Edwina gave an airy wave of a hand, her only response to Mrs. Davenport’s question.
Narrowing her eyes, Mrs. Davenport tapped a finger against her chin. “I don’t believe your mother is going to be very keen about this latest development.”
“My mother’s always been a bit of an odd duck. I imagine she’ll be far keener about me becoming a detective rather than spending my days at events she believes are frivolous—no offense.”
“None taken,” Mrs. Davenport returned. “And while you may be correct in that your mother might not balk about this new idea, I highly doubt Harrison is going to readily accept it.”
Edwina’s lips curved. “I’m not planning on telling Harrison, and by the time he figures out what I’m up to, it’ll be too late.”
Gertrude tilted her head. “I don’t believe Harrison is as oblivious as you seem to believe, especially when it concerns his sisters.”
“How very astute of you to realize that, Gertrude, but I’m hoping he’ll be so consumed with trying to make matters right with you, he’ll neglect to notice me for a while.”
Before Gertrude could argue with that, even though the thought of Harrison making amends with her sent her heart pitter-pattering, Miss Mabel popped her head into the dining room.
“Oh good, here you are, Gertrude, but ... where’s my sister?”
“Miss Henrietta took a carriage over to the Flowerdew residence. She wants Temperance to move out of her cousin’s house posthaste and get settled here before classes begin,” Gertrude said.
Miss Mabel stepped into the room and smiled. “It is lovely to see this old house filling up with delightful young ladies. I would have never imagined it would become a place of hope instead of the despair and secrets Henrietta and I endured for so long. However, enough about that maudlin time. I’ve just come from Rutherford & Company, having a small lull from managing the crowds in the tearoom, to deliver a message from Permilia.” She nodded to Gertrude. “Your friend would like to see you at the store at your earliest convenience, which I believe means within the next hour.”
“Did she say why she needs to see me?”
For a second, Miss Mabel looked somewhat shifty, but then she was smiling again. “I’m afraid not.”
“Ah, a trip to Rutherford & Company,” Mrs. Davenport exclaimed, distracting Gertrude from Miss Mabel’s now beaming face. “I adore that store, and how very convenient it’s only right down the block. It’s a lovely day for a stroll, so we don’t even need to call for a carriage.”
Miss Mabel stopped beaming, walked directly over to Mrs. Davenport, and shook her head. “Nice try, dear, but you’re still on probation from stores, and before you begin arguing, did I mention that I’ve brought by Miss Betsy Miller, designer extraordinaire, who might just happen to be down in the design room waiting to show you how to make paper patterns?”
“How marvelous,” Mrs. Davenport said, and after barely bidding good afternoon to Gertrude and Edwina, telling them to enjoy themselves at the store, Mrs. Davenport hurried out of the room with Miss Mabel.
“It was brilliant of Miss Henrietta and Miss Mabel to insist Mrs. Davenport allow them to take her in hand,” Edwina said. “As well as insist she move here for the foreseeable future. It’s only been two days, but she seems happier.” Edwina came and took hold of Gertrude’s arm. “Did I mention I’ve decided to help you with Harrison?”
Gertrude blinked at the rapid change of topic. “I don’t believe you mentioned a thing about that at all. But, if I need remind you, Harrison was quite forceful in his denial that he and I were involved in a relationship. Because of that, and because I truly don’t enjoy rejection from a man Imighthave held in high esteem, I’m going to simply accept the idea that Harrison and I are only meant to be friends.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“There’s no fun in that, but it’ll save me a world of hurt in the end.”
“But it won’t give you your very own happily-ever-after, something I can help you to achieve.”
Gertrude frowned. “How would you go about doing that?”
Pulling her toward the door, Edwina smiled. “I’ll tell you on the way to Rutherford & Company.”
Chapter
Twenty-Three
“Are you quite certain this is the best way to go about making amends with Gertrude?” Harrison asked, taking the reins from a groom in the Rutherford & Company stable as Asher nodded back at him from where he was already sitting astride his horse.
“Time is of the essence, Harrison,” Asher returned, waiting until Harrison swung himself into his saddle before continuing. “From what I understand, you’re now of the belief your affections for Gertrude have changed to something a great deal more than friendship. However, for a reason I have yet to comprehend, when you were presented with a prime opportunity to divulge your true emotions, you apparently lost all good sense and made a complete muddle of the situation instead.”
“I don’t know why you’re having a difficult time comprehending the idea I made a muddle of things. We’ve been friends for years, Asher, and because of that, you should be able to understand that I simply misinterpreted Gertrude’s facial expression.”
Asher arched a brow. “I’m not sure what type of expression a lady can actually make that would lead you to believe she wanted to be taken in hand by Miss Henrietta and Miss Mabel, two of the most frightening ladies I’ve ever met.”
“She was looking horrified.”
