Free Wedding Girl by Madeleine Wickham

egg-slice vaguely in the air.
    Twice, thought Milly. You've been twice.
    Ìt really depends,' said Olivia, smiling kindly at Mrs Able. `We don't have any hard and fast arrangements. Sometimes he'll be out of the country for weeks then he'll come back and just want to spend a quiet few days with friends.'
    `Have you visited his London home?' asked Mrs Able.
    `No, I haven't,' said Olivia regretfully. `Milly has, though. And his villa in France. Haven't you, darling?'
    `Yes,' said Milly tightly.
    `Quite a jump for you, love,' said Mr Able. `Joining the jet set overnight.' Olivia bridled.
    Ìt's hardly as though Milly comes from a deprived family,' she exclaimed. `You're used to mingling with all sorts of people, aren't you, darling? At Milly's school,' she added, giving Mr Able a satisfied glance, `there was an Arab princess. What was her name, now??
    Ì've got to go,' said Milly, unable to bear any more. She stood up, leaving her coffee undrunk.
    'That's right,' said Olivia. `Go and put some make-up on. You want to look your best for Alexander.'
    `Yes,' said Milly faintly. She paused by the kitchen door. 'Isobel hasn't called for me this morning, has she?' she asked casually.
    `No,' said Olivia. Ì expect she'll ring you later.'
    At ten-forty, Alexander appeared at the door of the drawing room.
    `Hi, Milly,' he said. `Sorry I'm a bit late.'
    Milly felt a sickening thud of nerves, as though she were being called for an exam or the dentist.
    Ìt doesn't matter,' she said, putting down the copy of Country Life she had been pretending to read.
    `That's right,' said Olivia, following in behind Alexander. `By the window, do you think, Alexander, or by the piano?'
    `Just where you are, I think,' said Alexander, looking critically at Milly's position on the sofa. Ì'll need to put up a couple of lights ...'
    `Would anyone like a cup of coffee?' said Olivia.
    Ì'll make it,' said Milly quickly and, without looking back, scuttled out of the room. On the way into the kitchen she glanced at herself in the mirror. Her skin was dry, her eyes had a frightened look in them; she looked nothing like a happy bride. Digging her nails into her palms, she forced herself to smile brightly at her reflection. Everything would be fine. If she could just force herself to act confidently, everything would be fine.
    By the time she got back, the room had been transformed into a photographer's studio. A white cloth was draped on the floor and white umbrellas and light stands surrounded the sofa on which Olivia sat, smiling self-consciously at Alexander's camera.
    Ì'm being your stand-in, darling!' she said brightly.
    `Nervous?' said Alexander to Milly.
    `Not at all,' she said coolly.
    `Let me see your nails, darling,' said Olivia, standing up. Ìf we're going to see your engagement ring ...'
    `They're fine,' snapped Milly, whipping her hands away from her mother's grasp. She picked her way over the white cloth, sat down on the sofa and looked up at Alexander with all the calmness she could muster.
    `That's right,' said Alexander. `Now just relax. Sit back a bit. Loosen your hands.' He stared critically at her for a while. `Could you sweep your hair back, off your face?'
    `That reminds me!' exclaimed Olivia. `Those photographs I was telling you about. I'll fetch them.'
    'OK,' said Alexander absently. `Now, Milly, I want you to lean back a little and smile.'
    Without intending to, Milly found herself obeying his commands. As she smiled, she felt her body relax; felt herself sink into the cushions of the sofa. Alexander seemed utterly preoccupied with his camera. Any suggestion that they'd met before seemed to have been forgotten. She'd been worrying over nothing, she told herself comfortably. Everything was going to be all right. She glanced at her ring, sparkling prettily on her hand, and shifted her legs slightly, to a more flattering position.
    `Here we are!' said Olivia, bustling up beside Alexander with a photograph album. `These are of Isobel, just