Harrison stepped forward. “She’s Miss Temperance Flowerdew, Mother. Temperance, this is my mother, Mrs. Sinclair.”
“Charmed,” Temperance said, rising to her feet. “And while you and I have just met, Mrs. Sinclair, I do hope you’ll agree that Gertrude is obviously innocent of any wrongdoing in regard to your painting, and in all honesty, she incurred the wrath of Clementine simply because she was trying to protect your son from my cousin’s vindictive nature.”
Cornelia considered Gertrude for a long moment, and then, to Harrison’s relief, she nodded. “It would seem as if I’ve made a very grave mistake, Miss Cadwalader, for which I apologize. Do know that I certainly don’t expect you to forgive me anytime soon, given the nasty accusations I kept throwing your way.”
Gertrude rose to her feet and smiled. “Of course I forgive you, Mrs. Sinclair. You mustn’t think on that for another moment.”
As Gertrude gave his mother an unexpected hug, and then encouraged her to join them on the settee, Harrison moved back to where Asher and Agent McParland were still standing, shaking his head as he turned and regarded the ladies again.
“They’re curious creatures, aren’t they?” he asked in a low voice.
“Indeed,” Agent McParland agreed. “Although speaking of curious, how would you think these Flowerdew relatives will react if I track them down to Newport and question them about the matter of the now-recovered painting? And do you think it may be possible that Clementine Flowerdew might have played a part in the thefts at the Manhattan Beach Hotel?”
Harrison shook his head. “Clementine spent a great deal of time with me while we were at the hotel and was also one of the first guests to reboard theCorneliaonce everyone left the hotel. She wouldn’t have had time to enact a heist of any great size. As for questioning Clementine and her parents, I don’t think you’ll find much success with that. Clementine’s father, Wayne, has lofty connections in the city that he’ll use if he feels the need. In all likelihood, the most they’ll admit to is proclaiming that the painting was taken as a lark, so I would say a trip to Newport won’t be worth your while. And since the painting has been returned to my mother, I don’t believe she’ll want to press charges in the end.”
Agent McParland sighed, tucking his notebook away. “I suppose the only way I’ll solve that mystery now is to return to the Manhattan Beach Hotel. Although, given the time that has elapsed since the thefts, I’m not sure we’re going to be able to uncover any additional evidence.”
Asher stepped closer to Harrison. “We could use the mystery at the hotel to set the stage for what I’m sure you were about to do with Gertrude before your mother burst in. If you’ll recall, solving a mystery is number five on our list.”
Harrison blinked. “I’m not sure we should continue on with that list, Asher. The two gestures I’ve tried so far have not worked out exactly well for me. In all honesty, I’ve been thinking it might be for the best if I pull Gertrude aside in the next few minutes and simply get this over with once and for all.”
Asher shook his head. “Absolutely not. A gentleman should not approach matters of such a delicate nature with an attitude of ‘getting it over with once and for all.’ Gertrude has proven herself to be an extraordinary lady, and as such, she deserves a romantic gesture from you, one she’ll remember for the rest of her days.” He glanced at Agent McParland. “If you’ve no objections, and with your full cooperation, I’m going to suggest we repair to the Manhattan Beach Hotel. We’ll say we’re traveling there to assist you with your investigation, and then, after the ladies have snooped around a bit, discovering nothing with their snooping, of course, we’ll then gather on the beach. It’s to be a full moon tonight, and with the moon shining down on you, Harrison, and the waves lapping against the beach, that will be just the romantic setting you need to extend Gertrude the most romantic gesture of her life.”
“But what if their snooping turns up more than we’re expecting?” Harrison asked slowly.
Asher smiled. “Since the Pinkerton detectives have uncovered nothing of worth, I’m more than confident the ladies’ paltry efforts of poking around will turn up nothing as well. There’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about because I’m quite sure nothing can possibly go wrong.”
Chapter
Twenty-Six
“While it certainly is lovely being back at the Manhattan Beach Hotel,” Gertrude began, her arms linked with Edwina’s and Temperance’s as they strolled down the boardwalk with the ocean to their left and the hotel to their right, “don’t you find it somewhat curious we find ourselves here on what seemed to me to be a spur-of-the-moment decision?”
Edwina smiled. “My family has always embraced the idea that adventures are best enjoyed when they’re the spur-of-the-moment kind. Although I do think the haste in which we found ourselves here is likely because Samuel, or rather, Agent McParland, seems to be somewhat anxious to have us assist him in solving the mystery of the missing jewelry.” She nodded to Gertrude. “I know I mentioned before that we ladies think differently than men, and I have to imagine that is why Samuel requested our help in his investigation, unless...” She frowned and met Gertrude’s gaze. “I’m completely off the mark and this is Harrison’s curious way of making matters right with you for the disappointments and embarrassments you’ve suffered at the hands of my family lately.”
Temperance drew in a sharp breath. “Perhaps Harrison has arranged all of this as your very own version of aNorthanger Abbeymystery, one complete with an actual mystery and a setting that, while not gothic, is still somewhat mysterious since the hotel is so grand and sits right up next to the ocean.”
Gertrude smiled and shook her head. “I don’t think Harrison is the type of gentleman to read Jane Austen, although that would be a lovely gesture for a gentleman to make if he needed to make amends. Not that Harrison needs to make amends, mind you.”
“He completely made a mess of matters with you in Grace Church, and he’s yet to be given an opportunity to correct that,” Edwina pointed out.
Gertrude’s smile dimmed. “I believe he might have been trying to explain his actions right before your mother burst in, but since he has yet to try again, he might have had a change of heart. That means it might be time for me to simply embrace the idea that Harrison and I are going to remain strictly friends.”
“Don’t be daft,” Edwina said. “Harrison adores you, and I believe he’s simply waiting for the perfect moment to act. However, until we reach that moment, I suggest we enjoy our unexpected adventure, and see if we can’t go about solving the mystery of the missing items from the Manhattan Beach Hotel.” She smiled. “If we could do that, I do think my interest in joining the Pinkerton Agency would be taken seriously, and I could very well impress Samuel in the process, which ... wouldn’t that be lovely?”
Forcing her thoughts away from Edwina’s comment about Harrison adoring her, and ignoring the weakness her knees had acquired, the second the wordadoresentered the conversation, Gertrude cleared her throat. “That would be lovely, but I don’t believe you need to work too strenuously to impress Agent McParland since, in my humble opinion, he seems more than impressed with you without you solving any mysteries.”
“He is adorable,” Edwina returned. “And speaking of adorable, did I mention how adorable I found it when you dismissed all the expected clothing choices Asher provided for Harrison, instead choosing the one jacket that was not what anyone would consider a fashionable choice, but one that suited Harrison’s sense of style perfectly?”
“Harrison has a sense of style—a curious sense of style, but one he’s made all his own.”
Edwina beamed a smile back at Gertrude. “And that is exactly how I know you’re the lady specifically meant for my brother. You don’t see him as others see him: dangerously attractive but in need of fixing. You see him as simply Harrison—a man with disheveled hair more often than not, who mixes plaids with stripes, and a man who seems completely oblivious at times when faced with what he obviously finds to be the bewildering world of women.”
“I enjoy his air of bewilderment,” Gertrude said with a smile.
“Whose bewilderment are you discussing?”
Turning, Gertrude found Harrison right behind them, accompanied by Agent McParland who was, of course, smiling Edwina’s way. A few yards behind them were Miss Henrietta and Miss Mabel, who’d refused to be left behind, claiming they were taking on the position of chaperone for all the unmarried ladies traveling to the hotel.
