A Tale of Three Cities – part 1
Tuesday 2nd February
Noon CET
Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel
Vienna
Abby looked out of the
window and took in the view of the city, smiling as she sipped her coffee. Glancing over at her wardrobe, she saw the
dress bag hanging carefully, the rest of her outfits on the other side of the
pole.
“Come in the door’s
open,” she said as she heard the knock, and smiled as Tony came in.
“All unpacked?”
“Oh yes – and
everything is just perfect,” she said with a smile before they kissed. “How about you?”
“The monkey suit has
gone off to be pressed – I saw Harry in the corridor. I said we’d meet up him, Tony, Angel and
Fiona in the lobby at one.”
“Sounds good – got your
dancing shoes?”
“Oh yes – I understand
this is almost like a boot camp for the next three days.”
“Yeah – still, it will
be fun I’m sure. You seemed to get some
sleep last night anyway.”
“Not as much as you?”
“True,” Abby said, “but
I’m used to it by now. Any of the other
girls arrived?”
“I think Trina and her
family got in just after us – and she was the last. The others came over last night.”
“Abby? Ah I see you have unpacked.”
“I have mamma,” Abby
said as she saw Diana in the door.
“Well, we are going for
an early lunch. Will you join us before
you head off?”
“I think we have time,”
Tony said.
“Good – then let’s go,”
Abby said, “I’m hungry...”
“Ah there she is,” Guy
said as he and Valeria stood up. Abby
was wearing a white blouse and knee length skirt, with black heels. She had her Jameson bag, her dancing shoes safely
inside.
“Well, here we are,”
Abby said quietly, “and this is even more nerve wracking than Le Bal.”
“Only in the sense it
is more formal,” Valeria said, “and more organised. But I assure you, in two days time, you will
be one of the brightest lights of the evening.”
1 pm CET
“Hey,” Abby said as she
joined Fiona and Angel, “ready for this?”
“No – and my darling
brother certainly isn’t,” Fiona said as she watched Mick talking to Harry.”
"You do know,”
Tony said, “that even without makeup on, and wearing your glasses at least some
people will still recognise you Abby?"
"I know,” Abby
said, “but the fewer the better, and this does help a bit."
"Tony dear
boy," Guy greeted his granddaughters partner, "are you ready?"
"I guess as ready
as I'll ever be."
"Well the best of
luck to both of you, have you got a cab?"
"There are plenty
outside Grandpapa."
"Alright, you two
just relax and remember this is supposed to be fun."
"We will try
to." Tony smiled.
“Right,” Harry said,
“we need to move. Cab each?”
The three couples
walked quickly out, the doorman hailing cabs.
As Tony and Abby got in the back, the driver looked round and said “Wo
sehen Sie gehen möchten , wenden Sie sich bitte“
“Opear Haus, bitte“
The driver nodded as he
headed south on the Ungargasse.
“Have you ever been to
Vienna, Tony?”
“No – you?”
“Never – but I begin to
see how Carina fell in love with it,” Abby said as she looed at the buildings,
and admiring the high steeple of the Januariuskapelle.
“Must be one of the
main shopping streets, given the store fronts.”
“I think so Tony – but
according to both Carina and Annie, the real fun comes from going down the
little side streets. She gave me a list
of places to visit...”
On the right, they saw
a large rotunda, as the cab turned right onto the Rennweg.
“That’s the Italian
embassy,” Abby said as they passed a large building on the right, “and that’s
the Cafe Steiner. Cari said it was worth
a visit.”
“That must be the
Polish Church, based on what little German i have,” Tony said as the cab
continued along, and entered the dual carriageway at Schwarzenbergplatz.
“OH my – the fountains
at the palace,” Abby said quietly as they went past, and then turned left onto
the Kartner Ring.
“Very chic,” tony said
as they passed the stores, and then did a right and left.
“Opernring,” the driver
said, as both Tony and Abby gazed at the entrance to the Opera House, the vast
green roof towering over them.
“Forgive me, but can
you stop here,” Abby said, the driver nodding as he pulled in and the two got
out. As Tony paid the driver, Abby
looked through the arches at the doors.
“It’s breathtaking,”
Abby said as two more cans pulled in, the other two couples getting out as
Fiona looked through her glasses.
“It says here we need
to go to the side entrance,” Harry said, “and we need to move – the girls have
noticed Lord Treharran presumptive is here.”
The six walked round
the side and into a side door, where a man in a suit, shirt and tie was
waiting.
“Wilkommen.”
“Sorry,” Abby said,
“but...”
“Ah – you would prefer
English for now. Your name, please?”
“Abigail de Ros.”
The man checked his
list, then smiled as he said “welcome, Countess de Ros. This will be your partner, Mr Anthony
McNally?”
Tony nodded as he said
“please, through the doors where you will receive your welcome pack. And you are?”
“Angelica Fitzstuart,”
Angel said as Tony and Abby went into the reception hall, and walked to the
desk.
“Welcome – is it
Countess de Ros?”
“Please, can it be
Abby?”
“When it is not a
formal session,” the woman said as she handed Tony and Abigail a folder. “Your itinery for the next three days –
refreshments are in the hall.”
They waited for the
others to come in, before they entered the next hall, looking at the other
debutantes.
“We’ll take that table
over there,” Fiona said, “if you fine gentlemen – and Michael – can get us some
food and drink?”
“I think that was an
order,” Mick said as they went to the buffet, and the girls sat down.
"Alright where do
they have us placed?" Abigail said as she scanned the charts in the
welcome pack. "Alright right hand column, and we follow and I stand behind
Johanna von Kiiebersdorf-Obersacken."
"Do you know
her?" Tony asked as he handed her a glass and plate.
"No, she could be
anyone here."
"And her partner
is Joachim von Treb."
"Again another
strange name."
"Well let's see if
we can find them after we eat."
"Okay," Abby
nodded as she sipped her drink.
2 pm CET
Twenty minutes later,
Abby and Tony were walking round the room when they heard a voice with a North
American accent say “excuse me?”
“Yes?”
"Would you be
Abigail de Ros?" the petite blonde asked.
"Would you be
Johanna?"
"Yes," the
blonde almost sighed in relief, "I'm just so glad to meet you."
"Alright that
accent, you aren't local?"
"No despite the
name I'm Canadian, from Vancouver."
"Well that means
you won't have my awful German inflicted on you."
"Mine’s not that
great."
"So which one is
your escort?"
"That guy over
there with the wiry frizz hair, now he is German, but he's my cousin, and was
available after my boyfriend back home said no way he was doing this."
“What? He refused to visit one of the most beautiful
and culturally rich cities in the world.”
“Yup – may not be my
boyfriend much longer...”
“Well, his loss,” Abby
said.
"Do you know many
of the people here?" Johanna shook her head as she looked round,
"sorry that was a silly question you are Abby de Ros, of course you know
people."
"I know a few, but
mainly the debs doing international seasons, and the odd French girl I've known
all my life."
"Well I don't know
anyone other then Joachim, my family never comes to Europe and we have lost
touch with most of our European family."
"Are they here
now?"
"Yes, today they
are sight-seeing." Johanna paused, "and your family?"
"Oh Mama is seeing
old friends, and Grandpapa...well he's being himself." Abigail giggled.
"And your
father?"
"He died when I
was a baby."
"Oh I'm
sorry."
“It’s all right –by all
accounts...”
“STICK!”
“Trina,” Abby said with
a smile as they embraced, “you made it.
Who is the lucky man this time?”
“The sandy haired hunk
over there,” Trina said as she looked to the side.
“Isn’t that Phillipe
Courbin?”
“It is – you’ve seen
his films?”
“Some of them,” Abby
said, “Mamma has a few in our collection.
Trina this is Jonanna. Johanna,
Trina Culver.”
“Please,” the small
blonde said, “call me...”
“Meine Damen und
Herren, bitte in Ihrem Paare kommen in die Mitte des Raumes.”
“Showtime,” Abby said
as she nodded to Samantha Gordon, and the debs began to congregate in the room
10.30 am
Complete Style
“Well, this is a
gathering of the good and the great,” Mary Thomas said as she came into the
meeting room.
“Yeah – not often we
get the entire editorial group in the same room at the same time,” Juliette
said as Mary poured herself a coffee, and then sat down. “Which can mean only one thing.”
“We have a successor to
Anna?”
Juliette nodded. “And nobody – and I mean nobody – knows who
it is. I asked Janine if she had any
leaks, and all she said was nobody on the top floors was talking.”
“Well, at least we will
know one way or another soon,” Mary said as she sat down, and the door opened,
Anna Mitchell coming in and sitting at the head of the table.
“Good morning everyone,”
she said as she looked round, “please, take a seat.”
As the last few sat
down, Anna said “as you know, in a few months I will move on to take on the
role of Global Editor of Complete Style, and although the time to say goodbye
is a while off, I wanted right now to thank all of you for your support, and
the way you have made Complete Style the success it is.
“Having said which, the
process of appointing the new editor of the US edition has been going on for
some time, and last night I was told the name of my replacement. They have been meeting with the executive
board this morning to discuss timings and contract details, but I am now in a
position to introduce the new editor of the US Complete Style to you, my
friends and colleagues. A formal
announcement will be circulated later today to staff, and then made public
tomorrow.”
“She’s not saying he or
she,” Mary whispered to Juliette.
“I know – come on Anna,
get this over with...”
“So,” Anna said as she
nodded to her PA, who smiled as she opened the door, “ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome the incoming editor of US Complete Style...”
Juliette looked to the
door, and then smiled, a smile of relief and joy combined as Anna said “the
current editor of New Mode, Philippa Ashley.”
The room stood and
applauded as Pippa came in, wearing a blue trouser suit and dark blouse, and
walked over to Anna. The two embraced
and kissed each other, before Pippa says “please, sit down.”
As they did so, Pippa
took a seat as well and said “First, let me say it is an incredible honour to
be offered this position, and I take it with a mixture of trepidation and
hope. Trepidation, because I inherit
from Anna a brilliant team, who I look forward to getting to know. Hope, because I firmly believe we can
continue to make Complete Style the best magazine out there.”
“Pippa and I will be
working together to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities,” Anna said,
“and she will be arranging to meet with each of you individually over the
coming weeks. For now, however, welcome Pippa
to the team, and somebody get both of us a coffee.”
“So they made the right
choice,” Juliette whispered as she waited for others to offer their
congratulations, “thank the goddess.”
Mary nodded. “I’ll let Fiona have the good news later –
and it means you’re secure as well. If
either of the other two...”
“Hey – not going to say
anything?”
The two turned to see
Pippa standing behind them.
“Of course –
congratulations,” Juliette said as she hugged Pippa, followed by Mary, “so when
were you called?”
“Late last night –
Grace, Sarah and Harriet know, because I was at their place when I got the
call, and I told Mum. Apart from that,
nobody else outside this room knows yet – so would you mind waiting until I get
to New Mode and give them the news before you say anything?”
“Of course,” Juliette
said with a smile. “How do you think
they will take the news?”
“I have no idea,” Pippa
said with a smile as she looked round, “but this is the right move for me right
now.”
10.30 am
FBI Field Office
Buffalo
“Well, look who just
came in,” Edie Corben said as she saw Peter Welch come into the office, his leg
covered in plaster, “don’t tell me you’ve been cleared for desk duty already?”
“Nope,” Peter said as
he eased himself into the chair, “I got a call to come in for something. Any idea what?”
“Nope – I just got in
myself.”
“Oh – where were you
yesterday?”
“Helping my sister take
mom for a week’s holiday,” Edie said as she looked to the office. Andre Baughman was sitting there, looking at
something on his computer screen.
“Special Agent Peter
Welch?”
Peter turned his head
to look at the two men standing beside him, Edie watching as well.
“Who’s asking?”
“Special Investigator
Jarvis, and Special Investigator Kirby – Internal Affairs. We need you to come with us Agent Welch –
there are a few questions we need to ask you.”
Edie noticed the way
Peter glanced at their director’s office, before he said “of course – if you
don’t mind me walking slowly?”
“Of course not – this
officer is going to seal your computer, and we need your official cell phone as
well.”
The office had stopped
working, the other agents watching as Edie said “what’s going on?”
“Please do not interfere,
Agent,” Kirby said as he looked at her, and Andre came out of his office.
“What’s going on?”
“AD Baughman?”
“Yeah – and you are?”
“Internal Affairs,”
Jarvis said as he showed Andre his badge.
“We need to ask Agent Welch some questions, and we will talk with you in
due course.”
“This way,” Kirby said
as Peter put his cell phone on his desk, a uniformed officer standing guard as
he was escorted to another room.
“Boss?”
“Is it safe for Agent
Borden to continue working here?”
“It is sir,” the guard
said as a second officer started to bag the contents of Peter’s desk, “so long
as she does not interfere.”
“Keep working, Agent
Corben,” Andre said quietly, “I need to make some calls.”
Edie watched as he made
his way into the office, and closed the door.
“Well, too late now,” she thought to herself as she went back to her
files.
5 pm CET
Opernhaus, Vienna
“Wir werden eine 20
Minuten Pause zu dieser Zeit zu nehmen.”
“Thank god,” Angel said
as they sat in a corner, “I will never complain about a Mary Thomas rehearsal
again after that.”
"Well having Cari
and Ingy tutor us means we aren't as bad as some." Tony smiled.
"No,” Abby said, “all
in all I think we looked quite respectable."
"Well you waltz
better then my dear brother does." Fiona complained, "for a
professional singer, you think he'd have a better sense of rhythm and
timing."
"You all waltz
better then I do," Johanna complained, "and as for my polka..."
"It is just in
need of practice." Abby tried to cheer the little Canadian up. “My friend Carina had real trouble with the
Polka this time last year.”
"I hope that's all it needs."
"Oh by the way
gang this is Johanna von Kliebersdorf-Obersacken."
"Just call me
Joey...it's far simpler."
"Okay Joey it
is." Angel shook her hand. “Angel
Fitzstuart, and Fiona Treharran.”
“Treharran... Oh my god, that’s Mick Harran?”
“Well, at least it took
a few hours this time,” Trina said with a smile.
“Just promise me they
have no plans for a bachelor’s night this trip,” Fiona said as she sipped her
drink.
“Nope – we haven’t got
time,” Tony said as Harry nodded. “We’re
here until seven tonight and tomorrow, and then midday on Thursday before we go
and change. I think Friday is our rest
day before we fly back Saturday, right Abby?”
“For you – Angel and I
have the shoot at the Spanish Riding School Friday,” Abby said with a sigh.”
"So what do you do
Joey?" asked Trina.
"I'm a freshman at
UBC, going to major in English Literature."
"What about you
Joachim?"
"I'm studying at
the Humboldt University in Berlin...I am training in law."
“So we’ve got three
students, one school girl and one girl on her year out. Sounds good to me.”
“Four students.”
“Hey Sam,” Trina said
as she stood up and hugged the young Scot, “glad you could make it.”
“Well, I wasn’t going
to miss this one. Two weeks and then San
Fran, right?”
“Oh yeah – you’re going
to love my dress for that one.”
12.15 pm
St Angela’s
Grace was reading
through a document on international qualifications when her telephone rang.
“Grace Brand?”
“Grace it’s Pippa.”
“Hey – so how did it go
this morning?”
“Well CS was amazing – everyone
seems to be happy it’s me rather than the other candidates. I just hope they remember I have to work with
one of them under Anna, and the other is an important media contact.”
“And New Mode?”
“Yeah – slightly
different picture. I got to the office,
and went straight to see my managers.”
“Let me guess – they
weren’t quite as enthusiastic?”
“That is a slight
understatement – I mean, I think they understand why I want to do this, and
they can’t hold me, but...”
"A problem
Pip?"
"What I hope is
only a hiccup Gray."
"And it is?"
"CS want me in
place in August, the people here say I'm free to leave at the end of my
contract."
"Which is
when?"
"The 15th of
September."
"OUCH!"
"Yeah, it's only 6
weeks difference but it could be a deal-breaker."
“But surely the CS team
can talk to New Mode, work something out?”
“I could be put on
gardening leave, I suppose, but I’d rather they sort a deal out. I phoned Anna, and she said she’d talk to her
bosses, and get them to talk to mine.”
“So who knows now?”
“CS staff will know
about now, and there’s going to be a press release tomorrow. And then begins the real fun...”
“Come on Pip – you’re
looking forward to this, aren’t you?”
“That obvious?”
Grace smiled as she
said “yeah, that obvious...”
“She got the job?”
Poppy nodded as she sat
in the refectory with Jess, Erica and Dawn.
“She says to thank your gran, and that she’ll return the scarf in due
course.”
“No hurry – I’m just
glad it brought her good luck.”
“So what’s she doing
today?”
“She was visiting CS
this morning, and then going to tell the bosses at New Mode. I hope it all went all right.” Eating a forkful of salad, Poppy said “how
did your mom get on yesterday Erica?”
“Oh she loved every second
of it,” Erica said with a grin. “As far
as she’s concerned, she’s in heaven.
She’s at Colombia today, not to work but to talk to the lecturers and
plan out a timetable for her.”
“So two of you have
moms in the right place,” Dawn said.
“Changing subject, what are you guys wearing tomorrow?”
“Mom’s got some stuff
from the New Mode wardrobe for us,” Poppy said.
“It’s going to be an interesting night though...”
6 pm CET
Opernhaus, Vienna
“Ich danke Ihnen, meine
Damen und Herren.”
The young men and women
nodded as the well dressed woman spoke, and they went to the sides.
"Does anyone have
a bandaid?" Trina carefully pulled off her shoe.
"A blister?"
asked Angel.
"Yes,"
"I have some in my
handbag." Abby went to retrieve it, "anybody else need running
repairs?"
“I’ll take one as
well,” Fiona said, “my feet are killing me.”
“Anyone need an
aspirin?”
“I need a drink,” Sam
said as they sat down, Angel looking over as Abby looked in her bag.
“Cloth or ordinary?”
“Ordinary – thank you,”
Trina said as Abby tossed her a packet.
"Abby you have a
mini pharmacy in here," Angel shook her head.
"Well Cari warned
me what little things can need treating."
“Praise the lord for
Princess Carina,” Fiona said as she accepted one as well.
“So we get an hour off,
two more hours, and then we break until ten tomorrow, right?”
“Oh yeah,” Charly said
as she drank some water, “and tomorrow afternoon out families get to have a
look as well.”
“Deep deep joy,” Abby
said.
"Will anyone join me
in strolling across the platz and having a look in the Albertina?" Fiona
asked hopefully.
"We have an hour
to rest our feet and you want to spend it looking at museums?" Charly
asked.
"No I want to
spend it looking at great art."
"She's studying
art at university," Abigail explained to Joey.
"Well personally I
think it sounds fun." Joey nodded.
“Oh well – when will I
get another chance. I’m in,” Trina said.
“We’ll come as well,”
Abby said as she looked at Angel.
"Well while you
girls look at art we will drink nice warm coffee and sample the pastries in the
Cafe Mozart." Charly decided.
"That sounds like
the very best idea I heard all day," Mick smiled at the princess.
“Come on then – upwards
and onwards,” Fiona said as she put on walking shoes and they set off.
“remember,” the man at
the door said as they stepped out, “one hour...”
1 pm
New Haven
"So do you think
Abby is enjoying herself?" Judy asked as she and Carina grabbed something
to eat for lunch in the Branford dining hall.
"Probably,” Carina said, “but like most of us she will enjoy it more once it’s
over and she can just look back at the fantastic memories she's
acquiring."
"After those breaks
in the line as the girls came in last year, I bet they are being totally
drilled in getting that right?"
"Yeah," Cari
shook her head, "my year will always be remembered for those gaps...but
other than that we did do the dances magnificently."
“Well come on – the
amount of rehearsing we did? At least
you told her of the pitfalls and problems she might encounter.”
“Well, it only seemed
fair,” Cari said with a smile. “It’s a
pity I have that history tutorial Thursday afternoon...”
“Changing the subject,”
Judy said as she bit into her andwich, chewed and swallowed, "Did you
manage to get that copy of the "Le Smoking" tuxedo suit to wear at
Ama's party?”
"Yeah - Eve knew a
lady about my size who had an original and was willing to let me wear it."
"So how does it
look? Jude questioned.
"Fabulous...I'm
just looking forward to seeing what other minds have found to fit the
theme." Cari ate some lettuce and smiled.
“What are you going for?”
“I’m borrowing
something from Mom – you’ll see tomorrow.”
2 pm
Buffalo
Edie sat in a quiet
corner of the bar, looking at her laptop.
She had got fed up with the looks, not only from her fellow agents, but
from the agents who were cataloguing Peter’s desk.
The same question was
been asked in their looks – was she involved?
In the end, Baughman had told her to leave the office, and he would call
her back in eventually. So here she was,
trying to look inconspicuous as she worked on a report on her laptop.
GOOD AFTERNOON AGENT CORBEN
The chat window
appeared from nowhere, just as it had before, and Edie had never been so
grateful for the privacy screen as she typed “It’s you, isn’t it? The Hidden Hand?”
OF COURSE IT IS AGENT CORBEN. DO YOU KNOW ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD CONTACT YOU
IN THIS WAY? I WANTED YOU TO KNOW TWO
THINGS. FIRST, YOU AND AGENT CARTER ARE
NOT ALONE. OTHERS ARE WATCHING AS WELL
“What do you know of
what happened in Niagara?”
IT WAS ARRANGED TO DRAW A CERTAIN PARTY
OUT – AND IT SUCCEEDED. WHAT YOU DID
YESTERDAY IS PART OF A CAREFULLY LAID PLAN – AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.
“Okay,” Edie typed,
“what’s the second thing?”
LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT
Edie looked to see a
brown envelope by her, and then saw a thin blonde woman walk away.
THE ENVELOPE CONTAINS A COPY OF A RECENT
ER VISIT, WHERE A WOMAN WAS TREATED FOR A MAJOR GUNSHOT WOUND. SHE IS LUCKY TO STILL HAVE A LEG – OR RATHER
HE IS. TAKE THE RECORDS, AND USE THEM AS
THOU WILT.
2.10 pm
New York
“Don’t you just love
computers,” Jan said as she sat with Heather, watching Edie as she looked at
the printouts. She then put them away,
as Heather ended the call.
“Well, that should move
things along nicely now,” she said with a smile. “Coffee?”
9.15 pm CET
Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel
Vienna
“Ah, here they come,
the weary workers,” Archie Gordon said as the group saw the couples coming into
the hotel.
“I – am exhausted,”
Abby said as she slumped in a chair, “and we have to do it again tomorrow?”
“Well, it is important,
my dear,” Valeria said, “remember this is the ball where everything has to be
just right.”
“If it helps,” Guy
said, “I heard from Roger – he and the family will be here tomorrow, as will
Alain.”
“That’s good – is
Marie-Louise coming with them?”
“Indeed, and both Willy
and Natasha are in the air already. Come
tomorrow afternoon, we will have quite the gathering to watch the rehearsal.”
“Don’t remind me,” Tony
said as Guy passed him a drink.
“So what did you do
today?”
“Dance practice – the
waltz and polka. We also watched a film
of last year – spotting Cari and Ingy amongst others – to see how the evening
goes.”
“So who are you with in
the parade,” Valeria asked.
“I will be behind Miss Johanna
von Kiiebersdorf-Obersacken – who comes from Vancouver.”
Valeria raised an
eyebrow and smiled.
“Well, some supper, and
then bed,” Diana said with a smile.
“I think I’ll skip
supper tonight Mamma,” Abby said with a yawn, “and retire for the night. They expect us back for ten tomorrow for a
full day.”
“Very well, dear – we
will see you at breakfast tomorrow,” Guy said as he looked at them.
“Good night everyone,”
Abby said as she and Tony finished their drinks, and headed to the lifts.
"So the von
Kliebersdorf-Obersacken family - do you know them Valeria?" Diana asked.
"I knew this one’s
grandparents, they were from old East Prussia, and as the
ethnic Germans fled westwards ahead of the advancing Russians, they abandoned
and lost everything that 800 years of family distinction had acquired."
"So they are sort
of poor relations to other families?"
"Not overly. I
heard young Thomas grew frustrated with life in Germany, showed some initiative
and moved to Canada, I have heard that he's progressed from being a lumberjack
to owning a mid-sized logging company."
"Well good for
him." Diana smiled I look forward to meeting him. "It affirms my
faith in the aristocratic gene when I hear of a man putting his family back on
its feet like that."
"And Diana dear -
you once called me a snob?" Valeria lifted an eyebrow.
“Wrongly, as it turned
out Valeria,” Diana said with a smile.
4 pm
The Richmond Mansion
“Thanks for letting us
bring these for storage Heather,” Doc said as the girls left their bags in the
hallway.
“Not a problem girls –
Caroline will come and collect them to take to the venue tomorrow afternoon
with Ju,” Heather said, “along with our presents. Go through to the front room – Katy and Sands
should be back soon.”
"So what is
Caroline's big present other then Ama's car?" asked Nikki as they sat down.
"She has found an
original of Dior's Mondrian dress." Doc grinned.
"Whoa even I know
what that is...and not a copy? An original?" Pepsi shook her head.
"Yep," she
had me try it on," Becca grinned, "it should fit Ama perfectly."
“She is going to love
that,” Pepsi said with a grin. “And our
outfits?”
“All ready,” Doc said,
“this is going to be a night to remember – where is Ama anyway?”
“JFK – they’re meeting
her grandfather...”
4.30 pm
JFK Airport
“There he is,” Caroline
said as she and Ama watched Dan Jameson walk through the arrivals gate.
“And how are my girls,”
Dan said as they walked over and hugged him.
“All the better for
seeing you grandfather,” Ama said, “did you have a good flight?”
“I did indeed – did the
parcel I sent arrived?”
“Safely delivered,”
Caroline said as she took his case, “let’s get you booked into the hotel, and
then you can come to the apartment for supper.”
“Thanks – I could do
with an early night tonight?”
“We all could – busy
day ahead tomorrow...”
6 pm
The Huntingdown Apartment
“Hey Mom,” Carina said
from the computer screen, “what’s the good word?”
“Hello Gramma.”
“Hey you two,” Juliette
said as he waved to Judith, “Orlanda and Jennifer are looking forward to seeing
you again tomorrow little one.”
“So who’s your new
boss,” Ingrid asked in another window.
“Well, contracts
pending – Pippa Ashley.”
“Good for her,” Cari
said. “So what happens next?”
“Well, a date is agreed
for her to come over, but she and Anna are going to be meeting regularly to
ensure the move goes smoothly. The news
is public tomorrow, so you can congratulate her at the party.”
“Well, Ama is the star
tomorrow – but I’ll say well done anyway.”
“Where’s Pops,” Ingy
asked.
“He’s got a business
meeting, but I’ll tell him you called.”
“Okay – gotta run to a
late seminar. See you all then...”
As Ingy signed off,
Cari said “so what’s the latest?”
“Well, we think that
someone in Buffalo will be getting worried right about now...”
6.30 pm
Allentown
“All right, all right,
I’m coming,” Louise said as she pulled her sweatshirt on, and walked to the
front door of her apartment, wondering who was ringing the bell all the
time. She looked through the peephole,
and then opened the door to let the two women in.
“Lynx, Boss – what
brings you both to my place,” she said as she let them come in. Miss Lynx was wearing a black leather jacket
and jeans, while the boss was as always elegantly dressed, today in a grey
trouser suit, with a roll neck black jumper underneath, and heels. But she had a face that was set like stone,
and Louise shivered a little as she closed the door.
“My apologies for
calling here,” the boss said, “but I need to know if you have thought any more
about what I talked to you about yesterday?”
“Yeah,” Louise said, “I
might be in, but I’m no killer.”
“We don’t want you to
be,” Lynx said, “just hold a gun as if you know how to use it.”
“Well then, I’m in,”
she said.
“Good – because I want
you to go with Lynx to New York tomorrow.
Pack a change of clothing – I’ll sort out a hotel reservation for you.”
“Sure – what for?”
“Someone I want you
both to have really good look at – she may have hurt us again today, and i want
her taken out of the equation.”
“Well, you’re the boss,
boss,” Louise said with a smile as she looked at Lynx.
“Good – we’ll give you
a lift into work,” the boss said, “and we can talk in the car. Grab your coat – Miss Puma.”
6.45 pm
West Central Park
“Well, they took the
bait,” Susan said as she watched the trio leave Louise’s apartment, “I’ll let
Madame know. We might be able to take
another one out tomorrow.”
Wednesday 3rd February
7.30 am CET
Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel
Vienna
“Good morning,” Diana
said as Abby and Tony came into the restaurant, “I trust you both got a good
night’s sleep last night?”
“Oh yes – my head hit
the pillow, and the next thing I knew it was seven,” Abby said as she sat down,
“but I am very hungry.”
“I am not surprised – I
presume you will be allowed time for lunch today before we come and join you?”
“I think so – this
morning is apparently about the entrance etiquette.”
“Which mean we get to
have fun with them telling us where to go and how to walk,” Tony said. “But yes, we have a break for lunch before we
return for the final rehearsal.”
“You need to be
correctly attired for that, right?”
“Absolutely right,”
Tony said with a wicked grin.
“Coffee for three
please,” Diana said, “and we will avail ourselves of the buffet.”
“So who will be beside
you in the line when you come in?”
“Angel – at least we
are similar height.”
“Good morning
everyone,” Guy said as he sat down, “Valeria will join us shortly. When do you have to be there?”
“Ten,” Abby said as she
sipped her orange juice, “so we’d better get something to eat.”
“I’ll go with you,”
Tony said as Guy ordered more coffee.
“So what plans do you have
for today, my dear?”
“Mandy and I will be
going with some of the other mothers to visit the galleries, and to have lunch
somewhere in the city. What of you
father?”
“Oh my place is here to
welcome the rest of the family. Willie
and Natasha should be here mid morning, and your other brothers and their
families will arrive this afternoon.”
“Well, Will and Charlie
are going with the other fathers for a walk, but we should all be there - good
morning Terri, Rudolf.”
“Good morning,” the
royal couple said, “ready for an interesting day?”
“Good morning,” Abby
said as she and Tony returned, and Valeria joined them. “Abigail,” the older woman said as she sat
down, “would you come to my room before you leave this morning please? There is something I wish to show you...”
9 am CET
“Ah, good,” Valeria
said as she opened the door, and Abby came in, “thank you for coming.”
“So why did you wish to
see me, Grandmamma?”
“I have already told
Guy and Diana of this, but I wished you to see this from me myself,” Valeria
said as she took a black velvet box and laid it on the table. “Abigail, I would be honoured if you would
wear this tomorrow for the ball.”
As Valeria opened the
case, Abby gasped at her first view of the tiara inside. It was made of solid silver, and encrusted
with diamonds in every loop.
“It is an old family
heirloom – I wore it here when I was presented,” Valeria said, “and I hope you
will be willing to continue that tradition.”
“Grandmere,” Abby said
quietly as Valeria lifted it out of the case, “is that Romanov?”
“It is – and it is one
of my most treasured possessions,” Valeria said quietly.
“I... It must weight a lot.”
"Darling it is
damn heavy." Valeria warned Abigail, "so just try it on for a few
minutes to get an idea."
Taking the tiara out,
she placed it carefully on Abby’s head, then stood back and smiled as she
looked in the mirror.
"Wow it is
weighty,” Abby said quietly, “and do I want to know how many carats of diamonds
are in it?"
"No you
don't" Valeria laughed. "Let me just say that as a Romanov family
piece it is an object beyond price."
"I
understand." Abby nodded.
The knock on the door
took her by surprise, as Valeria went to open it.
“Ah excellent – you are
both just in time,” she said, Abby turning slowly and saying “Aunt Natasha –
you are early.”
“I know – but I am glad
of it, to see you wearing the tiara. Is
this the first time it has been out since I was presented, mother?”
“It is indeed – and
Abigail has agreed to wear it tomorrow, as well hopefully as the earrings and
bracelets.”
"The earrings are
monsters as well." Natasha spoke from experience, "they felt like
weights attached to my ear lobes when I wore them."
"You did look
wonderful in them though." Diana smiled at the memory.
"Yes even Mama was
pleased that night...weren't you?"
"You did the
family proud my darling." Valeria hugged her daughter.
"Now if only you'd
done that back then," Diana thought to herself, "you might have saved
both of you a lot of grief."
"Penny for them
Mama?" Abby asked.
“I am sorry my dear – I
was just remembering that night. You
must take the tiara off now – Tony is waiting in the lobby for you.”
“Of course,” Abby said
as she handed the tiara back to Valeria.
"I take it Trina
will wear the legendary Culver sapphires."
"She will
Grandmere." Abby smiled.
"Weren't they
originally given by Napoleon to Josephine?" asked Natasha.
"So the legend
goes. Supposedly William Culver bought them in the 1880's and had the current
jewels made mixing them in with diamonds from his own mines." Valeria
remembered.
"Wasn't he the one
they called 'Wild Bill'?"
"I believe so, I
am not as au fait with American family histories as with European ones."
"So the Culver's
had all kinds of different mines?"
"They did Aunt
Natasha," Abby paused, "It was the gold of the Comstock Lode made
them rich, but old Mr. Culver went on to buy silver and diamond mines across
the world."
"That is not what
keeps them rich though darling,” Diana said as she looked at her watch, “it is
good old prosaic copper that has long been the real basis of the fortune. They
have mines in Montana, Chile, and Australia, and while it may not be as pretty
as gold, as long as there is demand for copper it will keep coming out of those
Culver mines."
"I prefer the
glamour of gold." Natasha shook her head.
“Abigail?”
“Of course – I will see
you later,” Abby said as she ran out.
10.15 am CET
Opernhaus, Vienna
“And so we gather
again, to seek the wisdom of the ages,” Harry said as he escorted Angel into
the room.
“Hey – did you remember
to bring it,” Tony said as he looked at his old friend.
“Oh yes – I have it
ready for later,” Harry said with a deep contented smile.
“All right, ladies and
gentlemen,” the woman at the front said, “this morning we will go through the
way that the ladies are brought into the hall.
Please line up in the order you are called out in.”
The couples were called
out in groups of four, and placed in lines as Angel and Abby waited.
“Lady Angelica
Fitzstuart and Abigail, Countess de Ros.”
“Here we go,” Abby said
as they went next in line, Tony and Harry standing on the outside.
When the last four were
in place, the woman stood at the top of the stairs.
“Now, when the door
opens, you climb the stairs and walk in, in step. For this first time, listen to the metronome
for the step. Ladies, you will hold your
hands against each other for now.
“As you reach the
marker, where my colleagues are standing, the ladies turn their heads and
smile, then move to the sides and take up position where my other colleagues
are standing. Ready?”
“Here we go?” Abby said
as the doors opened, and Fiona and Brigitte walked up the stairs first.
11.30 am CET
Opernhaus
"They are pushing
this aren't they?" Joey sipped some water.
"After last year’s
near fiasco can you blame them?" Charly said as she stretched her back.
"I looked at the
film again, it wasn't pretty." Joey nodded.
"Well to restore
the prestige of the debutante let’s get it right this year." Trina spoke.
"Joey you are
losing contact with Burglinde."
"I know Abigail,”
the young Canadian said, “but it doesn't help she's five inches taller than I
am."
"Well then tell
her it’s her responsibility to drop her hand slightly to keep contact with
you."
"I'll try."
"Did anyone see anything
wrong with me?"
"Other than that
perfectly annoying catwalk walk of yours?" Fiona chuckled.
"As you damn well know Abs you are doing everything perfectly." Trina
joined in the giggles.
"Oh EVERYTHING can
do with being improved..."
"Hark I hear the
voice of Mary Thomas," Tony drew extended laughter as he interrupted.
“All right, all right –
but this is important,” Abby said with a smile.
"Just look at
this." Angel pulled out her mobile as the girls watched the clip again.
"Here at 8.18, this long view down the hall, three sets at the back
detached, one foursome in no man’s land, then three more quartets and a
gap," she shook her head.
"Yes," the
others looked over her shoulder.
"We have to make
sure that doesn't happen THIS year." Brigitte said resolutely.
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
form up again,” the male steward said, “let us walk through this again, this
time with the piano playing.”
As Brigitte and Fiona
stood at the front, with Mick and Anton beside them, the steward went to the
second row.
“Stretch your arm out,”
he said to the tallest person, “and touch the shoulder of the person in front
of you. That is the distance you must
maintain when walking.”
“Yes SIR,” Joey
whispered as she checked her position.
“You may think it is a
thing to jest about Fraulein,” the steward said, “but the ball is about not
just you fine people, but also about music and art, and the way you walk in
sets the tone for the entire evening.
Precision in this ensures precision in other things – such as the dances
and the performances.” He made his way
down the rows, and then walked to the front.
“Listen to the music,
hear the rhythm in your head and in your hearts, and when I give the nod, walk
off.”
Fiona and Brigitte
looked at each other as they listened to the piano, and then as the steward
said “go” they stepped forward, in line, the others following. As they passed him, the steward would say to
move forward and back a little, watching as they walked forward.
“Excellent,” he said as
the last couples moved into place. “Now
again, and this time keep looking forward – and ladies, smile!”
“Yes, we will,” Joey
said, smiling brightly as they walked back, whispering to Abby “Is this what
it’s like on the catwalk?”
“Oh yes,” Charly,
Fiona, Brigitte, and Angel said in unison.
“And again,” the
marshal called out as the music started again.
After the third run
through, the steward said “good – now, the waltz. Positions please.”
“Ready Johanna,”
Joachim said as he took her hand.
“Only if you are ready
to have your foot stood on.”
“Oh, we both know
you’re a better dancer than that,” he said with a smile, the music starting as
the women curtseyed and the men bowed.
Noon CET
Opernhaus, Vienna
“My feet hurt – again,”
Joey said as she took off her dancing shoes, and rubbed them with her hands.
“Here – this might
help,” Abby said as she passed a tub of cream over to her.
“Remind me to thank
Cari when I see her next time,” Angel said as she took the cream next. “At least on Friday it’s riding boots and something
I enjoy doing.”
“Well, look on the
bright side – another hour, we get a chance to get some fresh air, get some
lunch, and then change before we come back.”
“Is it really a
tradition to wear the blouses and skirts,” Joey said, “I’d much rather put on
some jeans and a jumper.”
“Yeah – and that’s not
what worries me most,” Abby said.
“Oh – what does?”
“What they may be
planning – they have a tradition as well,” Abby said as she looked at their
partners talking.
“So where do you want
to go for lunch,” Trina said.
“What was the place
like you want to yesterday?”
“Cafe Mozart? Worth a visit, but I suggest we do that
Friday lunchtime – the post Ball discussion.
You’re coming as well, Joey?”
“Love to – but what
about today?”
“We could go back to
our hotel – have something there?”
“Where are you
staying?”
“The Riding Stables.”
“Sounds good to me,”
Trina said, “I’ll spread the word.”
“Ladies, Gentlemen...”
“Here we go again,”
Angel said as they lined up...
6.30 am
The Village
“Hey – couldn’t sleep?”
Dominique looked up
from her seat and shook her head as she saw Annie standing there. “Nah – there’s coffee in the pot.”
“Thanks – want some
more?”
“Nah – I think I’ve had
my fill for now,” Dom said as she watched Annie head to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she came back out and
sat with her housemate.
“Penny for them?”
“I was just thinking,”
Dom said, “yet again how lucky I really am.
When I think back on my life, what I’ve done, all I’ve done, being the
mother to Ama is still the thing I’m most proud of.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
The two looked round to
see Ama standing there in her dressing gown, smiling as Dom got up, walked over
and hugged her.
“Happy Birthday,” she
said quietly, “how does it feel to be sixteen?”
“I am not sure, how
should it feel?”
“You’re asking the
wrong person,” Dom said with a smile as Annie stood up.
“Listen – there are
cards and things galore for you to open already, and we want to give you our
presents as well, but there is one we’ve been asked to give you first. It came by special delivery when we saw
Charlotte recently.”
“What is it,” Ama said
as Annie went to her room, and brought out a wrapped parcel. She set it on the table, Ama sitting and
unwrapping it before she retrieved a stone bowl and a pestle.
“It is a bowl, my
mother would use it to grind maize and grain when we could grow it – but who is
it from?”
Ama picked up a folded
sheet of paper, and read “For the Heart, on this most special day. From the Sisters.”
“Which would explain
why Charlotte brought it,” Dom said as she sat next to Ama. “It is a beautiful gift.”
“Indeed,” Ama said with
a smile. “It is. So what’s for breakfast, Mom?”
“Tell you what, I’ll
make waffles,” Annie said as Dom looked at Ama.
“Let me give you my
present now,” she said as she handed Ama a small box wrapped in gold
paper. As she unwrapped and opened the
box, Ama smiled as she took out a set of keys.
“Is this what I think
this is Mom?”
“It is,” Dominique said
as she took the curtains to one side, and showed Ama the red car parked
outside. “Not much, and certainly not in
the Cari league, but...”
“But it has come from
you, and that makes it very special,” she said as she kissed her mother, and
then went to the bathroom.
“She likes it?”
“She likes it – and she
can get her other present from me later.
Right now, we’ve got a full day ahead of us.”
8.35 am
St Angela’s
“And here she is, the
latest member of the Sweet Sixteen band!”
Ama blushed as she,
Pepsi and Erica got out of Caroline’s car, and was hugged by Doc and Nikki.
“Thank you,” she said
quietly, “but we have still to go to school, true?”
“Very true,” Jeannie
said as she rolled herself up the sidewalk, “so let’s get today over with, and
tonight we party!”
“Good morning, girls,”
Grace said as they walked in, “straight into the assembly hall please.”
“Yes, Miss Brand,”
Becca said as they made their way in, and took their seats.
“Good morning, ladies,”
Miss Tennant said as she came in, and stood at the podium, “I have only one
announcement today, and that is to remind you to be there early on Friday, for
the tournament. But this is a busy day, so let us sing the school song, and
then to work.”
“So what did your mom
get you for a present,” Jeannie said as they collected their books for the
first lesson.
“Well, I am the proud
owner of a small red car,” Ama said, “bur all other presents are to wait until
I get home tonight.”
“Lucky you – but I have
seen my van,” Jeannie said, “and it looks wonderful.”
3 pm CET
Imperial Riding School Renaissance Hotel
Vienna
“Well, I’m ready,”
Fiona said as she joined the group, pulling the sleeves of her jacket down over
her white blouse. All the women were
similarly dressed – a long sleeved white blouse and a knee length grey or black
skirt.
“Well, we’re all here,”
Angel said, “so where are the men?”
“That must be them
now,” Abby said as she looked to the lift doors, and then burst out laughing.
“What is it,” Fiona
said as she looked at her brother, and then said “MICHAEL TREHARRAN!!! Where did you get that tie?”
“Why – do you think it
suits me,” Mick said as he tightened the knot of the gaudy pink tie, with grey
dots.
“I know it’s a
tradition,” Abby said, “but honestly?
Who are they anyway?”
“Dangermouse and
Penfold,” Tony said as he and Harry smiled.
All three were wearing charcoal grey suits and white shirts – but the
ties completed the outfit.
“Oh my – such sartorial
elegance.”
Abby looked round to
see a tall, graceful blonde girl standing there.
“Marie-Louise? You look so different now?”
“I think the du Grechy
genes finally kicked in,” her cousin said as they embraced. “I look forward to seeing you all later.”
“Say help to Uncle
Roger and Aunt Yvette for me,” Abby said as she looked at her watch, “we have
to get going.”
12.30 pm
Bishop Walden School
“So why are we here,
Lynx,” Louise said as she sipped some coffee from her cup.
“The boss has it in her
brain that Agent Janice Carter is behind our current problems in some way, and
that somehow she’s mixed up in something far bigger. So she asks us to look at her daughter, we
look – and there she is.”
Louise looked at the
thirteen year old blonde as she walked across the yard with her friends.
“Know the names of any
of them?”
Lynx looked over. “The brunette is Alexandra Richmond Junior,
very rich heiress in her own right. The
other four, not so sure. But our target
is the little model over there.”
Across the street, the
greying bearded man took out his cell phone.
“Boss? I’m outside the school. Got a couple of women paying particular
attention – sent you a picture.
Instructions?”
Caroline looked at the
picture on the screen and smiled. “Good
news and bad news George. One of them is
a person of interest, the other is one of ours planted to infiltrate them.”
“Orders?”
“Maintain position, but
be prepared. I don’t think they’ll be
stupid enough to try anything, but you never know.”
“Roger that,” George
said quietly as he ended the call, and kept watching.
6.30 pm CET
Opernhaus, Vienna
The main auditorium was
a hive of activity, with camera crews and technicians working to the sides,
while in the various boxes some of the family groups were gathering. Diana smiled over at Victoria and Mandy as
they sat with their husbands in one box, before she heard Alain say “Roger, my
dear brother – it is so good to see you again.”
“As it is you,” Roger
du Grechy said as he embraced his brother, and then came over to Diana.
“Diana, dear sister,
how are you?”
“All the better for
seeing you and Yvette – and Marie-Louise?
You have blossomed since last I saw you.”
“Thank you Tante
Diana,” the young woman said as she smiled, and then embraced her grandfather.
“Brother,” Willy said
as he shook Roger’s hand, “thank you for coming.”
“Well, it give our
daughter a chance to see what is involved,” Roger said with a smile.
“Oh – next year?”
“God willing, as
always. Valeria – it is good to see you
again.”
“And you, Roger,”
Valeria said as they embraced.
“So where is she?”
“On the other side of
those doors,” Valeria said as she looked down the auditorium, “tonight is a
full rehearsal on the scene, as it were.”
“If she is like I was,”
Natasha said as she watched, “she will be a bag of nerves right about now.”
“So how does this work,
grandpapa?”
“You can see the
orchestra over there, ma Cherie,” Guy said as he pointed to the stage. “In a few moments, they will play the music
for the arrivals, the great doors will open, and they will come in in the order
they are to be presented in.”
“And where is Abigail
in the process,” Alain asked.
“About a third of the
way in, alongside Angelica Fitzstuart,” Diana said as the conductor looked to
the far end of the hall, and then raised his baton.
“And we are ready to
begin,” Diana said as the music started, the steward at the front, the two
female assistants at the side, as Brigitte and Fiona led the party out. Marie-Louise watched them as they walked down
the stairs, making notes as they held unfurled fans in their free hands.
“Who are in front? Is that Brigitte?”
“It is,” Diana said,
“with Lady Fiona Treharran. They felt,
given her eye problems, having her go first would be a good idea.”
Alain nodded in
agreement as the couples made their way down.
"How bad are
they?" Natasha asked her mother who was closely watching the rehearsal
through opera glasses.
"Well they are
staying in formation as they come down the steps."
"I remember how
damn hard that is to do." Natasha shook her head.
“I understand from what
Abby had time to say today much of this morning was simply rehearsing this, to
avoid what happened last year.”
“Ah yes – although
young Carina and Ingrid acquitted themselves well, others...
"What are you
doing Marie-Louise?" Valeria asked the younger girl.
"Taking notes on
what I need to learn and rehearse."
"That's an
idea." Natasha smiled.
"The girl just
ahead of Abigail is having a hard time." Valeria observed.
"It's because the
girl she is walking beside is so much taller...they really do need sort something
out."
"They do
Marie-Louise." Natasha nodded. "Poor Joey, she's trying so hard as
well."
“Now who is that with
young Miss Culver? He looks...”
“Valeria?” Guy looked over as she slowly lowered her
opera glasses. “Valeria, whatever is the
matter?”
“Nothing... Nothing Guy,” she eventually said, “he
reminded me of someone.”
Guy nodded, and then
looked for himself. He saw, and he
understood...
12.40 pm
The Refectory, St Angela’s
“So what other presents
have you had so far,” Pepsi asked as she and Ama headed for a table.
“Annie has very kindly
given me a new bracelet and watch, while Grandfather has given me a set of
pearls. The only other present I have
opened so far is from Abby and her mother – a diamond brooch.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll
get lots more presents later – and no offer from your mom to do a safe and
insurance,” Doc said.
"So,” Pepsi said
as she opened her wrap, “the sixties...short skirts...lots of eye
makeup...Austin Powers?"
"Well the first
two might be right, not sure about the third Peps." Becca laughed.
"According to Eve
a lot of the fashion was pretty horrible and tasteless." Doc sat down.
"Yeah a lot of the
so-called futuristic stuff now looks just plain dumb." Jeannie eased her
chair in. "But the best stuff like from all decades stands the test of
time."
"Well I'm just
glad you are all getting into the spirit." Ama smiled.
"For your 16th
birthday would we do anything less?"
"I guess not
Nikki."
"Have you seen
some of the shirts the guys are wearing?' asked Becca.
"I know," Ama
shook her head, "my boyfriend is wearing a tuxedo, but with a frilled
shirt in eggshell blue."
"OH GOD!" Doc
laughed. "He will look like an old picture of Tom Jones."
"Pretty
much." Ama nodded.
“Mary hasn’t has she?”
“No – as far as I am
aware,” Ama said as she put her drink down, “but if I am being honest, I have
very little idea of what is happening tonight.
Still, I am sure Nick will look handsome...”
"Well it's better
then the floral thing and bell-bottomed pants that Adam is wearing." Pepsi
shook her head.
“How do you know?”
“I heard Mom and Jan
talking about outfits,” she said.
1 pm
Complete Style
As Caroline walked into
the wardrobe, she could hear the music playing in the room somewhere – but it
took her a while to find Mary, who was singing to herself to the Mama Cass
song.
Stars shining bright above you,
Night breezes seem to whisper, I love you
Birds singing in the sycamore trees...
“Dream a little dream
of me,” Caroline sang as Mary turned round, and looked through her glasses.
"Oh. Hi Caroline.
Sorry, i was getting into the swing of things..."
"Hi Merlin...” Caroline pulled up a stool and sat down, as
she said “I just dropped in to check..."
"Don't worry -
Fiona has made sure she will be there, it's just a pity she can't travel."
"Well even by a video link,” Caroline said, “Ama will get a huge kick out
of talking with Mary Quant."
"Mary is more than
happy to do it,” Mary said as she walked to a rack, and took off a dress bag, “and
she even sent this over for the mother of the birthday girl to wear."
"Sent what over
for... Oh SHIT!" Caroline shook her
head as Merlin unzipped the bag, "Is that the original?"
"It is," Mary
proudly held up the black and white PVC minidress, "as worn by Jean in a
runway show."
"I've seen
pictures," Caroline stroked the dress with its 4 large black and white
squares. “It’s magnificent.”
"Well the original
boots are long since gone, but I'm pretty sure I can find you something
appropriate here in the wardrobe."
“Okay – and then you
can tell me if the other thing got fixed.”
“Oh yes – you’ll meet
him later...”
6 pm
The Huntingdown Apartment
“Anyone home,” Annie
said as she came in, and closed the apartment door behind her. She opened her coat and slipped it off, to
reveal a purple velvet top, loose fitting and with gull style sleeves. She was also wearing a pair of mottled velvet
loose pants and sandals, with a large variety of beads hanging round her neck.
“Well now, someone
looks fantastic...”
“Says the hot momma.”
“Momma,” Judith said as
Carina put her in her chair.
"I like the Janis
Joplin at Woodstock look Monster Mama." Carina said as she kissed Annie.
"Well it might not
be glamorous,” Annie said as she twirled round, “but the looseness can hide a
lot of baby bump."
"True."
"Now you my love
look spectacular."
"I do?"
Carina twirled.
"Cari you know
very well you do."
"It's YSL from
1966, and Twiggy was lovely enough to lend it to me." Carina looked down
at the black full length dress with the pink outline of a female body on the
front.
"Now that's
properly called pop-art isn't it?"
"Haven't got a
clue," Cari laughed, "but I bet Jeannie can tell you all about
it."
“You know she’ll be
commenting on everyone’s outfits,” Annie said.
“I overheard them talking at lunchtime about their outfits – and the
boys choices...”
“So what is Caroline
wearing?”
“Ah – she showed me the
outfit earlier. It’s amazing...”
7 pm
The Richmond Mansion
“Wow,” George said as
he walked down the stairs, “you look amazing Katy.”
“Why thank you,” Katy
said with a smile. She was wearing a
black mini-skirt and sleeveless jumper, the material tight over her chest, as
well as the over the knee boots she had bought.
George was wearing a black v-necked cardigan with white vertical stripes
over a black buttoned up shirt, tight black trousers and Cuban heel boots.
“Where did you get your
outfit from,” Katy asked.
“Dad helped,” Sands
said as she came down, wearing a sleeveless light blue sheath dress with short
gloves, pearls and heels, and a pill box hat.
“Your dad has great
taste,” Adam said as he and Jan stood in the doorway. Adam was wearing a brightly coloured floral
shirt and bellbottom pants, while Jan was wearing a pale blue trouser suit with
a white blouse.
“Jan,” Heather said as
she came down, adjusting her earrings, “got a minute?”
“Sure – where’s Sandy?”
“Fixing her hair,” she
said as Nessa and Alex appeared. Alex
was wearing a black blazer with white piping over a black roll neck sweater,
light coloured trousers and dark shoes, while Nessa was wearing a gold lame
shift dress and matching heels.
“We’ll watch the kids,”
Alex said as they disappeared into the kitchen.
“So, what’s up?”
"They've had eyes
on Katy all day Jan." Heather said quietly.
"So Shirley's
people informed me."
"Well luckily we
have someone on the inside."
"That always
helps." Jan looked up, "and before you ask my daughter is carrying,
and as you know has no qualms about using a gun."
"Well both Sandy
and I are tonight, just in case anything stupid should happen."
“Maybe they should try
– Maisha is there as well, and if they threaten her sister...”
7 pm
The Village
Ama looked at herself
in the mirror, turning from side to side as she admired the fit of her
dress. Caroline had taken her completely
by surprise with the dress, but now it was the most wonderful thing she could
possibly wear.
Sitting carefully down,
she put on the knee length white boots, carefully zipping them up the inside,
and then fixed the white hair band onto her own hair.
“Ama? Nick’s here.”
“One moment,” she said
with a smile, before she walked out of her room, smiling as she saw Nick
standing there. He was indeed
resplendent in his tuxedo and his purple shirt.
“You look amazing,” he
said as he looked at Ama.
“Thank you,” Ama said
as she smiled at him.
“This is for you,” he
said as he handed a thin box over. As
Ama opened it, she took out a silver chain with a blue jewel sparkling in a
circle.
“Thank you,” Ama said
quietly, “would you put it on for me?”
She stood still as Nick
put the chain round her neck, and smiled as he kissed her.
“Oops – I’ll turn round
and come in again.”
“MOM!” Ama looked at Caroline, and said “is that an
original?”
“Oh yes – a loaner for
tonight,” Caroline said as she posed in the black and white dress, with her
knee length black boots laced up.
“Ready?”
“I think so, yes,” Ama
said as there was a knock on the door.
“That will be our car,”
Caroline said as she collected her purse, “let’s go.”
7.45 pm
Fashion Institute of Technology
7th Avenue and 27th
Street
“Interesting place,”
Pepsi said as she and her parents stood outside.
“Well, it is the alma
mater of one Juliette Huntingdown,” April said as she looked up. Grant was wearing a blue Beatles style suit,
white shirt and dark tie, while April was wearing a paisley print short dress
with brown suede boots. As she took her
own coat off and handed it to the cloakroom clerk, she smoothed down the black
leather pinafore dress she was wearing with a pale pink sweater underneath, and
a pair of black high heels.
“So I wonder what it’s
going to look like inside,” Pepsi said as she carried the gold wrapped parcel.
“Well, let’s find out,”
she said as they walked through the auditorium doors, to see a brightly
decorated room, a large banner saying “Happy Sixteenth Birthday Ama” hanging
over the stage. The music was Herman’s
Hermits, as Caroline came over and said “Welcome – please, come and get a
drink. Presents are over there.”
“There you are,” Doc
said as she, Nikki and Becca came over.
All were dressed the same way, as Pepsi joined them and they went to the
side.
“Thank you for coming
sister,” Ama said as she embraced Maisha.
The young woman was wearing a gold mesh dress and knee length white
boots, while John and Shirley watched from the side.
“It is my pleasure – I
have brought a small present for you, as have Aunt Susan and Uncle Clint, but
we also brought another gift for you. It
was forwarded to us by Maddie, and comes from Nyala in San Francisco.”
“Then I will thank her
for it,” she said as she saw Katy and George come in with Jan and Sandy.
“Hey,” Katy said as she
came over, “thank you for inviting us.”
“Of course I wanted you
to be here – you are my friends,” Ama said as a new song started.
“Come on,” George said,
“let’s dance.”
“Some party they’re
going to,” Lynx said as she sat in the car outside with Louise. “Looks like she’s friends with some even more
interesting people.”
“There’s a heck of a
lot of models going in,” Louise said as she sipped her drink, “I saw Juliette
and Carina Huntingdown go in, as well as some others from that calendar.”
The cell phone ringing
made Louise look over as Lynx answered it.
“Yeah Boss?”
“You sure – there’s a
lot of people at that party.
“Okay then – I’ll let
you know when it’s done?”
“What’s up?”
“She wants us to give
Janice Carter a little reminder she’s been watched...”
“This is an amazing
place,” Jeannie said as she and her mother, in their short white dresses, made
their way around the hall.
"I'm honestly
surprised you don't want to come to college here darling." Barbara looked
at some of the students work on display.
"No Mum, I'm
pretty set on Yale. This is all great, but I can work on fashion history at
Yale as well."
"I heard you and
Winston discussing it earlier."
"Yeah he's pretty
sure if he gets drafted by the NFL he will split his year, half at Yale Law
School, half seeing if he's good enough to play pro football."
"Well I'm pretty
sure he will succeed at both."
"Yeah me too
Mum," Jeannie grinned.
“There you are,”
Juliette said as she turned the corner.
“So how does it feel to
be back here Pelican?”
“Not as strange as you
may think,” Juliette said, “I really enjoyed my time here, even if Paris is
where everything took off. Actually,
have a look in there?”
Barbara and Jeannie
looked at the photographs of a show, Jeannie gasping as she looked at the
legend.
“That’s you?”
“Yup – walking a
graduation show for a friend. Hard to
think that was over twenty years ago now...”
“Are we late,” Denice
said as she joined April and Caroline.
“Not at all – and I
like the look,” April said as she looked at the cocktail dress Denice was
wearing. “What did Erica come as?”
“She’s over there with
Simon.”
Caroline looked over
and said “that’s Simon?”
“Oh yes,” Denice said
as they looked at the young couple.
Simon was wearing a short cut blonde wig, and a dark suit over a striped
top. A pair of dark shades were over his
eyes. Erica was wearing a cream coloured
mini dress, held up by thin shoulder straps and with several layers of fringes,
dark tights and knee length black leather boots.
“Well, they really went
to town,” April said, “you’d expect the rest of the Factory girls to follow him
around...”
“Happy Birthday Ama – I
see Maisha arrived safely with Susan and Clint.”
“She did... My goodness, you look like you are wearing a
diving helmet Aunt Shirley," Ama said as she embraced the Englishwoman.
"I know isn't it
HORRIBLE!” Shirley was wearing a yellow
wool dress, with long sleeves and a knee length skirt, dark hose and
heels. The dress, however, had a
matching jacket with a distinctive cut away pattern, and was matched by the hat
that came over Shirley’s head and covered her mouth. “But this is authentic Pierre Cardin from
1966."
"Well it is
certainly distinctive."
"It is isn't
it," John Hammond smiled as he kissed the birthday girl.
"And you look like
a true Carnaby Street 'dedicated follower of fashion' in that suit Uncle
John."
“Why thank you,” John said
as he smiled. “Listen – I’m going to put
our present over there, and you can help Shirley find somewhere to lose that
hat.”
“Oh please,” Shirley
said as she took it off, “that at least will be a start...”
"Most of our class
is here." Becca said as she wheeled Jeannie towards the centre of the
party.
"Yeah, well it
just shows how popular Ama is."
"True...but also
proves Angels know what will be one hell of a party."
"That is also
true," Doc walked over, "am I the only person feeling like these
false eyelashes are like little weights on my eyelids?"
"No, but they are
very central to the sixties look." Jeannie looked closely at her friends
makeup, "and you got the look just about right."
“And so do you Poppy,”
Doc said as she looked at the latest arrival.
She was wearing a white silk man’s short, with a large red tie covered
with blue polka dot, a tan waistcoat and tan wide shorts.
“Thanks – I got the
idea looking at some old photos of Twiggy.”
“Ai – and she would
approve,” Mary Thomas said as she greeted Pippa. Poppy’s mother was wearing a tailored suit,
with a wide collared blouse and high heels.
"Alright that is
unfair Miss." Nikki shook her head as Grace made an entrance looking just
like Jean Shrimpton in a satin evening gown from 1966, "it's hard enough
competing for boys attentions, without teachers looking so fabulous."
The gown was strapless,
and hugged Grace like a second skin, with a
matching scarf wrapped round her neck.
"Well I will take
that as a compliment Nikki," Grace said as she shook her famous long
blonde hair.
"Mrs Brand you
look amazing," Jessica spoke admiringly.
“And what are we
chopped liver?”
The girls looks at
Sarah and Harriet, Sarah in a white t-shirt, black leather mini skirt and
heels, while Harriet was wearing a black leather jacket and trousers, her hair
styled like Cathy Gale.
“No of course not,”
Pepsi said, “but you’re old enough to remember those times, aren’t you?”
“Okay – who do we have
in class tomorrow?”
"I see everyone
has tried as hard as we have," Nell Rochermann smiled at her twin as they
both came in wearing geometric print mini dresses.
“Of course we have,” Jo
said as he and Curt came after them. Jo
had on a long sleeved floral print blouse, and bell bottomed jeans, while Curt
was wearing a buckskin jacket and jeans.
“They let you out for
the night, Smith?”
“They did indeed,” Curt
said as Heather came over. “You made
it,” she said as they embraced each other.
“I did – can you put us
both up for the night?”
“No problem – your
room’s still empty.”
“So where is the
birthday girl?”
“Over there,” Heather
said, “but be quick – the first surprise of the night is about to happen.”
“Hello hello – and what
do we have here,” Doc said as Chet walked in with Harry and two of their
friends. The four young men were wearing
silk military style jackets, buttoned up the front, dark trousers with red
stripes down the side and black Chelsea boots, their hair styled with fake
sideburns. “You guys managed to get the
second half of the week off then?”
“We did indeed – Ken,
Steve, this is Anna Carlton, my girlfriend.”
“Pleasure,” the two
strangers said to Doc.
“So where’s Sarah?”
“Talking to the girls,”
H said as he looked at his girlfriend, wearing a black and white dress and hat
and talking to Ama and Pepsi.
“You guys are staying
until Sunday right?”
“Yeah – at Uncle Gus’s
place. Why?”
“We got word our Hong
Kong friends are flying in on Saturday.
Let’s arrange to meet up with them Sunday – but right now, let’s dance!”
“Ladies and Gentlemen –
could I have your attention for a moment?”
The partygoers gathered
round the stage as Caroline held the microphone.
“Ama, would you come up
here for a moment please?”
The girls cheered as Ama
made her way onto the stage, the mums and dads standing round the sides.
“I just wanted to take
a moment to thank you all for coming tonight,” Caroline said, “and making this
a very special night for a very special young lady. But before we do the ritual humiliation of
signing happy birthday to my daughter, there is someone who wanted to say a
very special hello.”
She looked over to the
technician, who nodded as the lights were dimmed, and Caroline said “Hello
London – can you hear me?”
“Aye we can hear ye,”
Fiona McKenzie said as she appeared on the screen, “is the birthday gahl
there?”
“She is indeed,
Fiona. I understand you have someone
with you who wants to say hello?”
“Ah dae,” Fiona said,
“Ama, my wee darling, let me introduce ye to a very, very special friend.”
She moved the camera,
Jeannie gasping as she saw the older woman sitting there.
“Hello Ama,” she said
with a smile, “my name is Mary Quant.
I’m given to understand you are a big fan of my designs?”
Ama stood there,
speechless for a moment, before she said “I am, Miss Quant. But how did you hear of this?”
“Ama, Fiona and Mary
are old friends of mine, and they told me.
They also told me of who you were, and what you had accomplished over
the last two years, so I wanted to say hello, and wish you a very, very happy
sixteenth birthday.”
Ama smiled as she said
“thank you, Miss Quant, but i am just a very, very lucky girl.”
“Well, that also needs
to be celebrated, so I hope you don’t mind that I asked another old friend if
he would bring you a present from me – and if you ask him nicely enough, he may
even sing Happy Birthday and a couple of other songs for you. Mary, you there?”
“I am indeed, Maestro”
“Then would you invite
him to come onto the stage please.”
“Oh my god,” April said
as the grey bearded man came onto the stage, “is that?”
“Ladies and Gentlemen,”
Mary said, “please welcome Yusuf Islam, known to many of you as Cat Stevens.”
“Ama,” Yusuf said as he
held out a gold wrapped parcel, “it is my extreme honour and pleasure to give
you this from myself and Mary.”
“Oh... Oh thank you,” Ama said quietly, “may I make
a request?”
“Of course.”
“Would you sing
Moonshadow for all of us?”
“Just as soon,” he said
as Ama took the present, and he picked up a guitar, “as we do something
else. Everyone ready?”
“YES,” the party called
out as they sang Happy Birthday to Ama, Caroline choking back the tears as she
put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders.
“Now, that song you
asked for,” he said with a smile as he started to sing, Nick joining Ama.
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow,
moon shadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, Oh if I won't have to work no more.
And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
Yes if I ever lose my eyes, Oh if I won't have to cry no more.
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
And if I ever lose my legs, I won't moan, and I won't beg,
Yes if I ever lose my legs, Oh if I won't have to walk no more.
And if I ever lose my mouth, all my teeth, north and south,
Yes if I ever lose my mouth, Oh if I won't have to talk...
Did it take long to find me? I asked the faithful light.
Did it take long to find me? And are you gonna stay the night?
Oh, I'm bein' followed by a moonshadow, moon shadow, moonshadow
Leapin and hoppin' on a moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow
Moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow, moonshadow.
“Okay, now she is in
heaven,” Heather said as Ama hugged the musician, “but isn’t Cat Stevens more
Seventies?”
“Hey – Ama loves his
music,” Jo said as she looked round, and then saw something out of the corner
of her eye. “Susan – get Doc, and make
your way round to the other side of the room, will you?”
“I think this is a bad
mistake,” Louise said as she and Lynx made her way round the room, “we’re going
to stand out like a sore thumb here.”
“We’re just going to
put something on young Miss Carter, make sure her mommy dearest gets the
message,” Lynx said quietly, her eyes fixed on Katy Carter as she stood with
Pepsi watching the stage.
Closer...
Closer...
Closer...
“Lynx,” Louise hissed
as she saw the flick knife, “what are you going to do?”
“Like I said, put
something on her – a nice slash down her back should...”
“This is the business
end of a Glock pressed against your back.
Now, very slowly, put the knife away, turn round and walk – both of
you.”
The words were
whispered, but the pressure on her back was real, as Lynx turned round and saw the
fear in Louise’s face. A brown haired
woman was standing with her hand on her arm, as they were both made to walk
quietly away from where Katy and the others were going forward to talk to Ama.
“Who the fuck do you
think you are,” Lynx said as they went outside.
“Friends of Jan
Carter,” Doc said from behind Lynx, “who don’t like the idea of people trying
to hurt them. So, you are going to go
for a little trip. What’s your name?”
“Don’t tell them,” Lynx
growled, “they don’t know the pile of guano they’ve landed in.”
“Actually, we were
going to say the same to you, but hey – not important,” Doc said as Lynx felt
the pinprick, and then slumped to the ground.
“And what about me?”
“I think you showed
admirable restraint, Louise.”
She sighed as she
turned round and said “thank you Madame.
So what happens now?”
“You came in to carry
out her orders, but were hit on the back of the head. When you came to, you were in the car, and
Lynx had disappeared.”
Nodding, Louise said “I
guess it’s going to hurt.”
“Regretfully, but
necessary.”
“Well you...”
Doc caught the woman as
Susan hit her at the base of the skull, and checked her pulse.
“Clint, would you be so
good as to ensure Louise is put back into the car in front,” Shirley said as
George appeared.
“Of course,” Clint said
as he lifted Louise up and carried her out.
“And her?”
“George, would you
please deposit this young lady in the boot of the car you will find
outside? I wish to have a conversation
with her, alongside others.”
"So what was Andy
Warhol really like? Grandfather says you knew him Gran." Simon asked as he
stood with her.
"He was pretty
much an asshole, just like he's shown in that movie about poor Edie
Sedgwick." Paulie shook her head. "I was never one of his factory
girls as such, but I did know most of them."
"It was an insane
time Simon." Nessa joined the conversation, “and to be honest, from what I
know of that whole freak show Andy had going on, just maybe people were saner
in the asylum."
"They were doing
far too many drugs." Paulie looked sad, "some really nice people let
themselves get bent totally out of shape."
"Don't get us
wrong Simon, Andy Warhol had talent, but it soon just became all about self
promotion and excess."
"That sounds
horrible Aunt Nessa."
"Well Andy wasn't
a bad person, but I think he especially in the sixties played up his
image."
"Was he gay
Gran?"
"He said he was,
and a lot of his life had gay overtones, but like most people I'm not 100%
sure."
"Wow, you've told
me so much." Simon looked thrilled.
“The joys of living in
the times,” Nessa said with a smile. “I
must say thought, Erica is a true delight to see.”
“I think they all look
wonderful,” Alex said with a smile.
“Look at them,” Jess
said to Poppy as they watched Dawn and Lynn dancing with Ken and Steve.
“I know – So what did
you get from Caroline, Ama?”
“Apart from this
wonderful dress – a new Mini, in the classic style.”
“Oh wow – the perfect
sixties send off...”
“She looks really
happy,” Mary said as she looked at Ama with Caroline.
“So am I,” Caroline
said, “and getting Yusuf to come in was a wonderful touch on your part Mary?”
“Oh no – that was Ms
Quant and Anna’s doing,” Mary said, “my special guest should be...”
“Miss Thomas?”
“Winston, my boy – has
Mister Starkey arrived?”
“He has indeed, and I
believe Ms Richmond and Mrs van Roon have noticed?”
Merlin looked over to
where Nessa and Paulie were talking in whispers to Juliette and Diana.
“Mary – he did say
Mister Starkey, didn’t he?”
“Ai he did – let the
band know, will you?”
“But how...”
“Oh my goddess,”
Juliette said, “I thought they were joking, but it is you Barbara?”
“Hello Pelican,”
Barbara Bach said, “Mary called on us in Cranleigh last week, heard Richard was
coming over to do some business, and persuaded us to drop in.”
“Hello there,” the male
voice said into the microphone with a Liverpool accent, “Are we all having
fun?”
“Oh dearest Artemis,” Diana
said, “is that...”
“Ringo Starr?”
“Now then,” Ringo said,
“I have a question to ask. Are there any
young girls in the audience tonight?”
The cheers made him
smile as he said “stupid question.”
Turning round, he said “I appear to have gatecrashed a birthday
party. Is Ama nearby?”
Pepsi and the others
pushed the amazed Ama forward as Ringo held his hand out and brought her onto
the stage. “You know, I have a 14 year
old grandson. Maybe you could go out with
him.”
“Thank you, but I have
a boyfriend,” Ama said as she looked at Nick.
“Well, it is your
sixteenth birthday, so you don’t mind if I sing a little song for you, do you?”
Ama shook his head as
the band started to play, and Ringo started to sing.
You come on like a dream, peaches and cream,
Lips like strawberry wine.
You're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're mine. (mine, all mine)
You're all ribbons and curls, ooh, what a
girl,
Eyes that sparkle and shine.
You're sixteen, you're beautiful and you're mine.
(mine, all mine, mine, mine)
You're my baby, you're my pet,
We fell in love on the night we met.
You touched my hand, my heart went pop,
Ooh, when we kissed, i could not stop.
You walked out of my dreams, into my
arms,
Now you're my angel divine.
You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and you're mine.
You're my baby, you're my pet,
We fell in love on the night we met.
You touched my hand, my heart went pop,
Ooh, when we kissed, i could not stop.
You walked out of my dreams, into my car,
Now you're my angel divine.
You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and you're mine.
You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and
you're mine.
You're sixteen, you're beautiful, and
you're mine.
All mine, all mine, all mine.
All mine, all mine, all mine.
All mine, all mine, all mine, all mine,
but i do.
You are mine!
The crowd clapped and
cheered as he kissed Ama on the cheek and let her go back into the crowd,
Caroline beaming from ear to ear.
“Now, who wants to hear
some oldies...”
“Yellow Submarine,” Doc
called out.
“Got it – but I need
some help from the birthday girl.”
“But I cannot sing,”
Ama pleaded.
“Yes she can,” Pepsi
called out.
“Well come up here and
help her,” Ringo said, Pepsi bringing Doc, Becca and Nikki with her.
“Good – saves me
calling you up,” he said as he signalled to the band and started to sing.
In the town where I was born
Lived a man who sailed the seas.
And he told us of his life,
In the land of submarines.
So we sailed up to the sun
Till we found the sea of green
And we lived beneath the waves
In our yellow submarine
“Okay girls, take it,”
he said as he looked at the five of them, as they started to sing along.
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
Nessa came onto the
stage along with Caroline, as Ringo sang again
And our friends are all on board
Many more of them live next door
And the band begins to play
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
“Nessa Richmond, I
believe,” Ringo said, “care to lead the bridge?”
“An honour,” she said
as Ringo put a muffler over the microphone.
As we live a life of ease (A life of ease)
Everyone of us (Everyone of us) has all we need (Has all we need)
Sky of blue (Sky of blue) and sea of green (Sea of green)
In our yellow (In our yellow) submarine (Submarine, ha, ha)
“All together now!”
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
We all live in a yellow submarine
Yellow submarine, yellow submarine
“Ladies and Gentlemen,
Ama and the other singers,” Ringo said as he let them take a bow, and then
handed back to the band before he escorted Ama back to the body of the party.
“Well now,” Doc said,
“serenaded by two of your heroes.”
“It has been a
wonderful night so far,” Ama said quietly.
"Richard darling
that was marvellous," Mary said as she hugged him.
"Well for a girl
who was made a slave, I wouldn't exactly be keeping to my principles if I
didn't help her celebrate."
"Yes, I heard you
made a large donation to the fund helping those poor children."
"Merlin keep that
quiet - you'll be giving my husband a good name," Barbara said as she brought
Ringo a drink.
"Well he deserves
that name."
"By the way,”
Barbara said, “if you need frocks for a future show I have a certain blue
evening dress that I may or may not have worn on a certain James Bond
film..."
"You'd let us show
it?" Mary asked excitedly.
"Well on the right
young model."
"Oh come on
Barbara you'd still look stunning in it darling."
“Flatterer – but no,
the right person, at the right time.”
“Ringo, I cannot thank
you enough,” Caroline said as she came over, “you have made my daughter very
happy indeed.”
“Richard, Barbara, this
is Caroline Jameson, Ama’s mother.”
“Of course – and the
honour was ours Caroline. Tell her she’s
by no means the worst singer I’ve heard.”
“I’m curious – who is?”
Ringo looked at Barbara
and said “no comment...”
“Jan, Juliette,”
Shirley said as she walked over, “can i have a few moments of your time
please?”
“Sure,” they said as
they went out into the corridor. Shirley
looked to see if anyone was listening, and then said “they tried to hurt you
tonight.”
“They did?” Jan looked round and said “how?”
“Not important – but
you need to know we have one of them in our custody.”
“Which one?”
“From the description
Sporetti gave us, I think it’s their Miss Lynx?”
“Really,” Juliette
said, “perhaps she would care to meet the real Miss Lynx?”
“The thought had
crossed my mind, but I understand she is sated for now. No – I offer you the chance to talk to her
first Jan, before I send her to someone who is very keen to meet her.”
“Interesting – what do
you have in mind?”
“You were due to go to
Buffalo tomorrow – correct?”
As Jan nodded, Shirley
said “We’ll drive there with you – and you can witness our plan before you
attend your own appointments. Can you be
ready for seven?”
“Oh yes.”
“Excellent – enjoy the
rest of the party.”
“So many fine gifts,”
Ama said as she looked at them, “I truly do not deserve them all.”
“Well, we all think
you’re wrong,” Cari said as she hugged the young woman.
“So do I,” her
grandfather said as he stood there with Caroline.
"So did I miss out
on anything you wanted for this special birthday darling?"
"Not a thing
Mom," Ama hugged Caroline, 'this has been...MAGICAL!"
"Well other people
helped a lot as well."
"I know."
"So what did you
think of the presents from everyone else?"
"Oh they were
lovely, both the big ones from the grownups, but especially the thoughtful
little ones from my friends."
"Did they tell you
how hard it was buying presents for you?"
"Actually they
did, and I'm glad they didn't pool their cash and get me something expensive,
these gifts mean so much more."
"Did you like my
wine?" Father Alex asked.
"Yes, and when I'm
older I will enjoy it."
"Well it has at
least five more years of aging to go before it’s really drinkable." Alex
smiled, "but 2000 was a VERY good year."
“I want to thank
everyone for this,” Ama said as she walked to the stage, and talked to the DJ.
“Hello,” she said as
she looked across the fall, “I wanted to say a few words, if I may.”
As the partygoers
gathered round, Ama said “as you all know, I have only known most of you for a
short while, but I wanted to say thank you for making this an incredibly
special day for me.
“I especially want to
thank Juliette for arranging for us to have my party here, and Mom for making
all the arrangements – and being the best Mom a girl like me could ask for.”
As everyone clapped,
Ama said “I also want to thank the band, and Mary for the special surprise
guests – I will never forget them, or this night. But most of all, thank you, all of you – for
being my friends.”
She put the microphone
down and walked up to Nick, smiling shyly as she said “especially you” and
kissed him, long, passionately, as the others watched.
“Now,” she said out
loud, “as Doc would say – LET’S PARTY!!!”
"It's a tradition
that a father dances with his daughters I'm led to believe, but as Ama's Great
Grandfather and her nearest male relative can I claim the pleasure?"
"You can
Granddad." Ama giggled slightly as he took her out on the floor.
"You know
somewhere Stella is looking down very happily." Grace whispered to Ju.
"I know...I think
she might even say that eventually everything worked out pretty well."
"She would be so
happy with how Caroline has grown up."
"That she would,
Caroline is an amazing woman."
“Yes, she is,” Merlin
said as she joined them. “And you can
see how much she cares for her.”
"May I have this
dance?" Nick asked Caroline.
“You may,"
Caroline said as she felt him nervously hold her, while they joined Ama and her
grey-grandfather in the waltz.
"Sorry I'm not
very good."
"Nick you are
doing fine."
“Perhaps, but I wanted
to thank you for letting me come tonight.”
“Well it would not be
the same for Ama if you were not here.
She really does like you, you know.”
“I know – but I am very
fond of her as well.”
“Hey Boss,” Mary said
as Pippa joined the group of ladies, “having fun?”
“Yeah – and i’m not
your boss yet,” Pippa said with a smile.
“Did you manage to get
the snag sorted out, Pip?”
“The Uppity Mucks are
talking – it does look as if it is going to be worked out, however.”
“That’s not your phone,
is it Mom,” Carina said as Juliette looked in her pocket.
"Yeah I think it
is... Oh crap," Juliette said as
she checked her phone.
"Anything wrong
Mom?" Carina asked.
"Not really, but
that was from Missy."
"Oh, and being
from Missy was it important?" Annie asked as she drank Seven-Up through a
straw.
"For Mary Clarke
yes."
"For Mary?"
"Yes Cari darling,
the SVA group want to sign Mary to a cosmetics contract, Missy thinks that she
and I need to broach it with Mary and her family personally."
"SVA Group?"
Annie queried.
"Big French luxury
brands conglomerate." Cari nodded, "you use some of their products
love."
"I think we all
do," Ju paused, "anyway it’s going to spoil our family weekend if I
need fly to the coast to see Mary."
“Unless we come with
you?”
“What – to San
Francisco for the weekend?”
“Yeah – you and Missy
go do your thing, we get to see the sights.”
“It’s a possibility –
I’ll talk to her tomorrow and let you know...”
"So have you
missed me?" Chet asked Doc as they danced.
"What do you
think?" Anna laughed back.
"Well you've
sounded like your school work, babysitting and modeling was keeping you pretty
busy."
"It has been,”
Anna said, “but not to the stage where I don't lay awake at night dreaming of
you being beside me."
"You say the
NICEST things," Chet kissed her.
Looking over, she saw
Chet’s friends dancing, but something seemed to be between them.
"What's wrong
between Sarah and H by the way?"
Looking at them, Chet
said "he doesn't like how other guys look at her."
"Well she's pretty
damn hot." Doc looked closely at Chet, "you haven't?"
"NO! But a couple of seniors at our school are in
hot pursuit..."
"And?"
"Well in H's view
Sarah isn't exactly discouraging them."
"OUCH!"
"Exactly, so can
you maybe have a word with her?"
“Well, I have school
tomorrow, but I’ll see if I can get to see her later,” Anna said as they danced
round.
“Hey,” Doc said as she
went into the rest room, and saw Sarah at the mirror. “How are things going?”
“Not bad,” Sarah said
as she used her lipstick.
“Listen – shoot me down
if I’m sticking my oar in, but Chet told me you and H were having some
disagreements.”
“That obvious?”
Anna nodded. “Yeah – he
also said some of the senior boys were looking at you, eyes ablaze or similar.”
"Doc,” Sarah said
as she turned and looked, “I was the ugly duckling for so long, I like it that
guys think I'm sexy and desirable."
"Well," Anna
touched up her makeup, "that I can understand."
"And I'm just
flirting with these guys...it means nothing."
"Yes but does H
realise that?"
Sarah stood at the
table, and smiled. “No, I should tell
him, shouldn’t I?”
“Probably a good idea –
and soon...”
"Her school skirts
have got microscopic, Chet," H whispered as they waited for Anna to emerge
from the powder room, "and she wears these skyscraper high heels. Honestly
she looks like she's begging for it."
"And you don't
like that?"
"I love it, who
wouldn't want a girlfriend that sexy...but it should only be for me. She
wiggles her ass and every guy on the North Shore is getting interested."
“Yeah – I know, and I’m
sorry.”
H looked at Sarah as she
came out with Anna, and she said “I hadn’t realised just how jealous you were
getting – and I’m sorry. Forgive me?”
“Of course I do,” H
said as he kissed Sarah. “Let’s go for a
walk in the park tomorrow, all right?”
“We need to go Erica,”
Denice said quietly, “it is a school day tomorrow.”
“It’s all right Mom – I
think everyone else is getting ready to go anyway,” Erica said as Ama came
over. “Thanks for inviting all of us
Ama.”
“Thank you for coming,”
Ama said with a smile, standing by the doors and saying goodbye to everyone as
they left.
“It certainly has been
a night to remember,” Annie said as she and Carina stood with Caroline and Dan.
“Indeed – but i think
when we get her back to the apartment, she will go to her room, close her eyes
and sleep the sleep of the just.”
Annie nodded as Ama
walked back over with Nick. “I have had
a fantastic say, Mom,” she said as she yawned, “but I think it is time to head
home.”
“Well, if you’re sure,”
Caroline said as she put her arm round Ama’s shoulders, “let’s get our
coats...”
“Oh god – did she have
to hit me so hard,” Louise said as she slowly opened her eyes, and rubbed her
head. She looked round, realising she
was back in the car – and alone.
She heard her phone
buzzing, and took it out, answering the call with “yeah?”
“Louise? Where the hell have you and Lynx been?”
“Boss,” Louise said
groggily, “we got made. Someone whacked
me from behind – I just came to. There’s
no sign of Lynx.”
There was a silence on
the phone, before she heard the deep voice say “get back here – as fast as you
can. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“And Lynx?”
“We’ll look out for
her.”
“Okay, boss,” she said
as she ended the call, and started the car, wondering where her dark haired
partner was.
Thursday 4th February
11 am CET
Stadtpark, Vienna
The group of young
women walking round the park with their partners drew a few looks from the
other people strolling through the ornate gardens, but mostly they exchanged
smiles and nods. They knew from the look
on their faces that they were in the city for a special reason, and that reason
was that evening.
“This place is
amazing,” Victoria said as she looked round, and then walked over to a floral
clock that sat on a gentle slope.
“Apparently,” Abby said
as she looked at the guide she had brought, “this is the tribute to Schubert.”
“Can one of you take a
photo of both of us,” Tony said.
“Give me the camera,”
Jo said as they posed to one side, and she pressed the button. “Now can someone take one of me from up there?”
“Up where?”
The girls watched as Jo
walked up to the top of the clock and knelt down, her arms spread as they all
took photos of her.
“This was a good idea,”
Angel said as she held Harry’s arm, “to get out of the hotel and meet as a
group, and just forget about everything for a couple of hours.”
“It certainly was,”
Fiona said as she walked with Trina, while Jo came back down, “and this
statuary is amazing.”
“So suits pressed and
hanging gentlemen?”
“Indeed, Mick,” Tony
said, “white tie and waistcoat immaculate, and gloves of snowy white.”
“It’s not formal wear
for Trina, right?”
“Tuxedo, but not full
formal, as we can relax a little bit.”
“Excellent – the
formality of this place...”
“Let’s go and grab a
coffee,” Tony said, “and then we need to think about getting back.”
6 am
New York
As Lynx slowly opened
her eyes, she wondered what had happened.
The last thing she remembered was the two women who had forced her and
Louise to leave the party, before she had a chance to carry out her orders. There had been a pinprick, and then...
Controlling her
breathing, she allowed her eyes to adjust to the gloom. She was sitting in a basement, by the look of
it, and whoever had brought her here had secured her to the chair she was
sitting in. They’d done a good job too –
her arms were folded behind the chair back and her wrists tied to her elbows,
while rope held her upper body to the chair back, and her legs to the front
legs.
“Hey shitheads,” she
called out, “where the hell am I?”
“You are my guest for a
little while longer – please, try to enjoy this time.”
The voice was deep and
rich, and as the lights came on full Lynx was blinded for a moment. When she was able to focus, she saw the tall
woman standing in front of her, wearing a tailored black jacket and skirt, dark
stockings and high heeled shoes. An
extra stocking was pulled down over her head, pressing her short dark hair
down.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Moi? I am known as Miss Lioness, but that is not
important right now. Allow me to
introduce two of my friends.”
Lynx heard the two sets
of footsteps, heels clicking on the hard floor, and saw two identically dressed
women walk in.
“And who are you, Lady
Ga fucking Ga?”
“Oh no,” the taller of
the two said, “allow me to introduce myself – my name is Miss Panther.”
Lynx swallowed as she
looked at her, and then said “so who is she?”
“Oh me?” the other
woman said with a smile, as she slipped a pair of knuckledusters onto her
gloved hands, “my name is Miss Lynx.
Perhaps you have heard of me?”
Lynx looked at her, and
whispered “oh shit...”
“A very appropriate
choice of words,” Miss Lynx said. “Now
normally, I would take my time showing you new and exquisite ways to feel pain,
but let’s face it – you’re a cheap imitation, and I don’t have the time to
spare today, so this will have to be quick and dirty. You stole my name, you stole my reputation –
time to pay.”
Miss Panther and Miss
Lioness watched as Miss Lynx laid into the bound woman, the metal
knuckledusters sinking into her flesh when they weren’t cracking her jaw and
face.
“I regret she has not
been able to show the full extent of her anger, Miss Panther.”
“I appreciate that,
Miss Lioness,” the other masked woman said as she hit Lynx across the eye, “but
given what is going to happen next, we shall consider this – an appetiser.”
“Now, when you reach
your destination,” Miss Lynx said as she stepped back, “remember – I was nice
to you.”
“Mister Lion,” Miss
Lioness said as a man in a dark suit, and wearing dark glasses, came in,
“arrange for our guest to be transported.”
He nodded as he
signalled to two women, who came in and released Lynx from the chair before
dragging her out.
“My thanks for coming
early,” Shirley said as Cari and Ju removed their masks, “I trust Judith is
safe?”
“Annie stayed over,
just in case, but we need to get back to her.
Where is she going?”
“To meet Sporetti. After that – not my concern.”
10 am
Buffalo
“Are you ready?”
Jan nodded as she
slipped the stocking down over her head, and nodded to Shirley as she slipped
the mask over her face.
“Mister Sporetti,” she
said as they looked at the man who walked towards them, flanked on each side by
men Jan could clearly see was armed.
“Thank you for coming to meet me today.
I hope you have avoided trouble so far...”
“So far, Madame,” the
tall man said, “I understand yous have somefin for me?”
“We do indeed, may i
introduce Miss Ocelot, one of the ladies?”
“M’am,” Sporetti said
as he nodded in his direction.
“Mister Lion?”
Sporetti looked at the
man standing by their car, wearing a dark suit, glasses and gloves, as he
popped the lid of the trunk, and they heard the muffled cursing inside.
“With the compliments
of Miss Panther,” Jan purred, grateful for the voice modifier under her black
scarf, “we offer you your Miss Lynx.”
Sporetti looked in the
trunk, as Lynx looked back through half closed eyes.
“What happened to her?”
“The real Miss Lynx
expressed her views – for once, under remarkable self control,” Miss Ocelot
purred, “but we know you are anxious to show your displeasure and your feelings
at what has happened. It is still our
intention to deliver the one called Miss Panther here to you – we hope this
makes an acceptable gift in the meantime.”
“Most acceptable – do
you wish to know what we will do?”
“No,” Madame said, “I
am more than certain you can think of a suitable way of expressing your views.”
“Indeed – may you know
success with your continued endeavours.
Gentlemen.”
“Goodbye,” Madame said
as the two men came forward and lifted the struggling Lynx out of the trunk,
carrying her to the other car.
“Ladies,” Sporetti said
as he nodded, and followed his men.
“What do you think he
will do to her,” Jan said as the car drove off.
“I suspect whatever it
is, it will be painful,” Shirley said.
“Now, I have a meeting to attend.
And you Jan?”
“A chat with an old
friend...”
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