie before them. But I’ve done the actual work, and I didn’t rely on the family name.’

‘Correct. But did you really think it would be so big and so fast?’ he now asked, marvelling all the time that she had been so normal, so cool about everything.

She shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t. And thank you for being there, and for watching my back.’

‘I’ll always watch your back, my darling. And thank you for watching mine.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘When I had lunch with James yesterday, he told me that you insisted on hiring him and paying him. I was so touched you wanted to protect me, made such an effort.’

‘I love you, and I certainly understood that if you turned up drugged in a New York hospital, everything would be misinterpreted. That there would be a scandal. I wasn’t going to let
that
happen.’

‘He still has the cash in the envelope. He wants to return it.’

Taken aback, she exclaimed, ‘Tell him to put it in the bank. It was his fee. I was happy to pay it. Anyway, I’m sure he gets more than that for his services.’

‘Probably. I said we’d take them to dinner tomorrow night.’

M looked at him in surprise, her face filling with excitement. ‘
Them?
Is Geo coming to Paris?’

‘Yes, she is, tomorrow afternoon. She’s been staying with James’s parents in London.’

‘Oh, that’s wonderful, I can’t wait to see her.’

‘They’re only staying for a couple of days, and then they’re going to Berlin on business. After that it’s apparently back to London. He’s doing some reorganizing and revamping of his company, and expects to be around until the middle of April. That should please you.’

‘Oh, it does! But what did he say about Geo’s show? The exhibition of her paintings at the gallery in Chelsea?’

‘She’s having everything framed at the moment. All of the new paintings are finally finished, and he told me the show will now be in September.’

‘It’ll be a big success,’ M asserted, ‘whenever it is. But why the delay, do you know?’ A dark brow lifted.

‘Because Geo started a series of brilliantly coloured, offbeat portraits of women, and the gallery owner wanted to include them,’ Larry explained. ‘And also, from what James told me, Geo wanted to be with him in Europe.’

‘I think I’ve seen two of those portraits,’ M murmured, looking suddenly reflective. ‘They’re half finished; at least they were last November. And one of them looked a bit like me…in an offbeat, Art Deco way. She’s very gifted.’