“My mother descended into a state of severe melancholy after my father, God rest his soul, lost all of his money due to a bad investment.”
“He lost all of his money?” Harrison repeated.
“He did, and while my mother was devastated to discover she’d been rendered a pauper, I think she was more upset by the gossip that swirled around town due to that status because—” Gertrude sucked in a small breath of much-needed air—“my father took the advice of a lady who was not my mother, andthatadvice is what led to his financial disaster.”
Harrison’s fingers tightened around her hand. “How did you learn about this lady and her bad advice?”
“She came to pay us a visit after my father suffered an apoplectic fit and died in this woman’s arms in a house of ... ill repute, and...” Gertrude’s feet refused to move another inch, which had her lurching to a stop. “I have no idea why I disclosed that to you especially since I’ve never told anyone that before, and ... goodness, but this doesn’t exactly seem like the perfect moment to have brought up my family’s most scandalous secrets.”
Harrison dipped his head closer to her. “You disclosed it because we’ve become good friends, Gertrude. And you disclosed it because it’s obviously been weighing heavily on you.” He smiled. “If you haven’t noticed, I have broad shoulders, so do know that you can use those shoulders whenever you need to relieve some of the weight you’ve been carrying.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and not caring to allow those tears to dribble down her cheeks, Gertrude blinked, and then blinked again, trying to hold them at bay. She was not, nor had she ever been, a lady prone to weeping, but at this very moment, while in the presence of a gentleman who was the kindest man she’d ever met, she found it difficult to keep her emotions in check.
“Forgive me, Gertrude, I did not mean to distress you,” Harrison all but whispered in her ear, the tickle of his breath against her neck sending shivers down her spine.
Straightening that spine, Gertrude drew in a ragged breath and forced a smile. “You’ve not distressed me, Harrison. I fear I’m simply unaccustomed to being offered a strong shoulder. However, since our dance is clearly over, and Permilia and Asher are even now accepting the applause of the crowd, let us go and join them, as well as congratulate Permilia for performing one of the most unusual versions of a waltz I’ve ever witnessed.”
For the briefest of moments, Harrison simply considered her, but then he nodded, took her arm, and began steering her in the direction of Permilia and Asher. Stopping directly in front of her friend, Gertrude soon found herself pulled into Permilia’s enthusiastic embrace.
“Wasn’t that delightful?” Permilia said, stepping back before beaming an affectionate smile Asher’s way. “Why, I imagine before too long, I’ll be known as one of the most accomplished dancers in the city, all due to the efforts of my charming soon-to-be husband.”
“Of course you will,” Asher returned as he beamed a smile right back at his soon-to-be wife. “Although I am going to suggest you have one of your designers create a softer shoe for you, my dear. The pointed toes on the delightful shoes you’re currently wearing have left a definite indentation on my shins.”
Permilia laughed, but before she could respond to that telling remark, they were joined by a man Gertrude had yet to meet, one who was handsome in an unassuming way, and one who was accompanied by a smiling and laughing Temperance.
The very sight of Temperance laughing with the man took Gertrude so aback that she simply stood there for a moment, gawking, until she realized that Temperance had turned to her and was regarding her curiously.
“I say, Gertrude, are you quite all right? I don’t mean to bring attention to this, but you’re a rather unusual shade of pink, and...” Temperance removed her arm from the gentleman’s and stepped closer. “You’re wheezing.”
Since Temperance was not a lady Gertrude was accustomed to seeing on the arm of any gentleman, nor had she ever seen Temperance smiling in quite the way she was smiling now, she found herself at a loss for how to respond, because while she’d been gawking, she’d forgotten what Temperance had said. Thankfully, Harrison cleared his throat somewhat loudly, breaking through the state of muteness that had apparently overtaken her.
“Do forgive me, Temperance,” she finally got out of her mouth. “I fear the exertions from that waltz have left me feeling rather out of sorts, especially since my laces seem to have...” The rest of Gertrude’s words trailed away when she realized it was hardly appropriate to bring up the cause of her labored breathing in polite company.
“I say, Gilbert, have you made Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s acquaintance yet?” Harrison asked, smoothly inserting himself into the conversation, which sent what felt like butterflies rolling about her stomach.
She was not accustomed to anyone intervening on her behalf, and that the intervention came from Harrison made it all the more delightful, although ... having butterflies in her stomach was a concerning turn of events, especially when the only reason for that...
“I have not,” Gilbert returned, presenting Gertrude with a bow. “Mr. Gilbert Cavendish at your service, Miss Cadwalader.” He leaned forward. “May I say it is delightful to make your acquaintance, especially since I’ve always been fond of ladies with a brave nature, and taking to the floor at the same time as our dear Permilia, well, you may call me impressed.”
“I’m never going to live down the small incident with the orchestra, am I?” Permilia asked, but before anyone could answer that question, she took hold of Asher’s arm, saying something about checking on the welfare of the violinist she’d knocked over as she tugged Asher away.
“Is it my imagination or are the orchestra members fleeing as if their very lives are in danger?” Temperance asked, which had everyone turning their attention to where the orchestra members were, indeed, nodding to Permilia even as they scrambled backward, clutching their instruments in front of them.
Gilbert smiled. “I’m certain they’re simply quitting their places because I told them dinner is soon to be served.” He nodded to Gertrude. “And forgive me for cutting our introduction short, but I’m currently being held accountable for the evening’s schedule by a most temperamental, and quite honestly, frightening chef. Because of that, Harrison and I need to get on with matters—the next matter on my list being Harrison giving what I’m certain will be a most sentimental speech regarding Asher and his lovely Permilia. Once Harrison is done giving what I do hope is a quick rendition of that speech, we’ll toast our friends in style with a selection of champagne I brought back from Paris and then sit down to dine.”
Gilbert turned to Temperance. “You’ll find no seating chart here this evening, a circumstance I take full responsibility for, although the reasoning behind that lapse is a result of having so little time to pull this evening together. That’s also why there will be limited dancing offered after the meal because the Manhattan Beach Hotel was unable to secure us enough staff members to host this event for more than a few hours.”
He drew in a breath and smiled. “Having said that, I wanted to make certain you’ll save a seat for me so that we may catch up further during dinner. I also hope you’ll afford me one of the three dances that are to be held after the meal is finished.”
Temperance’s cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. “Of course I’ll save you a seat, as well as dance with you.” She nodded toward where the orchestra had once been assembled but were now nowhere in sight. “You’d best hurry though, since it almost looks as if Permilia’s about to deliver a speech, and that’s not really how these things are done.”
“Too right you are,” Gilbert said, taking hold of Harrison’s arm and ushering him in the direction of Asher and Permilia.
“Save me a seat for dinner as well, will you, Gertrude?” Harrison called over his shoulder.
With her lips curving into a smile, Gertrude was just about to nod Harrison’s way when she happened to catch a glimpse of Clementine standing on the opposite side of the room from her. She was staring far too intently at Temperance with lips Gertrude could tell were pursed even over the distance that separated them. When Clementine then switched her attention to Gilbert and tilted her head, Gertrude narrowed her eyes.
“Harrison, a moment if you please,” she called, hurrying to catch up with him.
