The Wedding Dress (9 page)

That was the really disturbing fact. However ingenious she might be, and however long she might hold off discovery of the real position, the time must eventually come when, unless he passed out of her life altogether, she occupied such an important place that he must know her home circumstances.

“
But anything may have happened by then,
”
Loraine assured herself.
“
It’s all a matter of timing. For him to know the real position now would drive a wedge of embarrassment and distrust between us. But if he and Elinor do
not
get married after all, and if he then turns to me instead, he won’t care whether I’m Paul’s ward or not. Still less will he mind that I concealed that embarrassing fact for the time being.
”

There were some powerful
“
ifs
”
about this line of reasoning, she knew. But, like most of us when we see a distant but infinitely desirable goal, she found little difficulty in gliding over the provisos and arriving at the satisfactory conclusion.

When she reached home she found that her guardian had decided to give her an enjoyable last evening before his departure, and he took her for the promised dinner at Maxim’s.

Loraine’s knowledge of Paris life was rapidly expanding, but it had not so far included anything like this, and she gazed round, wide-eyed, in a way which seemed both to please and amuse her g
ua
rd
ia
n,

“
Why do you watch me in that amused way?
”
she asked once, as she caught his slightly smiling glance at her across the table.

“
I don’t know, Loraine
—
except that you’re a pleasure to watch, I suppose. And one doesn’t often have the experience of taking out anyone with your enormous capacity for enjoyment.
”

“
Oh
”
—
she frowned slightly
—
“
you mean I’m frightfully young and naive, I suppose?
”

“
You’re not frightfully anything,
”
he informed her drily.
“
But I’m not
”
—
she glanced round and made a vague, comprehensive gesture
—
“
elegant and sophisticated and poised, like most of the women here. I wish I were! It must be marvelous to look and feel as though you can deal with any situation.
”

“
But for that, my dear, you would have to give up
your priceless gift of youth
—
”

“
Oh, that!
”
she said, and she actually pouted slightly, for at the moment she felt a trifle too young.

“
And possibly the even more priceless gift I mentioned before. Your incredible capacity for enjoying yourself.
”

“
Is that so important?
”
She looked at him curiously.

“
I’d say it’s the basis of your particular charm, Loraine,
”
he told her, so seriously that she had the strange impression he had been studying her a good deal during the weeks she had lived in his apartment.
“
Perhaps it’s the chief ingredient in almost any charm,
”
he added reflectively.
“
There’s something so warm and radiant about enjoyment, and so chilling and sterile about boredom or even humdrum acceptance. I never thought much about it before, but since you came the charm of sheer enjoyment has been quite a discovery for me.
”

She was so touched and surprised that she could only stare at him for a moment. And then, as she did so, she saw his expression change and harden as his glance came to rest on someone who was evidently approaching their table from behind her.

Even before she saw him incline his head in a cold little gesture of greeting, Loraine guessed who it was, and in sudden panic she lowered her head and pretended to be absorbed in her meal.

By the time she dared to look up again, Elinor Roye had passed and, with a sense of relief which almost hurt, Loraine saw that her companion was not Philip. So fa
r
as she could judge from the back view, she thought it was the elegant, elderly lady to whom Elinor had been speaking on the night of the Opera Gala.

They went to a distant table, where Elinor sat with her back to the room, and slowly Loraine’s gaze returned to her guardian. There had been such a long pause that she simply had to say something, and what she said was:

“
Who was that?
”

“
Someone I know.
”

“
Do you know her
—
well?
”

“
I used to think so, Loraine.
”
He gave a short laugh.
“
But now I’m not so sure. We were engaged until a few weeks ago.
”

“
Oh
—
I’m terribly sorry. That was the personal crisis you said happened just about the time I arrived?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Were you
—
dreadfully unhappy about it, Paul?
”

“
No man likes to be jilted,
”
he said drily.

“
No, of course not. It’s an affront to one’s pride as well as one’s affections. But there are degrees of being miserable, aren’t there? I mean
—
hurt pride is something one gets over fairly soon, I imagine. Whereas crushed feelings take a lot longer.
”

To her surprise, he laughed quite heartily at that.

“
A very wholesome and Loraine-like analysis,
”
he declared mockingly.
“
But then you’re not proud, are you?
”

“
No. I don’t think so. At least, not in a puffed-up, biblical way. I was glowing with pride when Florian said I would make a good mannequin, and I’m not going to pretend I don’t like the idea
”
—
she dropped her tone to a discreet whisper
—
“
of wearing the wedding dress in the new Collection. But that’s all.
”

“
And suppose
”
—
he studied her smilingly
—
“
one of the others got the wedding dress, after all?
”

“
Oh, I’d
hate
that,
”
admitted Loraine promptly, at which he laughed more than she had ever seen him laugh before, and declared that he was glad to see that she was charmingly human.

Although they lingered enjoyably over their meal, they left the restaurant before there was any question of Elinor and her companion coming their way again, for which Loraine was profoundly thankful. If, as Philip had arranged, they were to meet each other on the following Monday evening, it was vital that she should not be registered on Elinor’s memory as the girl who had been dining at Maxim’s with Paul Cardine.

Next morning the goodbyes were said. She thought perhaps her guardian might kiss her, in view of their improved relations. But evidently the idea did not occur to him. He simply said:

“
I’ll drop you a line to let you know if I have to go on to Montreal. Otherwise
—
enjoy yourself. And if any crisis arises
—
which I don’t anticipate
—
you’d better consult Florian. He can deal with most things.
”

“
Consult Florian?
”
Loraine was quite scandalized at the idea.
“
I don’t imagine he expects to be troubled with our unimportant private affairs. I couldn’t dream of speaking to him about a personal problem.
”

“
On the contrary,
”
her guardian replied coolly.
“
He was rather flattered when I telephoned to him, explained the position and asked him to see you came to no harm.
”

“
You
—
did that?
”
She was both shocked and intrigued.
“
When?
”

“
Just after you left here yesterday morning.
”

“
What on earth did he say?
”

“
His exact wording was,
“
I am gratified, monsieur, that you should think me suitable for the task.
”
Which was, of course, his rather Gallic way of saying, 'Certainly, old chap. Depend on me’,
”
replied Paul, and his eyes twinkled unexpectedly.

Loraine laughed, but reluctantly, and her guardian asked mildly:

“
Do you
—
object to the arrangement?
”

“
No, of course not!
”
She was anxious he should have no inkling that she had been rejoicing in the thought of no supervision.
“
Only
—
Florian’s a bit interfering by nature, and a French guardian is a very different proposition from an English one.
”

“
He hasn’t had all my guardianly duties delegated to him,
”
Paul assured her.
“
But he will be available if you need advice or support at any time.
”

“
Well
—
thank you. It was kind of you to think of it,
”
Loraine said. Then she bade him a hasty goodbye, since it was getting late, and set off to work in a somewhat divided state of mind.

It was reassuring, of course, to know that, in the unlikely event of a real crisis, the
world
and resourceful Florian was there. On the other hand, she remembered with some disquiet those casual questions about Philip
—
and with even more disquiet, his almost genial remark that he took an intelligent interest in the affairs of his staff.

CHAPTER
FIVE

DURING the next few days, Loraine’s life began to settle into the most enjoyable routine. Mimi was an admirable housekeeper, so that Loraine had no domestic cares at all. And few are the people who could not be satisfied with a flat in Paris in those circumstances, allied to a fascinating job in one of the great dress houses.

At work the whole tempo was quickening daily
—
Loraine sometimes thought hourly
—
and the first faint wind of change and challenge was beginning to blow through the place. Now no one talked of anything but the new Collection and, although jealousies, slights and crises, tearful or otherwise, were still very much part of life in the mannequins’ dressing-room, there was also a sort of corporate loyalty which bound them all together in the great enterprise of staking the claim of
their
dress house against all others, in the ever-recurring battle for success.

It was impossible to remain immune from the fever of ambition and determination. And, like all the others, Loraine found herself ready to put aside weariness
—
or, indeed, almost any other personal consideration
—
if she could thus contribute in the smallest degree to the brilliance of The Day.

All the same, Monday evening shone brightly in prospect, and she ran out eagerly enough when Philip appeared, as arranged, to collect her.

“
I’m taking you to Mother’s hotel 'first,
”
he explained,
“
and leaving you there while I go for Elinor. Then we’ll all dine there and go on afterwards to this new Russian variety show which everyone seems to think is so marvellous.
”

“
It sounds a lovely arrangement,
”
Loraine said. And, indeed, it did meet with her approval, for she was glad to have the opportunity of a few words with Mrs. Otway before the more general meeting took place.

At the hotel
—
one of the most expensive and exclusive in Paris, Loraine noted, because she was beginning to understand about these things
—
she discovered that
M
rs.
Otway had a very pleasant suite. Evidently it was not part of her plan to do herself anything but well while in the process of overseeing her son’s matrimonial affairs.

“
Come and sit down, darling. I suppose you’re exhausted with standing all day. But how pretty you look, just the same.
”
Mrs. Otway smiled approvingly at Loraine, in a charming way which had the subtle, and altogether acceptable, effect of making her feel her best.
“
I never realized the child was going to grow into such a beauty, did you, Phil?
”

“
I always thought her a beauty,
”
was his calm reply.
“
But now she is a more self-possessed beauty, with a delightful touch of the unexpected about her. Have fun
gossiping
, you two. I’ll be back in less than half an hour.
”

“
That’s just what we mean to have, isn’t it, dear?
”
Mrs. Otway declared mischievously, as the door closed behind him.
“
How did the luncheon date go?
”

Immediately Loraine felt that faintly uncomfortable sensation which Mrs. Otway’s conspiratorial air had induced in her before.

“
It was lovely.
”
She tried to sound extremely matter-of
-
fact, but was afraid she only succeeded in sounding slightly secretive.
“
Quite short, of course. But at least we had time to catch up on each other’s news. I think Philip was a good deal amused to hear about my Florian job.
”

“
And, in return, told you all about his engagement?
”

“
Among other things
—
yes. Not
all
about it. He just told me the bare fact and
—
described her.
”

But Mrs. Otway was not at all prepared to let it go at that. Like a good general reviewing the various aspects of a campaign, she said pleasantly:

“
Philip tells me that you actually know Elinor’s first
fiancé
. Such a coincidence!
”

“
Ye-es. At any rate, I’ve met him.
”
Once again instinct told her that she must not confide to any degree in this charming, inquisitive woman.

“
And you like him
—
according to Philip.
”

“
I do like what I’ve seen of Paul Cardine, and I said so quite frankly. I’m afraid I rather gave Philip the impression that I was
—
taking sides, in some way. Of course
I wasn’t. It was just that I know Paul and I don’t know her. I suppose I naturally tended to sound as though my sympathies were with him.
”

“
You don’t need to apologize, my dear. You know where
my
sympathies lie.
”
And Mrs. Otway gave a wry little smile.
“
I expect she treated the poor man pretty badly. She’s rather a ruthless young woman, as you will see for yourself.
”

“
Oh
—
please! I’d much rather not talk about her beforehand,
”
Loraine said uncomfortably.
“
It will make me feel dreadfully self-conscious when she arrives. Can’t we talk about something else?
”

“
If that’s how you feel.
”
The older woman seemed amused rather than offended
—
possibly because she felt she had already found out all she wanted to know.
“
How are all the plans for the new Collection going?
”

“
Oh, wonderfully, I’m sure.
”
Loraine turned to the fresh subject with relief.
“
Not, of course, that I have anything but a very scrappy knowledge of things. But the general drive and excitement is quite thrilling. And Monsieur Florian himself looks so coolly confident that we all feel everything will be fine.
”

“
I expect he has his frantic moments, all the same,
”
Mrs. Otway said a little callously.

“
After all these years of success?
”
Loraine looked doubtful.

“
All the more because of his years of success.
”
Mrs. Otway gave a knowledgeable little shake of her head.
“
When you’ve clawed your way to the top, the really harrowing test is to stay there. Imagine a Florian show that
w
as
not
a success.
”

“
Oh, I couldn’t!
”
Loraine turned quite pale at the thought.
“
Particularly the very first one I was in. I can’t tell you how much I want it to be a triumph for him.
”

“
Yes? They say he inspires all his staff with that almost fanatical loyalty.
”
Mrs. Otway gave her an amused, considering glance.
“
Well, darling, I shall certainly be there on the first day, to cheer you on.
”

“
Thank you.
”

“
But that reminds me
—
I don’t imagine telephone calls will be very popular at the salon during the coming weeks.
You’d better give me your home number, dear child, so that I can get in touch with you more easily.
”

For a moment, Loraine experienced one of those moments of panic which were the penalty of trying to keep one half of her life divorced from the other. Then her common sense told her that Paul’s telephone number could have no significance for Mrs. Otway, and it was in the remotest degree improbable that she would have occasion to discuss it with Elinor, of all people.

So, with an air of great candor, she said,
“
It’s Palais Four-Three-Three-Two,
”
and congratulated herself on the fact that this inquiry had so fortunately been made before Elinor herself came on the scene.

“
I’ll write it down now,
”
Mrs. Otway declared, and she proceeded to do so, in a very elegant little white and gold kid notebook, which she returned to her handbag (to Loraine’s relief) just as the door opened to admit Philip and Elinor Roye.

It was not an easy encounter for Loraine. It could not have been in any circumstances. For she might entertain what hopes she liked
—
even give reluctant ear to Mrs. Otway’s wishful thinking
—
but the fact remained that this was the girl Philip had asked to marry him.

In addition, Elinor Roye was not a girl who made other girls feel their best. She was almost disconcertingly lovely and well groomed, with a cool loveliness which made other noses feel shiny and other hair untidy. Her smile was charming, and her voice exceedingly well pitched. But these qualities somehow combined to give an air of graciousness and, although graciousness exalts the dispenser, it frequently abashes the recipient.

From the moment Elinor smiled calmly and said,
“
How do you do?
”
with full value on each syllable Loraine felt two inches shorter and three years younger than she had before.

Mrs. Otway, of course, managed everything beautifully and contrived to give the general impression that this was the meeting she had been longing for for years. But although throughout dinner she sought to stimulate Loraine to great liveliness and what she would undoubtedly have characterized as intelligent competition, Loraine instinctively withdrew more and more into herself and became very much the shy young friend from the undistinguished past.

She must, she feared, have been a considerable disappointment to Mrs. Otway.

Things were somewhat easier once they arrived at the theatre, for at least there was no need for scintillating conversation except during the intervals. But just as Loraine was beginning to recover her poise a little she made the agitating discovery that Florian and his wife were sitting not far away.

Nothing, of course, could have been more correct and proper than the family party in which she found herself. But, all the same, Loraine could not help feeling a certain degree of self-consciousness when, in the second interval, her employer stood up, glanced carelessly round the theatre and immediately noticed her.

He bowed politely to Mrs. Otway and herself. Then his glance travelled on speculatively for a moment, to rest on Philip and Elinor. She
knew
Philip could be no more than
“
Mr. Otway
”
to him. They had probably exchanged no more than a dozen words when he accompanied his mother to the salon. And yet
—
as though Philip had his name embroidered on his shirt-front
—
she saw the knowledge leap into her employer’s mind that here was the man with whom she had had the important lunch date.

Fortunately, there was no attempt at conversation between the two parties during this interval or the next. But as they were slowly making their way out of the theatre at the end of the performance Loraine was not very much surprised to find Florian at her elbow.

“
Did you enjoy yourself,
petite
?
”
he inquired quite kindly.

“
Very much, thank you. Did you?
”
She had become a little separated from the others, and that helped her to be more at ease.

“
As much as I ever enjoy anything when I have the Collection on my mind,
”
Florian said with a slight grimace.

“
Oh, I’m sorry!
”

“
You don't need to be. One must pay some sort of price for success,
”
the great designer conceded frankly.
“
And Monsieur Philippe
—
did he enjoy
himself
?
”

She was exasperated, but she was also reluctantly amused by his tactics.

“
I think so.
”

“
The lady who completed your party is very charming.
”

“
Mrs. Otway, do you mean?
”
said Loraine, thinking that he deserved that.

“
No.
”
He pinched her ear sharply.
“
The other one. Who is she?
”

She thought of saying it was her maiden aunt. But then she decided that one must not take too many liberties with Florian, even when he was in a good mood. So she said a trifle sulkily:

“
Monsieur Philippe’s
finance
. And I shouldn’t be surprised if she comes to the opening day with Mrs. Otway in order to choose some of her trousseau.
”

“
Ah,
”
said her employer reflectively,
“
then we must try to find something to please her. But not the wedding dress, I think. That will express a very different personality.
”

Then he bade Loraine goodnight and went away, leaving her curiously excited about the wedding dress
—
and the way it would express the personality of the one who wore it.

As she rejoined her own party, Mrs. Otway was just saying that it would be too dull to go straight home
—
that, in fact (and how right she was!), half the fun of going to a good show is to sit and discuss it afterwards in congenial company.

“
All Continental cafe life is built round that excellent principle,
”
she declared.
“
And the fact that British catering persistently ignores it accounts for the dreariness of half the cities in England.
”

So, in vindication of her views, they all went on to a gay and charming restaurant, and Loraine began to feel her confidence and natural good spirits returning. Whether it was what Florian had said about the wedding dress or not, she could not have said, but she suddenly found herself able to smile and talk and hold her own, even when
Elinor’s coolly reflective glance rested on her
—
as it did once or twice
—
for an embarrassing length of time.