Shopaholic Ties the Knot (by Sophie Kinsella) 4 page

The door swings open and now I can hear her properly.

It is. It’s Alicia.

I feel my whole body stiffen.

‘First the Plaza couldn’t fit us in! Now this fiasco with the cake! And do you know what I just heard?’

‘What?’ says Robyn fearfully.

‘My maid of honour dyed her hair red! She won’t match the others! Of all the bloody inconsiderate, selfish...’

The door is flung open and out stalks Alicia, her stilettos echoing like gunfire on the wooden floor. When she sees me, she stops dead and I look at her, my heart thumping hard.

‘Hi, Alicia,’ I say, forcing myself to sound relaxed. ‘Sorry to hear about your cake. That was delicious, by the way, Antoine.’

‘What?’ says Alicia blankly. Her eyes flash to my engagement ring, to my face, back to my ring, to my shoes, to my bag – taking in my skirt on the way – and finally back to my ring. It’s like the Manhattan Once-over in a hall of mirrors.

‘You're getting married?’ she says at last. ‘To Luke?’

‘Yes.’ I glance nonchalantly at the diamond on my left hand, then smile innocently up at her.

I’m starting to relax now. I’m starting to enjoy this.

(Also, I just gave Alicia the Manhattan Once-over myself. And my ring is a teeny bit bigger than hers. Not that I’m comparing or anything.)

‘How come you didn’t say?’

You didn’t ask, I want to reply, but instead I just give a little shrug.

‘So where are you getting married?’ Alicia’s old supercilious expression is returning and I can see her preparing to pounce.

‘Well... as it happens...’ I clear my throat.

OK, this is the moment. This is the time to make the big announcement. To tell Robyn I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to get married in Oxshott.

‘Actually...’

I take a deep breath. Come on. It’s like Elastoplast. The quicker I do it, the quicker it’ll be over. Just say it.

And I really am on the brink of it – when I make the fatal mistake of glancing up. Alicia’s looking as patronizing and smug as she ever did towards me. Years of feeling stupid and small well up in me like a volcano – and I just can’t help it, I hear my voice saying, ‘Actually, we’re getting married at the Plaza.’

Alicia’s face snaps in shock, like an elastic band.

‘The Plaza? Really?’

‘It should be rather lovely,’ I add casually. ‘Such a beautiful venue, the Plaza. Is that where you’re getting married?’

‘No,’ says Alicia, her chin rather tight. ‘They couldn’t fit us in at such short notice. When did you book?’

‘Oh... a week or two ago,’ I say, and give a vague shrug.

Yes! Yes! Her expression!

‘It’s going to be wonderful,’ puts in Robyn enthusi­astically. ‘I spoke to the designer this morning, by the way. He’s ordered two hundred birch trees, and they’re going to send over some samples of pine needles…’

I can see Alicia’s brain working hard.

‘You’re the one having the enchanted forest in the Plaza,’ she says at last. ‘I’ve heard about that. It’s going to cost a fortune. And you’re having violinists flown in from the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Is that true?’

‘The New York Philharmonic was on tour,’ says Robyn regretfully. ‘But apparently these Viennese people are very good–’

‘I’m sure they’ll be great,’ I say, and smile at Robyn, who beams back as though I’m an old ally.

‘Mees Bloomwood.’ Antoine appears from nowhere and presses my hand to his lips. ‘I am now completely at your service. I apologize for the delay. One of these irritating little matters...’

Alicia’s face goes rigid.

‘Well,’ she says. ‘I’ll be off then.’

‘Au revoir,’ says Antoine, without even looking up.

'Bye Alicia,' I say innocently. ‘Have a lovely wedding.’

As she stalks out, I subside back in my seat, heart still pumping with exhilaration. That was one of the best moments of my life. Finally getting the better of Alicia Bitch Long-legs. Finally! I mean, how often has she been horrible to me? Answer: approximately one thousand times. And how often have I had the perfect put-down at my lips? Answer: never.

Until today!

I can see Robyn and Antoine exchanging looks, and I’m dying to ask them what they think of Alicia. But... it wouldn’t be becoming in a bride-to-be.

Plus if they bitch about her, they might bitch about me, too.

‘Now!’ says Robyn. ‘On to something more pleasant. You’ve seen the details of Becky’s wedding, Antoine.’

‘Indeed,’ says Antoine, beaming at me. ‘Eet will be a most beautiful event.’

‘I know,’ I hear myself saying happily. ‘I’m so looking forward to it!’

‘So... We discuss the cake... I must fetch some Pictures for you... meanwhile, can I offer you some more champagne, perhaps?’

‘Yes please,’ I say and hold out my glass. ‘That would be lovely!’

The champagne fizzes, pale and delicious, into my glass. Then Antoine disappears again and I take a sip, smiling to hide the fact that, inside, I’m feeling a slight unease.

Now that Alicia’s gone, there’s no need to pretend any more. What I should do is put my glass down, take Robyn aside, apologize for having wasted her time – and inform her that the wedding is off and I’m getting married in Oxshott. Quite simple and straight­forward.

That’s what I should do.

But... something very strange has happened since this morning. I can’t quite explain it – but somehow, sitting here, drinking champagne and eating thousand-dollar cake, I just don’t feel like someone who’s going to get married in a garden in Oxshott.

If I’m really honest, hand on heart – I feel exactly like someone who’s going to have a huge, luxurious wedding at the Plaza.

More than that, I want to be someone who’s going to have a huge, luxurious wedding at the Plaza. I want to be that girl who swans around expensive cake shops, and has people running after her and gets treated like a princess. If I call off the wedding, then it’ll all stop. Everyone will stop making a fuss. I’ll stop being that special, glossy person.

Oh God, what’s happened to me? I was so resolved this morning.

Determinedly I close my eyes and force myself to think back to Mum and her flowering cherry tree. But even that doesn’t work. Perhaps it’s the champagne – but instead of being overcome with emotion, and think­ing: ‘I must get married at home,’ I find myself thinking: ‘Maybe we can incorporate the cherry tree into the enchanted forest.’

‘All right, Becky?’ says Robyn, beaming at me. ‘Penny for them!’

‘Oh!’ I say, my head jerking up guiltily. ‘I was just thinking that... the urn... wedding will be fantastic.’

What am I going to do? Am I going to say something?

Am I not going to say anything?

Come on Becky. Decide.

‘So – you want to see what I have in my bag?’ says Robyn brightly.

‘Er… yes please.’

‘Ta-daah!’ She pulls out a thick, embossed card, covered in swirly writing, and hands it to me.

Mrs Elinor Sherman requests the honour of your presence at the marriage of Rebecca Bloomwood to her son Luke Brandon...

I stare at it, my heart thumping hard.

This is real. This is really real. Here it is, in black and white.

Or, at least, bronze and taupe.

I take the stiff card from her and turn it over and over in my fingers.

‘What do you think?’ Robyn beams. ‘It’s exquisite, isn’t it? The card is eighty per cent linen.’

‘It’s... lovely.’ I swallow. ‘It seems very soon to be sending out invitations, though.’

‘We aren’t sending them out yet! But I always like to get the invitations done early. What I always say is, you can’t proof-read too many times. We don’t want to be asking our guests to wear ‘evening press’, like one bride I could mention...’ She trills with laughter.

‘Right.’ I stare down at the words again.

Saturday 22nd June at seven o’clock

at the Plaza Hotel

New York City

This is serious. If I’m going to say anything, I have to say it now. If I’m going to call this wedding off, I have to do it now. Right this minute.

But my mouth remains closed.

Does this really mean I’m choosing the Plaza after all? That I’m selling out? That I’m choosing the gloss and glitter? That I’m going with Elinor instead of Mum and Dad?

‘I thought you’d like to send one to your mother!’ says Robyn.

My head jerks up sharply – but Robyn’s face is blithely innocent. ‘Such a shame she isn’t here to get involved with the preparations. But she’ll love to see this, won’t she?’

‘Yes,’ I say after a long pause. ‘Yes, she’ll... love it.’

I put the invitation into my bag and snap the clasp shut, feeling slightly sick.

So this is it. New York it is.

Mum will understand. When I tell her all about it properly, she’ll come round. She has to.

Antoine’s new mandarin and lychee cake is fabulous. But somehow, as I nibble at it, my appetite’s gone.

After I’ve tried several more flavours and am no nearer a decision, Antoine and Robyn exchange looks and suggest I probably need time to think. So with one last sugar rose for my purse, I say goodbye and head to Barneys, where I deal with all my clients perfectly pleasantly, as though nothing’s on my mind.

But all the time I’m thinking about the call I’ve got to make. About how I’m going to break the news to Mum. About how I’m going to explain to Mum.

I won’t say anything as strong as I definitely want to get married in the Plaza. Not initially. I’ll just tell her that it’s there as a possibility, if we both want it. That’s the key phrase. If we both want it.

The truth is, I didn’t present it properly to her before. She’ll probably leap at the chance once I explain it all to her fully. Once I tell her about the enchanted forest and the string orchestra, and the dance band and the thousand-dollar cake. A lovely luxury wedding, all expenses paid! I mean, who wouldn’t leap at it?

But I feel sick with nerves as I climb the stairs to our apartment. I know I’m not being honest with myself. I know what Mum really wants.

I also know that if I make enough fuss, she’ll do anything I ask her.

I close the door behind me and take a deep breath. Two seconds later, the doorbell rings and I jump with fright. God, I’m on edge at the moment.

‘Hi,’ I say, opening the door. ‘Oh, Danny, it’s you. Listen, I need to make quite an important phone call. So if you wouldn’t mind–’

‘OK, I have to ask you a favour,’ he says, coming into the apartment and completely ignoring what I’ve just said.

‘What is it?’

‘Randall’s been giving me some pressure. He’s like, where exactly do you sell your clothes? Who exactly are your customers? Do you have a business plan? So I’m like, of course I have a business plan, Randall. I’m planning to buy up Coca-Cola next year, what do you think?’

‘Danny–’

‘So then he starts saying if I don’t have any genuine client base I should give up and he’s not going to subsidize me any more. He used the word subsidize! Can you believe it?’

‘Well,’ I say distractedly. ‘He does pay your rent. And he bought you all those rolls of pink suede you wanted...’

‘OK,’ says Danny after a pause. ‘OK. So the pink suede was a mistake. But Jesus! He just wouldn’t leave it alone. I told him about your dress – but he was like, Daniel, you can’t base a commercial enterprise on one customer who lives downstairs.’ Danny chews the skin on his thumb nervously. ‘So I told him I just had a big order from a department store.’

‘Really? Which one?’

‘Barneys.’

I look at him, my attention finally caught.

‘Barneys? Danny, why did you say Barneys?’

‘So you can back me up! If he asks you, you stock me, OK? And all your clients are falling over themselves to buy my stuff, you’ve never known anything like it in the history of the store.’

‘You’re mad. He’ll never fall for it. And what will you say when he wants some money?’

‘I’ll have money by then!’

‘What if he checks up? What if he goes to Barneys to look?’

‘He won’t check up,’ says Danny scornfully. ‘He only has time to talk to me once a month, let alone make unscheduled visits to Barneys. But if he meets you on the stairs, go along with my story. That’s all I’m asking.’

‘Well... all right,’ I say at last.

Honestly. As if I haven’t got enough to worry about already.

‘Danny, I really must make this call...’ I say helplessly.

‘So did you find somewhere else to live yet?’ he says, flopping down into an armchair.

‘We haven’t had time.’

‘You haven’t even thought about it?’

‘Elinor wants us to move to her building and I’ve said no. That’s as far as we’ve got.’

‘Really?’ Danny stares at me. ‘But don’t you want to stay in the Village?’

‘Of course I do! There’s no way I’m moving there.’

‘So what are you going to do?’

‘I... don’t know! I’ve just got too many other things to think about at the moment. Speaking of which–’

‘Pre-wedding stress,’ says Danny knowingly. ‘The solution is a double Martini.’ He opens up the cocktail cabinet and a sheaf of wedding-list brochures falls out onto the floor.

‘Hey!’ he says reproachfully, picking them up. ‘Did you register without me? I cannot believe that! I have been dying to register my entire life! Did you ask for a cappuccino maker?’

‘Er… yes. I tnink so–’

‘Big mistake. They’re never as good as the real thing. Listen if you ever want me to take delivery of any presents, you know I’m right upstairs...’

‘Yeah right.’ I give him a look. ‘After Christmas.’

Christmas is still a slightly sore point with me. I thought I’d be really clever and order a load of presents off the Internet. But they never arrived, so I spent Christmas Eve rushing round the shops buying replace­ments. Then on Christmas morning we went upstairs to have a drink with Danny and Randall – to find Danny sitting in the silk robe I’d bought for Elinor, eating the chocolates that were meant for Samantha at work.

‘Hey, what was I supposed to think?’ he says de­fensively. ‘It was Christmas, they were gift-wrapped... it was like, yes Daniel, there is a Santa Claus–’He reaches for the Martini bottle and sloshes some into the cocktail shaker. ‘Strong? Extra strong?’

‘Danny, I really have to make this phone call. I’ll be back in a minute.’

Extract 8

…I consult my schedule for the rest of the day. I’ve got an hour before my next client, so I decide to wander up to the bridal department and look at my dress again. It’s definitely between this one and the Vera Wang. Or maybe the Tracy Connop.

Definitely one of those three, anyway.

As I walk out onto the sales floor again, I stop in surprise. There’s Danny, standing by a rack of tops, fingering one casually. What on earth is he still doing here? I’m about to call out to him, and say does he want to come and see my dress and then go for a quick cappuccino? But then, to my astonishment, he glances around, surreptitiously bends down and reaches for something in his canvas bag. It’s a T-shirt with glittery sleeves, on a hanger. He shoves it onto the rail, looks around again, and reaches for another one.

I stare at him in utter stupefaction. What does he think he’s doing?

He looks around again – then reaches into his bag and pulls out a small laminated sign, which he props up at the end of the display.

What the hell is he up to?

‘Danny!’ I say, heading towards him.

‘What?’ He gives a startled jump, then turns and sees me. ‘Sssh! Jesus, Becky!’

‘What are you doing with those T-shirts?’ I hiss.

‘I’m stocking myself.’

‘What do you mean, stocking yourself?’

He jerks his head towards the laminated sign and I read it in disbelief.

THE DANNY KOVITZ COLLECTION. AN EXCITING NEW TALENT AT BARNEYS

‘They’re not all on Barneys hangers,’ says Danny, thrusting another two T-shirts on the rack. ‘But I figure that won’t matter.’

‘Danny... you can’t do this! You can’t just... put your stuff on the rails!’

‘I’m doing it.’

‘But–’

‘I have no choice, OK?’ says Danny, turning his head. ‘Randall’s on his way here right now, expecting to see a Danny Kovitz line at Barneys.’

I stare at him in horror.

‘I thought you said he would never check!’

‘He wouldn’t have!’ Danny shoves another hanger onto the rail. ‘But his stupid girlfriend has to poke her nose in. She never showed any interest in me before, but as soon as she hears the word Barneys, it’s like, oh Randall, you should support your brother! Go to Barneys tomorrow and buy one of his pieces! So I’m saying, you really don’t have to do that. But now Randall’s got the idea in his head, he’s like, well, maybe I will pop in and take a look. So I’m up sewing all night.’

‘You made all of these last night?’ I say incredu­lously, and reach for one of the T-shirts. A piece of leather braid falls off, onto the floor.

‘So maybe the finish isn’t quite up to my usual standards,’ says Danny defensively. ‘Just don’t man­handle them, OK?’ He starts to count the hangers. ‘Two… four... six... eight... ten. That should be enough.’

‘Danny…’ I glance around the sales floor, to see Carla one of the assistants, giving us an odd look. ‘Hi!’ I call brightly. ‘Just... helping one of my clients... for his girlfriend…’ Carla gives us another suspicious look then moves away. ‘This isn’t going to work!’ I mutter as soon as she’s out of earshot. ‘You’re going to have to take these down. You wouldn’t even be stocked on this floor!’

‘I need two minutes,’ he says. ‘That’s all. Two minutes for him to come in, see the sign, then go. Come on, Becky. No-one’s even going to...’ He freezes. ‘Here he is.’

I follow his gaze, and see Danny’s brother Randall walking across the floor towards us.

For the millionth time I wonder how on earth Randall and Danny can have come from the same parents. While Danny is wiry and constantly on the move, Randall fills his double-breasted suit com­fortably, and always wears the same disapproving frown.

‘Hello Daniel,’ he says, and nods to me. ‘Becky.’

‘Hi Randall,’ I say, and give what I hope is a natural smile. ‘How are you?’

‘So here they are!’ says Danny triumphantly, moving away from the rail and gesturing to the T-shirts. ‘My collection. In Barneys. Just like I said.’

‘So I see,’ says Randall, and carefully scrutinizes the rail of clothes. There’s a tense silence, and I feel sure he’s about to look up and say what on earth are you playing at? But he says nothing – and with a slight dart of shock I realize that he’s been completely taken in.

There again, why is that such a surprise? Danny’s clothes don’t look so out of place, up there on the rail.

‘Well, congratulations,’ says Randall at last. ‘This is quite an achievement.’ He pats Danny awkwardly on the shoulder, then turns to me. ‘Are they selling well?’

‘Er… yes!’ I say. ‘Very popular, I believe.’

‘So, how much do they retail at?’ He reaches for a T-shirt, and both Danny and I involuntarily draw breath. We watch, frozen, while he searches for the label, then looks up with a deep frown. ‘These have no price tickets.’

‘That’s because... they’re only just out,’ I hear myself saying hurriedly. ‘But I think they’re priced at... erm... eighty-nine dollars.’

‘I see,’ Randall shakes his head. ‘Well, I never was one for high fashion–’

‘Telling me,’ Danny whispers in my ear.

‘But if they’re selling, they must have something. Daniel, I take my hat off to you.’ He reaches for another one, with rivets round the neck, and looks at it with fastidious dismay. ‘Now, which one shall I buy?’

‘Don’t buy one!’ says Danny at once. ‘I’ll... make you one. As a gift.’

‘I insist,’ says Randall. ‘If I can’t support my own brother–’

‘Randall, please.’ Danny’s voice crackles with sincerity. ‘Allow me to make a gift to you. It’s the least I can do after all your kindness to me over the years. Really.’

‘Well, if you’re sure,’ says Randall at last, with a shrug. He looks at his watch. ‘I must go. Good to see you, Becky.’

‘I’ll walk to the elevator with you,’ says Danny, and darts me a jubilant look.

As they move off, I feel a giggle of relief rising in me. God, that was close. I can’t quite believe we got away with it so easily.

‘Hey!’ comes a voice behind me suddenly. ‘Look at these! They’re new, aren’t they?’ A manicured hand appears over my shoulder and plucks one of Danny’s T-shirts off the rail before I can stop it. My head whips round and I feel a plunge of dismay. It’s Lisa Farley, a sweet but completely dippy client of Erin. She’s about twenty-two, doesn’t seem to have a job, and always says whatever pops into her head, never mind whether someone might be offended. (She once asked Erin in all innocence, ‘Doesn’t it bother you, having such a weird-shaped mouth?’)

Now she’s holding the T-shirt up against her, looking down at it appraisingly.

Damn it. I should have snatched them down off the rail straight away.

‘Hi Becky!’ she says cheerily. ‘Hey, this is cute! I haven’t seen these before.’

‘Actually,’ I say quickly, ‘these aren’t for sale yet. In fact I need to... um... take them back to the stock room.’ I try to grab for the T-shirt, but she moves away.

‘I’ll just take a look in the mirror. Hey, Tracy! What do you think?’

Another girl, wearing the new Dior print jacket, is coming towards us.

‘Of what?’

‘These new T-shirts. They’re cool, aren’t they?’ She reaches for another one and hands it to Tracy.

‘If you could just give them back to me–’ I say helplessly.

‘This one’s nice!’

Now they’re both searching through the hangers with brisk fingers, and the poor T-shirts just can’t take the strain. Hems are unravelling, bits of glitter and strings of diamante are coming loose, and sequins are shedding all over the floor.

‘Oops, this seam just came apart.’ Lisa looks up in dismay. ‘Becky, it just fell apart. I didn’t pull it.’

‘That’s OK,’ I say weakly.

‘Is everything supposed to fall off like this? Hey Christina!’ Lisa suddenly calls out. ‘This new line is so fun!’

Christina?

I wheel round and feel a lurch of horror. Christina is standing at the entrance to the personal shopping department, in conversation with the head of personnel.

‘What new line?’ she says, looking up. ‘Oh, hi Becky.’

I have to stop this conversation right now.

‘Lisa–’ I say desperately. ‘Come and see the new Marc Jacobs coats we’ve got in!’

Lisa ignores me.

‘This new... what’s it called...’ She squints at the label. ‘Danny Kovitz! I can’t believe Erin didn’t tell me these were coming in! Naughty naughty!’ She wags a finger in mock reproach.

I watch in dismay as Christina looks up, alert There’s nothing to galvanize her like someone suggest­ing her department is less than perfect.

‘Excuse me a minute,’ she says to the head of person­nel, and comes across the floor towards us.

‘What didn’t Erin tell you about?’ she says pleasantly.

‘This new designer!’ says Lisa. ‘I never even heard of him before.’

‘Ow!’ says Tracy suddenly, and draws her hand away from the T-shirt. ‘That was a pin!’

‘A pin?’ echoes Christina. ‘Give me that.’

She takes the ragged T-shirt and stares at it bewilderedly. Then she catches sight of Danny’s laminated sign.

Oh, I’m so stupid. Why didn’t I take that down, at least?

As she reads it, her expression changes. She looks up and meets my eye, and I feel my whole body prickle with fear. I’ve never been in trouble with Christina before. But I’ve heard her telling people off over the phone, and I know she can be pretty fierce.

‘Do you know anything about this, Becky?’ she asks pleasantly.

‘I...’ I clear my throat. ‘The thing is ...’

‘I see. Lisa, I’m afraid there’s been a little confusion.’ She gives Lisa a professional smile. ‘These items are not for sale. Becky – I think I’d better see you in my office.’

‘Christina, I’m... sorry,’ I say, feeling my face flush beetroot. ‘I really am...’

‘What happened?’ says Tracy. ‘Why aren’t they for sale?’

‘Is Becky in trouble?’ says Lisa in dismay. ‘Will she be fired? Don’t fire Becky! We like her better than Erin… Oh.’ She claps her hand over her mouth. ‘Sorry, Erin I didn’t see you there.’

‘That’s all right,’ says Erin, giving a rather pinched smile.

This really doesn’t get any better.

‘Christina, all I can do is apologize,’ I say humbly. ‘I never meant to cause any trouble. I never meant to mislead the customers...’

‘In my office,’ says Christina, lifting a hand to silence me. ‘If you have anything to say, Becky, then you can say it–’

‘Stop!’ comes a melodramatic voice behind us, and we all whip round, to see Danny heading towards us, his eyes even wilder than usual. ‘Just stop right there! Don’t blame Becky for this!’ he says, placing himself in front of me. ‘She had nothing to do with it. If you’re going to fire anyone – fire me!’

‘Danny, she can’t fire you,’ I mutter. ‘You’re not employed by Barneys.’

‘And you would be?’ enquires Christina.

‘Danny Kovitz.’

‘Danny Kovitz. Ah.’ Light dawns on Christina’s face. ‘So it was you who... assembled these garments. And planted them on our rails.’

‘What? He’s not a real designer?’ says Tracy in horror. ‘I knew it! I wasn’t fooled.’ She thrusts the hanger she’s holding back onto the rail as though she’s been contaminated.

‘Isn’t that breaking the law?’ says Lisa, wide-eyed.

‘It may well be,’ says Danny defensively. ‘But shall I tell you why I’m reduced to criminal measures? Do you know the impossibillty of getting a break in this so-called business of fashion?’ He glances around to make sure his audience is listening. ‘All I want is to bring my ideas to people who will love them. I put every ounce of my life force into my work. I weep, I cry out in pain, squeeze myself dry of creative blood. But the fashion establishment aren’t interested in new talent! They aren’t interested in nurturing the newcomer who dares to be a little different!’ His voice rises impassionedly ‘If I have to take desperate measures, can you blame me? If you cut me, do I not bleed?’

‘Wow,’ breathes Lisa. ‘I had no idea it was so tough out there.’

‘You did cut me,’ puts in Tracy, who looks far less impressed by Danny’s speech. ‘With your stupid pin.’

‘Christina, you have to give him a chance!’ exclaims Lisa. ‘Look! He’s so dedicated!’

‘I just want to bring my ideas to people who will love them,’ begins Danny again. ‘My only desire is that someone, some day, will wear one of my garments and feel themselves transformed. But as I crawl towards them on my hands and knees, the doors keep being slammed in my face–’

‘Enough already!’ says Christina, half-exasperated, half-amused. ‘You want your big break? Let me have a look at these clothes.’

There’s a sudden intrigued quiet. I glance quickly at Danny. Perhaps this is going to be it! Christina will spot his genius and Barneys will buy his entire collection and he’ll be made! Then Gwyneth Paltrow will wear one of his T-shirts on Leno, and there’ll be a rush for them, and suddenly he’ll be famous and have his own boutique!

Christina reaches for a T-shirt with spattered dye and rhinestones on the front and as she runs her eye up and down it, I hold my breath. Lisa and Tracy raise their eyebrows at each other, and although Danny is motionless, I can see his face tightening with hope. There’s dead silence as she puts it down – and as she reaches for a second T-shirt we all give an intake of breath, as though the Russian judge’s hand has hovered over the perfect six scorecard. With a critical frown, she stretches it out to look at it properly... and as she does so, one of the sleeves comes off in her hand, leaving a ragged seam behind.

Everyone stares at it speechlessly.

‘That’s the look,’ says Danny, a little too late. ‘It’s a… a deconstructive approach to design...’

Christina is shaking her head and putting the T-shirt back.

‘Young man. You certainly have flair. You may even have talent. Unfortunately these are not enough. Until you can finish off your work properly, you’re not going to get very far.’

‘My designs are usually immaculately finished!’ says Danny at once. ‘Perhaps this particular collection was a little hurried...’

‘I suggest you go back to the beginning, make a few pieces, very carefully...’

‘Are you saying I’m careless?’

‘I’m saying you need to learn how to follow a project through to the end.’ Christina smiles kindly at him. ‘Then we’ll see.’

‘I can follow a project through!’ says Danny in­dignantly. ‘It’s one of my strengths! It’s one of my– Would I be making Becky’s wedding dress otherwise?’ He grabs me, as though we’re about to sing a duet. ‘The most important outfit of her whole life? She believes in me, even if nobody else does. When Becky Bloomwood walks down the aisle at the Plaza Hotel in a Danny Kovitz creation, you won’t be calling me careless then. And when the phones start ringing off their hooks–’

‘What?’ I say stupidly. ‘Danny–’

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 819