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Fools that they were, Jasper and Horace managed to buy every Dalmatian puppy they could get their hands on. It took all the money I had. There wasn’t a single puppy left, not in all of London. They were all mine! They called the hotel from the pay phone in the village again as I was heading down to meet my mama in the hotel restaurant. I was ecstatic. One hundred and one Dalmatians! I would be able to make Mama the most marvelous coat imaginable. It would be like the day I gave her Papa’s money. I imagined her smile when she saw it. I imagined her telling me she loved me again. Come to think of it, with so many puppies I’d be able to make one for myself as well. Maybe even one day I could be a fur mogul. I would rule the fashion world! Mama loves fashion. She adores it more than anything. She would be so proud of me. I was proud of myself, too. What started out as a desire to make my mama something she would love turned into something bigger. Much bigger. Something magnificent. I couldn’t wait to share my news with my mama.
She would be so proud that I had finally found a way to distinguish myself.
My dinner with Mama was a disaster. Everything went terribly wrong. It was my fault, really. I should have waited until I had the coat made for her. Perhaps then she would have understood. But as it was, it all went terribly, terribly wrong.
We met at the Criterion, her favorite restaurant, for dinner. It was a place out of antiquity: lavish, beautiful, and everything my mother represented to me, with its gilded rooms and splendid chandeliers. It was so heavenly to be going to such a place again. To be surrounded by beauty and opulence, and not the squalor and decay of Hell Hall. My mother looked beautiful in her lovely gold-beaded dress, and she was covered in diamonds, around her neck, on her wrists, and on many of her fingers. She even had diamond hairpins arranged in her elaborate updo. She was sparkling. I was wearing my signature outfit: my slinky black dress, my jade jewelry, and of course my fur coat. She was already seated when I arrived. All eyes turned to me as I was escorted by the maître d’ to Mama’s table. She looked quite shocked at the sight of me, as did most everyone else in the room. I know I looked stunning that evening, but can’t a woman meet her mother for dinner without people ogling her? I mean, really! I know I was something of an it girl during my days with Jack, but this was really too much.
Finally, I sat down with Mama.
“Cruella! Are you quite well?” she asked.
“Yes, Mama, I am. You look lovely this evening.”
“Thank you, my dear. You look, well … interesting, to say the least.”
“I do hope you think so! I have such wonderful news to share with you. But let’s order before I share my news,” I said.
“Cruella, my dear, I’m not convinced you should be out,” she said, glancing around as the other guests stared and whispered.
“Oh, I’m used to people looking at me, Mama. Everywhere I go people are staring. Jack and I made quite the splash in the papers in our day.”
“Cruella, you are so thin and pale, my darling. You look like you haven’t slept in weeks. And your hair, it’s so … wild. You don’t look at all well. I think we’d better go.”
“No, Mama! I have to share my news with you,” I said. “We can’t go, not yet.”
“What’s your news then, darling?” she asked, her eyes shifting from me to the other diners still gawking at us. Well, I had had it. I wasn’t going to let those star chasers ruin my evening. They were making my mama uncomfortable. And I wasn’t going to stand for it any longer. I stood up, raising my hands and voice so everyone would pay attention. “Will you please divert your attention from me and focus on your own meals and conversations?” I said, while Mama protested.
“Cruella, do sit down! You’re making a scene.”
“No, Mama, they’re making a scene!” I said. “They’re all ruining our special evening! This is London for goodness’ sake! It’s not as if they’ve not seen a socialite before! They should behave themselves and try using just a modicum of decorum.” My mama was mortified.
“Cruella, stop this at once,” she said, raising her voice and gripping my arm tightly, forcing me to sit down. “Cruella, stop this! What did you expect, coming out looking the way you do? You look ghastly. I mean, really, Cruella. You’re still wearing that dress! It’s morbid! And look, it’s hanging off of you. You look a fright, like a skeleton in rags. That is why everyone is looking at you. Now, please, let’s leave.”
“But Mama, I want to share my plan. You’re going to be so proud of me. I have the most splendid plan. You remember Perdita, that horrible dog Papa gave me? Well, Mama, she has had puppies! Puppies! Isn’t it a scream? And I remembered your suggestion about using her fur for a muffler, so … well, Mama, I’m going to do just that! I am going to have the most splendid fur coat made for you! Oh, you will love it, Mama! I know you will! And you will be so proud!”
My mother’s voice grew quiet. “Cruella, my dear. Stop this at once. I won’t hear another word.”
“But Mama!” I said, standing up. “I know, I know! I ruined the surprise! I should have waited until the coat was finished. But I swear you will love it. I know you will be so proud of me!” I must have raised my voice more than I realized, because everyone in the room looked mesmerized by me. Even the staff were rushing over to listen to my declaration. Then something shifted in my mama. She seemed to realize how wonderful my idea really was. She spoke to me in the calmest and sweetest voice.
“Yes, Cruella, dear. That is a dazzling idea. I am very proud of you, but we must leave. You’re far too famous to be out in public. We’re causing something of a stir, and I don’t want the local rags to get their hands on your idea before you’re able to execute it.” She looked around the room nervously. Just then a tall man came up with our coats, and he ushered us out of the restaurant and onto the street.
“Your car will be here shortly, Lady De Vil,” he said.
“Please arrange a cab for my daughter,” she said.
“But Mama, I thought I would go back with you to the hotel. Besides, I have my car, I can follow you there.”
“No, my dear. I don’t think you should be driving. Please, let me get you into a cab, and I will arrange to have someone bring your car around to Hell Hall, I mean, De Vil Hall in the morning.”
“What was that, Mama?”
“Nothing, dear,” she said. But I knew she must have heard the rumors about my estate, what they were calling it. “Do as Mama says, and get yourself straight home and into bed. I will pay for the cab. And Cruella, stay at home and rest, won’t you, dear? Don’t go out. Stay put. I will send someone around in a day or two to check on you.”
“Mama, I am fine. Please don’t worry.”
“Cruella, do as I say! Now, I have to go. Don’t disobey me,” she said, blowing me a kiss and getting into her car.
I think she misread my excitement for something else. Something else entirely. And I wasn’t sure she understood my plans. She
