Within half an hour, I was bathed and dressed, with my hair twisted into an updo that seemed much too fancy for the likes of me. Though I wouldn’t question Gallagher.
When I was ready, I stepped into Mrs. Hill’s dressing room and was about to knock on her bedroom door when I heard Alec’s serious voice.
“There’s only one reason I’m not putting an end to this,” he said.
“Really, Alec,” Mrs. Hill responded, “as if you could stop me.”
“I could strongly discourage you.”
“So why don’t you?”
“Because of Garfield.”
“That loathsome man,” Mrs. Hill said as silverware clinked against china. “I would prefer you never speak his name in my company. He was the death of Edmund.”
I had heard Mrs. Hill refer to her husband as Edmund. Until now, I hadn’t wondered how he had died.
“If we do not secure the interest from the right people,” Alec continued, “I fear Garfield’s resort will put ours out of business within the next two seasons. When Uncle Edmund built the resort in Newport, there were none like it. But now that Garfield’s is finished, we have serious competition.”
“What about the renovations? Won’t that make our resort more appealing to the right crowd?”
“I fear it will only cause our demise sooner. Even if we pour a million dollars into our resort, the newness and modern amenities of Garfield’s resort will outshine ours.”
“Rest assured, Mr. Garfield does not move in the right circles, either.”
“No, but I have heard rumors at my club.”
I couldn’t help but lean closer to the door, knowing I should not eavesdrop, but unsure what else to do. I couldn’t interrupt them—could I?
“What rumors?” Mrs. Hill asked.
“Mrs. Garfield has plans to take Louise to England during the London season—and if she succeeds, and marries Louise to the right man, the Garfields will gain the support they need from New York society.”
“And that’s why you’ve agreed to my plan? So we can compete with the Garfields?”
“Precisely,” Alec said.
My heart pounded hard at the weight of the responsibility I had undertaken. What if I couldn’t succeed? What if this Garfield girl won the hand of a duke and I came home with nothing? Would Mrs. Hill cast me out?
Mrs. Hill sighed. “I am not worried. Clara far outshines Louise Garfield in every way. She’s thinner, her hair is thicker, her face is prettier, and she’s sweeter.”
My cheeks burned at her bold assessment of me, but I noticed that Alec was silent on the matter—was it because he disagreed with Mrs. Hill?
“I hope you’ll be home more often in the evenings,” Mrs. Hill said in a quieter voice.
“Please do not lecture me about my club again.”
“I don’t wish to lecture you, but Clara could benefit from your time and attention. She will need all the help she can get.”
“I’m not certain I’m the one who should give it to her.”
I could no longer eavesdrop—afraid I might hear something I shouldn’t.
Knocking on the door, I waited until Mrs. Hill called for me to enter.
“Come in, Clara.”
My hands were trembling as I entered her room.
