Page 14 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
Marco stopped them mid-scene because he and Mirrie seemed to be jostling for position, and I heard Mirrie say, in a sweet, high, carrying voice: ‘Marco, darling, wouldn’t it bemuchbetter if I moved centre stage at this point, instead of Wilfric and—’
I thought, probably ungenerously, as I got up quietly to leave and go back to Beng & Briggs, that Mirrie Malkin would always expect to be centre stage, wherever she was.
6
Party Animals
One Friday evening, not long before the first dress rehearsal, Marco’s mother threw a drinks party for the cast and the theatre management.
There was no time for me to get home before it, so I had to change at work, then dash over.
Even then, I was a little late and the rooms were already crowded and noisy, which I found quite daunting. Marco spotted me coming in and took me over to meet Mirrie Malkin.
She was standing with the slight, handsome actor playing Oberon. I might have maligned her character earlier, because she graciously said that she’d recognized me at once! ‘That bright red hair – so unmistakable,’ she said, with a trill of musical laughter. ‘That hasn’t changed.’
‘No, andyoudon’t seem to have changed much over the last few years, either,’ I said politely, though actually, once you were up close, you could see a network of fine lines forming under the perfect makeup. We were of a similar height and build, but she was golden-haired and blue-eyed, just as Leo Lampeter had been, earning them the newspaper headline ‘The Golden Couple’ when they married.
Mirrie was wearing a slinky one-shouldered jumpsuit that clung to her, leaving little to the imagination, so I was glad I’d put on a dress that I knew did flattering things to my colouring and figure, even if in a more subtle way.
It was a deep topaz-yellow noil silk, with a bit of a waisted and full-skirted fifties vibe to it, and, for once, I was wearing heels. I’d teamed my outfit with amber earrings and a long necklace from my Bakelite collection – linked flat squares with holes cut out of the centres, in amber and dull green.
Marco introduced me to Oberon, too, whose acting name was Wilfric Wolfram. He seemed very taken with my dress – or rather, with me in it – because there was an unmistakable glint in his eyes when he said: ‘That colour iswonderfulwith your pale skin and copper hair, not to mention the sensational green eyes! Where have you been hiding all this beauty, Marco?’
Marco turned and looked at me as if he was seeing me with different eyes. I suppose he’d been taking me for granted for so long that it took another man’s interest to make him sit up a bit. And now I came to think of it, it had been ages since he’d paid me any kind of compliment.
Then Marco gave me a warm smile and said, ‘Wilfric’s right, darling, and you do look extra gorgeous tonight.’
I felt myself blushing, but Mirrie appeared to resent the men’s transfer of attention to me. I saw her brows twitch together in a frown before she gave that trill of empty laughter again and said lightly, ‘I suppose costumiers know how to make the most of themselves. Interesting jewellery choice, though, Garland,’ she added. ‘Not every woman would choose to wearplastic.’
‘It’s Bakelite – I collect it,’ I explained.
‘Oh, really? But thatisa kind of plastic, isn’t it?’
‘An early form,’ I agreed. ‘I like the smooth texture and colours, though those were much brighter when they were made. Some collectors have them polished back to the original shades, but I quite like mine mellow.’
Mirrie rattled the diamond bracelets that encircled her thin arm like beads on an abacus wire. ‘I prefer something with a bit more sparkle,’ she said, which you didn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to guess.
Then she conceded, rather grudgingly, ‘Your dress is lovely, though.’
‘Thank you. I made it myself.’
‘Marco told me you work for Beng & Briggs and your department are making the fairy costumes for the play, including mine, of course. But someone else took my measurements and did the first fitting.’
‘My boss, Madame Bertille,’ I said. ‘We’ve finished most of them, but we’re waiting for some more of the seed pearl trimming for your Titania dress. I was working on it today and, really, it only needs a few finishing touches now. A different department is making your gilded floral crowns and all the fairy wings.’
‘Fascinating,’ said Wilfric, smiling at me, though whether he meant me or my work, I wasn’t entirely sure.
He moved a little closer. ‘Dotell me—’ he began, but just then Marco, who had gone to find a drink, returned and handed me a gin and tonic, though by now he ought to remember that I loathe gin in any form.
Mirrie immediately reclaimed his attention, smiling enchantingly up at him, one small hand on his arm.
‘Garland tells me my Titania costume is almost completed and I can’t wait to try it on. I do hope it looks just like the original, which is so pretty.’
‘Have you been to see the Rosa-May Garland exhibition?’ I asked her.
‘Oh, yes, Marco took me himself,’ she said, which wasn’t something he’d mentioned tome. ‘The costume is wonderful, but that evening dress she had made to the same design isfabulous!’ she enthused.
‘It certainly is,’ I agreed, and then Marco told her I’d made an exact copy of it for myself.
