Mr. Vandemeer’s eyes go electric. “I’ll buy it.”
Alice’s head whips to him in surprise.
“The necklace,” he barrels on. “I’ll bet my boot that’s the first genuine Württembergian emerald in New York City. Name your price. I’ll get it for you, Mimi darling.”
Harry’s mouth has opened as if ready to protest, as Mimi’s own eyes sharpen viciously on Cora.
“Sounds like a good plan to me, Daddy,” she says. “Seeing as you have dozens anddozensback at home, Miss Ritter.”
Alice turns to Olivia Vandemeer for her reaction—an objection, surely—but the woman sits as placidly still as an oil painting, either entirely uncaring or simply oblivious.
There may have been a moment when Alice thought her the more likable party within her family, trapped within these walls with these poisonous people through no fault of her own. That may well be the case, but her medicinally aided apathy is a poison all its own.
If Alice felt any qualms about ruining her along with the rest of them, they evaporate here and now.
“You cannot buy it,” Alice answers.
Mr. Vandemeer’s chest puffs up. “Now see here—”
“Because it will be our gift,” Alice continues. The table goes quiet. “You have been so kind to us, welcoming us tonight into the warmth of your friendship. It is more of a comfort than you could possibly know.”
“The bonds of friendship are powerful indeed,” Mrs. Ames pipes up. “Almost as powerful as the bonds of family.”
Dessert is served. Not a moment too soon.
It’s over coffee that Mr. Ogden turns his forceful attentions back to Alice. “You wear no jewels, I see.”
“It is different for the young, like dear Cora.” Alice sighs. “They need hope, while I am cursed to fret.”
“Not forever, surely,” Ogden breathes. “You deserve to be draped in emeralds and diamonds and silks and anything else you choose. I can imagine it. The pleasure it would bring you.”
Across the table, Alice sees a muscle in Mrs. Ogden’s jaw twitching, fury and humiliation swirling in her seething glare.
Alice forces herself to look away and meet Ogden’s eyes instead over the brim of her steaming coffee cup. “Perhaps one day you will see that, my friend. Now that change is on the horizon.”
He leans back, satisfied.
Alice glances about the table, sure now that she’ll see some sort of reaction from the others at this flagrant escalation of Ogden’s flirtation, but the Ameses and Vandemeers alike have turned their attention to their wine, continuing to chat with their neighbors as if nothing is amiss.
Almost like they’ve seen this exact scenario play out several times before and have grown entirely bored of the sight.
“Gentlemen,” Mr. Vandemeer crows at last. “Shall we retire to the study? I’ve just had a delivery of brand-new Cohibas, the first of their brand in the city, best out of Cuba. You’ve never tasted the like.”
Harry looks reluctant to leave Cora’s side. He bows to her before turning to take leave of the ladies, who are all now standing to follow Mrs. Vandemeer into the parlor.
Out in the hall, Alice feels a hand grip her wrist roughly, pulling her back from the gathering.
Cora glances back from beside Arabella. Alice shakes her head slightly:Go ahead.
She turns to see Mrs. Ogden still gripping her arm.
“I know what you’re doing,” the woman hisses, her shoulders drawing in like a witch in a fairy story. “You think you’ll get your claws into him, don’t you?”
“Into whom?” Alice widens her eyes in bewilderment.
“My husband. You... you...” Her mouth forms a circle. Daring herself to say the word: “Whore.”
Alice dips at the knees, looking Mrs. Ogden in the eye.
