“Danny!” I give him a shove and look up. “Hi, Tarquin! You managed to get away!”
“Hello!” says Tarquin, looking a bit harassed. “Suze, darling, have you given Becky the stuff from her mother?”
“Oh, it’s back at the hotel,” says Suze, and turns to me. “Bex, we dropped in on your mum and dad on the way to the airport. They are so obsessed!” She giggles. “They can’t talk about anything but the wedding.”
“I’m not surprised,” says Danny. “It sounds like it’s going to be fairly amazing. Catherine Zeta-Jones, eat your heart out.”
“Catherine Zeta-Jones?” says Suze interestedly. “What do you mean?”
I feel my body stiffen all over. Shit. Think.
“Danny,” I say casually. “I think the editor of Women’s Wear Daily is over there.”
“Really? Where?” Danny’s head swivels round. “I’ll be back in a second.” He disappears off into the party and I subside in relief.
“When we were there, they were having this huge argument about how big the marquee should be,” says Suze with another giggle. “They made us sit on the lawn, pretending to be guests.”
I don’t want to hear about this. I take a gulp of champagne and try to think of another topic.
“Have you told Becky the other thing that happened?” says Tarquin, looking suddenly grave.
“Er… no, not yet,” says Suze guiltily, and Tarquin gives a deep, solemn sigh.
“Becky, Suze has something she needs to confess.”
“That’s right.” Suze bites her lip and looks abashed. “We were at your parents’ house, and I asked to look at your mum’s wedding dress. So we were all admiring it, and I was holding a cup of coffee…” She hangs her head. “And then — I don’t know how it happened, but… I spilled my coffee on the dress.”
I stare at her incredulously. “On the dress? Are you serious?”
“We offered to clean it, of course,” says Tarquin. “But I’m not sure it will be wearable. We’re so incredibly sorry, Becky. And we’ll pay for another dress, of course.” He looks at his empty glass. “Can I get anyone another drink?”
“So the dress is… ruined?” I say, just to be sure.
“Yes, and it wasn’t easy, I can tell you!” says Suze as soon as Tarquin is out of earshot. “The first time I tried, your mum whisked it away just in time. Then she started getting all worried and saying she’d better put it away. I had to practically throw my coffee cup at it, just as she was packing it up — and even then it only just caught the train. Of course, your mum hates me now,” she adds gloomily. “I shouldn’t think I’ll get invited to the wedding.”
“Oh, Suze. She doesn’t really. And thank you so much. You’re a complete star. I honestly didn’t think you’d manage it.”
“Well, I couldn’t let you look like a lamb cutlet, could I?” Suze grins. “The weird thing is, in her wedding pictures, your mum looks really lovely in it. But in real life…” She pulls a little face.
“Exactly. Oh, Suze, I’m so glad you’re here.” Impulsively I give her a hug. “I thought you’d be all… married. What’s being married like, anyway?”
“Kind of the same,” says Suze after a pause. “Except we have more plates—”
I feel a tapping on my shoulder and look up to see a red-haired woman wearing a pale silk trouser suit.
“Laura Redburn Seymour,” she says, extending her hand. “My husband and I have to go, but I just wanted to say I just heard about your wedding plans. I got married in exactly the same place, fifteen years ago. And let me tell you, when you walk down that aisle, there’s no feeling like it.” She clasps her hands and smiles at her husband, who looks exactly like Clark Kent.
“Gosh,” I say. “Well… thank you!”
“Were you brought up in Oxshott, then?” asks Suze cheerfully. “That’s a coincidence!”
Oh, fuck.
“I’m sorry?” says Laura Redburn Seymour.
“Oxshott!” says Suze. “You know!”
“Ox? What ox?” Laura Redburn Seymour looks confusedly at her husband.
“We don’t believe in hunting,” says Clark Kent a little coldly. “Good evening. And congratulations again,” he adds to me.
As the two walk off, Suze stares at me in puzzlement. “Bex. Did that make any sense?”
“I… erm…” I rub my nose, playing for time.
I really don’t know why, but I have a strong feeling that I don’t want to tell Suze about the Plaza.
OK. I do know why. It’s because I know exactly what she’ll say.
“Yes!” I say at last. “I think it did, kind of.”
“No, it didn’t! She didn’t get married in Oxshott. Why did she think you would be walking up the same aisle as her?”
“Well… you know… they’re American. Nothing they say makes sense… So, er… wedding dress shopping! Shall we go tomorrow?”
“Ooh, definitely!” says Suze, her brow immediately unfurling. “Where shall we go? Does Barneys have a bridal department?”
Thank God Suze is so sweet and unsuspicious.
“Yes, it does,” I say. “I’ve had a quick look, but I haven’t tried anything on yet. The only thing is, I haven’t got an appointment, and it’s a Saturday tomorrow.” I wrinkle my brow. “We could try Vera Wang but that’ll probably be all booked up…”