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Her mother had been dismayed. ‘Oh, don’t try anything new before the wedding. Your long hair is so lovely.’
‘Chin-length is more fashionable, Fräulein,’ suggested the hairdresser, picking up Leila’s long tresses and eyeing them, scissors in hand.
‘Chin-length!’ said Hannah, alarmed. ‘Oh surely not.’
‘I think it’s a good idea,’ said Leila. ‘It will be easier to manage – it’s such a bore having to pin it up all the time. Besides, Mutti, I’m a modern woman now and I need a modern haircut. Chop it all off!’ she instructed.
Even Hannah agreed that the new bob looked good, framing Leila’s pretty face and emphasising her large dark eyes and neat bow mouth. Now dressed for her wedding, with the long silk veil held in place by a headpiece covered in seed pearls, she looked gamine, and yet sophisticated.
‘You look a bit like Clara Bow, the film actress,’ Hannah had to admit.
Leila smoothed down the long lace skirt of her dress, which finished mid-calf, revealing matching white lace shoes. ‘I love the dress, Mutti. Thank you so much.’
‘It’s such a shame you’ll probably never wear it again,’ said her mother. ‘Perhaps we could dye it after the wedding…’
‘Oh, Mutti…what a thing to say – today of all days.’
The ceremony was due to take place at the synagogue on Herzog-Max-Strasse. Leila had tried to persuade her mother that she and Viktor would prefer a non-religious ceremony, but once again Hannah won the argument, and insisted on following tradition.
‘What would your aunts and uncles say if you didn’t have a proper wedding?’
Outside, Leila and her parents climbed into a waiting Mercedes and headed for the synagogue. As they arrived, Leila could see Minki standing on the pavement, wearing a pale-blue chiffon dress, a sparkling tiara nestling in her blond hair. She rushed forward and helped Leila out of the car, holding the veil off the pavement. ‘You look beautiful, Leila,’ she whispered.
‘So do you,’ replied Leila, kissing her. ‘A vision in blue…’
In retrospect, Leila wondered how she had missed the telltale signs. Minki looked as she always did – exquisitely dressed, her hair gleaming – and yet…there was something about her that was not quite right. Her face was paler than usual, her eyes a little sunken.
After the wedding ceremony, the guests moved on to a smart hotel in the centre of Munich. In the ballroom, Leila and her new husband made their entrance – to rapturous applause. The guests were a mix of family and friends from the worlds of press and publishing. They dined on consommé, followed by trout with new potatoes, roast goose and a dessert of cake and ice cream.
Leila and Viktor led the dancing and soon the room was filled with unlikely couples. Uncles danced with secretaries, aunts with editors. It was a joyous occasion – just as it should have been. Minki, normally an enthusiastic dancer, refused all invitations to join in. Leila suspected that she might be self-conscious about her pregnancy. But when a particularly handsome young man asked her to dance, Minki finally relented. As he twirled her around the room, there was an audible gasp from the other guests, and shocked looks in her direction. Leila could see a dark red stain spreading across the back of Minki’s beautiful blue dress. She rushed across the ballroom, wrapped her arms round her friend’s shoulders and guided her out of the room. ‘Darling, come with me, quickly.’
‘Why?’ asked Minki.
‘You’re bleeding. Come.’
By the time they reached the ladies’ powder room, the blood was an unstoppable flow. It dribbled down Minki’s legs, staining her shoes. She sat down heavily on a small stool, the blood pooling at her feet, her blue dress crimson, her face white as a sheet.
Two ambulancemen soon arrived, and stretchered her downstairs to the hotel lobby. Leila watched from the top of the stairs, clutching her friend’s diamond tiara. Minki looked up and called out from the stretcher: ‘Remember to give it back to the countess for me. I promised I’d return it.’
Visiting Minki in hospital the following morning, Leila was relieved to find her friend sleeping peacefully. She sat by the bed for a while, watching her. Finally, Minki opened her eyes.
‘Hello darling,’ said Leila. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m not sure…’ whispered Minki. ‘Have I been asleep?’
‘Yes…it’s what you needed.’
Minki looked around her. ‘Where am I?’
‘Hospital. Don’t you remember?’
Minki touched her stomach. ‘The baby,’ she said flatly.
‘It’s gone, Minki…I’m sorry.’
‘I see…But why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?’
‘We’ve cancelled it.’
