Oscar nodded to Gwendolyn, who was lingering outside the carriage door. “You could spare him the bother of finding us a new mother if you’d take on that governess role.”
“True,” Gwendolyn agreed, “but I highly doubt you or your siblings would care to have me as your governess. I’m not easily thwarted, something I believe all of you often do to your current governesses. I also expect children to behave, and believe me, none of you would be happy with the means I’m willing to take to make certain good behavior is adopted daily.”
Oscar’s brows drew together. “We can behave if we want to, but I guess it’s good you’re a matchmaker and not a governess. You told Priscilla she should have to go without her dinner because she was naughty, but I wouldn’t want my little sister to ever go hungry. You wouldn’t have cared for what might have happened to you if you’d tried that.”
“Oscar . . .” Walter said, drawing his son’s attention. “You’re being rude.”
Oscar shrugged and turned his head, his attention settling on something out the window.
“I’m beginning to understand the reasoning behind your decision to marry again,” Gwendolyn said as Walter stepped away from the carriage, knowing any further reprimand of Oscar was only going to have his son turning more belligerent.
“I’m afraid I may have made that decision a bit late, but hopefully I’ll find success and the children can be returned to a somewhat normal state, or at least to where they’re not behaving as if they’re being raised by wolves.”
Gwendolyn sent him a small smile. “Odd as you may find this, I hope you find success with your plan to marry again. It’s clear you don’t appreciate my advice, but you should try to engage in some honest conversations with the young ladies who are certain to seek you out at the Harper ball later this evening. You may find yourself enjoying the evening more if you don’t limit yourself to talk of the weather and latest fashions. More importantly, you might find a lady you’re compatible with if you put some genuine effort into your conversations.”
“The mere thought of being the recipient of feminine attention this evening leaves me hesitant to even attend the Harper ball,” Walter admitted before he shot a look to Oscar, who was still staunchly ignoring him, before he returned his attention to Gwendolyn when an unexpected thought sprang to mind.
“You know, there may be a solution to dealing with all that feminine attention, a solution I just came to because of an interesting comment Oscar made.”
Wariness immediately clouded Gwendolyn’s eyes. “What interesting comment?”
“He said it’s too bad you don’t help gentlemen in the matchmaking department.”
The wariness increased. “Don’t even think about what I know has begun brewing in your mind.”
Walter took a step closer to her. “But it’s perfect, especially since it’s your fault I’m being inundated with so many ladies interested in securing my affections.”
“Mrs. Parker doesn’t take on gentlemen to sponsor, only ladies. It’s how matchmaking works,” Gwendolyn said rather weakly.
“She might change her mind if I write her a large enough bank draft.”
“She doesn’t deal in anything so common as money.”
He tapped a finger against his chin. “If memory serves me correctly, Mrs. Parker was drowning in diamonds last night, which suggests she enjoys accepting jewels for payment.”
“She won’t take you on as a client,” Gwendolyn said, a clear touch of desperation now lacing her tone.
Walter allowed himself the luxury of a grin. “Ah, but you see, my dear Miss Brinley, I have a Tiffany & Company diamond bracelet locked away in my safe at Sea Haven that I would bet good money says otherwise.”
Twelve
“I must say this Newport Season is turning out to be one of the most peculiar Seasons I’ve ever participated in,” Adelaide Duveen said, gesturing with her glass of champagne toward a congregation of ladies who seemed to be deliberating whether or not they should approach Gwendolyn. “I’ve never been so highly amused over the antics of society, and the Harper ball is only the second ball of the season. I’m only sorry I missed the earlier events at Bailey’s Beach. Winkie, one of my new cats, settled down on my lap for a snooze. I was then subjected to what I refer to as feline paralysis, unable to twitch so much as a muscle in fear I’d disturb the little darling.”
“I’m delighted someone is finding this Season humorous, because that’s not an emotion I’m experiencing,” Gwendolyn said, presenting the young ladies considering her with her back in the hopes that would dissuade them from approaching her. “Truth be told, I’m feeling slightly sympathetic to Walter’s plight because I’m feeling decidedly under siege.”
“I’m sure that is overwhelming, but it can’t be much of a surprise to you, given that it’s not every day—or any day, for that matter—that a matchmaker of Mrs. Parker’s esteem agrees to sponsor a gentleman.”
“She only agreed because she’s unable to resist the temptation of sparkly baubles from Tiffany & Company,” Gwendolyn muttered.
“Tiffany baubles do come with a certain panache, but her agreement to take up Walter’s case has caused tongues to wag, the wagging only increasing after word somehow got out that you’re taking on the role of buffer for Walter, any young lady interested in securing his attention having to go through you instead of personally seeking him out.”
“It’s no mystery how word about my being Walter’s custodian got out,” Gwendolyn said, jerking her head to where Mrs. Parker was holding court, waving a hand that now sported a Tiffany diamond bracelet. “Mrs. Parker decided it would spare Walter the bother of having to direct young ladies my way if she made it be known there were now rules where Walter’s concerned. Honestly, what that lady was thinking is beyond me, and don’t even get me started on her going out of her way to cater to the man.”
“I’m sure she was thinking a bracelet from Tiffany & Company would look marvelous on her wrist, as well as thinking she needed to accommodate Walter’s every little whim because he presented her with that bracelet before an engagement was announced. That’s an unusual happenstance for Mrs. Parker—you told me she never gets compensated until an engagement is finalized.”
“She was certainly ecstatic about receiving the bracelet before any hard work had been accomplished, whereas I’m not thrilled in the least because I have a feeling Mrs. Parker is now going to expect me to be at Walter’s beck and call until we find him a suitable match. I’m certainly not enamored with being expected to be a high-society shield for a gentleman I’m not exactly fond of.”
“I don’t imagine you are.” Adelaide gave Gwendolyn’s arm a pat. “But I don’t think you’ll need to worry about kowtowing to Walter’s every demand. You’re in charge of his social calendar—overwhelm him with mandatory attendance at social functions. If you do that, he’ll have no time to do that beck-and-calling you’re concerned about.”