“Not exactly the response I was hoping for.”
She smiled. “I’m sure it wasn’t, just as I’m sure you were hoping I would agree to your proposal, but I must respectfully decline.”
“Why?”
Gwendolyn consulted her watch again. “Your two minutes are almost up, but I will spare another few seconds to tell you that I simply don’t have time to manage another gentleman this Season. Walter Townsend is certain to be a full-time effort, and I have two ladies to look after as well. Besides all that, I don’t get the impression you need assistance in the lady department. You seem perfectly capable of attracting attention of the feminine kind on your own.”
His lips curved. “You’ve been observing me?”
“Don’t look so smug. I’m an assistant matchmaker. One of my job requirements is to observe gentlemen. My observations of you, brief as they’ve been because it is only the start of the Season—although allow me to say that my limited time in Newport seems like months instead of mere days—have me convinced you have no need of a matchmaker.”
“I do if I want to secure a match like you made for Clarence Higgenson.”
Gwendolyn frowned. “I thought society was supposed to be appalled once word got out Clarence was going to abandon convention and declare his honorable intentions toward Mrs. Lanier.”
“Word has already gotten out, and yes, most of society, at least the older set, are appalled, especially his family.” E. J. leaned closer. “Have a care if you happen to encounter his mother, Mrs. Higgenson. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and according to Clarence she’s furious that some matchmaker convinced him to follow his heart.”
“It didn’t take much convincing.”
“Doesn’t matter,” E. J. said with a shrug. “Clarence wouldn’t have followed his heart if you’d not had a chat with him.” He smiled. “That right there is why I want you to represent me this Season.”
Gwendolyn’s brows drew together. “Do you have a certain lady in mind who may not be considered top drawer enough in society’s eyes?”
“Not at all, but I want a lady who can make me feel how Clarence feels. I ran across him tooling down Bellevue Avenue, and I’ve never seen a gentleman so ecstatic. He was radiating happiness, and all because you convinced him to set aside what society demands of him and ask the woman he adores to marry him.” E. J. leaned closer. “Clarence told me he’s already spoken to Mrs. Lanier and she didn’t hesitate to accept his proposal of marriage.”
“Good for Clarence.”
“Quite, but returning to me. I want you to find me a lady I can love as much as Clarence loves Mrs. Lanier.”
“You realize I had nothing to do with matching him and Mrs. Lanier, don’t you? Clarence said they’ve known each other for years, and I’ve never even met the woman.”
“A valid point, but you evidently realized Clarence loved her even before he admitted that love to you. That type of intuition is what I need to find me the lady of my dreams.”
“Don’t you have any friends who could point you in the direction of such a lady? They probably already have a young lady in mind if you disclose you’re interested in a love match.”
E. J.’s brow furrowed. “My sisters have told me I should direct my attention Miss Frances Bottleworth’s way, but they’re my sisters, so I haven’t put much stock in their suggestion.”
“Sisters are exactly whom you should pay attention to in the lady department. They, even more so than your friends, want to see you happy.”
His gaze sharpened on her. “Are you saying I should seek Miss Bottleworth out?”
“I don’t really know Miss Bottleworth, so I have no opinion about whether you should seek her out or not.”
“But you’ll speak with her after you take me on as . . . Will you be referring to me as a client?”
Tension settled at the base of Gwendolyn’s neck. “I won’t be referring to you as anything other than a casual acquaintance, because as I already mentioned, I don’t have time to find you the perfect lady.”
E. J. shot a glance across the room, his gaze lingering on Mrs. Parker, who was still holding court, smiling at the many ladies and gentlemen surrounding her. He returned his attention to Gwendolyn. “Perhaps I should take this matter up with Mrs. Parker. I imagine she’s the one who decides whom she wants to take on in any given Season.”
He glanced to Mrs. Parker again, a gleam settling in his eyes, something that had apprehension slithering up Gwendolyn’s spine. “She seems to have a fondness for diamonds. Clarence mentioned to me, before he rushed off to spend time with Mrs. Lanier, that he was going to drop off a lovely diamond-and-sapphire ring at Mrs. Parker’s residence because that’s what she apparently expects when she makes a marvelous match.”
“I’m sure Mrs. Parker now has enough jewelry to see her through the next few months,” Gwendolyn said, wincing at the distinct trace of panic lacing her tone.
“My sisters always say a lady can never possess too much jewelry. I happen to have a collection of tiaras collecting dust in my safe that came to me from various relatives.” He nodded toward Mrs. Parker. “She’s not currently wearing a tiara, which suggests she may very well need one of those to add to her collection.”
“She does not need a tiara” was all Gwendolyn got out of her mouth before E. J. sent her a bow paired with a grin and turned and strode away, Mrs. Parker in his sights.
“There is no possible way Mrs. Parker is going to be able to refuse a tiara,” she muttered right as Suzette Tilden materialized at her side, thrusting her dance card into Gwendolyn’s hand.
“I’ve been told I need to go through you to secure a dance with Mr. Townsend,” Suzette began. “He’s finally arrived at the ball, so if you’d be so kind as to write his name down for the waltz that’s to begin next, I’d be ever so grateful.”
Elizabeth Ellsworth took that second to join Suzette, a scowl marring her beautiful face. “On my word, Suzette, but I did not appreciate you muscling your way in front of me to get to Miss Brinley first.” She rubbed her side. “I might very well sport a bruise where your elbow dug into me. I highly doubt, once Miss Brinley apprises Mr. Townsend of your dubious antics, he’ll be all that keen to waltz with you.”
Suzette’s nose shot into the air. “If you’ve forgotten, Elizabeth, I was the one who presented his adorable children with a pony this afternoon. You presented them with kites. Not in the same league, which means I should get Mr. Townsend’s name on my dance card for the next waltz.”
“I doubt your pony is going to have Miss Brinley choosing you over Elizabeth, considering Mrs. Parker is sponsoring Elizabeth this Season,” Tillie Wickham said, edging in between Suzette and Elizabeth before she turned an unexpected smile on Gwendolyn. “And while it’s not fair to the rest of us that you’re representing Elizabeth and Mr. Townsend at the same time, it’s certainly fair to say you’re looking very well turned out this evening.”
The tension at the base of Gwendolyn’s neck increased.
“You’ll put Mr. Townsend’s name down on my card for the waltz?” Suzette pressed, drawing Gwendolyn back into what certainly had the potential of turning into a complete and utter disaster, especially since more ladies had joined them, all of them clutching their dance cards.