Breaking the Rules (2009)

by Barbara Taylor Bradford

  ‘No. Unfortunately.’ Taking a deep breath, Caresse went on almost breathlessly, ‘And my good news has to do with you,’ she cried, no longer able to restrain herself.

  ‘Me?‘ M frowned, looking puzzled. ‘What on earth do you mean?’

  Caresse giggled, blurted out, ‘You’re about to get your first break, M! This weekend. Luke Hendricks called from Paris early this morning and asked me to track you down. He’s coming back to New York on Thursday evening. He wants to do a fashion shoot with you, starting on Saturday. And this afternoon he asked me to tell you that it’s a special shoot for Jean-Louis Tremont, the French designer.’

  ‘Oh, my God!’ M jumped off the stool and rushed over to Caresse. The two women hugged, began to jump up and down. Still holding each other, then laughing and screaming, they danced around the kitchen together like two adolescent girls.

  When they finally stopped, Caresse ran to turn off the kettle, and M went back to the stool, not quite able to process the news. It seemed absolutely incredible to her, and she almost didn’t believe it after her last experience. But she wisely said nothing to Caresse, who was obviously over the moon about Luke’s phone calls, and his intention to use her for the Tremont shoot.

  ‘I can’t believe this is happening,’ M said at last, looking over at Caresse. ‘It’s just wonderful! So, tell me what else Luke had to say.’

  Swinging around, Caresse said, ‘His first call was to ask me to find you, saying he wanted you to do the shoot, and that it would be your first break at long last. When he called again at two, he asked me to book Agnes and Marguerite for hair and makeup. He also explained he doesn’t want to start shooting before noon on Saturday, and that you might have to continue the shoot next week as well.’ Caresse paused, made a face. ‘Oh, jeez, I bet you won’t be able to work at the cheese cake place.’

  ‘That doesn’t matter,’ M assured her. ‘Jody, the manager, understands I have to take time off now and then. It’s fine, honestly. Oh, I’m so excited I can’t believe it. Luke must be shooting Tremont’s clothes on me. Is that what he said?’

  ‘Yes, it is, and listen, before I forget, Luke wants you to bring the things you wore for Frankie’s session. It all sounds very serious, don’t ya think?’

  ‘I do, and I love Tremont’s clothes, they suit me, look good on me.’ When she saw Caresse’s surprised expression and realized she was gaping at her, M explained, ‘I’ve never owned a Tremont, just tried his things on occasionally, and once a friend in London lent me a dress of Tremont’s for a special party.’ Jumping off the stool, M stepped over to the counter to join Caresse, and said, ‘Oh God, I must call Larry! Tell him my news about the shoot. He’ll be so thrilled.’ She pulled her mobile out of her red Kelly and started to dial.

  Caresse exclaimed, ‘No! Don’t call him! Tell him in person when you get to his place, that’s always the best when you have a big surprise to share. He’ll take you out to celebrate.’

  ‘Not tonight he won’t,’ M answered and put her phone away. ‘He’s had flu for days. I’m going to make him chicken-in-the-pot again. He likes it, thank goodness, but it must be coming out of his ears by now.’

  Caresse said, ‘Jewish penicillin. It works wonders.’ Handing M the mug, she picked up her own, raised it, and finished, ‘Congratulations! Here’s to the shoot.’

  ‘You’ve been awfully quiet for the last half-hour,’ James Cardigan murmured, reaching out, taking Geo’s hand in his. ‘What’s bothering you, me darlin’?’

  ‘Nothing, James, honestly. I’m just unwinding after a long day at the easel,’ she answered and leaned back against the banquette.

  ‘That may be so, but I have a feeling something’s troubling you. I know you quite well by now, Georgiana, and I recognize that look in your eyes. A troubled look that doesn’t go away.’ When she did not respond, James lifted his glass and took a sip of his white wine, and then glanced around the restaurant. He had brought Geo to Da Umberto on West Seventeenth, a Tuscan restaurant they both enjoyed not only for the food and wine but the atmosphere. There was a sense of tranquillity about this spot that created a perfect ambiance for relaxing, talking and enjoying the delectable food.

  Not wanting to pressure her, or force the point, James changed the subject when he asked, ‘How’s M? Any breaks yet?’

  Geo shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think so. Anyway, she’s been very occupied with Larry. He’s had the flu, and she’s been practically living at the Beekman Place apartment. So I haven’t really seen her except for a few minutes. Listen, James, there is one thing troubling me, that’s true, and it’s the safety of my friend Annette Lazenby, who rents the attic floor in the brownstone. I haven’t heard from her lately, and neither has her mother, and—’

  ‘Where is she?’ James interrupted. ‘You’ve only ever mentioned her in passing, not said much about her. So, where is she?’

  ‘She’s in Afghanistan on an assignment for her magazine. She’s a journalist. How dangerous is it out there? In Kabul?’

  ‘Only the most dangerous place in the world, bar none.’ He was startled and responded swiftly. ‘And no wonder you’re concerned about her, I would be…an American woman alone in Kabul—oh boy, is that bad news.’

  ‘Actually, it’s her mother who drew my attention to it. She called this morning to ask if I’d heard from her. And I haven’t, not for weeks, and I’m not sure what to do. Mind you, she’s not in the habit of emailing me endlessly.’

  ‘After dinner I’ll help you work out an appropriate email to Annette, making it sound like you’re family, that’s the first step.’

  ‘Why like family? I don’t understand,’ Geo answered, looking baffled.

  ‘You’ve no idea what’s happened to her, and apparently neither does her mother. She’s worried because she’s not heard anything. Seemingly she knows zilch. I want the email to sound as if you’re her sister, rather than an outsider, a non-family member. That way, if someone else has got hold of her computer, if she’s been captured or is being held, it will appear innocent.’

  ‘But it is innocent.’

  ‘I know that, but others might not.’

  ‘I see, so we’ll do that, send an email later.’

  ‘Annette could be very busy, you know, or travelling, we just don’t know anything and we shouldn’t speculate.’

  ‘Just one question. If she doesn’t reply, is there any way you can help me, so that I can put her mother’s worries to rest?’

  He was silent for the longest moment, and then he nodded slowly and said in a quiet voice, ‘I’ll try to do my best to find something out…I still have a few of the right connections. A few markers to call in…’

  ‘Thank you, I’m so grateful.’ Geo squeezed his arm and smiled up at him.

  Looking at her, smiling back, James Cardigan realized he would do just about anything for Georgiana Carlson, and he realized yet again that he had fallen for her, and very heavily at that. He kissed the tip of her nose and smiled again, reached for his glass.

  For a moment or two Geo sat staring out into the distance, looking towards the far end of the restaurant, her concern for Annette tantamount in her mind. And yet she knew full well that the troubled look James had spotted a short while ago had to do with the conversation she had had with Dax that afternoon.

  Suddenly making up her mind to confide in him, she leaned into him and put a hand on his arm. ‘The worried look you just spotted wasn’t to do with Annette, actually, James. It had to do with M.’

  ‘Oh. Is there something wrong?’ His brows drew together in a pucker and he appeared puzzled.

  ‘No, I don’t think so, not really. It’s just that I had a strange conversation with Dax this afternoon, and I suppose it’s stayed in my mind, worried me a bit.’

  ‘What do you mean by strange?’ He peered at her, his eyes narrowing.

  Quickly and clearly, Geo repeated the conversation Dax had had with her at Starbucks about Larry’s old troubles. While she was detailed and explic
it, she did not reveal that the actor Colin Burke had been the one to inform Dax. She had promised to keep his confidence, and so she did.

  James shook his head when she finished and exclaimed, ‘God, people are terrible! Why did Dax bring it up in the first place? This is old news, bloody old news, in fact.’

  ‘So you knew about it?’

  ‘Well, some people did, I suppose. It was about five years ago, and there were rumours and Chinese whispers that Larry Vaughan was hooked on pills, and was losing work because of it. But it was a one-day wonder, basically. It soon went away. Larry cleaned up his act, and got on with it. Did a couple of plays, received great notices, accolades, awards, and everyone forgot about his so-called “drug problem”. If there ever was one. In my opinion, it was all a storm in a teacup, hardly worth mentioning today. I suppose Dax said he was worried about M, and that’s the reason he was telling you?’

  Georgiana said, ‘Yes, that’s it. I was pretty angry earlier and told him so, and he immediately let it drop.’

  ‘And that’s what you should do, my dear. There was no big scandal, and Larry is in good health and perfectly normal, as far as I can see. The past doesn’t bear discussing. And who knows whether it was true? Now, let’s look at the menu, shall we?’

  EIGHTEEN

  Whenever she saw Larry, after even the shortest of absences, M felt a little frisson of excitement, instantly struck once again by his dark good looks, those astonishing blue eyes.

  And tonight was no different. She unlocked the door of his apartment and walked into the hall, and her chest tightened at the sight of him. He was standing in the entrance to the living room waiting for her, looking impossibly handsome in a pristine white shirt, black sweater and trousers.

  He smiled, obviously pleased to see her, and took a step forward. She smiled back at him and rushed into his arms, loving him with all her heart. He hugged her to him, holding her close, and said against her cheek, ‘I’ve missed you ever so much.’

  ‘Me too, you,’ she answered, and stepped away, staring at him. ‘What are you doing up and dressed? When I left this morning you were a sick man. Shouldn’t you be in bed?’

  He laughed, helped her off with her coat, and put it in the coat closet. ‘I’m feeling much better—you’ve cured me,’ he answered. ‘That chicken soup of yours works wonders; maybe you should bottle it and sell it. As for me, I’ve had enough of it, it’s coming out of my ears. What I want tonight for dinner is a juicy entrecôte and French fries. I’ve booked a table at Deux Amis.’

  M exclaimed, ‘Oh, goody, I won’t have to cook!’ and walked with him to the library where a fire blazed in the hearth, and a bottle of champagne stood in a bucket of ice on the coffee table.

  ‘How funny that you put out champagne, Larry. It’s almost as if you knew,’ M began, and paused, realizing at once that he couldn’t possibly be aware of Luke’s phone calls to Caresse from Paris.

  ‘Knew what?’ Larry asked, sounding puzzled. He strode across the room, lifted the bottle out of the bucket, and began to remove the metal foil around the cork.

  ‘That I have some wonderful news.’

  Lifting his head, he glanced at her and grinned. ‘Oddly enough, so do I, hence the champagne. But let me pour us a glass of bubbly first, and you can tell me your news…ladies first.’

  Joining him near the fire, M took the glass he handed her, and waited for him to fill his own, before exclaiming, ‘I’m simply bursting to tell you! I’m so excited, Larry.’

  ‘Go on then,’ he murmured, smiling at her indulgently.

  ‘I’ve got my first break. At last! I’m going to do a shoot for Luke Hendricks. He’s got an assignment from Jean-Louis Tremont, the French designer, and I’m to wear his clothes. I think I might be on my way.’

  ‘Darling, that is wonderful news!’ Larry’s face was wreathed in smiles, and he raised his glass, touched it to hers. ‘Congratulations, M! I’m thrilled for you.’

  Larry was genuinely pleased, knowing how much she wanted to have a modelling career, fully aware of her sadness and terrible disappointment after Frankie’s death. His happiness showed on his face, and this pleased her. They both sipped from their glasses, but almost at once Larry placed his on the coffee table and put his hand in his trouser pocket. ‘And my news isn’t really news, but an affirmation of the things I’ve been saying to you for the last few weeks.’

  He cleared his throat several times, and hurried on. ‘I think we should become officially engaged.’ Without another word, and not waiting for her to say anything, he brought out the dark blue box and offered it to her. ‘This is for you, my darling M.’

  Taken aback—slightly stunned, even—M stared at him and then at the box in his hand. She put down her champagne and took it from him. ‘Oh, Larry, darling, you bought me a ring!’ A lump came into her throat, so touched was she, and she thought she was going to burst into tears.

  ‘I did, and I give it to you with all of my love for the rest of my life.’

  ‘Oh, it’s just gorgeous!’ M said, staring at the sapphire ring gleaming against the white leather lining of the box. ‘It’s absolutely beautiful, it really is.’

  Taking the box away from her, he took out the ring and slipped it on her finger. ‘Now we’re engaged at last, darling.’ When she was silent and just stood there staring at him speechlessly, he searched her face, asking swiftly, ‘Well, we are, aren’t we?’

  ‘Of course we are, you silly thing!’ As she said these words she flung her arms around him, hugged him tightly, then tilted her face to his. It was radiant with joy, which he didn’t fail to miss, and this filled him with relief and reassurance.

  After a long, lingering kiss, Larry led her to the sofa, where they sat down together and sipped their champagne, lost for a moment or two in their own thoughts.

  Larry broke the silence, when he said in a confiding tone, ‘I never really knew whether you took me seriously or not. You always went along with me, but occasionally it struck me that maybe you thought I was joking.’ Larry paused, and looked at her intently. ‘Did you think that?’

  ‘To be honest, I did once or twice. But deep down I knew you felt the same way I did…that evening when we met at Iris Ingersoll’s was…a coup de foudre, wasn’t it?’

  ‘It was, yes. The minute I set eyes on you I felt as if I’d been punched in the stomach. A more accurate translation of the French would be struck by lightning, of course. I recognized you. I knew instantly that you were the one…’

  ‘I’ve known that about you since I was ten,’ she said with a laugh, then held out her left hand, staring at the ring, admiring it. ‘This is so gorgeous, it really is. Thank you, thank you, Larry, it’s perfect, and I’m so lucky…and I’m so glad you gave me a sapphire, and I love you,’ she said in an excited, breathless voice, still a little stunned by his proposal and the beautiful ring.

  ‘I love you, M. And there’s something I want to tell you…I’ve never given a ring to a woman before or proposed marriage or been engaged. You’re the first woman I’ve ever asked to marry me.’

  ‘Yes, I know that,’ she responded, glancing at him, a happy expression in her black eyes.

  An amused smile played around his mouth. ‘Of course you do! How could I ever forget that you know everything about me?’

  ‘Yes, that’s true,’ she agreed, and went on, ‘Whenever did you get a chance to buy my ring?’ M was riddled with curiosity. ‘It must have been before you came down with the flu.’

  ‘It was. About two weeks ago, and I just couldn’t wait any longer. I wanted my ring on your finger, wanted you to know I was serious about you, and now I want to set a date for our wedding. It’s become very necessary and very urgent to me.’

  ‘I thought we were going to have a white wedding at Christmas? Here in New York at City Hall, just the two of us. That was what you suggested and we agreed it would be like eloping. Isn’t that still the plan?’ she asked, raising a brow. ‘It sounded perfect to me.’

 
‘To me too, and yes, that’s what we’re going to do.’ He sat back on the sofa, frowning all of a sudden, and turning to M, asked, ‘Do we need to have witnesses? I’m not actually sure about the law here.’

  ‘Neither am I, but I’ll find out, and if we do, we could ask Geo and James to stand up for us, couldn’t we?’

  ‘Good idea. Listen, M, I’m afraid I’ve got to change the subject, something’s come up. My mother phoned me from London today, she wants me to go to Canada to be with my father in Toronto. He’s doing a play there, Cyrano de Bergerac, and she believes he needs some moral support.’ Larry related the conversation he’d had with his mother that morning, and finished, ‘So, I’m planning to leave this coming Saturday, and I hope you’ll come with me, darling.’

  ‘Oh, Larry, I can’t!’ M exclaimed and, throwing him a concerned look, quickly rushed on, ‘I’m doing the shoot with Luke this weekend. At Frankie’s studio. It’s all set up, hair, makeup, everything. I’ll be working all weekend, and most of next week as well, according to Caresse. Oh, God, I’m so sorry, Larry, I really do wish I could come, but, well, you know I can’t.’

  Although he was disappointed, and looked totally crestfallen, Larry took hold of her hand and squeezed it in his. ‘Don’t worry, it’s all right, really it is. I understand you can’t miss this big chance: nothing must interfere with it, in fact. But I do have to go, give my support to Dad. I hope you understand that…well, I know you do. But I’ll sure as hell miss you, sweetheart. I don’t want to be away from you…and I won’t be ever again, if I can help it.’

  ‘And neither will I,’ M said, and she meant this. Sitting up straighter, she hesitated for a split second before saying, in a nervous voice, ‘Larry, I…’ Immediately she stopped, wondering whether to speak out or not.

  ‘What is it? What were you going to say?’ he asked, looking at her swiftly, conscious of the worry in her voice.

  ‘You mentioned that you wanted to make our engagement official. Do you mean you want to announce it…to the world?’