“Some of us have expensive taste in my family,” Earnest said, taking out a copy of the fair’s weekly program. He smoothed it out in front of him. “And some of us just like things that are beautiful.”
He winked at her.
She flushed, enjoying his attention as Theodore sat beside her in stony silence.
“What are you most interested in viewing this week?” he asked, moving the program between them so she could see it. They bent together. She could smell his cologne, cinnamon and anise. She loved the warm light of the candles filling the cavern, flickering off the stone walls. She loved the intimacy of this private space, dinner with fifty people while tens of thousands of others walked in hidden crowds around them.
She traced the canals on the map that ran to the Palace of Electricity. “I want to see something historic and meaningful.”
“And here I am just wanting to ride the observation wheel,” he said, laughing. She smiled. Earnest had none of the airs of his sister. He was friendly and engaging, with an easy smile.
As a bonus, Frannie was glaring at them from across the table. And the chance to annoy Frannie and Theodore all in one go was almost too delightful to pass up.
Theodore turned and opened the question to the rest of the table for discussion. “What are you most looking forward to this week?”
“The Palace of Lights ball,” Frannie said.
“The Pike,” Harriet said immediately. “And I love to scream my lungs out on roller coasters. But—it’s ridiculous—” She smiled a dazzling, self-deprecating smile. “These days I find I have to sing instead, so I don’t injure my voice.”
“Well, that’s it. I want to hear Harriet scream-sing,” Lillie declared. “And I want to eat fairy floss. And see acrobats. Theodore?”
Theodore swallowed. “I’d like to see the inventions,” he said stiffly. “Thomas Edison himself is supposed to be at the Palace of Electricity overseeing some of them.”
“Speaking of marvelous inventions,” Oliver said. “I’m determined to try that waffle wrapped around ice cream. A cone, they call it.”
“Hear! Hear!” Lillie said, raising her glass of Spanish cider. They cheered and as they ate paella and mussels, Earnest told Grace about his background growing up in St. Louis in the dynasty of the Allreds, who were known for their propensity to make money in lead, mercantile, and railroads. He’d wanted to go into aeronautics, but his parents had recently died, and he had inherited the family business instead.
“Oh. I’m sorry for your loss,” she said. Her eyes flicked to Frannie with a newfound sympathy. Grace’s parents were at home, patiently waiting for her to finish her St. Louis adventure and walkback through the door into their lives. Frannie would never have that experience again.
“Thank you,” he said. “I can tell that you mean that.” He gave her a small smile, then listened with interest as she told him about growing up in Kansas City and her father’s restaurant.
“His vision is to be the next Delmonico’s,” she said. He had even taken her there once, on a trip to New York with her mother. Her father knew the chef and they’d been given a tour after hours. She remembered the cartoon drawings sketched across the menus, the rich sweetness of the ice cream and berries the chef had served them in the gleaming kitchen. Earnest’s attention to her as she described it was flattering. She felt Theodore’s eyes drift toward her.
When they stood, she was glad to realize that they had barely interacted.
“Are you always this sullen at parties?” she asked, gathering the train of her dress in her hand as she got up.
“You talked enough for the both of us. Half the table, really,” he said.
She pulled on her gloves with a sharp, exaggerated precision. At least there had been no dancing tonight. Just intimate conversations over low-burning candles while flamenco guitars played in the background.
Perhaps too intimate. She noticed that Harriet and Oliver were bent toward each other, talking. Harriet was giggling at something he said and their faces drew nearer, sharing a confidence. Oliver was beaming, staring at Harriet with unmasked adoration.
Lillie was taking notice, too, glancing at them. Grace would have to tell Oliver to confess the truth soon or make a concerted effort to tone down his affections.
She didn’t see Aunt Clove approaching until she was practically on top of them.
“Aunt Clove!” Grace exclaimed, attempting to block her. But the look of adoration on Oliver’s face was unmistakable as he beamed at Harriet, and Clove’s own face had settled into an alarming frown.
She stared at the space between them with something nearing a scowl. Oliver paled.
And Lillie stood beside them, looking confused.
Grace was just trying to decide what to do next when Theodore stepped forward.
“Mrs. Carter,” he said, bowing formally to her. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“And you, Theodore,” she said, clearly still distracted. She began fanning herself in distress.
