With that, Edwina returned to the business of getting Gertrude dressed, proclaiming her ready to go within a remarkably short period of time.
Because Gertrude felt quite like a stuffed sausage and knew she might have a tough time of it rising from a chair if she took a seat, she remained standing as Edwina threw herself into the process of dressing Temperance.
Fluffing up the skirt of the gown she’d pulled over Temperance’s head, Edwina stepped back and nodded. “There. Perfection. Now the two of you will blend in seamlessly with the crowd at the Manhattan Beach Hotel.”
“We’re going to the Manhattan Beach Hotel?” Gertrude asked.
“YouandTemperanceare going to the Manhattan Beach Hotel,” Edwina corrected. “I have not been invited.”
Gertrude wrinkled her nose. “I’m certain you must be mistaken about not being invited.”
“I’m certain I’m not. Harrison neglected to extend an invitation to me or my sisters.”
“Then allow me to do so now, Edwina.” Gertrude held up her hand when Edwina immediately began protesting. “As one of Permilia’s closest friends, I can assure you that she certainly wouldn’t mind you joining us, nor would Mr. Asher Rutherford mind for that matter. In all honesty, I’m sure Harrison simply assumed you and your sisters realized you were expected to attend the event at the hotel, but being a gentleman, he forgot to mention it.”
Edwina shook her head. “He didn’t include us because he knows my mother would be most put out with him if he did. My sisters, Adelaide and Margaret, are not ladies who care for balls, dinners, or dressing in glamorous fashions, so they are not put out in the least by the idea that they’ve not been invited. I, on the other hand, would love nothing more than to be given an opportunity to mingle with society members, a notion my mother finds appalling. That is exactly why I know for a fact she’s made Harrison promise to keep a watchful eye on me while she’s away.”
“Why is your mother so against society events?” Gertrude asked.
“She abhors society and the pretense she feels goes hand in hand with it.” Edwina heaved a long-suffering sigh before she, surprisingly enough, grinned. “But since you’ve been so gracious as to extend me an invitation, it would be churlish of me to refuse, so I’ll be delighted to join you at the Manhattan Beach Hotel.”
Gertrude smiled. “Wonderful, but aren’t you worried that accepting my invitation will put you at odds with your brother?”
Edwina’s grin widened. “Harrison is not a man who is comfortable disappointing ladies. He’s not immune to pouting, or a few sniffles here and there, which I admit, I’ve put to good use on numerous occasions throughout my life. He’ll not be put out with me at all if I summon up a few tears. Quite honestly, I think he’s been coming around to the belief that while my sisters are content to immerse themselves in the family business, I have another life to lead, one that won’t see me building ships year after year.”
Temperance paused in the act of pulling a lovely silk glove up her arm that she’d retrieved from Edwina’s satchel. “You know how to build ships?”
“I know everything about shipping, although I’m not nearly as mad about the industry as the rest of my family.” She nodded to Gertrude. “A word of advice about that, though. If you truly want to win my family over, do at least pretend an interest in the business. That will help you pave the way into their hearts.”
“You and I are really going to have to have a little chat about the delusion you seem to be under regarding my relationship with your brother.”
Edwina completely ignored that statement. “You’ll also endear yourself to my mother if you mention how much you adore children. My mother is longing for a grandchild, so do be certain to bring children into the conversation as often as you can once Harrison brings you around to meet her.”
“I don’t believe Harrison has any plans to bring me around to meet your mother,” Gertrude said slowly.
“Well of course he doesn’t have immediate plans to do that since my mother isn’t currently in New York.”
Gertrude fought a grin. “Did you ever think that perhaps your mother has taken to hinting about having grandchildren because she’d like to see you or your two sisters wed in the near future?”
Edwina waved that aside. “Margaret has vowed never to wed. And as for me, I’m all for finding a nice gentleman, but one doesn’t find nice gentlemen down on the docks, which is why I’d like to join society.”
“What about Adelaide?”
“She’s determined to spend her life as the captain of a ship, so I don’t believe she’ll be getting married anytime soon, unless she meets a pirate.” Edwina smiled. “Adelaide has always been keen on pirates.”
Temperance laughed and shook her head. “That would certainly draw your mother’s attention away from you wanting to enter society if your sister showed up with a pirate on her arm.”
“Mother likes pirates, especially since my father began his career as one, clear back in the day, although he was more of a privateer than pirate.”
“What an interesting lady your mother seems to be,” Gertrude began. “But I’m afraid that after she discovers I invited you to the Manhattan Beach Hotel, she’ll not be keen to make my acquaintance.”
“Her desire for a grandbaby will more than appease her annoyance with you in the end.”
Gertrude drew in a breath and tried again. “I’m not certain you’re aware of this, but your brother has recently moved to the top of a very elite list—one that is titledMost Eligible Gentlemen in New York. I’m confident Harrison will be able to be incredibly discerning when it comes to choosing a future bride. That right there will allow your mother to persuade him to choose a woman whom she doesn’t find annoying.”
Edwina, instead of looking contrite, smiled rather knowingly. “My brother has never been one to single out a lady before, but he certainly has taken to singling you out and bringing you into conversations often, although...” Her smile faded. “Since you are associated with Mrs. Davenport, and that lovely lady is currently at odds with my sister, what with all the yelling they were doing, we might have a bit of difficulty convincing Margaret to embrace the idea of you now.”
“Which isn’t as concerning as you believe because your brother has never given me cause to believe he wants to further our association past the friendship stage,” Gertrude began, pretending she didn’t see Edwina roll her eyes. “However, returning to the subject of Mrs. Davenport, now that Temperance and I are suitably dressed, and before we leave this library, perhaps it would be for the best if you could explain in a little more detail exactly what she was arguing about with your sister.”
