“If she is,” said Sophie, “she’ll be doing it because she wants to. She’s really cool about having all that money, she’s sort of casually generous but says she only spends what she wants to spend on what she wants to spend it on. She’s a bit of a magical person, actually. God knows how she ended up friends with Lulu.”

Lulu, half dozing under her towel, waved a dismissive hand at her sister. “She says she likes us all,” she murmured, “because we’re so noisy, she’s able to stay quiet under the din. She even likes Sophie, mysteriously.”

“Well, if she is paying for some of this, it’s incredibly kind of her.” Emma frowned worriedly. “Maybe we should have asked her along, too. Damn, I didn’t think of that.”

“I did,” said Lulu. “And I knew you’d think of it too late. But she says she has plans with Javier. Which don’t involve hanging around with other women, if you get my drift.”

“They’re really happy, those two, aren’t they?” said Sophie. “I wonder what it’s like, to be someone as quiet as Charlie having a relationship with someone as quiet as Javier.”

“Well, that’s something you won’t know about,” said Emma. “Your boyfriends are as noisy as you. I think quiet men are nice. Matthew’s quiet, and I like it. It’s sort of restful.”

“It’s lucky you like it, then,” said Sophie. “Considering that in exactly three weeks’ time you’ll be walking past everyone you know to marry him.” She stretched herself, proudly. “And I shall be being the ultimate bridesmaid.”

“Watch it.” Stirred, Lulu opened an eye. “I’m the chief bridesmaid, and don’t forget it.”

“And that’s the point,” said Sophie. “The bride takes center stage, and the chief bridesmaid’s busy handing tissues and fixing bouquets and such. The smart money’s on being the junior bridesmaid, because all you have to do is skip around enjoying yourself and spreading an atmosphere of celebration, which I’m actually rather good at.”

“You’re certainly good at enjoying yourself,” agreed Lulu before closing her eyes again.

“I think it’s going to be lovely,” said Emma. “It’s going to be lovely, and it’s going to look lovely, too. The bridesmaid dresses are beautiful, Sophie, I can’t thank you enough. And I think that when we’re all scrubbed up, we’re not a bad-looking threesome, are we?” She sat up and squinted in the mirror on the wall at their shared reflection. “We’re quite an interesting group, actually,” she observed. “Like enough that you can tell we’re sisters, but different enough that it’s not just the same old face all over again. I think we’ll look really good in the photographs. I know it’s shallow, but it is nice to have nice photographs.”

“I think we’ll look gorgeous in the photographs,” said Sophie. “Radiant. Exquisite.”

“It’s all coming together beautifully,” said Emma. She closed her eyes and stretched her arms dreamily. “The first wedding. I can’t believe how beautiful it’s all going to be. “Suddenly remembering, she groaned. “At least, it will be beautiful if we all manage to survive the dinner the night before.”