“Nice godfather,” said Letizia.
Candace was unconvinced. “What’s your godfather doing sending you flowers?”
“He’s a bit eccentric. He hasn’t remembered my birthday in ten years. The flowers, he said, were to make up for it.”
“Well, I’ll happily take them home. Might tell Pete they’re from a secret admirer,” said Kate.
“Isn’t that a bit close to the bone?” said Candace, but she was looking at Angelica.
“Oh, that’s all in the past, and besides, he’s not an admirer. Never was and never will be.”
“Well, that narrows the field.” “It was a silly mistake, and I’d really appreciate it, Candace, if you’d drop the subject now that I’m preparing to renew my vows with Pete. I have my first meeting with Vera Wang next week, and Christian Louboutin is going to make me a pair of shoes especially.”
“Do you need shoes on a beach?” Candace asked.
“All girls need shoes, wherever they are,” Kate replied tartly.
“Sandals, then,” said Angelica, trying to get into the spirit of things.
“Flats? God, no!” Kate exclaimed. “I won’t have Candace towering over me on my wedding day.”
“Imagine having everyone towering over you all year round,” said Angelica, taking a gulp of her Bellini and feeling a little better.
“Good things come in small packages,” Letizia reassured her kindly. “I don’t even think Gaitano knows my real height. Mind you, I’m not that familiar with it, either. My heels are almost stuck onto my feet.”
“Well, I like to tower over everyone, especially you, Candace. That way I always feel at a slight advantage,” said Kate with a grin.
“It’s not Candace’s height you need to worry about, darling,” said Letizia. “It’s her tongue.”
“Someone has to keep all your pretty little feet on the ground,” Candace replied. “Roses, eh, Angelica? Nice godfather.” She gave Angelica a knowing look, and Angelica knew she had been discovered.
After lunch Angelica led the girls back to her car and handed them each a large bunch of roses.
“Madonna! These are amazing!” Letizia exclaimed, burying her face in the petals.
“The whole house smells of them,” said Angelica. “I’ll keep one for Scarlet.”
“What’s Olivier going to say?” Candace asked gently.
“He won’t even notice now I’ve given some of them to you.” But Angelica couldn’t look at Candace. Her friend was far too clever not to work out what had really gone on. Candace took her roses, kissed Angelica good-bye, and hailed a taxi with Letizia and Kate, whose long bare legs shivered in the cold. Angelica watched them go, consumed with guilt.
She didn’t see Candace at the school gates. The four-by-fours double-parked and jostled for the few free parking places, packed high with luggage for the weekend in the country. Isabel and Joe ran out excitedly, throwing her their book bags and backpacks, waving good-bye to their friends. Jenna Elrich swept up the pavement in a fur-lined cape and cap, her hair falling down her expensive back in a glossy ponytail. “I’m so stressed out,” she complained to Angelica. “I’ve got to go to Paris this evening for a concert in honor of the Sarkozys tomorrow night, and the dress I wanted to wear is lost somewhere over the Channel.”
“How do you mean, lost?”
“I sent the luggage ahead, but it hasn’t arrived.”
“Where did you send it?”
“To the Georges Cinq, of course. Lord knows what I’m going to wear.”
Angelica didn’t have the patience for this ludicrous woman. “Oh, I’m sure you can find some old frock in those cupboards of yours.”
“That’s just it. They’re all so last season!”
“Oh, God forbid!”
“Exactly. Carla will be in Chanel couture, for sure. I’m going to have to leave the kids with my mother and go shopping.”
“What hell!”
“I hate shopping.”
“You disguise it well.”
“Just because I always look elegant doesn’t mean I enjoy the process. In fact, I positively loathe running around department stores. I’ve called Selfridges Personal Shopping. They should be able to find me something, don’t you think?”
“Have a glass of champagne and let them do all the running?”
“Quite.”
Angelica edged away. “I hope you find something to wear and enjoy the concert. Sounds very glamorous.”
“No, it’s a bore. I so hate traveling.”
“The train is rather convenient, I think.”