And, in practice, being George’s assistant wasn’t very demanding. I held lenses, passed her the occasional glass of champagne, watched and listened.
She introduced me to nearly everyone—some of them were, in fact, viscounts—but nobody was awful and I did my best to be charming. I just wished it’d been for Matthew. That he could have stood at my side and been proud to be with me.
Sometimes George set up particular shots, moving people into position with terrifying efficiency, keeping up a constant flow of instructions, praise, and promises: heads together please, turn this way, give me a smile, you’re gorgeous, oh yes, show me those eyes, this is going to be perfect…But mainly she waited, patient as a cat in the moonlight, or prowled the edges of the room, camera in hand.
“What do you l
