Drusilla reached for another cucumber sandwich. “Honor isn’t something that’s incapable of transcending gender lines,Elbert. It’s a mark of a person’s character, which means, no, I won’t be setting aside my honor and selling off my aunt’s property to avoid having you toss me over, even if I’m now going to have to figure out a way to make sure my family doesn’t starve to death.”
“You’re not going to starve to death, as I did come up with another plan for you on the chance none of your relatives were available to take you in after we ended our engagement.” He bestowed another one of his charming smiles on her. “You’ll be pleased to learn that I’ve spoken with five wealthy gentlemen, all of whom would be more than happy to marry you.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.” Elbert’s smile turned more charming than ever. “You just say the word and five—that’s right,five—gentlemen will present themselves on your doorstep, and all you have to do is choose one of them to marry.”
“What’s wrong with these gentlemen?”
“Nothing much,” Elbert hurried to say. “They’re simply members of the nouveau riche, which isn’t nearly as troubling as it was, say, even two years ago, not since Alva Vanderbilt changed the dynamics of high society when she convinced Mrs. Astor to admit the Vanderbilt family into the highest social circles.”
Drusilla began drumming her fingers against the table, earning a frown from Elbert in the process, which she ignored. “Out of blatant curiosity, tell me this. Why would any gentleman, even those from the nouveau riche set, want to marry me—a lady who is already twenty-two years old, almost twenty-three, and no longer possesses a fortune?”
“Because marriage to you will allow them unfettered access to the Four Hundred.”
“And they’d be willing to overlook those deficiencies you kindly pointed out to acquire that unfettered access?”
“I assume so, because none of the men I spoke with wereeven curious about the basics when it came to you. All they were concerned with was exactly how established your family was within society. Every one of them was suitably impressed to learn that you have Knickerbocker status, and ...” His smile turned downright smug. “I know any of these men will marry you within the month, which will certainly allow you to avoid that whole starvation business.”
It was almost impossible to ignore the urge she suddenly felt to lob her teacup across the table, an action that would undoubtedly wipe the smug smile directly off Elbert’s face.
Three
“You’re starting to draw attention with that glare you’re leveling on me,” Elbert all but hissed.
Shoving aside the delightful image of Elbert having to duck to avoid a flying teacup, Drusilla glanced around the tearoom and found Katherine and Julia Drayton sitting forward in their seats, not even bothering to disguise the fact they were gawking at her and Elbert. After sending them a bit of a wink, which was completely unlike her and earned looks of confusion from the two ladies in return, Drusilla folded her hands demurely in her lap and returned her attention to Elbert.
“Do you honestly believe I care about giving the gossipmongers fodder to talk about, given that I’ve clearly been the object of their spitefulness for years?” Drusilla asked.
“Being the object of additional gossip could very well harm your chances with those prospective suitors I’ve found for you.”
“I’d rather move to Chicago and find myself living in a tent than marry any man who only wants to marry me because of my position within society.”
Elbert shoved a cucumber sandwich in his mouth, gave it a few rather intense chews, then washed it down with a hefty slug of tea. “You’re being ridiculous, especially when I know you’re simply refusing to accept one of the men I found for youout of spite. You should be grateful I’ve fixed what could have been a catastrophic financial situation for you.”
“You’re the one who created that catastrophic situation since I, along with my family, would have been financially fine if you would have upheld the deal you made with my father.”
“There is no longer any deal to uphold since the Merriweather money is gone.”
“But there’s every chance the Pinkertons will eventually run Sanford to ground, and when that happens, I’ll no longer be impoverished.”
“Sanford is on the run with millions of dollars, and he’s aboard a yacht that’s capable of taking him anywhere in the world. Given that your family doesn’t have the funds to continue paying the Pinkertons to search for him since bill collectors keep coming out of the woodwork, the likelihood that Sanford will ever be found is slim to none.” Elbert caught her eye. “That means you have no choice but to meet these men from the nouveau riche set, choose one, then marry him.”
“I think not” was all Drusilla had to say to that.
“You’re being overly stubborn, another fault I never realized you possessed.”
“Then it’s a good thing you’ve decided to toss me over since I’m evidently riddled with unfortunate deficiencies.”
“Perhaps you are at that,” Elbert grumbled before he took another sip of his tea and set aside his cup. “Since it’s evident the conversation is only going to go downhill from here, I suppose all that remains now is for you to allow society to know we’ve decided we no longer suit. However, since I’m truly not heartless, no matter that you obviously believe otherwise, know that I’m willing to allow you to keep the pearl bracelet I gave you as a betrothal gift. I will, however, need to have returned to me the Herrington diamonds, which includes the tiara, stomacher, bracelet, and necklace.”
She stilled for the briefest of seconds before her lips took tocurving as the true reason behind Elbert’s insistence that she end their engagement suddenly became crystal clear.
“Are you smiling because you’re pleased that I’m willing to let you keep the pearl bracelet?” Elbert asked, the wariness that was once again flickering through his eyes causing her smile to widen.
“I’m smiling because I’ve decided it’s time for cake,” she said before she waved a server over, ordered not one but two slices of cake, then returned her attention to Elbert, finding her soon-to-be-ex-fiancé frowning at her.
“I never said I wanted cake.”
