“My sisters always say a lady can never possess too much jewelry. I happen to have a collection of tiaras collecting dust in my safe that came to me from various relatives.” He nodded toward Mrs. Parker. “She’s not currently wearing a tiara, which suggests she may very well need one of those to add to her collection.”
“She does not need a tiara” was all Gwendolyn got out of her mouth before E.J. sent her a bow paired with a grin and turned and strode away, Mrs. Parker in his sights.
“There is no possible way Mrs. Parker is going to be able torefuse a tiara,” she muttered right as Suzette Tilden materialized at her side, thrusting her dance card into Gwendolyn’s hand.
“I’ve been told I need to go through you to secure a dance with Mr. Townsend,” Suzette began. “He’s finally arrived at the ball, so if you’d be so kind as to write his name down for the waltz that’s to begin next, I’d be ever so grateful.”
Elizabeth Ellsworth took that second to join Suzette, a scowl marring her beautiful face. “On my word, Suzette, but I did not appreciate you muscling your way in front of me to get to Miss Brinley first.” She rubbed her side. “I might very well sport a bruise where your elbow dug into me. I highly doubt, once Miss Brinley apprises Mr. Townsend of your dubious antics, he’ll be all that keen to waltz with you.”
Suzette’s nose shot into the air. “If you’ve forgotten, Elizabeth, I was the one who presented his adorable children with a pony this afternoon. You presented them with kites. Not in the same league, which means I should get Mr. Townsend’s name on my dance card for the next waltz.”
“I doubt your pony is going to have Miss Brinley choosing you over Elizabeth, considering Mrs. Parker is sponsoring Elizabeth this Season,” Tillie Wickham said, edging in between Suzette and Elizabeth before she turned an unexpected smile on Gwendolyn. “And while it’s not fair to the rest of us that you’re representing Elizabeth and Mr. Townsend at the same time, it’s certainly fair to say you’re looking very well turned out this evening.”
The tension at the base of Gwendolyn’s neck increased.
“You’ll put Mr. Townsend’s name down on my card for the waltz?” Suzette pressed, drawing Gwendolyn back into what certainly had the potential of turning into a complete and utter disaster, especially since more ladies had joined them, all of them clutching their dance cards.
She squared her shoulders. “Before I jot down His Highness’sname on any of your cards, he and I need to engage in a bit of a conference regarding the evening.”
Tillie’s brows shot all the way into her hairline. “Forgive me, Miss Brinley, but I couldn’t help but detect what seemed to be a hint of sarcasm in your tone when you referred to Mr. Townsend as His Highness.”
Elizabeth nodded before Gwendolyn could respond. “Oh, there was definitely sarcasm.” She settled a frown on Gwendolyn. “I’m not certain I understand the derision though. You should be honored Mr. Townsend broke with convention to have a matchmaker look after his best interests, and honored he wanted you and Mrs. Parker to represent him.”
“Honored does not remotely explain my feelings toward Mr. Townsend,” Gwendolyn returned. “Appalled would be a more apt description, because sorting out a gentleman’s lady problems was not something I thought I’d ever be doing.”
Elizabeth raised a hand to her throat. “Mr. Townsend considers us problems?”
Mutters immediately resounded amongst the young ladies, ones that were certainly going to be accompanied by a barrage of questions regarding Walter’s thoughts, his dislikes, and most importantly, why he’d consider the ladies of society to be problems.
“That probably didn’t come out the way I intended,” Gwendolyn muttered. “I’m afraid I’m a little tired considering I almost drowned today, which may explain why I’m having difficulties expressing myself well this evening.”
“You seemed perfectly capable of swimming your way to shore,” Suzette pointed out.
“My swimming abilities come and go. But if you’ll excuse me, I believe I should have my chat with Walter sooner than later.”
Before she could make a much-needed escape, Tillie stepped closer, her eyes narrowed. “How interesting you’re evidentlyannoyed to be representing Mr. Townsend and yet you’re very free with addressing him by his given name.”
Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes right back at Tillie. “I would consider guarding that sharp tongue of yours, Miss Wickham. It won’t help you get Walter’s name on your dance card this evening.”
“I would think it’s up to Mr. Townsend to decide the ladies he longs to take to the floor with,” Tillie shot back.
Gwendolyn released a breath when the thought struck that dealing with ladies of the Four Hundred would try the patience of a saint. Summoning up a smile, she lifted her chin.
“Ladies, I feel we need to clear the air between us once and for all,” she began, earning more than a few blinks of surprise in return. “If you’re unaware, Walter decided to secure my assistance as a matchmaker because he wanted someone to manage his Season for him. It’s at my discretion which ladies will get to spend time with him and when, which means all of you may want to consider tucking your surly attitudes away when you’re in my company. I assure you, surliness will not see you achieving much success toward spending time withthecatch of the Season.”
Thirteen
“I never pegged you for a man who’d resort to bringing in a matchmaker to sort out your love life, Walter.”
Walter pulled his attention from Gwendolyn, who’d been heading his way until she was waylaid by Hannah Howe and Cordelia Lowe, and settled it on Mr. Gideon Abbott, a friend he often sought out to discuss prospective investment ideas. “It was a desperate act, Gideon, necessitated by finding myself awash in feminine attention.”
“Because onesooften hears gentlemen complain about too much feminine notice, especially gentlemen searching for potential brides,” Gideon said with a twitch of his lips.
Walter rubbed the back of his neck where tension had settled. “When you put it that way, my reasoning does sound somewhat suspect. However, after I found myself privy to a spat between two society ladies I’ve never heard exchange a cross word, I realized that ladies have thrust aside the decorum they set their teeth on—apparently done so because a good majority of them seem to want to acquire me this Season.”
“Bet that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”
“Not particularly, which is another reason I decided I neededa professional to regulate the complex situation I now find myself involved in. Getting Mrs. Parker’s agreement to have Gwendolyn Brinley act as a go-between for me and the ladies was the smartest decision I’ve made in weeks.”
