The Wedding Dress (22 page)

“
I have no idea, Loraine.
”

“
You
—
you didn’t get as far as discussing that with Elinor?
”

“
No. But why are you so anxious to know about my future plans?
”

“
Well, they
—
do affect me too, don’t they? I mean
once you’re married to Elinor, I couldn’t expect to be very welcome in your home and I should have to find
—
”

“
There will never be a time when you’re not welcome in my home, my dear,
”
he interrupted firmly.
“
This
is
your home, until you yourself choose to go elsewhere.
”

“
Oh, Paul
—
”
suddenly she felt the tears rush into
her eyes, just as they had when he paid that tribute to her in the wedding dress. No one
—
not even her father
—
had ever said categorically that she had a home which was hers beyond question or discussion, and the fact that her guardian chose to make her position so blessedly clear moved her beyond description.

It was true
that Elinor might still make the situation
impossible if
she so chose. But, with the feeling that nothing could ever, ever take away the warmth and tenderness of that simple declaration, Loraine ran back and dropped on her knees beside her guardian’s chair.

“
Oh, Paul, how
dear
of you to put it into words like that!
”

“
Darling child, there are certain basic things which need putting into words sometimes,
”
he told her with a smile.
“
It’s neither admirable nor kind to leave such things in any doubt.
”
And, leaning forward, he kissed her, lightly but reassuringly. As he did so, the most comforting conviction came to her that, in a sense, no one
—
not even Elinor
—
would ever really spoil the very special relationship which now existed between them.

“
That
was the really important moment of the evening,
”
she told herself, as she got up and went slowly away to bed.

And, if she decided later that this was a slight exaggeration, due to the understandable emotion of a touching occasion, at least the memory of it lingered pleasantly in the background of her mind.

During the next few days, preparations for the Fete du Roi Soleil assumed a very important place in Loraine’s life. It was evident that the combining of the period of the Fete with the demands of an up-to-the-minute design presented a challenge to artistry and ingenuity which Florian immensely enjoyed.

As usual, he worked largely in silence. But from time to time
—
particularly when things went well and he felt genial
—
he would talk to Loraine, and then he showed the liveliest curiosity about her personal arrangements.

“
So Monsieur Philippe is happy to join us at the Fete?
”
he said.

“
Indeed, yes! He has to go to England on business in between,
”
Loraine explained,
“
but he will return to Paris in good time.
”

“
And if he does not?
”

“
If he doesn’t what, monsieur?
”

“
Return in time.
”

“
Oh, but he
will
!”
Loraine was scandalized at the idea that Philip could possibly be thought capable of failing on such an occasion.

“
The unexpected does happen sometimes,
”
retorted Florian
—
somewhat captiously, she thought.
“
It is as well to make alternative arrangements. Perhaps your guardian would be willing to hold himself in readiness, in case of difficulty.
”

“
I couldn’t possibly ask him to do that, Monsieur Florian!
”
She could imagine Paul’s reactions at being asked to keep himself free as a possible stand-in for Philip.
“
And, in any case, I assure you it won’t be necessary.
”

“
Famous last words,
”
muttered Florian disagreeably, and Loraine found herself thinking that charming Madame Florian must sometimes have a difficult time of it. Though, one was bound to admit, she looked remarkably serene and happy most of the while, on the Florian treatment.

But, faintly annoyed though she was by Florian’s expressed doubts, Loraine decided she would impress on Philip the absolute necessity of being back in good time. She would make a point of it when she saw him before his departure.

She was all the more put out, therefore, when he had to go at unexpectedly short notice and was only able to telephone to say goodbye.

“
I’m desperately disappointed not to see you, Loraine dear,
”
he said, in that tone which made her momentarily forget everything else.
“
But if I make a point of being in London early tomorrow morning, there’s a chance of my being included in one of the most important art shows of the season. You do understand, don’t you?
”

“
But of
course,
Philip.
”
She gallantly swallowed her disappointment.
“As
long as you’re back in good time for the Fete, it’s perfectly all right, We’ll make up for any present disappointment then.
”

“
Indeed we will,
”
he promised.
“
Goodbye for the time being, my sweet. Here’s Mother to say a word to you too.
”

Mrs. Otway then came on the telephone and made her goodbyes in the most affectionate manner,
but with a touch of finality which enabled Loraine to ask quite innocently if she were not returning to Paris later.

“
Oh, I don’t think so, darling. After all, England
is
our home,
”
she reminded Loraine with a slight and charming laugh.
“
We have to spend some time there.
”

“
Of course,
”
Loraine agreed, successfully concealing her relief and satisfaction at the thought that Mrs. Otway would not be on the scene at all when she next saw Philip. Then she repeated her goodbyes, with polite cordiality, and rang off with the faintly guilty and not altogether welcome reflection:

“
Elinor must sometimes have felt exactly like this!
”

She supposed, in consequence, that she might even try to feel a little more indulgent and well-wishing towards Elinor. But it was not possible. Oddly enough, more because of her present connection with Paul than for past injuries, now
half-forgotten
and forgiven.

“
Men are so silly. Even the dearest of them,
”
thought Loraine, in new-found wisdom.
“
Of course, it’s entirely his own business, but I
wish
my darling, otherwise sensible guardian could see that Elinor isn’t really the woman to make him, or any man, happy.
”

She had, however, already interfered more than enough in the course of Elinor’s love life, and she felt exaggeratedly anxious not to say or do anything even remotely unfair to her now. So she held her peace. But it depressed her
so much even to think of Paul being deeply involved with Elinor once more that she tended to push the whole subject into the background of her mind and concentrate instead on the details of the coming Fete.

This was not difficult for, by now, at the salon there was little talk of anything else. Whatever the jealousies and rivalries
—
and they were always legion
—
no one could ever resist taking some sort of part in anything which affected the prestige and success of Florians.

Down to the smallest, most junior assistant in the workrooms, picking up pins, they were gratified and interested because several Florian models would, in Madame Moisant’s phrase,
“
be attending the Fete
”
, in addition to the fact that Loraine
—
and, as it turned out, Gabrielle Florian too
—
were to be included in the exhibition minuet which would be danced during the evening.

“
Though why
they
should be chosen one cannot imagine,
”
Lisette remarked, with a contemptuous little shrug.
“
Loraine is hardly more than a silly schoolgirl, while Madame Florian is almost a middle-aged married woman now. Thirty at least.
”

No one fell into the trap of trying to explain the choice to Lisette. And so she was reduced to sulky silence and some baleful reflection on the fact that the ideal age for those chosen would have been twenty-two, which was her own age exactly.

Inevitably, Loraine saw a good deal of Gabrielle as well as her husband during this time, and she was touched and interested all over again to see the charming relationship between them.

“
Yours must have been a real romance,
”
she said once, when, after a long evening fitting, she and Gabrielle were changing on their own in the mannequins’ dressing-room.

“
Oh, it was!
”
Gabrielle laughed reminiscently.
“
Being in this dressing-room brings it all back so much. Though the odd thing was that, half the time I was here, I thought I was in love with someone else.
”

“
Did you really?
”
Loraine looked interested.
“
But then Monsieur Florian convinced you otherwise?
”

“
Not exactly. I found it out for myself
—
and I thought he was indifferent to me. It was frightful!
”
she declared
—
but cheerfully, in view of the fact that it was all safely over so long ago.
“
I
had to convince
him,
in the end,
”
she added reflectively.

“
That he loved you?
”

“
Oh, no! Apparently he’d been doing that for some time, dear Georges!
”
said Gabrielle, thereby astonishing Loraine who, like most people, simply could not think of Florian by any name but the one which he had made so famous.

“
He thought the other man was the obvious and suitable one, you know,
”
Gabrielle explained,
“
and that he himself wasn’t young enough for me and too
worldly
and all that. But it came out all right in the end. And the other man married someone else perfectly sweet, for which I was very glad.
”

“
Well, if you can speak of him like that, you must have got over him completely,
”
Loraine said with a laugh.

“
Oh, but, my dear, one does!
”
Gabrielle assured her.
“
At one moment you think it just couldn’t
possibly
be anyone else. And then, when the really right man comes along, you simply can’t imagine why you’ve been
so
blind and silly. I think most girls fall in love once or twice.
”

“
And
—
men too?
”
asked Loraine, thinking of Philip imagining that he was in love with Elinor.

“
Oh, I don’t doubt it,
”
Gabrielle declared cheerfully. And Loraine thought what a darling, sensible person she was, and how fortunate that nice Monsieur Florian had got her in the end.

By the time her dress was finished, Loraine could hardly believe that she was to wear anything so breathtakingly lovely. Other Florian models had given her infinite pleasure and pride
—
and the wedding dress had, in some strange way, seemed to affect her whole life. But this semi-fancy
-
dress design was so rich and beautiful and becoming that it was all she could do not to lapse into some sort of pseudo-historical language to fit the picture.

Two or three days before the great evening, Gabrielle and she were taken to the theatre, introduced to their two partners
—
both of whom came from the theatre world and evidently suffered no embarrassment at finding themselves in fancy dress
—
and put through their paces.

It was all very exciting, and the compliments which Loraine received were gratifying in the extreme.

Only one thing cast a shadow over her enjoyment. She had heard nothing from Philip, except for one letter sent immediately after his return to London, in which he told her he had been successful in having two or three of his pictures accepted for the art show which meant so much to him.

She was delighted on his behalf, of course, and fully understood that he must be a good deal absorbed in his own affairs. But he
must
know that she was anxious to know just when he was returning.

Inevitably, Florian inquired presently whether all her arrangements were complete. And when he heard that Philip was still in London, he was extremely annoyed.

“
But this is absurd! The whole affair
—
planned to the last detail
—
is only forty-eight hours away, and you tell me we still do not know if our party is complete.
”

“
He will come, Monsieur Florian. Of
course
he will come,
”
Loraine insisted, for the idea that Philip could fail her was not to be entertained for one moment.
“
But, in any case,
”
she pointed out timidly,
“
for the exhibition part of the evening, everything is arranged. There is no doubt about my partner for the minuet, and this is the
really important
—
”

“
Certainly not, since this I have arranged myself,
”
interrupted Florian curtly.
“
I do not leave these matters in doubt. But my party too has been most carefully chosen and arranged, Loraine. I do not expect its balance to be upset by a wallflower, however charming.
”

“
Oh, monsieur, it will be all right, I assure you.
”
The prospective wallflower spoke with humiliated emphasis.
“
But
—
but perhaps you were right in saying that I
should ask my guardian to be available, just in case
—
”

“
It is too late.
”
Florian frowned, as though recalling that even his advice on this had been flouted.

“
Too late, monsieur?
”
Loraine was taken aback.
“
How do you mean?
”

“
Monsieur Cardine is going elsewhere that evening.
”

“
How do you know?
”
inquired Loraine, with uncontr
ol
lable curiosity.

“
Mademoiselle Roye was in here only this afternoon—
”