Remember, as far as the world is concerned, she was Eve Maddon, bridal designer,’ she warned, whispering under her breath, ‘our enemies are not beyond us, even in here.’
‘Understood,’ I smiled and nodded.
I found a seat near the front of the packed-out Minster and noticed almost every seat taken and several hundred people also stood in the aisles, corridors and wings of the venue. Every shade of the rainbow splashed the congregation.
Camille chose my attire well (a violet skirt suit) and miraculously everything fitted perfectly. It felt as if what few creative people remained in the world all sat in that place, saying goodbye to the owner of one of the last bridal couture houses. The funeral guests’ whispers, rustling and breathing was deafening; the house of worship was that full. Even the sun had broken out, shining through the ancient stained-glass windows so that magnificent rainbows fell across Eve’s casket at the front.
A protestant minister oversaw the service and seemed overwhelmed to see so many in his church. No hymns were sung – but there was one lengthy reading from the bible about love: 1 Corinthians 13, vv1-13 .
A tear crept into the corner of my eye and I failed to hold it back. The words moved me greatly. I had never heard anything biblical recited in such impressive surroundings before and the acoustics inside seemed to reverberate and accentuate its meaning.
I sensed Eve was sending a message from beyond the grave. A sense of dread washed over me and I knew something terrible must have happened to Tom for Eve to have been separated from him. He was obviously a man of substance and decency and Eve would not have let him go easily.
When it came to the eulogy, Camille took to the pulpit with a typed bit of paper in her hands:
‘Friends of Eve… I hope that my words express what we’re all feeling today. Sad, but thankful. As you know, she didn’t have much family. Her only remaining relative is Seraphina, si tting at the front there, her great-niece.’
I sank in my seat. Thanks Camille .
‘D espite her lack of blood relatives, she always felt that the people who came through the doors of her shop became members of her family. Eve wasn’t married herself, but she loved the idea of marriage and provided many of her customers with sage advice. She would go the extra mile to get to know her customers personally and would know soon enough what kind of gown would suit a lady within minutes of meeting them.’
I noticed a woman sitting by my side, nodding in agreement with everything Camille said. The eulogy continued, ‘The only thing I feel sad about today is that I wish I’d known Eve longer. The past 20 years under her tutelage have been remarkable, but another 20 wouldn’t have gone amiss. Despite this, we should celebrate Eve’s long life. She was eternally happy, sometimes temperamental, but always of good humor!’
A few laughs were raised among th e congregation.
‘Many people who knew her as a young woman have passed, and one thing I’ve always wondered is, what was she like? I would love to have known her then. She was still so vibrant in later life, who knows what prowess she had back then as a younger woman? I imagine she began life fighting, as she certainly went out fighting, refusing to give in to old age until she ultimately had to.
‘She wasn’t someone who boasted about her abilities. She didn’t go to a renowned design school or study underneath one of the world’s greats. She was a self-taught oddity, someone who was born to be great, someone who had an eye for detail. She had an extraordinarily steady hand, a generous heart and a god-given way with a sewing machine. She knew exactly how important a woman’s wedding day was. She got it right every time. She touched so many people’s lives and that is what she called her life’s work. Working with her was like embarking on the greatest ride of your life, never wanting to get off. I only have one
‘Understood,’ I smiled and nodded.
I found a seat near the front of the packed-out Minster and noticed almost every seat taken and several hundred people also stood in the aisles, corridors and wings of the venue. Every shade of the rainbow splashed the congregation.
Camille chose my attire well (a violet skirt suit) and miraculously everything fitted perfectly. It felt as if what few creative people remained in the world all sat in that place, saying goodbye to the owner of one of the last bridal couture houses. The funeral guests’ whispers, rustling and breathing was deafening; the house of worship was that full. Even the sun had broken out, shining through the ancient stained-glass windows so that magnificent rainbows fell across Eve’s casket at the front.
A protestant minister oversaw the service and seemed overwhelmed to see so many in his church. No hymns were sung – but there was one lengthy reading from the bible about love: 1 Corinthians 13, vv1-13 .
A tear crept into the corner of my eye and I failed to hold it back. The words moved me greatly. I had never heard anything biblical recited in such impressive surroundings before and the acoustics inside seemed to reverberate and accentuate its meaning.
I sensed Eve was sending a message from beyond the grave. A sense of dread washed over me and I knew something terrible must have happened to Tom for Eve to have been separated from him. He was obviously a man of substance and decency and Eve would not have let him go easily.
When it came to the eulogy, Camille took to the pulpit with a typed bit of paper in her hands:
‘Friends of Eve… I hope that my words express what we’re all feeling today. Sad, but thankful. As you know, she didn’t have much family. Her only remaining relative is Seraphina, si tting at the front there, her great-niece.’
I sank in my seat. Thanks Camille .
‘D espite her lack of blood relatives, she always felt that the people who came through the doors of her shop became members of her family. Eve wasn’t married herself, but she loved the idea of marriage and provided many of her customers with sage advice. She would go the extra mile to get to know her customers personally and would know soon enough what kind of gown would suit a lady within minutes of meeting them.’
I noticed a woman sitting by my side, nodding in agreement with everything Camille said. The eulogy continued, ‘The only thing I feel sad about today is that I wish I’d known Eve longer. The past 20 years under her tutelage have been remarkable, but another 20 wouldn’t have gone amiss. Despite this, we should celebrate Eve’s long life. She was eternally happy, sometimes temperamental, but always of good humor!’
A few laughs were raised among th e congregation.
‘Many people who knew her as a young woman have passed, and one thing I’ve always wondered is, what was she like? I would love to have known her then. She was still so vibrant in later life, who knows what prowess she had back then as a younger woman? I imagine she began life fighting, as she certainly went out fighting, refusing to give in to old age until she ultimately had to.
‘She wasn’t someone who boasted about her abilities. She didn’t go to a renowned design school or study underneath one of the world’s greats. She was a self-taught oddity, someone who was born to be great, someone who had an eye for detail. She had an extraordinarily steady hand, a generous heart and a god-given way with a sewing machine. She knew exactly how important a woman’s wedding day was. She got it right every time. She touched so many people’s lives and that is what she called her life’s work. Working with her was like embarking on the greatest ride of your life, never wanting to get off. I only have one
Similar Books
