[MaC] And so it begins ... Nola

[Mel Mason]

In Flat No.10, Miss Nola Diamond (nie Gladys Scroggs) was also putting the 
finishing touches to her appearance.  Too pale ... perhaps a touch of rouge? 
No, horrible - it made her look like some painted floozy.  She rubbed at her 
cheeks, and the effort of removing the rouge gave her the colour she 
desired.

Why did she have to go to this ghastly cocktail party?  Because Monty was 
giving it, of course, and he would expect her to be there, like some painted 
trophy he could wear and flaunt.

No, no, that was silly.  How could he flaunt her when that meek little wife 
of his would be there?  Even Monty would have to show some discretion with 
Esme present ...

She stood up and adjusted her dress.  Just slightly off the shoulders would 
be best, the heavy silk taffeta gleaming in the light.  The dark green 
showed off her dark auburn hair to perfection, he had said.  Dark green was 
her colour ...

But she had promised herself that she wouldn't think about him.  No, that 
was over, and her future was her career, and Monty Fitzroy, no matter how 
crude and grasping he was.  Because Monty was going to make her a star, and 
with stardom came all the money she could possibly want, or need.

But perhaps, before she went upstairs to the party, there was time, there 
was a need for a little something that would pick her up after the long day 
of rehearsals in the theatre, something that would make the evening flow 
smoothly and sweetly, with no hic-cups, no attacks of panic if she should 
see ...

Her eyes met her own eyes in the looking glass, and she marvelled that 
someone could feel such pain inside and yet seem so calm, so serene on the 
surface.  And as she gazed on her own lovely face, it seemed as though her 
hand crept to the upper drawer of her dressing table of its own volition, 
slid the drawer open ... and reached out the little washed leather rolled 
wallet inside ...