He hung his head. ‘I’m really, really sorry. I don’t suppose you’ve got—’
She interrupted him again. ‘A white dress? No, Daniel, I’m not like the other women you know. I don’t have a whole wardrobe full of dressy clothes. In fact, this dress isn’t even mine — I had to borrow it from Eva. But if I’d known about the dress code, if you’d even stopped to mention it, I might have borrowed something inwhite!’
‘Maybe you could borrow something from L—’
‘Don’t even finish that sentence!’ she almost shouted, remembering she’d told Lucinda last night that her dress was black. Lucinda hadn’t mentioned the dress code. If she had, then Anna might have been able to salvage things by buying a dress in Chester today. But Lucinda wouldn’t have wanted her to do that, would she? Lucinda would prefer the humiliation of Anna turning up in something that was completely unsuitable.
‘She’s got loads of dresses. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.’
Her anger stuck in her throat and for a moment she was speechless. What she wanted to do was scream at him. Why didn’t he understand that she wouldn’t want to go cap in hand to borrow something from his ex-wife? Why did he not see that? She’d thought he was more emotionally switched on than this.
‘For a start, we are a completely different shape and size, which you, as a photographer, might have noticed. And for another, why would I ask a favour from her when she set me up?’
Daniel frowned. ‘What do you mean, set you up?’
‘I told her last night my dress was black. She knew I didn’t know the dress code.’
‘Oh, shit,’ he said again.
All of a sudden she felt the anger dissipate and, feeling as though she couldn’t hold herself up, sank down into a sitting position on the stairs, uncaring of how she might crease the dress.
‘Well,’ she said sadly. ‘I hope you enjoy your evening.’
‘You’re not coming?’
‘How can I? Dressed like this.’
‘You look amazing.’ He walked up the stairs, sitting down on the step in front of her. ‘You really do. Who gives a stuff about some shitty dress code?’
‘It’s not about the dress code. It’s about fitting in. And I don’t. This is Lucinda’s turf and I’d say she’s gone out of her way to make sure I know it. And that I’m not welcome.’
‘Not by her maybe.’ He ran his hand up her black-stockinged leg and, despite the fact that she’d just been so furious with him, the action sent shivers down her spine. ‘Who cares what Lucinda thinks? I want you here, and I’d be so proud to have you by my side tonight. Black dress or not.’
‘I’m not sure I’m brave enough for that.’
‘You’re the bravest person I know. Think about what we went through together only a few weeks ago. That would have most people breaking down, but you, you took it in your stride, you tried to help as many of the victims as you could, and you’re still supporting one of them now. What’s a bunch of bored rich people compared to that?’
She laughed shakily. ‘That’s scarier than anything else.’
‘You’re worth a hundred of them.’
‘Glad you think so.’
He reached up and kissed her. She closed her eyes as she revelled in the tender feel of his lips on hers. Outside a car beeped its horn.
He pulled away from her. ‘That’s the taxi.’
‘We’d better go then, hadn’t we?’ She pulled herself up into a standing position.
Daniel stood up, grinning, and put his arm round her. ‘Really? You’ll come with me?’
She nodded, even though it was against her better instincts. ‘Like you said, who cares about a stupid dress code.’
‘Not me. Can you tell the taxi to hang on for five minutes?’
‘Why? We’re both ready aren’t we?’
‘No. I need to go and change. If you’re going to be in black, then so am I.’
