Isabel stood on the balcony of her suite and thought there was nowhere more beautiful than Paris on New Year’s Eve. The silver and gold lights in the Place de la Concorde twinkled, and the cars that pulled up at the Hôtel de Crillon were all creamy Rolls-Royces and midnight blue Bentleys.
Women stepped onto the pavement wearing sequined evening gowns and carrying jeweled clutches. The men wore custom tuxedos with silk bow ties and tasseled shoes.
She walked back inside and thought so much had happened in the two days since Alec had proposed. They drove to 40 Rue de Passy and told Claudia the good news and called Isabel’s parents and shared their excitement. Isabel even insisted they tell Bettina. What better time to mend their relationship than during the magical time of the holidays.
She thought of everything they had done together and a warmth spread through her chest. They waited in line at La Poilâne for pain au chocolat and café au lait. They spent a whole afternoon at Shakespeare and Company, and Alec introduced her to the books he loved as a child: The Secret Garden and A Bear Called Paddington and The Adventures of Tintin. Afterward they saw a romantic comedy in French with English subtitles and held hands in the dark.
Now she glanced at her gown in the mirror and thought it really was perfect. The silver bodice hugged her chest and the chiffon skirt fell just below the knee. And the pumps she discovered at Le Printemps were like a prop from a Disney movie: satin with a jeweled heel and gold bow.
She remembered the price tag and felt slightly guilty. But it was a special occasion and everyone would be here to celebrate. Her parents had arrived at Orly Airport a few hours ago and Mathieu and Helene were coming and Isabel was going to meet Alec’s publisher. She draped a pink pashmina around her shoulders and grabbed her quilted evening bag.
“I would have been ready half an hour ago, but I couldn’t tie my tie,” Alec said when he opened the door. He looked handsome in a white dinner jacket and beige slacks. “It’s impossible to tie a bow tie without looking in the mirror. Then it always ends up looking backwards.”
“You should have knocked on my door.” Isabel reached up and adjusted his collar. “I would have tied it for you.”
“We could have just stayed in the same suite,” he sighed. “I haven’t been able to concentrate on a thing all afternoon. I keep drawing Gus tangled up in a white sheet like Casper the ghost. All I want to do is stay in bed with you. Do you think we can tell our guests to come back tomorrow?”
“We can’t stay in the same honeymoon suite until we’re on our honeymoon,” Isabel laughed. “I don’t think the Crillon will be happy if we cancel a five-course dinner for fifteen people in the private dining room.”
“We could get married and share a suite tonight,” Alec suggested. “Think of all the money we’d save. Having two honeymoon suites is exorbitant.”
“Winter weddings are bad luck, they never seem to happen.” Isabel perched on a love seat. “Spring is the perfect time to get married in Paris. We’ll take photos in the Bois de Boulogne and have the wedding luncheon in your mother’s garden. My mother has already started thinking about the colors. She suggested the bridesmaids wear pale green and the centerpieces be pink and yellow roses.”
“Our mothers will get along wonderfully. They’ll probably spend the evening exchanging gardening tips.” He slipped his wallet into his pocket. “Did we really have to invite Bettina and Édouard? It’s like Little Red Riding Hood asking the big bad wolf to come over for boeuf bourguignon and potatoes au gratin.”
“It’s our engagement dinner, we want all our family there.” Isabel fiddled with her sapphire earrings.
“Just make sure no one leaves her alone with the soup.” Alec bristled. “You never know what she’ll slip in it when no one’s looking.”
“You read too many detective novels.” Isabel smiled. “I’m sure Bettina will be happy for us. You are her brother and you’re engaged to the woman you love.”
“You haven’t spent any time with her. But it is New Year’s Eve. I’ll make sure the waiters keep her champagne flute filled with Dom Pérignon.” He kissed her. “I don’t care who we invited, all I want is to be with you.”
Isabel felt the warmth of his mouth and a tingle ran down her spine. They had made love for hours, and it had taken all her willpower to insist Alec return to his suite. But they had so much to look forward to: preparing for the wedding, finding an apartment, planning their honeymoon. She wanted to savor every moment, like opening one present at a time on Christmas morning.
“We better go downstairs now”—she smoothed her hair—“or we’ll never leave the suite at all.”
“You know I’d happily attend dinner parties every night and wear impossible bow ties and even go dancing if it means being together.” Alec took her hand.
Isabel reached up and kissed him. “Why would we dance all night when we have other things to do?”
* * *
THE LOUIS XVI salon in the Hôtel de Crillon was so beautiful it took Isabel’s breath away. Red damask walls were covered with rich tapestries, and parquet floors were scattered with Oriental rugs, and gold candelabras flickered on the polished sideboard. Crystal chandeliers dangled from the ceiling, and a huge ornate mirror hung above the marble fireplace.
The long mahogany table was covered in a red-and-gold tablecloth and set with Limoges china and Baccarat wineglasses. Royal blue vases were filled with red roses, and there were framed paintings by Matisse and Chagall. Pinpoint lighting illuminated bronze statues, and French doors opened onto a walled patio.
“Darling, I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to see you.” Isabel’s mother approached them. Adele wore a black cocktail dress and diamond earrings. Her ash-blond hair was swept into a bun and she wore red lipstick. “There was a snowstorm in Philadelphia and I was afraid we wouldn’t get out. But we’re here now and our suite is gorgeous. It has a piano and private balcony and heated bathroom floors. Your father thinks we should install them in Ardmore, his feet get cold after he takes a bath.”
“I’m so glad you came.” Isabel hugged her. “It was such short notice, I didn’t know if you had other New Year’s Eve plans.”
“Miss your engagement dinner and New Year’s Eve at the Hôtel de Crillon?” Adele raised her eyebrow. “We couldn’t gather our passports fast enough. Where is Alec? I can’t wait to meet him.”
Isabel turned around and saw Alec talking to her father. They both held plates of foie gras and crystal champagne flutes.
“We were getting acquainted.” Her father joined them. He wore a black dinner jacket and gold cuff links. “I was telling Alec how your mother almost left me in the suite because I couldn’t put on my cuff links. You have to be a contortionist to do it with one hand.”
“I offered to help, but John can be quite stubborn,” Adele laughed. “And I wanted to get down here and meet my future son-in-law.”
“We’re so glad you came.” Alec offered his hand. “I’m sure traveling on New Year’s Eve is a challenge.”
“The flight was a little bumpy and it took ages to get through customs.” Adele glanced at Isabel’s sparkling brown eyes. “But we’d fly all night to see Isabel looking so happy.”
“I hope the menu makes up for it.” Alec ran his hands through his hair. “I thought a soup course and fish or poultry would be sufficient. But the chef convinced us our guests needed buckwheat pancakes and Dublin bay prawns with warm mayonnaise and some kind of black pudding.” He squeezed Isabel’s hand. “We’re only going to do this once. I told him to serve whatever he wants.”
Isabel looked up and saw Claudia admiring a gilt frame. “You stay here and talk to my parents,” she whispered to Alec. “I want to say hello to your mother.”
“It’s lovely to see you,” Isabel said to Claudia. “Is that a Dior gown? It’s stunning.”
Claudia kissed Isabel on the cheek. Her dress was pale blue chiffon, and she wore an emerald necklace and silver pumps.
“It was the first dress I ever bought at the Dior store. I thought Alain would have a heart attack when he saw the price tag,” she said and smiled. “I hid it in my closet and every day I thought I’d return it. One evening I came home and Alain was waiting in the salon with a box wrapped in tissue paper.
“It was my birthday and he bought me a present. I tore it open and discovered the same dress! He said the minute he saw the dress at Dior, he knew it was perfect.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I never told him about the other dress, I returned it the next morning.”
“I’m glad you had so many happy years together,” Isabel said softly. “I love your son very much.”
“I know you do and he loves you.” Claudia reached into her purse and took out a velvet jewelry case. “I have something for you.”
Isabel opened the black case and discovered a strand of pearls with an antique clasp.
“I know Alec is getting my mother’s diamond-and-sapphire ring reset, but I wanted you to have this necklace,” Claudia explained. “Alain and I put it aside years ago for the woman Alec was going to marry.”
“Why didn’t Alec give it to Celine?” Isabel wondered.
“I didn’t tell him about it.” Claudia paused. “Let’s just say I wanted to make sure the engagement would last.”
Isabel looked up and saw a couple standing in the doorway. The woman had a smooth pageboy and wore a red dress and long white gloves. Her lips were coated with shimmering red lipstick and she carried a satin clutch.
“I think I better go and see Alec,” Isabel murmured.
“Don’t worry about Alec and Bettina.” Claudia followed Isabel’s gaze. “They’re adults, they’ll work it out.”
“Bettina and Édouard,” Isabel greeted them, “I’m so glad you came, we were afraid you had other plans.”
“One of Édouard’s patients is an Arabian prince and is hosting a private party at the George Cinq,” Bettina began. “Ten pounds of osetra caviar and sautéed escargot and a performance by Sting at midnight. But I told Édouard we had to come to the Crillon, nothing is more important than family.”
“Are you sure you weren’t worried we were really getting married?” Alec said, joining them. Isabel noticed his tie was slightly crooked and his cheeks were flushed. “After all it is before January fourth.”
“It did cross my mind,” Bettina admitted. “Isabel seems very intelligent, it would be the smart thing to do.”
“Isabel wants to have a spring wedding and I agree.” Alec put his arm around her. “You can grab a glass of Dom Pérignon to go if you like. We won’t stop you from hobnobbing with royalty.”
“I think we’ll stay. I’ve never been able to eat escargot. It reminds me of the snails you collected in the garden when we were children.” Bettina took off her silk gloves. “We have our own announcement. Édouard and I are engaged.”
“That’s wonderful, what a gorgeous ring,” Isabel gasped, admiring the emerald-cut diamond on a platinum band. “When is the wedding?”
“We don’t have a date yet, Édouard wants a long engagement.” Bettina hesitated. “I quite agree, it will take months to pick out my dress. I already set up showings in Milan and New York.”
“We are happy for you.” Alec shook Édouard’s hand. “We’ll have to open a bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild from our father’s cellar to celebrate.”
A couple walked over to them, and Isabel recognized Mathieu’s light brown hair and angular nose. His wife wore a black dress over her rounded stomach and a diamond bracelet.
“This is a scene that would warm the heart of any estate attorney,” Mathieu said. “Marriages and births do bring families together.”
“We weren’t sure if you could make it.” Alec clapped Mathieu on the shoulder. “It’s an impossible night to get a taxi and I didn’t think Helene would take the metro in her condition.”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Mathieu laughed. “Next year we’ll be spending New Year’s Eve surrounded by baby bottles and those jumpy things you attach to the doorway.” He sipped his champagne. “I tried to install it yesterday and almost brought down the plaster ceiling.”
Isabel saw the maître d’ motioning to her and smiled. “I think we should be seated. Chef Jean-Paul is very particular. He won’t be pleased if we let his spinach gnocchi get cold.”
The guests sat on embroidered high-backed chairs and waiters served green asparagus soup topped with sour cream. There were platters of milk-fed lamb and risotto with chanterelle mushrooms. Isabel ate breast of duckling with black currants and thought she had never tasted anything so delicious.
“It’s proper etiquette for the groom to make a toast at the engagement dinner,” Alec said when the main courses had been replaced by sponge cake and chocolate tarts and slices of Emmental cheese. Demitasses held Turkish coffee, and there were silver bowls of licorice ice cream.
“The last time I spoke at a dinner party, I embarrassed everyone by thanking an imaginary dog. I swore I’d never put myself in the same position, but then I met Isabel. Somehow it’s not as frightening to stand up here tonight.” He glanced at Claudia. “Though I might still be afraid of a few things, like parasailing on a Spanish island. I don’t want to leave the people I love a moment too soon.
“Many of you know Isabel, but those who don’t are in for a treat. She’s the most beautiful and genuine woman I ever met and I can’t believe she said yes.” He paused. “Now I’m going to do the intelligent thing and turn the evening over to my fiancée. She can express our gratitude better than I can.”
Isabel stood up and brushed a tear from her eye. She glanced at the candles flickering in the gold candelabra and took a deep breath.
“A short time ago I sat in my mother’s kitchen and said I thought I’d never find the man to marry. She replied this wasn’t the nineteenth century and I’m not Jane Austen. You only get married if you discover the person you can’t live without.” She looked at Alec. “When I met Alec, I finally understood what she meant. He’s warm and kind and I’m the luckiest girl in the world.” She paused. “We can’t thank you enough for coming. Being happy is wonderful, but sharing your happiness with the people you love is the best thing in life.” She fiddled with her earrings. “And I have to thank Gus. He may be imaginary, but he’s brought joy and hope to children all over the world.” Her face broke into a smile. “I can’t wait to read his next adventure.”
Alec kissed her and everyone clapped. Isabel heard a clock chime midnight and inhaled the scent of French perfume and dark chocolate. She gazed out the window at a light snow falling on the Place de la Concorde and wondered how anyone could be so happy. She kissed him back and knew she was exactly where she belonged.