“You don’t care to assume the title?” Asher asked.
Gilbert shook his head. “Because my mother returned to the States directly after my father died, I consider myself to be an American, although I can claim the honorary title of Lord Cavendish simply because of my birth.”
“Disclosing you’re the son of an earl might go far in securing Miss Clementine Flowerdew’s attention.” Harrison nodded Clementine’s way. “Especially since I know for a fact that society ladies, and ladies in general, do seem to enjoy the idea of spending time with an aristocratic—”
“I’m sorry, but did you say that young lady’s name is Miss Flowerdew?” Gilbert suddenly interrupted, even the mere idea of him interrupting a person taking Harrison so aback that he could only manage a nod in response.
“Flowerdew’s not a very common name I would have to think,” Gilbert said, more to himself than anyone else. “Which begs the question whether this Miss Flowerdew would know an old friend of mine—Miss Temperance Flowerdew.”
“Clementine and Temperance are distant cousins,” Asher said.
Gilbert’s eyes widened. “You’re familiar with Temperance?”
“She’s friends with Permilia, and she’s in attendance tonight.” Asher nodded to the other side of the ballroom. “If you’ll look over there, she’s currently engaged in a conversation with Miss Mabel Huxley and Miss Mabel’s sister, Miss Henrietta.”
“I must go pay my respects to her” was all Gilbert said before he turned and strode away without another word.
“That’s an interesting turn of events,” Asher said right as the sound of a violin rang out.
“It is indeed, but speaking of interesting events, the orchestra seems to be warming up, which means another interesting event is about to take place—the Ticklish Water Polka.”
“You don’t need to sound so enthusiastic about what could very well turn into my suffering a maiming from my less-than-proficient-polka-dancing fiancée.”
Grinning, Harrison took hold of Asher’s arm and steered him across the ballroom floor, ignoring that his friend was certainly dragging his feet.
Chapter
Twelve
Watching Asher trying to guide Permilia through the steps of the Ticklish Water Polka was, curiously enough, going far in diminishing the abysmal state of mind Gertrude had been in ever since Mrs. Davenport had clearly bested her by bringing out the tear. That single tear was directly responsible for why Gertrude would now be repairing to Newport for the summer.
It wasn’t that she had anything against Newport, if one forgot that it was teeming with society members, which meant it was also brimming with society events. Those events were certain to draw Mrs. Davenport’s attention—and not for strictly entertainment purposes. That right there was one of the reasons Gertrude was less than pleased with her employer.
She’d been promised a summer of rest, one she felt she deserved after dealing with Mrs. Davenport’s shenanigans all winter and spring, and yet that promise had been blithely cast aside.
Apparently, the treat of sponsoring a young lady into the social set was all it took for Mrs. Davenport to abandon her promises. Add in the notion that Edwina seemed genuinely interested in every word that sprang out of Mrs. Davenport’s mouth, and there was little hope left that Mrs. Davenport’s mind could be changed about their new plans since she clearly relished Edwina’s attention.
To add even more aggravation into the mix was the pesky notion that Mrs. Davenport was encouraging Edwina to address her as Hester—a courtesy Gertrude had never been extended in what now seemed to be far too many years working for the woman.
It was little wonder she was beyond annoyed with her employer, and that was without counting the troubling business of Mrs. Davenport becoming overly interested in a tiara worn by one of the guests at the Manhattan Beach Hotel. That guest had made the unfortunate choice of joining them on the veranda, wanting to share the beautiful sight of the moon casting its rays over the ocean. However, because the moonlight had also drawn attention to the sparkly tiara nestled in the lady’s hair, she’d attracted Mrs. Davenport’s interest, which was never a fortuitous event.
Gertrude had been forced to resort to brute strength to tow Mrs. Davenport off the veranda and away from temptation. However, because her employer was incredibly resourceful when she set her mind to it, Gertrude knew she was going to have to be extra vigilant in keeping track of Mrs. Davenport, especially with Pinkerton detectives roaming around the—
“I daresay Asher wasn’t expecting that move.”
Glancing to her left, Gertrude found Harrison standing next to her. He was grinning from ear to ear, and when she looked toward what had captured his attention, she discovered that while she’d been distracted with unpleasant thoughts, mayhem had come to visit the ballroom in the form of Permilia.
Somehow, and Gertrude couldn’t say exactly how, her friend appeared to have steered, or perhaps knocked, poor Asher directly into the orchestra stand. That unexpected state of affairs seemed to have caused the members of that orchestra to scatter every which way, some of them even tumbling out of their chairs and sprawling on the floor in an obvious attempt to avoid the chaos.
Turning to Harrison, Gertrude wrinkled her nose. “I remember Permilia mentioning she once injured a gentleman while attempting this polka. On my word, who would have ever thought she’d surpass that record by not only abusing her partner, but taking out half an orchestra as well?”
Harrison’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “And here I thought I was being so diligent by cautioning Mr. Gilbert Cavendish, my partner with arranging the festivities tonight, against having the orchestra play a quadrille because of the trouble Permilia experienced trying to perform the Go-As-You-Please Quadrille during Alva Vanderbilt’s ball.”
Pulling her attention from Harrison’s delightful grin when she realized she was becoming somewhat mesmerized by his lips, Gertrude shook herself ever so slightly and nodded to where Permilia was now helping a violinist to his feet. “It’s fortunate Permilia approaches life with such a wonderful sense of humor. There aren’t many ladies who’d cause such mayhem and yet face it with a smile and a helping hand up.”
“Or be willing to throw themselves back into a dance, but that’s exactly what she seems about to do, because the orchestra members are picking up their instruments again.”
“That’s brave of them.”
