and Nat’s looking after her while her parents are at the festival; her father’s on the jury.’
‘Of course Nat can come. He should be able to make a few contacts if nothing else. I’ll try to introduce him to as many people as I can,’ Anna said generously. ‘The other favour?’
‘My editor e-mailed me this morning. He’s heard a rumour that Johnny Depp is to star as Tonto in a remake of The Lone Ranger and says that if Johnny is in town I’m to get an interview with him. As if!’ Daisy shook her head.
‘But he’s definitely putting the pressure on for me to come up with something, so I was wondering if you’d thought any more about walking around Cannes with me and giving me the before and after picture?’ Daisy looked hopefully at Anna. ‘Tomorrow morning would be good for me.’
‘Oh Daisy, I really don’t know,’ Anna said sighing.
‘Any reason why I shouldn’t tag along?’ Leo asked unexpectedly. ‘I’d be interested in hearing your reminiscences first hand. Would you mind?’ he asked turning to Daisy.
‘No, I don’t mind,’ Daisy answered. ‘Especially if it would make Anna feel better about doing it?’ and she looked at Anna questioningly.
‘OK,’ Anna smiled. ‘I give in. Although I’m still not sure that I’m going to remember anything of importance – or even of interest. It was all so long ago.’
‘Great. Thanks Anna. Eleven o’clock outside the Palais des Festival tomorrow morning all right for you then? Enjoy the premiere tonight. Really hope the rain clears up for you.’
The weather forecast was right. The rain did stop and by the evening as Anna and Leo prepared for their appearance on the red carpet, it was dry, even if the breeze was on the chilly side.
Anna handed the diamond and sapphire necklace that had been delivered to the villa earlier that afternoon to Leo. ‘Could you do the catch, please? I’m terrified I won’t do it up properly and I’ll lose it. I dread to think how much it’s worth.’
‘It’s rather lovely isn’t it?’ Leo said as he carefully did up the clasp and double checked it. ‘The sapphires match your dress perfectly.’
‘Does my dress look all right?’ Anna asked anxiously. ‘I wasn’t sure when I bought it whether it was too fitted for me. And these sandals,’ she glanced down at the silver strappy shoes with their five-inch heels. ‘They’re not too high are they?’
‘Anna, Anna,’ Leo said as he turned her round to face him and gently kissed her. ‘You look beautiful tonight, my darling. Your dress, your hair, your shoes – everything is perfect. Now, relax and try to enjoy the evening.’
Standing in the circle of his arms, Anna smiled. ‘I’ll try. Having you here makes it very special. Have I told you how handsome you’re looking tonight?’
Leo shook his head. ‘We make such a perfect couple!’ he said laughing and delicately traced the outline of her face with his fingers before gently kissing her again.
As a brisk toot of a car horn sounded outside, Leo placed Anna’s white fake fur shrug around her shoulders, before picking up and handing her the small beaded clutch handbag she’d decided to use and taking her by the arm.
‘The red carpet awaits – let’s go.’
Sitting next to Leo as the limousine made its way towards the Palais des Festivals, Anna checked the contents of her bag: lipstick, comb, tissue and her locket. It was the first time for years that the gold locket wasn’t around her neck but the diamond and sapphire necklace had to take precedence tonight.
‘Relax and enjoy the evening,’ Leo whispered as the limousine came to a halt at the foot of the famous steps. A burly security man opened the car door and together Anna and Leo stepped onto the red carpet.
Nothing had prepared Anna for the noise and the exuberance of the large crowds lining the Croisette and along the front of the Palais. Four or five deep in places behind the barriers, she could see people standing
‘Of course Nat can come. He should be able to make a few contacts if nothing else. I’ll try to introduce him to as many people as I can,’ Anna said generously. ‘The other favour?’
‘My editor e-mailed me this morning. He’s heard a rumour that Johnny Depp is to star as Tonto in a remake of The Lone Ranger and says that if Johnny is in town I’m to get an interview with him. As if!’ Daisy shook her head.
‘But he’s definitely putting the pressure on for me to come up with something, so I was wondering if you’d thought any more about walking around Cannes with me and giving me the before and after picture?’ Daisy looked hopefully at Anna. ‘Tomorrow morning would be good for me.’
‘Oh Daisy, I really don’t know,’ Anna said sighing.
‘Any reason why I shouldn’t tag along?’ Leo asked unexpectedly. ‘I’d be interested in hearing your reminiscences first hand. Would you mind?’ he asked turning to Daisy.
‘No, I don’t mind,’ Daisy answered. ‘Especially if it would make Anna feel better about doing it?’ and she looked at Anna questioningly.
‘OK,’ Anna smiled. ‘I give in. Although I’m still not sure that I’m going to remember anything of importance – or even of interest. It was all so long ago.’
‘Great. Thanks Anna. Eleven o’clock outside the Palais des Festival tomorrow morning all right for you then? Enjoy the premiere tonight. Really hope the rain clears up for you.’
The weather forecast was right. The rain did stop and by the evening as Anna and Leo prepared for their appearance on the red carpet, it was dry, even if the breeze was on the chilly side.
Anna handed the diamond and sapphire necklace that had been delivered to the villa earlier that afternoon to Leo. ‘Could you do the catch, please? I’m terrified I won’t do it up properly and I’ll lose it. I dread to think how much it’s worth.’
‘It’s rather lovely isn’t it?’ Leo said as he carefully did up the clasp and double checked it. ‘The sapphires match your dress perfectly.’
‘Does my dress look all right?’ Anna asked anxiously. ‘I wasn’t sure when I bought it whether it was too fitted for me. And these sandals,’ she glanced down at the silver strappy shoes with their five-inch heels. ‘They’re not too high are they?’
‘Anna, Anna,’ Leo said as he turned her round to face him and gently kissed her. ‘You look beautiful tonight, my darling. Your dress, your hair, your shoes – everything is perfect. Now, relax and try to enjoy the evening.’
Standing in the circle of his arms, Anna smiled. ‘I’ll try. Having you here makes it very special. Have I told you how handsome you’re looking tonight?’
Leo shook his head. ‘We make such a perfect couple!’ he said laughing and delicately traced the outline of her face with his fingers before gently kissing her again.
As a brisk toot of a car horn sounded outside, Leo placed Anna’s white fake fur shrug around her shoulders, before picking up and handing her the small beaded clutch handbag she’d decided to use and taking her by the arm.
‘The red carpet awaits – let’s go.’
Sitting next to Leo as the limousine made its way towards the Palais des Festivals, Anna checked the contents of her bag: lipstick, comb, tissue and her locket. It was the first time for years that the gold locket wasn’t around her neck but the diamond and sapphire necklace had to take precedence tonight.
‘Relax and enjoy the evening,’ Leo whispered as the limousine came to a halt at the foot of the famous steps. A burly security man opened the car door and together Anna and Leo stepped onto the red carpet.
Nothing had prepared Anna for the noise and the exuberance of the large crowds lining the Croisette and along the front of the Palais. Four or five deep in places behind the barriers, she could see people standing
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