Celine nodded, feeling something warm expand in her chest at the proud look on his face, but it was Bastien who said, “You haven’t seen anything yet, brother. Wait until we get to Maison Baudelaire.”
Chapter 34
The Final Round
The chaos inside the House only amplified when Celine and Bastien arrived. Practically glued to their cubicles, the two other remaining contestants were arranging their collections on clothing racks. Gabriel’s busy feet flitted about the designing hall as he shouted commands which mostly went unheard.
Celine took a deep lungful of that distinct fabric smell, now mixed with the frizzy excitement in the air, and smiled to herself. More than forty people were walking, talking, and arguing, creating a perfect pandemonium where everything could get lost in a heartbeat and equally found just as quickly.
“We will wait in the other hall,” Anaïs said over the noise, touching Celine’s shoulder. “Come find us before the show, okay? I want to wish you luck.”
Jacques managed a reassuring nod, following behind Anaïs.
Celine and Bastien headed towards their cubicle. Two racks with five hangers each were waiting for her designs. Celine started rearranging them slowly, careful not to disturb the ornaments or pull at any threads.
“Mademoiselle LeBeau, Monsieur Reneau, I was afraid you weren’t going to show up.”
They spun as one, greeting Monsieur Baudelaire with a synchronised, “We wouldn’t think of it.”
He regarded Bastien with the hint of a smile, then turned to Celine. “The dresses look perfect, Mademoiselle LeBeau.”Handing her the slip with the numbered directions, he tapped on the last. “Choose your favourite to close with. The rest will go out according to the paper. And here’s something else.”
Reaching for a clothing rack behind him, he unhooked a lovely lilac dress with golden details accenting the corset and hem, and held it out to her.
Celine looked up, puzzled. “Who’s this for?”
“You, of course. A small gift, for my last three contestants,” he said, pointing at Franz and Elise wearing custom made outfits as well. “Make haste now.”
With that, he left to find Gabriel and terrorise him concerning the rest of the models.
Celine blinked a few times, reeling in the fact that Claude Baudelaire himself had made a dress specifically for her, then recovered fast when Bastien took the slip of directions from her fingers. “I’ll help the models into their dresses. You go and get ready.”
“Excuse me?” Celine glanced at the ten male models Monsieur Baudelaire had provided. All of them beautiful. All of them looking like they had stepped out of a Pre-Raphaelite painting. She frowned at Bastien.
“Try not to short-circuit now, baby vamp. I’ll keep it professional.”
Celine grumbled under her breath, but she took the dress Claude had designed for her, and skirted the cubicle to slip into her new attire. Once done, she set to search for the other contestants. Franz’s station loomed in sight first.
Celine approached, heedlessly inspecting his designs. The one he had stolen from her had apparently undergone serious changes. “What happened?” she asked, tone biting. “Did you suddenly grow a conscience?”
Franz didn’t lift his head from the button he was resewing. “Does it matter?”
Celine supposed it didn’t. “I simply wanted to wish you good luck. We should part with a good word, no?”
Franz continued with his work, ignoring her.
Very well. I tried.
Just as she was heading for Elise’s station, Celine heard a faint “Good luck” from him. With a small, satisfied smile, she paused in front of the next cubicle. Elana was sitting on the desk, long legs dangling back and forth as she peeled a tangerine. Elise, like Franz, was busy helping her models into their gowns.
But Elana looked up; her eyes glinting. “Oh, Celine!”
“I came to say good luck,” Celine said. “Your sister…”
“I’ll let her know.” Elana winked, a friendly grin lighting up her entire face. “Good luck to you, too.”
“M-merci!” she returned, her voice wavering. She was unsure whether Bastien had talked to Elana beforehand or not. Regardless, Celine wanted to make sure, so she continued to hover by the station, fidgeting with the watch at her wrist.. “About Bastien…”
“Oh, that ended weeks ago.” Elana munched down on a slice of tangerine. “He was too in love with you, anyway.”
