‘It’s very...’ Libby’s voice trailed off as Rachel squeezed herself into her very tight dress, but as she slithered it down past her thighs she frowned as she looked over and saw the pained expression on Libby’s face.
‘You cannot go into labour today,’ Rachel warned.
‘I know I can’t,’ Libby said. ‘I keep telling myself that. I just don’t think the baby is listening.’
‘Do you think you might have it?’
‘I think I might,’ Libby admitted.
‘Oh, my!’ Rachel grinned her toothy grin. ‘How exciting.’
‘How not!’ Libby sighed. ‘This wedding is so important for Daniil, Sev is like family to him. Sev is his family.’
‘I’m sure you’ll be fine,’ Rachel said with all the authority of someone who watched an awful lot of medical dramas ‘First ones take ages and ages, and anyway your waters haven’t popped. Imagine if they do in the church!’
‘You’re such a comfort, Rachel,’ Libby said, but she did smile. ‘Come on, do your make-up, we have to go.’
‘I’ll do it in the taxi...’ Rachel said, and then remembered how rich Libby was and that this wasn’t the old days. Daniil’s driver would take them to the church! She pulled on very high stilettos, in the same burnt-orange velvet as her dress, and they took the elevator down and then out to where the driver waited. Once seated in the plush car Rachel opened up her large bag and, very used to doing her make-up in less luxurious surroundings, she set to work on her face.
‘You’re ever so pale,’ Libby commented, and then remembered. ‘We didn’t have lunch!’
They had been too busy talking!
‘I didn’t have breakfast either,’ Rachel said, and took a chocolate éclair sweet out from the bottom of her bag and carried on doing her make-up. Off came the freckles, thanks to an amazing foundation she had newly discovered. Her reddish-blonde eyelashes were soon a long silky black that brought out the green of her eyes. She added some rouge and then a good dash of coral lipstick and then peered in the hand mirror at her slightly protruding teeth that had a gap in the middle. ‘I’m thinking of getting braces.’
‘Why?’
‘I just am. Come on, you need to bring me up to speed, I’ve lost track of all these Russians.’ Rachel snapped her fingers for information as she teased out the curls in her hair. ‘The groom is Sev, Daniil’s friend from the orphanage?’
‘Yes,’ Libby said. ‘Though it might be kinder not to refer to him as that.’
‘I can be tactful!’
‘Sometimes you can be.’ Libby smiled.
‘Tell me about the bride.’
‘Her name’s Naomi,’ Libby said. ‘She was his PA in New York but she’s actually from London.’
‘What’s she like?’
‘I only met her briefly, she was still his PA then. We were just on our honeymoon. Oh, Anya will be at the wedding too.’
‘Anya?’
‘Tatania.’ Libby gave Anya’s stage name and watched as Rachel let out a little squeal of delight. Anya too had been at the orphanage, though as the cook’s daughter. Now, she was prima ballerina in a Russian dance company and back in London performing Firebird. Rachel had seen her the last time the company was here and had been hoping to see her again before the production closed next week but it was proving impossible.
‘Do you think she can get me tickets?’ Rachel asked. ‘It’s completely sold out.’
‘She probably can but I doubt that she would—Anya’s not very friendly,’ Libby warned.
‘Oh, well, it’s worth a try. What about the other one?’ Rachel frowned as she tried to work it out. She knew, from what Libby had told her, that there had been four orphans but she struggled to keep up with their names. ‘Nikolai?’
‘No!’ Libby quickly said as she winced at the potential faux pas. ‘Nikolai’s the dead one. He killed himself when he was fourteen. He was being abused by his teacher.’
‘Oh.’
Rachel answered with her usual shallow response yet she saw her own rapid blink in the small hand mirror when she heard what had happened to Nikolai.
Yes, there were things she didn’t discuss, especially not on a wedding day with her anxious, pregnant friend.
Especially ever.
‘You’re talking about Roman,’ Libby said, ‘Daniil’s twin. He’s—’
Rachel turned as Libby broke off in mid-sentence and went silent.
‘Are you having another one?’ Rachel asked as they pulled up outside the church.
‘No.’ Libby shook her head. ‘Maybe,’ she admitted, as Rachel helped her out of the car. ‘God, Rachel, don’t let me make a scene. I can’t spoil the wedding.’
‘Oh, you shan’t. I’ll just throw a coat over you or something.’ Then she smiled. ‘You’ll be fine.’
The bells were ringing out and the press were taking photos of the arriving guests as they walked into the gorgeous old church. There were white roses everywhere and the organ was playing. Rachel followed Libby to a pew near the front and there was a buzz of anticipation all around.
Rachel loved weddings and this was going to be a good one, she was sure.
Daniil was dead sexy and the groom was too, Rachel thought, which hopefully meant half the congregation would be.
She turned and watched as a reed-thin, beautiful woman slipped into the pew behind them and then tapped Libby on the shoulder.
‘Libby.’
‘It’s lovely to see you, Anya.’ Libby smiled. ‘This is my friend Rachel...’
‘Anya!’ Rachel said, and her face was on fire, she knew, as she had an absolute fangirl moment. Rachel had been a huge fan of Tatania for years and had followed her career closely.
‘I think I must have seen you perform at least ten times...’ Rachel did a little count in her head. ‘Actually, twelve!’
‘Rachel’s not exaggerating,’ Libby added. ‘Any time you’re in London and she wasn’t performing herself she was watching you.’
‘I saw you in Paris when you played Lilac Fairy. I’m hoping to get to see Firebird again,’ Rachel said, but Anya shook her head.
‘We close next week.’
‘Yes, I know. I haven’t been able to get tickets,’ Rachel said, and let out a dramatic sigh, hoping, hoping that Anya would come to a fellow dancer’s rescue.
‘It sold out ages ago.’
Dismissed by Anya, Rachel turned and stared ahead. She could feel Libby trying not to laugh at Anya’s cool acceptance of Rachel’s desire to see her and her absolute shutdown with no offer of tickets!
‘Told you,’ Libby said.
‘You did.’ Rachel sighed.
As they waited for the bride to arrive Libby tried to chat about Rachel’s work, or lack of it.
‘You know that I’ve got a temporary teacher to fill in for me,’ Libby said, ‘but I’m always on the lookout—’
‘Libby,’ Rachel broke in. ‘I don’t want to teach.’
‘Then what will you do?’
‘I’m not sure.’
Her mother had asked