‘Can’t you just offer them more money?’ said Wendelien, who had a severely practical streak.
‘Doesn’t work. It’s the cachet of Vogue, you see. Where one goes they all follow. They’re like a flock of beautiful sheep: Fiona Campbell-Walter, Suzy Parker, Anne Gunning and Barbara Goalen. It’s so hard to tempt them away. The Fords have just been over – Eileen Ford’s agency is number one in America – and they’ve done a tie-up with Lucie Clayton here. I’m hoping that will bring a few new ones in.’ She giggled. ‘The Fords actually stayed here for a couple of days, and were asked to leave, as all the models heard they were here and were bombarding the switchboard. Didn’t quite go with the Connaught image. You know it’s the only hotel in London that takes guests on personal recommendations only. Anyway, they were asked to leave. So –’ She suddenly sat back and looked intently at Wendelien across the table.
‘Whatever are you doing?’ said Wendelien, laughing.
‘Just wondering if you’d do – you do wear clothes awfully well – but sorry, darling, no offence, but you’ve not got quite the bones.’
‘Thanks.’
‘But if you have any beautiful friends, ideally of an aristocratic persuasion, steer them in my direction, would you?’
‘Funny you should say that,’ said Wendelien.
‘Welcome home, darling,’ Wendelien said to Diana over the lunchtime menu at the Ritz a week later. ‘You look marvellous. How did you escape this time?’
‘It’s Mummy’s birthday. She’s having a little party at the weekend. Not big enough to warrant Johnathan coming down, but I made it an excuse. I really don’t think he minds much if I’m there or not, he’s so busy.’
‘How is life generally up there? Any better?’
‘Worse,’ said Diana flatly. ‘My only comfort is Jamie, who is adorable. I thought he was the beginning of a new marriage for us both but I’m afraid the farm is more important to Johnathan even than Jamie. I’ve brought him and Nanny down with me – Mummy loves to spend time with him. She complains endlessly about him being her only grandchild, but of course Betsey’s pregnant now, so she’ll have a bit more to do.’
‘But you’re not preggers?’ asked Wendelien, her voice carefully casual.
‘No, not yet. Thank goodness. How about you?’
‘Oh, well, Ian is getting quite keen and actually I wouldn’t mind one myself now – all one’s chums are at it – so watch this space.’
She patted her flat stomach gently.
‘You’re so lucky,’ wailed Diana. ‘You all have each other – it’s so lonely having a baby up in Yorkshire.’
‘You must have found one friend, surely?’
‘Not really. They all hate me. No matter how hard I try with the wretched WI and everything.’
‘Well,’ said Wendelien, ‘I’ve got a little idea for you. A little idea that might make your life seem a bit brighter. How long are you here for?’
‘About four days.’
‘That should be long enough.’
‘For what?’
Wendelien told her.
‘Wendelien, I couldn’t. Even if they thought I was good enough, and had the bones –’
‘Which you do.’
‘How could I, when I live all the way up there? They’re not going to bring their cameras and clothes up to Yorkshire, are they?’
‘But that’s the whole point, it’s not a full-time job. No one’s going to ask you to come and live down here permanently. It’d just be an occasional break for you.’
Diana looked wistfully into her cocktail. ‘Well, it sounds wonderful. I don’t want you to think I’m not thrilled and flattered. I am. But Johnathan wouldn’t like it.’
‘It wouldn’t be very often. And the wicked witch would love it, give her something else to hate you for.’
‘Now that is true!’ said Diana, laughing. ‘Oh, Wendelien. How – how amazing it would be.’
‘So, will you at least meet my friend Blanche?’
‘I’d love to. That’ll solve everything straight away, as she’ll just say I haven’t got any bones. How is it going to work, are you going to march me into her office?’
‘By a happy chance, she’s going into Hardy Amies this afternoon, and I thought you’d like to have a look at the suits.’
‘Wendelien, I’m really not in the couture league any more,’ said Diana. ‘My allowance from Johnathan is quite modest.’
‘Diana,’ said Wendelien patiently. ‘Blanche doesn’t need to know that. We’ll go to Amies and look at the suits.’
‘But . . .’
‘But nothing. Stop fussing and order your lunch. Only don’t eat too much, your stomach might stick out.’
‘No, all right,’ said Diana humbly.
And thus it was that much later that afternoon, Diana found herself in the studio of one Kirill (christened Cyril) Bell, being posed and unposed, and given what seemed to her ridiculously extravagant positions to strike, and then told to act naturally – as if such a thing were possible – having what they called test shots done, which Kirill promised to Blanche by first thing next day.
And first thing next day, Blanche rang Diana and said her pictures were ‘absolutely divine. I’m amazed, the camera really likes you, so rare,’ and she had exactly the look she wanted for a feature on tweed suits for the October issue.
Diana said she was very flattered and pleased, but she’d have to talk it over with her husband, as she lived in Yorkshire, and had a small child. It would all mean quite careful planning, and when was Blanche thinking of for the session?
The next day, Blanche said, and she’d need Diana to come up that afternoon to try on some of the clothes. ‘Maybe get your hair cut and styled. It’s a bit long.’
‘Tomorrow!’ said Diana. ‘I thought you said the October issue.’
‘It takes three months to get an issue together,’ Blanche said patiently. ‘Here we are, mid-July, bit late already. It’s not a problem, is it?’
Diana’s sense of yearning for this wonderful new world was tempered by panic. ‘I really do need to talk to my husband. He might not like the idea.’
Blanche’s voice grew slightly impatient. ‘I hope he does – we’ve wasted a lot of time and effort otherwise. When can you get back to me? Shall I make an appointment for your hair this afternoon anyway? Oh, and we can’t do the pictures in town obviously – the photographer wants some woods, and the art director’s found what will pass for some on Hampstead Heath. It’s a very early start. We can meet here, about seven. What’s your shoe size? I’ll get you those. Normally models bring a selection of their own, but obviously you can’t do that at this sort of notice.’
‘I’m staying with my parents in Hampshire,’ said Diana, rather helplessly. ‘So I don’t think—’
‘Well, perhaps you could stay with Wendelien,’ said Blanche, her impatience clearly increasing by the moment. ‘Look, I’ve got to go. Can you sort all this out and let me have an answer by twelve? I need to know if I can rely on you or not. There is a lot hanging on this feature.’