Candace arrived bearing a big scented candle from Jo Malone, which Scarlet placed in the middle of the coffee table and lit. Letizia bought faux-diamond collars for the cats, while Kate had gone to SpaceNK and filled a bag with her favorite beauty products. Angelica bought The Shopaholic’s Guide to Buying Online and some cookies from Ladurée.
“Well, dolls, isn’t this a fine way to spend a rainy afternoon?” asked Scarlet, sinking into the sofa, a glass of champagne in hand. “I love all the presents. Must make a point of throwing lunches more often!” Outside, the wind swept through the plane trees, whipping away the last remains of autumn.
“It’s been an exhausting few months,” said Kate, who now looked like she’d swallowed a football. She patted her belly that strained against her little Ralph Lauren cashmere dress. “Amelia wants me to call it Jordan. Phoebs says that if it’s a boy, he can go back. She absolutely doesn’t want a brother.”
“Just call the stork,” said Candace.
“If only one could put in an order and have it delivered like a pizza.” Kate laughed. “I’m bored of being the oven!”
“What does Pete think?” Letizia asked, pulling Taz onto her knee to attach her new collar.
“Naturally he wants a Russian name.”
“Very romantic,” said Angelica, envisaging Lara from Dr. Zhivago.
“Vladimir,” Candace suggested in her best Russian accent.
“Please, no,” said Kate. “For this one I want a name that no one else has.”
“You’ll have to make it up, then,” said Candace.
“Angelica, you’re good at names. Your novels are full of weird words.”
“How do you know? You’ve never read one!” said Candace.
“I read the back-of-the-hovel one in Waterstone’s,” Kate retorted.
“Caves, not hovels,” Letizia corrected.
“Whatever, I saw a whole lot of extraordinary names.”
“On your way to the magazine section,” added Candace.
“I have ADHD—I can’t possibly get through a whole book. Anyway, the point is that Angelica is good at names. She has a wild and wonderful imagination.” She turned to Angelica. “Will you think of a name for my baby?”
Angelica laughed. “That’s too much responsibility.”
“You don’t want to get it wrong,” Candace warned, drawing a line across her neck with her fingernail.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” said Kate. “I only want suggestions.”
“Which you’ll disregard,” said Candace.
“Just flick through Grazia for inspiration,” Scarlet interjected. “I don’t think there’s a celebrity who hasn’t chosen a mad name for her child.”
“Like Apple, Suri, and Bluebell.” Kate knew them all.
“If you want a name that no one else will give their child, try Jane or Mary,” said Candace. “Trust me, she’ll be the only one of her generation.”
Lunch was in the dining room. They gossiped about the people they had in common, dragging up the same old names to peck at like vultures. Scarlet thought Jenna Elrich’s husband was having an affair with Caterina Tintello, having seen them together at Annabel’s. Letizia was sure Hester Berridge had had a face-lift, although Scarlet disagreed, claiming that she’d never put that sort of money into anything other than her horses. However, they weren’t the only group of women to gossip: London was visibly vibrating with rumor. “I hear that you’re going to South Africa,” Kate said to Angelica. Angelica was caught off guard.
“South Africa? When?” Letizia asked.
“Book tour,” Angelica replied casually, unable to look at Candace. “The dates haven’t been finalized yet.”
“I was in Michaeljohn yesterday, having my hair cut by the fabulous Enzo, and found myself sitting next to Chantal de Claire.”
“Karma,” said Candace. “What goes around, comes around.”
“Sounds very glamorous,” said Scarlet. “There’s a fabulous spa near Cape Town—now, what’s it called?”
“It’s not at all glamorous. It’s really hard work, giving talks and interviews. It’s relentless. No fun at all. I’m literally spending a few days in Jo’burg and a few in Cape Town.”
“Wedgeview,” said Letizia. “It’s in Franschhoek. My mother went there last year and said it was fabulous. Maybe we should all go with you!”
“A fine idea,” said Scarlet. Then to Angelica: “You can pop in and visit your old flame Jack Meyer.” Angelica felt her cheeks flush and took a big gulp of wine. “They have the most beautiful vineyard called Rosenbosch.”