Priscilla scratched her nose. “Miss Brinley put the doll in the carriage cuz it has a china face and she didn’t want me to break it. ’Sides, I brought Susie with me and I don’t want her to get mad.”
“Where is Susie?” Walter asked.
“She’s sitting on Miss Duveen’s lap, listening to a story, but you have to put me down cuz Miss Duveen is waiting to finish the story until I get back.” Priscilla shook her little head. “I like Miss Duveen, but she looooooves cats, so you can’t marry her, cuz I would be sneezing all the time.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Walter set Priscilla down and watched her scramble away, rejoining Adelaide Duveen, who was sitting with Oscar, Sherman Kenton, and Samuel. After Priscilla sat down beside Adelaide and leaned closer so she could see the pictures in the book Adelaide was reading, Walter smiled and returned his attention to Gwendolyn. She was now speaking to Mr. August Ryerson, a gentleman Walter wasn’t overly familiar with, but one he’d heard his mother say was a quiet and unassuming sort. He wasn’t surprised to find her smiling a genuine smile at August, but her smiling dimmed significantlywhen Daniel Mizner and Russell Damrosch crowded August out of the way and began trying to monopolize Gwendolyn’s attention.
He almost felt sorry for the gentlemen when Gwendolyn crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. When Russell clearly made the mistake of trying to cajole her into agreeing to whatever he wanted, probably matchmaking advice, she lifted her chin, bobbed a curtsy, and strode away from the gentlemen without another word, faltering for the merest second when she caught sight of Walter, but then she immediately headed his way. The closer she got, the more visible the temper in her eyes became, which left him, curiously enough, smiling.
Twenty-Two
“May I assume you’re wanting another word with me because I’ve done something to irritate you?” Walter asked when Gwendolyn stopped beside him, temper flashing through her green eyes.
“As surprising as this may seem,” she began, tucking an errant strand of hair underneath her hat, “I’m not presently annoyed with you because you’re not responsible for my plight of being inundated with gentlemen determined to acquire my assistant-matchmaking skills. I’m placing the blame for that squarely at Mrs. Parker’s feet.”
“So I’m not a gentleman in danger of evoking your temper today?”
“The day is still young, but as of this moment, I’m not irritated with you. In fact, I’m actually delighted to see you’ve returned early, because I can use you to keep those other bothersome gentlemen at bay.” She took his arm and prodded him into motion.
“I saw you speaking to August Ryerson,” Walter said as they strolled past a gathering of young ladies who smiled at him but didn’t approach, which was a step in the right directionand proved he’d accurately predicted how effective Gwendolyn would be at managing all the feminine attention directed his way. “I find it hard to believe you found him annoying. I’ve heard he’s a pleasant sort.”
A sliver of temper faded from her eyes. “August was an exception to the irritating rule today. He’s charming and was ever so apologetic about seeking me out. His mother is pressuring him to consider marrying over the next year, and while she’s not overly enthusiastic about Mrs. Parker—probably because Mrs. Parker enjoys giving Mrs. Ryerson tips on how to improve August’s conversational skills—she’s intrigued by the success I’ve already experienced. August and I were enjoying a pleasant conversation when Mr. Daniel Mizner and Mr. Russell Damrosch very rudely muscled him aside.”
“What did they want?”
Gwendolyn grimaced. “I get the feeling Daniel’s interested in having me convince Mrs. Parker to sponsor him, but I’m not sure that’s a good idea. There’s something too earnest about him, but he didn’t have an opportunity to speak much because Russell dominated the conversation. Russell wanted me to know he’d take it easy on me tomorrow when I play a friendly game of tennis against him and Tillie Wickham. I use the termfriendlyloosely, because I’m afraid it may turn into a bloodbath, and one where I’m the one covered in blood.”
Walter brought them to an immediate stop. “You’re playing tennis against Tillie? Did you forget what she did to Cordelia?”
“Considering Cordelia is still sporting bruises around her eye, of course not. But I agreed to the match because I want to see if Tillie’s learned her lesson and will at least attempt to play a pleasant game instead of turning it into a battle.”
“I thought you’d already decided Tillie wasn’t a good candidate for me.”
“She’s not. But considering Mrs. Parker is taking on more gentlemen to sponsor, Tillie may be well suited to one of them.”
Walter rubbed a hand over his face. “Mrs. Parker is taking on additional gentlemen?”
“She was finalizing terms with Mr. Thurman Chandler earlier today. She seems incapable of refusing offers of sparkly baubles, even though she must know she’s placing an overly large burden on me.”
“One has to wonder what the other matchmakers think of this unusual development this Season,” Walter said.
“Most of them, if not all, have decided to abandon this Season and take up again back in New York. Rumor has it Miss Camilla Pierpont left Newport because she’s displeased with the antics she’s witnessed so far. I can’t say I blame her becauseridiculousdoesn’t do justice to how this summer is playing out.” Gwendolyn blew out a breath. “I’m sure it’s only going to get more ludicrous when I get annihilated during the match with Tillie and Russell.”
Walter swallowed a laugh. “I doubt you’re going to get annihilated, but would you care for me to partner you for that match? I can hold my own on the court.”
The barest hint of a smile flickered over Gwendolyn’s face. “While that’s a very gracious offer, I already have a partner.”
“What fearless soul has volunteered for that?”
“August Ryerson. He offered to play with me right after I told Russell I’d not found a partner yet.”
“That was brave of August. Russell’s a beast on the court.”
“Wonderful,” Gwendolyn muttered before she lifted her chin. “I’m sure August and I will muddle our way through as best we can. Besides that, it’ll give me an opportunity to learn more about him, since I’m going to tell Mrs. Parker she needs to sponsor him.”
“You just stated you’re becoming overwhelmed with business. Why would you suggest Mrs. Parker take on another gentleman?”
She shrugged. “I might already have a particular lady in mindfor August.” She fiddled with the brim of her hat. “Besides, I feel I owe Mrs. Parker another sponsorship, because Mrs. Ellsworth has taken Miss Ellsworth back to New York.”
