by Jen Turano
Somehow, and Gertrude couldn’t say exactly how, her friend appeared to have steered, or perhaps knocked, poor Asher directly into the orchestra stand. That unexpected state of affairs seemed to have caused the members of that orchestra to scatter every which way, some of them even tumbling out of their chairs and sprawling on the floor in an obvious attempt to avoid the chaos.
Turning to Harrison, Gertrude wrinkled her nose. “I remember Permilia mentioning she once injured a gentleman while attempting this polka. On my word, who would have ever thought she’d surpass that record by not only abusing her partner, but taking out half an orchestra as well?”
Harrison’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “And here I thought I was being so diligent by cautioning Mr. Gilbert Cavendish, my partner with arranging the festivities tonight, against having the orchestra play a quadrille because of the trouble Permilia experienced trying to perform the Go-As-You-Please Quadrille during Alva Vanderbilt’s ball.”
Pulling her attention from Harrison’s delightful grin when she realized she was becoming somewhat mesmerized by his lips, Gertrude shook herself ever so slightly and nodded to where Permilia was now helping a violinist to his feet. “It’s fortunate Permilia approaches life with such a wonderful sense of humor. There aren’t many ladies who’d cause such mayhem and yet face it with a smile and a helping hand up.”
“Or be willing to throw themselves back into a dance, but that’s exactly what she seems about to do, because the orchestra members are picking up their instruments again.”
“That’s brave of them.”
“Indeed,” Harrison said before he extended Gertrude his arm. “Nevertheless, since I do believe you are a lady of bravery as well, shall we join our friends on the floor to distract the crowd from Permilia’s . . . unusual exuberance for dancing?”
Far more pleased than she should have been that Harrison thought her brave, even though she couldn’t fathom how he’d come to that conclusion, Gertrude accepted his arm and fell into step beside him as he drew her onto the ballroom floor. Facing him, she heard the first note of a new song ring out and then she was twirling around the room, dancing as she’d never danced before, and to a waltz instead of a polka.
“The orchestra seems to be trying a new tactic,” Harrison said with a grin.
Gertrude looked over his shoulder and found Asher and Permilia gliding along, Asher evidently having more success guiding his fiancée in the steps of a waltz.
“I think she might have just trampled his foot, though, because Asher’s wincing again,” Harrison said before he suddenly pulled her close and spun her around, the action leaving her slightly breathless.
Looking over his shoulder again, she smiled as she realized he’d resorted to the spin to protect her from a collision with Permilia. Her friend, for some unknown reason, was attempting a flamboyant twirl, one that certainly took Asher by surprise since he was now standing without a partner.
She couldn’t help but grin when Asher suddenly dashed after his fiancée, presented her with a bow, then took her arm and off they went again toward the opposite side of the ballroom, where no guests were standing.
“He’s trying to minimize the damage,” Harrison said before he swept Gertrude into a perfect twirl, his proficiency with the steps taking her by surprise.
“I never knew you were such a wonderful dance partner,” she managed to say after she’d sucked in the largest breath her tightly laced corset would allow.
“My mother insisted I learn the basics when it became clear that to grow our business, I, being the only son, would need to mingle with society gentlemen on occasion. I wouldn’t go so far as to claim I’m a wonderful partner, though, since I just now realized you’ve begun wheezing. Shall we sit the rest of the dance out?”
Gertrude waved that aside, unwilling to abandon the first time she’d ever taken to the floor with such a compelling gentleman. “A little wheezing isn’t going to kill me, Harrison. But to distract me from my condition, tell me more about your dance lessons. Did your sisters take them with you as well?”
“I had a private instructor, whereas my two younger sisters learned to dance at a school for young ladies that catered to families not of society, but of industry. Edwina, I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn, feels that school did an inadequate job of teaching her proper etiquette, which is why she’s often seen perusing numerous books dedicated to that very subject.”
“And what of your older sister, Margaret?”
Harrison pulled her close to him again to avoid Permilia, who was now practically galloping in their direction, sending Gertrude a cheeky grin as she passed while Asher flashed a smile before wincing yet again.
“Margaret received her education through numerous governesses, but she was a nightmare for those women, preferring to study science over the feminine arts—and she was quite vocal about her preferences. My mother finally relented and brought on board a tutor after Margaret scared off governess number seven. But then, when she came of age, she decided she wanted to have a debut, although not within highest society. Even though my mother was somewhat taken aback by the idea because Margaret had never shown an interest in anything most young ladies of the same age did, she arranged for Margaret to be brought out, even holding a few balls at our home.
Unfortunately, word was getting around the city, unbeknownst to my parents, that marrying into the Sinclair family was certain to be financially beneficial to the gentleman able to win Margaret’s hand. She soon found herself courted by not one but two fortune-hunters, and when their duplicity was finally revealed, Margaret swore off gentlemen forever, vowing to spend the rest of her life immersed in the family business.” He shook his head. “I think her preference for wearing black is somehow symbolic of her vow, but don’t quote me on that since Margaret’s always been an unpredictable sort.”
“Margaret was the victim of two fortune-hunters?”
“I’m afraid so, and that right there is why my mother is so suspicious of society members, because those fortune-hunters were actually from somewhat respectable society families.”
“And explains why Edwina has yet to achieve her goal of becoming introduced to society.”
“Exactly, but enough about my family. Tell me something about you.”
“There’s not much to tell.”
Harrison pulled back and caught her eye. “I’m sure that’s not true. I imagine there’s quite the story behind how it is you’re so proficient at dancing, because in case you’ve neglected to notice, you’ve not stepped on my foot even once.”
“There’s not much of an interesting story there except to say that while I attended boarding school, I was told time and time again it’s beyond the pale to trample a gentleman’s foot while taking the floor with him.”
Harrison frowned. “You attended boarding school?”
“I did, sent there by my relatives after my parents died.”
Twirling her effortlessly past the orchestra, Harrison’s brows drew together. “How old were you when your parents died?”
“My father died when I was seven, and then my mother followed him about three years later. My relatives then stepped in and arranged for me to attend Miss Porter’s School, located in Farmington, Connecticut.”
He brought them to an immediate stop. “Am I to understand you were sent away to boarding school directly after you suffered the loss of both of your parents?”
Urging Harrison back into motion with a bit of push, Gertrude smiled. “My Cadwalader relatives are not what one could ever call the overly warm or sentimental type. And I enjoyed boarding school and was thankful to my relatives for arranging my education at Miss Porter’s. It was pleasant there, with plenty of people to speak to whenever I wanted, something I missed after my father died.”
“You didn’t speak with your mother?”
“My mother descended into a state of severe melancholy after my father, God rest his soul, lost all of his money due to a bad investment.”
“He lost all of his money?” Harrison repeated.
“He did, and while my mother was devastated to discover she’d been rendered a pauper, I think she was more upset by the gossip that swirled around town due to that status because—” Gertrude sucked in a small breath of much-needed air—“my father took the advice of a lady who was not my mother, and that advice is what led to his financial disaster.”
Harrison’s fingers tightened around her hand. “How did you learn about this lady and her bad advice?”
“She came to pay us a visit after my father suffered an apoplectic fit and died in this woman’s arms in a house of . . . ill repute, and . . .” Gertrude’s feet refused to move another inch, which had her lurching to a stop. “I have no idea why I disclosed that to you especially since I’ve never told anyone that before, and . . . goodness, but this doesn’t exactly seem like the perfect moment to have brought up my family’s most scandalous secrets.”
Harrison dipped his head closer to her. “You disclosed it because we’ve become good friends, Gertrude. And you disclosed it because it’s obviously been weighing heavily on you.” He smiled. “If you haven’t noticed, I have broad shoulders, so do know that you can use those shoulders whenever you need to relieve some of the weight you’ve been carrying.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and not caring to allow those tears to dribble down her cheeks, Gertrude blinked, and then blinked again, trying to hold them at bay. She was not, nor had she ever been, a lady prone to weeping, but at this very moment, while in the presence of a gentleman who was the kindest man she’d ever met, she found it difficult to keep her emotions in check.
“Forgive me, Gertrude, I did not mean to distress you,” Harrison all but whispered in her ear, the tickle of his breath against her neck sending shivers down her spine.
Straightening that spine, Gertrude drew in a ragged breath and forced a smile. “You’ve not distressed me, Harrison. I fear I’m simply unaccustomed to being offered a strong shoulder. However, since our dance is clearly over, and Permilia and Asher are even now accepting the applause of the crowd, let us go and join them, as well as congratulate Permilia for performing one of the most unusual versions of a waltz I’ve ever witnessed.”
For the briefest of moments, Harrison simply considered her, but then he nodded, took her arm, and began steering her in the direction of Permilia and Asher. Stopping directly in front of her friend, Gertrude soon found herself pulled into Permilia’s enthusiastic embrace.
“Wasn’t that delightful?” Permilia said, stepping back before beaming an affectionate smile Asher’s way. “Why, I imagine before too long, I’ll be known as one of the most accomplished dancers in the city, all due to the efforts of my charming soon-to-be husband.”
“Of course you will,” Asher returned as he beamed a smile right back at his soon-to-be wife. “Although I am going to suggest you have one of your designers create a softer shoe for you, my dear. The pointed toes on the delightful shoes you’re currently wearing have left a definite indentation on my shins.”
Permilia laughed, but before she could respond to that telling remark, they were joined by a man Gertrude had yet to meet, one who was handsome in an unassuming way, and one who was accompanied by a smiling and laughing Temperance.
The very sight of Temperance laughing with the man took Gertrude so aback that she simply stood there for a moment, gawking, until she realized that Temperance had turned to her and was regarding her curiously.
“I say, Gertrude, are you quite all right? I don’t mean to bring attention to this, but you’re a rather unusual shade of pink, and . . .” Temperance removed her arm from the gentleman’s and stepped closer. “You’re wheezing.”
Since Temperance was not a lady Gertrude was accustomed to seeing on the arm of any gentleman, nor had she ever seen Temperance smiling in quite the way she was smiling now, she found herself at a loss for how to respond, because while she’d been gawking, she’d forgotten what Temperance had said. Thankfully, Harrison cleared his throat somewhat loudly, breaking through the state of muteness that had apparently overtaken her.
“Do forgive me, Temperance,” she finally got out of her mouth. “I fear the exertions from that waltz have left me feeling rather out of sorts, especially since my laces seem to have . . .” The rest of Gertrude’s words trailed away when she realized it was hardly appropriate to bring up the cause of her labored breathing in polite company.
“I say, Gilbert, have you made Miss Gertrude Cadwalader’s acquaintance yet?” Harrison asked, smoothly inserting himself into the conversation, which sent what felt like butterflies rolling about her stomach.
She was not accustomed to anyone intervening on her behalf, and that the intervention came from Harrison made it all the more delightful, although . . . having butterflies in her stomach was a concerning turn of events, especially when the only reason for that . . .
“I have not,” Gilbert returned, presenting Gertrude with a bow. “Mr. Gilbert Cavendish at your service, Miss Cadwalader.” He leaned forward. “May I say it is delightful to make your acquaintance, especially since I’ve always been fond of ladies with a brave nature, and taking to the floor at the same time as our dear Permilia, well, you may call me impressed.”
“I’m never going to live down the small incident with the orchestra, am I?” Permilia asked, but before anyone could answer that question, she took hold of Asher’s arm, saying something about checking on the welfare of the violinist she’d knocked over as she tugged Asher away.
“Is it my imagination or are the orchestra members fleeing as if their very lives are in danger?” Temperance asked, which had everyone turning their attention to where the orchestra members were, indeed, nodding to Permilia even as they scrambled backward, clutching their instruments in front of them.
Gilbert smiled. “I’m certain they’re simply quitting their places because I told them dinner is soon to be served.” He nodded to Gertrude. “And forgive me for cutting our introduction short, but I’m currently being held accountable for the evening’s schedule by a most temperamental, and quite honestly, frightening chef. Because of that, Harrison and I need to get on with matters—the next matter on my list being Harrison giving what I’m certain will be a most sentimental speech regarding Asher and his lovely Permilia. Once Harrison is done giving what I do hope is a quick rendition of that speech, we’ll toast our friends in style with a selection of champagne I brought back from Paris and then sit down to dine.”
Gilbert turned to Temperance. “You’ll find no seating chart here this evening, a circumstance I take full responsibility for, although the reasoning behind that lapse is a result of having so little time to pull this evening together. That’s also why there will be limited dancing offered after the meal because the Manhattan Beach Hotel was unable to secure us enough staff members to host this event for more than a few hours.”
He drew in a breath and smiled. “Having said that, I wanted to make certain you’ll save a seat for me so that we may catch up further during dinner. I also hope you’ll afford me one of the three dances that are to be held after the meal is finished.”
Temperance’s cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. “Of course I’ll save you a seat, as well as dance with you.” She nodded toward where the orchestra had once been assembled but were now nowhere in sight. “You’d best hurry though, since it almost looks as if Permilia’s about to deliver a speech, and that’s not really how these things are done.”
“Too right you are,” Gilbert said, taking hold of Harrison’s arm and ushering him in the direction of Asher and Permilia.
“Save me a seat for dinner as well, will you, Gertrude?” Harrison called over his shoulder.
With her lips curving into a smile, Gertrude was just about to nod Harrison’s way when she happened to catch a glimpse of Clementine standing on the opposite side of the room from her. She was staring far too intently at Temperance with lips Gertrude could tell were pursed even over the di
stance that separated them. When Clementine then switched her attention to Gilbert and tilted her head, Gertrude narrowed her eyes.
“Harrison, a moment if you please,” she called, hurrying to catch up with him.
Harrison turned and waited for her to join him. “Have you changed your mind about sitting with me?”
“For a woman who rarely has an opportunity to dine in the company of a gentleman under the age of eighty, I would be delighted to join you for the meal. And given that you and I seem to share conversation easily, another circumstance I rarely experience, dining with you would make for a most pleasant event. However . . .” She blew out a breath and lowered her voice. “Temperance seems to be enjoying herself this evening, something I do not recall ever witnessing, but I just noticed Clementine watching her cousin as well as perusing Gilbert, and . . .”
“You want me to dine with Clementine so that Temperance can continue enjoying herself,” Harrison finished for her.
Gertrude blinked. “And here I’ve been under the impression you’re somewhat oblivious when it comes to understanding the feminine mind, but you didn’t even hesitate with understanding where I was going with that.”
“I’m afraid you’re giving me far too much credit, Gertrude. But, my mostly oblivious nature aside, I’ll certainly do as you ask, although who will you dine with tonight?”
“I’ll join Mrs. Davenport and your sister, which might be a prudent choice anyway since I have a feeling those two are rapidly moving forward with their plans to repair to Newport.”
“My sister is going to Newport with you and Mrs. Davenport?”
“That does seem to be the case. Mrs. Davenport is thrilled to have a young lady to sponsor into Newport society, so thrilled in fact she’s encouraged Edwina to use her given name—Hester.”