The Wedding Dress Read Free

explain Loraine’s absence, even though Loraine hardly thought her father would notice her non-appearance, and then both the Otways contrived to impart an enchanting air of festivity to the afternoon and evening.
    Incredibly, Mrs. Otway even found a lovely silk scarf for a birthday present. And, when he learned that Loraine took ballet lessons and was passionately interested in the subject, Philip Otway produced a beautifully illustrated book on famous ballerinas, from his own collection. He wrote her name in it and the date of her eighteenth birthday, “ so that she would never forget the day, ” as he said.
    For other reasons too, Loraine knew she would never forget that day. For one thing, that was when she fell completely and irretrievably in love with Philip.
    She was not entirely aware of this the very first day, of course. But during the rest of the summer the Otways made it their business to see a good deal of the lonely girl on the next estate. And Loraine soon discovered — a discovery only confirmed during the Christmas holidays — that life without Philip and his mother had been no more than a dull existence.
    Both of them had been away from home when Loraine had been briefly summoned from school to her father’s funeral. And then had come the transfer to Paris. And although it was incredibly exciting and thrilling to be a bridesmaid at a fashionable wedding and wear a Florian creation, Loraine still thought nostalgically of Philip and knew that what she wanted most in the world was to have him smile at her and assure her that, somehow, he would always be there.
    It was difficult to make any firm plans of her own because her guardian had not yet outlined his ideas for her future. But she cheered herself by the recollection that the Otways came to Paris sometimes. Philip because he was a successful artist and had artistic connections there, and Mrs. Otway because she bought her clothes there — even, Loraine thought she remembered, at Florian’s.
    So she refused to torment herself with the idea that any real break had taken place. She must be patient — just as one had had to be throughout the terms at school — and presently Philip would be there again and all would be well.
    At the reception after the wedding — held in one of the smaller but most exclusive hotels in Paris — Loraine found herself the object of a gratifying amount of admiration.
    Even her guardian said to her, “ You looked absolutely charming, Loraine. ” And, though she thought it was perhaps more satisfaction at her having done him credit than anything else, she warmed to the smile of approval which he bestowed on her before he went to speak to more i nteresting people.
    Then Madame Florian herself came up to tell Loraine how beautifully she had played her part. And when Loraine ventured to congratulate her shyly on her perfect English, she laughed and said:
    “ But I am English, my dear. I was an English mannequin in Florian’s dress house. And then he married me. ” It sounded deliciously simple and romantic, Loraine thought, put that way, and she looked at Madame Florian with interest.
    “ Isn’t it awfully difficult to get into a French dress house if you’re English? ” she inquired.
    “ Not if you have what the designer happens to want. ”
    “ And what is that? ” Loraine asked, with real curiosity.
    “ Oh ” — Gabrielle Florian laughed — it’s difficult to define, and not always just the same quality. There must be a certain amount of grace and — charm, I suppose, and the ability to wear clothes, of course. But, over and above that, there has to be a subtle something which moves a great designer to fresh inspiration. ”
    “ And you have that? ” Loraine looked impressed.
    “ I’m not sure that I have, ” was the frank reply. “ I wasn’t a professional mannequin, chosen from a crowd. I was substituted at the last moment for someone who had had an accident a few days before the Collection was to