“Quite right. I’ve taken to digressing, haven’t I?”
Cornelia sat back, crossed her arms over her chest, and began a tactic he’d seen her use often throughout the years, a tactic he and his sisters affectionately referred to aswaiting them out.
Drawing in a breath, he crossedhisarms overhischest, then made the instant decision now was not the time to attempt to beat his mother at her own game.
“Besides making the acquaintance of Permilia Griswold, who is a member of society, although was regulated to the wallflower section, Edwina also became known to a delightful young lady, another wallflower no less, and because of that introduction—”
Cornelia sucked in a sharp breath, stopping Harrison midsentence. “You never refer to ladies you know as delightful. Could it be possible that you’ve been purposefully withholding information about this delightful young lady because you’ve developed an interest in her, and yet don’t want me to interfere in your courtship?”
“I don’t have time to court any lady, Mother, as you very well know. Our business is booming these days, and because of that, I need to give it my full attention. From what I understand, courting a lady takes effort and flowers and ... well, I could go on and on about the courting rituals I’ve read about in ... well, never mind about that. Suffice it to say that now is not the time for me to pursue any lady, but do know that I certainly will seek out your counsel when the time is appropriate for me to set my attention to matters of courting.”
“Matters of the heart, dear, rarely wait for an appropriate time to strike.”
“Duly noted, but—”
Interrupting whatever he’d been about to say with a wave of her hand, Cornelia tilted her head. “What courtship books have you been perusing?”
“I have no idea how we’ve become so distracted from the subject of Edwina, but returning to my darling yet oh-so-troublesome sister, she’s making arrangements even as we speak to travel to Newport and become introduced to society by a society matron, Mrs. Davenport.”
Instead of the outrage he was expecting that statement to elicit, even though he knew he should be slightly embarrassed about tossing his sister under the carriage wheels for the sheer purpose of distracting his mother, Cornelia turned her head to the window, taking a long moment to study the people on the sidewalk before she turned back to him. “You haven’t been reading your sisters’ novels again, have you?”
“You know about my deepest and darkest reading secret?”
The corners of Cornelia’s lips twitched. “Of course. I’m your mother. And as your mother, I know exactly why you decided to read stories with a strong romantic thread to them. You’re the only male in the family, except for your father, and because you’ve been surrounded by females your entire life, reading novels that were penned by the likes of Jane Austen, Emily and Charlotte Brontë, and even Mary Shelley, was a brilliant way for you to get a small understanding of how the feminine mind works.”
“I think you may be affording me far too much credit, Mother.”
Cornelia shook her head. “You’re less obtuse about women than what you present to the world, darling, even if you’ve yet to understand that.”
“I think you may have just insulted me.”
“I have done no such thing, although one could hardly blame you for adopting an obtuse attitude. In all honesty, I’ve always believed you’ve done so as a means of self-preservation, a way to survive to adulthood, if you will, while surrounded by so much femininity.”
Harrison smiled. “I used to believe it was a normal occurrence for rooms to have legs hanging from the rafters.”
Cornelia returned the smile. “Your sisters have always been less than selective about where they hang their stockings, especially when we’re traveling at sea. But those types of experiences have allowed you to witness more of the feminine world than most gentlemen of the day, which will eventually serve you well if you’re blessed to have daughters of your own.” Her smile suddenly faded. “But speaking of daughters, I’m suddenly returned to the idea that one of mine is running amok, and ... forgive me, but you didn’t mention something about a Mrs. Davenport earlier, did you?”
“I did. She’s the society matron who has enthusiastically agreed to sponsor Edwina into society, and the last I heard, she’s invited Edwina to spend the summer season with her in Newport.”
Cornelia gripped the arms of the chair. “May I dare hope that Davenport is a common name amongst the New York society set?”
“Why would you dare hope something like that?”
Cornelia released a sigh. “I’ve somehow managed to become so distracted with all the talk of ladies, your sisters, and novels that I’ve yet to explain the true reason for seeking you out at the office.”
With that, she rose to her feet and strode across the office, picking up a bag she’d abandoned by the door. She rifled through it, then pulled out what appeared to be a lady’s reticule, one that looked as if it was meant to be used at formal events. Holding it up to Harrison, she arched a brow.
“Does this look familiar to you?”
The back of Harrison’s neck began to tingle. “I can’t say it does.”
Cornelia opened the reticule and pulled out a strand of pearls. “Do these look familiar to you?”
“I’m sorry, but all pearls look the same to me.”
Heaving a breath, Cornelia reached into the reticule again and pulled out a locket. “What about this?”
The tingling increased. “Is that Margaret’s locket?”
