Page 32 of The Gathering Storm

Emma frowned. ‘The—’

‘It’s the line that divides the American North from the American South.’

‘I know what it is. I just can’t believe she used an expression like that to you.’

He shrugged. ‘I’m exactly the chum she wants: a man – because she prefers men to women – but one who’s never going to want to sleep with her. In fact, she likes me so much, I’m almost an honorary American.’

‘She can’t be serious about this,’ said Emma, getting back to the point. ‘The King won’t go along with it, surely. Think of the speculation it would unleash. About him as well as her.’

‘Oh, he’s all for it. Anything that gets him his way. You’re forgetting, he’s already sworn to Ernest that his relationship with Wally is platonic. And to Sir Maurice Jenks. And he swore the same thing to his father. Now, our King may be careless in a lot of matters, but I don’t think he would have lied to his father – not solemnly and to his face, at any rate.’

‘Well, it would be better than a divorce, I suppose. But no-one would ever believe it, would they?’

‘That’s very cynical of you, darling.’

‘It’s a cynical world,’ Emma said.

Wallis greeted Emma with a brisk, hard gaze. ‘Emma, darling, you look perfect as always.’

Wallis was also in black and white, which might have been awkward, but hers was a black gown figured all over with white humming-bird shapes, and she had coupled it with a magnificent ruby and diamond bracelet that Emma hadn’t seen before. Wallis saw her looking, and touched it in acknowledgement. Her nails were painted a dark red that matched the rubies. ‘A little present from David when I came back from Paris,’ she murmured.

‘You’re looking much better,’ Emma said. ‘You seemed quite pulled after that trip.’

‘My nerves were shot, and David was in a state. But things are going better now,’ she said. ‘I’ll talk to you about it all later. David will be here any moment.’

Emma was glad to see that Oliver and Verena were among the guests, and she and Kit went to join them. After some family talk, Kit asked if Oliver had any interesting new cases. ‘And by “interesting” I mean something with a stardust element, of course,’ he urged. ‘You know Raymond is in America, so I’m parched for news.’ He adored films, read the magazines for Hollywood gossip, and had a longstanding friendship with silver screen darling Raymond Romano.

Oliver smiled indulgently. ‘You know I can’t discuss my clients.’

Kit rolled his eyes. ‘Don’t be coy. I just want names, not details. You do have something,’ he concluded. ‘I can see it in your face.’

‘I can’t tell you anything,’ Oliver insisted. ‘I do happen to know, however, that Vera Bergdorf is coming to Town.’ Film stars were a lucrative part of his business. It was how Kit had met Raymond in the first place, when he had come over to consult Oliver.

‘Vera Bergdorf? I loved her in Brunhilda,’ Kit cried.

‘She was supposed to be coming with Eric Chapel, the artist—’

‘Oh, I heard about him,’ Emma said. ‘He’s having an exhibition at the Cavendish Gallery, isn’t he? Daisy Fellowes is organising it.’

‘That’s right,’ Verena said. ‘He’s quite her new pet. I’m afraid he’s very modern, though. Just squares of colour – nothing really to look at.’

‘Don’t be old-fashioned, dear,’ Kit said. ‘Modern art is supposed to make you think.’

‘I don’t want to think,’ Verena said. ‘I just want to look at a picture and feel pleasure.’

‘Bowls of fruit and thatched cottages?’ Kit suggested. ‘Baskets of kittens?’

‘I’m not a Philistine,’ Verena said, with dignity. ‘There are lots of modern paintings I like. But there ought to be some sort of skill in them, surely. Isn’t that what “art” means?’

‘I’m with you,’ Emma said. ‘I can go along with Fauvism and Cubism, but if I want a plain square of colour I can look at a wall.’

‘We’re getting away from the point,’ Kit said impatiently. ‘The only reason to be talking about this wretched Chapel daubist is that he’s accompanying Vera Bergdorf – the actress with the exquisite cheekbones, the actress who uttered the immortal words, “I am both queen and king to my people!”’ He imitated her accent. ‘That Vera Bergdorf. Is she having an affair with this Chapel person?’

‘I can’t tell you,’ Oliver said, ‘because if you’d let me finish, I’d have told you he’s not coming after all, and the exhibition is off. He’s gone back to America.’

‘Oh, a scandal!’ Kit said. ‘Have they quarrelled? Did she thrrrow him out?’ He rolled his r like the actress.

‘I don’t even know if they were a couple. I only know he was supposed to be accompanying her and now he’s not.’