Epilogue
One year later
‘I just don’t know. Is that shade of blue really quite right?
’ Sandrine murmured, tilting her head to study the elegantly gilt-edged sign being raised above the double doors to her new salon on Rue des Ursulines.
Those curling, perfectly placed gold letters, surrounded by loops of painted pink ribbon: Madame Sandrine d’Alency, Modiste.
‘Is the blue too grey, do you think? Maybe it should be more jade. Or seafoam? It must be parfait,’ she added. She was about to burst with nerves. She couldn’t believe this moment was real, that her dream was coming true with her husband and daughter by her side.
Alain wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and as always his nearness, his steadiness, reassured her.
He had been with her every step of the journey to this beautiful salon, helping her with every detail of the business before he kissed her and carried them both into the wild joy of their marriage bed, where all her worries were forgotten.
He had inspired her and helped her to see that she was ready for this.
He listened, showed her what she knew she should do, encouraged her. This dream was as much his now as hers.
And it was also Marie’s. She dashed in and out of the glass doors now, exclaiming over the beautiful fabrics delivered, while Jane and the vendeuses artfully arranged the displays…rainbows of ribbons, ethereal laces, sketches of the very latest designs to entice French tastes.
‘I think that shade of blue is exactly right, Maman,’ Marie declared. ‘It’s so very French, as Grandmère says, and it matches the draperies exactly. Just as you ordered.’
‘Yes, it’s all just as you demanded it should be, and quite right,’ Alain said, laughing to recall all the quarrels and long discussions with workmen and architects and textile merchants. ‘Nothing could be more chic.’
‘We will have lines of patrons up the lane, Madame, on opening day next week,’ Jane insisted.
‘Which means we should go home for a good supper and an early night,’ Alain said as he checked his pocket watch. ‘You haven’t been eating properly at all, chérie, and I made sure Chef has made your favourite boeuf de velouté tonight. You also need sleep.’
‘And tarte Tatin?’ Marie cried. ‘With cream?’
‘Certainment. Just for you.’ Alain tweaked his daughter’s pink hair ribbons, making her giggle.
Marie twirled around in bliss at the promise of her favourite pudding. She often declared the best thing in Paris so far was the patisseries! She dashed back into the shop as Sandrine cast one more careful glance at the sign, now fastened into place. No turning back.
‘There is still so much to do,’ she whispered. ‘There is no time for sleep!’
Alain slanted a teasing, suggestive smile at her, and took her into his arms right there in the street. ‘Who said anything about sleeping once we are in our bedchamber?’
She laughed, and stretched up on tiptoe to kiss her husband, to feel his lips against hers, the heat of him. She still couldn’t quite believe this was her life, that she could kiss this man any time she liked. And she liked very often indeed.
All her dreams were coming true now. A glow of pinky-gold joy seemed to hover around her all the time, carrying her along with her feet above the ground, and she scarcely dared trust it was all real.
Her husband, her love; her daughter, now with both her parents devoted to her; her business growing and growing, helping more women every day.
And now there was Paris! For so long, she’d been fighting alone, a prisoner of the past. Now she would never be alone again.
‘I can’t believe it’s all come true,’ she whispered, taking in every inch of her new gold and cream palace. The man in her arms.
‘It’s come true for all of us,’ he said. Before she knew what he was doing, he swept her high in his arms, making her laugh, and carried her over the threshold, as he could not when they had first married. She laughed merrily, and held on to him so tightly as the world spun happily around them.
Every hope, every dream, it was all happening, as she’d never hoped for before there was Alain. The future stretched before them now in endless promise, as they were together. It was all absolutely perfect, and she knew this time it was forever.