“Yes, well, Charles and nagging aside,” Adelaide’s mother continued, “you mustn’t drag your feet with Mr. Townsend. He’s in high demand this Season, what with how it’s become known he’s once again in the market for a wife.”
“That’s exactly why I’m hesitant to approach him,” Adelaide said. “The crème of society is currently surrounding him, including Miss Elizabeth Ellsworth. She’s recently been deemed by Ward McAllister as one of the diamonds of the first water out this summer. Diamonds are incredibly difficult for gentlemen to ignore, especially ones who have large dowries attached to their names.”
“You have a large dowry.”
“A large dowry is not going to allow me to compete for Mr. Townsend’s affections with the likes of Miss Ellsworth pursuing him. No one has ever mistaken me for a diamond of anything.”
“You’ll always be a diamond to me, although . . .” Adelaide’s mother tapped a finger against her chin. “Perhaps you’re more on the lines of an emerald. Not quite as dazzling as a diamond, but rarer and far more precious.”
Adelaide’s eyes twinkled. “I love the sound of that, but society prefers their diamonds over any emerald out there, even an emerald that sports the distinguished Duveen surname.”
The woman—Mrs. Duveen, apparently—blew out a breath. “I suppose you’re right, but diamonds and emeralds aside, Mr. Townsend probably hasn’t asked anyone to waltz because he doesn’t want to offend the bevy of ladies surrounding him. This may be the only dance he’s sitting out, which means it’s the perfect opening for you to meet him. Mrs. Oelrichs is now standing beside him. As a dear friend of mine, she’ll be only too happy to perform an introduction. That way you can’t accuse me of browbeating him into speaking with you.”
Adelaide squinted in the direction her mother was gazing. “Of course Mrs. Oelrichs will be happy to perform an introduction. She’s with her niece, Miss Cordelia Lowe. Poor Cordelia is still sporting that black eye she received at the Newport Casino the other day. She, like most young ladies, doesn’t show to advantage with a hideous-looking eye, but she’ll look much more advantageous next to me.”
“Why would you say that? You look very well turned out tonight.”
“I heard two ladies whispering about me earlier, and they were in full agreement I look like a tiered cake.”
Mrs. Duveen frowned. “If they were referring to your gown, I spent a fortune on it and had it created with Mr. Townsend specifically in mind. His late wife, Vivian, was possessed of a voluptuous figure, which is why I asked Mr. Hayworth for a design that would give you the illusion of possessing curves. I’m hopeful one glance of you in that gown will leave Mr. Townsend completely besotted.”
“Or in danger of tossing up his accounts,” Adelaide countered, sweeping aside an inky strand of hair that had escaped its pins. “If you haven’t noticed, my head now appears disproportional to the rest of my body, what with all these frills wrapped around my neck. That’s hardly a look a gentleman is going to want to peruse for any length of time.”
Mrs. Duveen bit her lip as her gaze traveled over her daughter. “I never considered the cake comparison before, but . . . you might have a point. The question that now must be asked is why you didn’t balk at leaving the house dressed like that.”
“You seemed rather enthusiastic about your latest scheme to make me appear more toothsome. I didn’t want to dim that enthusiasm.”
Mrs. Duveen laughed. “You are such a delight, my darling, but perhaps, in the future, if you feel you’re looking like a course that’s served at dinner, you should simply tell me.” She blew out a breath. “I suppose we should make an early departure and try again at the Harper ball, where you won’t be dressed like dessert.”
“We’re not going home,” Adelaide argued. “You spent a fortune on this gown, and like it or not, this is the gown my maid stuffed me into tonight. It would be a disservice to her diligence if we abandoned ship now.”
“Perhaps this particular ship was never meant to go out to sea,” Mrs. Duveen muttered.
“Too right it wasn’t.” Adelaide shoved aside a frill that had made an escape from the other frills and was now brushing against her ear. “With that said, allow me to get this over with and seek out an audience with Mr. Townsend.” She grinned. “If we’re lucky, he will possess a great sense of humor and view my appearance in an amused light over an appalled one.”
Mrs. Duveen gave a bit of a shudder. “Now that I see your resemblance to a cake, I’m betting on appalled over amused.” She suddenly turned and set her sights on Gwendolyn. “What do you think?”
Gwendolyn winced. “I think I should apologize for listening in on your conversation.”
Mrs. Duveen waved that aside, sending her diamond bracelets jangling. “No need to apologize, dear. It’s close confines in here, and conversations are often overheard.” She arched a brow. “So . . . amusing or appalling?”
After taking a second to consider Adelaide in all her frilly glory, Gwendolyn smiled. “Truth be told, it might be a great test of Mr. Townsend’s character to see how he reacts to such a dress. Amusement would speak highly of him, while the other reaction would suggest he’s not a man a lady would care to waste time on in the future.”
Adelaide brushed aside another frill. “A thought-provoking response, and one that holds a great deal of merit.” She dipped into a curtsy. “I’m Miss Adelaide Duveen, by the way, and this is my mother, Mrs. Stuart Duveen.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Gwendolyn said, dipping into a curtsy as well. “I’m Miss Gwendolyn Brinley.”
Mrs. Duveen took a step closer to her. “A Pierson Brinley from Boston is an old friend of mine. Dare I hope you’re related to that darling gentleman?”
Gwendolyn smiled. “Pierson is my father.”
“How wonderful,” Mrs. Duveen exclaimed, her eyes twinkling. “I adore your father because he was responsible for introducing me to my dashing Stuart years ago. They attended Harvard together and became fast friends, which means you and I are practically family and means you simply must call me Phyllis.”
“While that’s very kind of you to offer, it wouldn’t be proper for me to abandon formality. I’m not in Newport in a guest capacity but rather in Mrs. Parker’s employ for the summer.”
Phyllis’s brows drew together. “Why in the world would you take on any type of position? You’re a Brinley. Granted, your family name is a tad tarnished, what with Pierson falling in love with your delightful mother and then marrying her against your grandparents’ wishes. But Pierson told my Stuart that though his family cast him out after he married Finella, he had access to a substantial trust and has a way with choosing shrewd investments. To this day, he uses my Stuart’s bank to safeguard his fortune. According to Stuart, Pierson is one of the shrewdest and most successful investors in the country.”
Gwendolyn had the sneaking suspicion her evening had just taken a turn for the complicated, which was saying something given the assignment Mrs. Parker expected her to see through to fruition.