Chapter 36

I close my notebook and go to take my leave. I’m grateful that Estrella’s been able to answer my questions over the last few days. The biography is slowly taking shape. I haven’t been this excited about a project for a long time. It’s partly Estrella’s indomitable spirit and her amazing story, but a lot of it is the involvement of Constantin and Florencio. Their help has been invaluable, not only with translating the diaries and press cuttings, but also with making suggestions or listening to my endless talks about it. On top of that, they look after me, and Florencio makes sure we’re all fed. To me, it would be a chore, but cooking seems to be his second favourite activity after dancing. And Constantin makes sure I rest, which, when I get focused on a project, can be something I don’t do enough of. But they bear my single-mindedness with good humour and so far haven’t accused me of being boring, even though I’m sure I am. How much they care settles in me, a warmth that seeps into my bones, laying claim to my soul .

I bid Estrella goodbye, and she promises to come down to dinner later. I knew Florencio was cooking something special when he shooed me out of the kitchen earlier.

Outside her suite, Senor Bernat is waiting to see Estrella. He’s accompanied by two gentlemen I’ve never seen before. I ask after Senora Bernat and receive his thanks for enquiring.

“I hope we can see her again soon,” I say, and ask him to pass on my best wishes to her before leaving them to their official business and going back to my work in the Hollywood room.

After dinner, instead of us going to the ballroom as usual, Estrella invites us to her suite.

“I want some help with my collection,” was all she would tell us, and we exchanged puzzled looks as we trailed after her. She led us through her sitting room to a slightly smaller room. We all stop and stare in surprise when we realise it’s a dressing room. There are rows of hangers lining three of the walls, with the other wall stacked with boxes of all shapes and sizes. Hat boxes and shoe boxes sit amid a range of others. All of them look very expensive.

“Welcome to my collection,” Estrella says and arranges herself on a chair in the middle of the room.

Most of the clothes on hangers are encased in protective covers, some of them transparent. A colour catches my eye, it’s a dusky rose pink.

“Can I?” I ask with my hand on the covering.

“Of course,” Estrella replies. “I want you to look at them.”

Florencio needs no more encouragement and starts investigating .

I withdraw it and undo the zip, uncovering the dress I recognise from one of the pictures in the Hollywood room. The bodice is decorated with gems in a floral pattern, and the skirt and sleeves are full, overlaid with chiffon.

“Was this the dress you wore in the picture with Gene Kelly?” I ask.

“Yes, it is.” She smiles wistfully, almost as if she’s remembering the occasion. “The shoes I wore are here somewhere, too.” She gestures to the dozens of shoe boxes stacked up.

Meanwhile Florencio is pulling out garment bags and opening them, exclaiming at each new piece he discovers. I do a full three-sixty trying to take it all in.

“Have you kept everything?” I ask.

“Most of them. The trouble with society is sometimes you can’t be seen in the same outfit more than once. These days, designers lend stars their dresses, but back then we were given them, and some I purchased. Some were bought by admirers. But yes, I still have most of them.”

I let out a low whistle. “This must be worth a fortune.” I don’t think I could hazard a guess as to how much, but a lot.

“There are a couple of pieces, along with all my jewellery, at the bank.”

“There’s jewellery as well?” Florencio squeals and affects a mock faint before spinning off to return to his exploring.

Constantin sinks into a chair next to Estrella.

I start investigating some of the boxes. There are hats of all shapes and sizes. Gorgeous shoes from some of the most famous designers. I pull out a pair and hold them in my hands. The irony of the situation is not lost on me, that Loretta would give her right arm to hold a pair of vintage Manolo Blahniks and it’s because of her that I am. An idea starts forming, one I couldn’t have conceived if I hadn’t seen this collection. Kneeling amid the boxes, I pull out a few more pairs of shoes and hats.

“Delice, if you could see me now,” I hear Florencio utter as he uncovers another new treasure. I don’t know who he’s referring to, someone back in Buenos Aires I guess. He finds a cache of feather boas and winds one round each of us. He wraps one round my neck, but I pay him no heed. Now that the idea has taken hold, I can’t let it go. I feel the familiar spark when I know something has potential.

“Can I use these for your biography?” I ask.

“What do you mean?” Estrella fixes me with her sharp gaze.

“I have the basic structure of the biography planned, but nothing to tie it all together. But these have significance.” I gesture at the shoes and clothes. “So maybe I could tell your story through them. Pick out those which have the most importance or were worn at the most prodigious events and let them lead us into the period of your life that they represent.”

She regards me for a long minute and a sinking feeling takes hold. I thought it was a good idea—I’m sure it is—but now, under her intense stare, I start having doubts. My throat goes dry, and I try to swallow. After what feels like an hour, she nods and smiles.

“I love it. I’m sure you have some ideas about what to use, but I can pick out some that are significant to me if that would help.”

“Thank you and yes.” I breathe a sigh of relief. Excitement reforms along my veins with the affirmation that it is a good idea.

“But as for actually using them, you’ll have to ask Florencio.” Her voice silences us. Florencio whirls round from where he’s trying on a hat and stares at her. Constantin leans towards her slightly, his voice low .

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Young man, if I wanted advice from someone less than half my age, I’d ask for it.” She quips back. “I might not be able to break the laws of this country, but I can circumvent them the best I can.”

Constantin smiles, accepting his reproof with grace.

“What do you mean, ask me , Auntie?” Florencio asks, his voice unsteady.

Estrella turns in her chair to address him. “Because I’m giving my collection to you. Everything in this room and at the bank.”

Florencio’s eyes widen and he clasps a hand to his chest. “Nooo. Nooo. You can’t do that.”

“I can do whatever I want,” Estrella retorts. “And I choose to give it to you.”

Florencio looks like he’s about to pass out, so I go over to him. As I pass Estrella, I hear her whisper to Constantin. “I think I’ll leave telling him about the art until another time.”

I put my arms round him, and he hugs me like a lifeline.

“Congratulations,” I murmur to him, and he pulls me tighter. He eventually relaxes his hold, and I release him. He turns to his aunt.

“Thank you. But what am I supposed to do with it?”

“Donate it, sell it, keep it, wear it. I don’t care,” Estrella replies.

“I’m not really into drag,” Florencio bites back, which for a guy adorned in a feather boa, a fur coat he’s slung over his shoulders, and a large-brimmed hat, seems a funny thing to say and I let out a giggle.

Florencio looks down at himself and starts giggling too.

“I don’t know,” I say. “I think this would look excellent on you.” I brandish the dusky pink dress I’d found first, holding it up against him .

He draws his head back slightly and says with a hint of disgust, “ Carino , that is absolutely not my colour.”

He divests himself of the coat and hat and goes to kneel before his aunt.

“I can’t accept this, Auntie. It’s too much.”

“It’s my choice to make,” she says.

“But I’ve done nothing to deserve it.”

She places a frail hand against his cheek.

“You’ve brought me more entertainment and joy in the last few weeks than I’ve had in years.”

He covers her hand in his. “Thank you.”

“I’ve arranged for the items in the bank to be transferred into storage in your name. You will need to provide identification and sign some paperwork. Senor Bernat will be back in a few days with the documents.”

Florencio lets out a deep sigh and sits down, leaning his back against a stack of slim boxes. One of them dislodges and falls on him, the contents spilling out.

“Ow!” It’s more of a surprised exclamation than actual hurt. He looks down at a lap full of silk. He delicately holds up a camisole in pink silk.

“Um, Auntie?” he enquires.

“I said I had admirers.” She shrugs. “Many of them would send me lingerie.”

“Did you ever wear any of it?” His nose wrinkles slightly at the thought and he looks like he’s about to throw it away from him.

“Not that I would keep in here,” she cackles. “But it would be churlish to send it back, and it was too nice to throw away.”

She bids us goodnight and leaves us alone.

Florencio visibly relaxes slightly and starts taking down the boxes, opening them and looking inside.

“What are you going to do with all this?” I ask Florencio, sitting next to him and having a peek inside some of the boxes too.

“I have no idea. What am I supposed to do with it? Give it to a museum?”

“You could sell some of it,” Constantin says, and Florencio’s head snaps up.

“Would there be enough to set up on my own? Start my own business?” He laughs at the prospect.

“Easily, I’d say,” Constantin agrees.

Florencio holds up a lace bustier. “This is a genuine Dior. My friend Coco would kill for this.” With care, he packs it away again.

“What are they?” I ask, pointing to a few boxes he’s put aside.

“They’re for me,” he says with a slow smile.

“To wear?” I can’t keep the surprise from my voice and am immediately embarrassed. Of course, Florencio can wear whatever he likes, but women’s lingerie causes some sort of snag in my brain. Years of unconscious bias can’t be undone in a few short weeks. “Shit, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Not everyone likes jockstraps and tighty-whities, though I appreciate a guy in them as much as anyone. But to wear, I much prefer something like this.” He holds up a cami set in the richest dark red silk I’ve ever seen.

I hear a sharp intake of breath and look to see Constantin lick his lips, his eyes dark and swirling.

“See? Con approves.” Florencio flashes me a quick grin. “We should find something for you.”

“Me? No, I don’t think I?—”

“If you were both wearing those, I don’t think I’d be able to let you leave the room... ever.” Constantin’s voice is gravelly and my cock twitches, thickening slightly. How is him being turned on at the thought of me in silk so arousing to me? Surely that’s not possible. But a turned-on Constantin is a delicious thought.

“We’d better take these back to our rooms, then,” Florencio announces, standing, picking up the boxes, and adding another one to the pile. “I have something perfect for you,” he whispers in my ear, but looks at Constantin as he says it.

“Is that drool?” he says playfully to Constantin as he walks past him, causing Constantin to chuckle and roll his eyes.

We’re passing through the lobby back to our rooms on the other side of the house when there’s a knock at the door. Florencio frowns and hands me the boxes he’s carrying while he goes to answer it.

“Who can it be at this hour?”

With the feather boa still draped round his neck, he opens the door to an elegantly dressed but tired-looking woman with straight black hair.

“Hello, Florrie. Are you going to invite me in, then?”