‘Wow,’ said Amy. It was Grecian in style, with intricate folds of silk jersey. The colour was sumptuous – like the soft blush of a sunset.
‘A dinner was thrown for me a few years ago,’ said Georgia, holding it up against Amy. ‘I’m not really comfortable with things like that, so I wanted something that would make me feel bullet-proof. Anyway, I had a friend who worked in fashion. She found this vintage Madame Grès for me.’
‘Madame Grès?’
‘I hadn’t heard of her either,’ confided Georgia. ‘But she was considered one of the greats. You would never believe this dress was over forty years old, would you? It looks quite modern, don’t you think?’
‘It’s amazing.’
‘It was the dress I always wanted for my coming-out.’
She took it over to an Oriental concertina screen.
‘You can try it on behind here.’
The fabric slipped over Amy’s body; it felt perfect, just as Georgia had said. Sexy, powerful, but just formal enough to make her feel in control. Plus, as she admired it in the mirror, she could see that it accentuated her curves. She had no make-up on – had not even put a brush through her hair since the day before – but even so, she knew she looked a million dollars.
‘I love it.’
‘Then go and show Daniel what he’s missing.’
‘I’ll try. And I promise I’ll bring it straight back.’
‘No rush,’ said Georgia, closing the doors of the closet. ‘It’s not like I was planning on wearing it on a date myself.’
Amy looked at her.
‘Do you miss it?’
Georgia raised a brow.
‘Love? Sex?’
‘Well, it’s complicated, isn’t it,’ said Amy, blushing at the old woman’s blunt reference.
‘Love can indeed complicate everything,’ replied Georgia softly. ‘Love is a glorious emotion, but it’s the negative ones it inspires that are the problem. Envy. Insecurity. You know, someone once told me that throwing oneself into one’s career is just selfish. I believe it was self-preservation.’
‘Can I ask you something?’
‘We’ve spent Christmas together. I think that qualifies you to ask anything.’
‘What happened to the man you met in the Season? The one who encouraged you to go to university? It’s just that whenever you’ve mentioned him, you get a little smile on your face, like . . . well, like you were very much in love. And yet you split up.’
‘Oh Amy. As you say, it was complicated. But you’re right. Edward and I were very much in love. My marriage didn’t survive because of it. There was simply too much to live up to. Philip could never, ever compete.’
Her eyes clouded with tears, and Amy could tell she didn’t want to talk about it any further.
‘Go, Amy. Go home and get ready for this evening.’
‘No, I’ll stay. We can go to a café and get some tea. If you want to talk about any of this, I’m here . . .’
‘It was all a very long time ago, dear,’ she replied with a snort. ‘Now off you go. If Daniel is what your heart desires, then go and get your happy ending. Remember what I said about wine, but if Daniel should get stuck, nudge him in the direction of the rosé. There is a wonderful Chardonnay that goes perfectly with the veal.’
Amy was fairly sure she had never looked or felt as lovely as she was tonight. All the way to Claridge’s she had been catching glimpses of herself reflected in windows, car doors, even on the security cameras on the tube as she passed through Bond Street station. It was partly Georgia’s dress, of course. Its intricate folds felt different against her skin, soft and light, and yet the tailoring of the bodice made it feel as if it had been welded to her body – like a protective layer of delicate jersey. Georgia had been right, it also felt like armour, supporting her body and making her feel bulletproof. She knew that men were looking at her, and for once, she was enjoying it, soaking up their glances and smiling to herself.
> She turned off Brook Street and into the side entrance of the hotel. Ahead of her, waiting to go into the dining room, was a party of thirty-something media types. The men were in expensive-looking suits, but the women were wearing variations on classic lo-fi London chic: tailored trousers, spiked heels and chiffon blouses poking out from under trendy leather jackets.
For a moment it threw Amy. She felt overdressed and out of time, old-fashioned even in her simple dress.