Catriona crossed her arms over her chest. “So what if you’re a little rough? You’ve been able to find success using your intellect and your bare hands if I’m not mistaken. There’s nothing shameful about that, and Gwendolyn certainly has the right of it when she says you should set your standards higher.”
“I would be only too happy to do exactly that,” Frank said quietly, “but you’re a standard that’s far out of my reach.”
Gwendolyn held her breath as Catriona considered Frank for a long moment before a small smile flickered over her face. “You may be off the mark about that, but since Gwendolyn and I have plans to depart from Newport as soon as possible, perhaps it wouldn’t hurt for you and me to repair to the front parlor and discuss what is certainly an unexpected development.”
“It would be my honor to escort you to the parlor,” Frank said, moving into motion a second later. He took hold of Catriona’s hand, pressed a kiss to her knuckles, then extended his arm to her, which she took, and together they strolled from the room.
“I’ll say this,” Phyllis said from where she’d resumed her spot on the chaise, “if nothing else, my dear Gwendolyn, you’re definitely going to be remembered as the most successful matchmaker Newport has ever seen.”
“On the contrary,” Cordelia countered, drawing Gwendolyn’s attention as well as a wince, because she’d almost forgotten Cordelia was still in the room. “If you ask me, Miss Brinley will only be remembered as the notorious woman who, even though she realized I would be the most suited for Walter Townsend, had the audacity to attempt to steal him away from me.”
Gwendolyn wrinkled her nose. “For the umpteenth time, I didn’t try to steal Walter from anyone—nor, if I may speak bluntly, was I ever convinced you were the lady best suited for him. If you’ve forgotten, the twins became horribly sick while in your care, and all because you fed them too many sweets.”
“I’m sure that happens to children all the time, and it’s not as if I forced them to eat all the sweets I gave them.”
“They’re children, of course they’re going to eat all the sweets. They don’t know any better. You, on the other hand, should have. And . . .” Gwendolyn shook her head when Cordelia opened her mouth, a protest clearly on the tip of her tongue. “Another mark not in your favor was that, after I told you they’d gotten ill, you didn’t take responsibility for their sad plight. You also didn’t think to leave the dinner early to check on their welfare. I, however, departed before the sixth course was served, and good thing I did, because the children were still feeling sick and needed someone besides their older brother to tuck them into bed.”
“And that right there is exactly why the children were right and that you, Miss Gwendolyn Brinley, would be the best choice to become their mother.”
Gwendolyn closed her eyes for the briefest of seconds before she turned, finding Walter standing in the doorway, looking rather disheveled, as well as a touch too appealing. Her gaze settled on his face, and every thought about how appealing he was disappeared when she realized he was smiling at her, quite as if he expected her to be pleased with the declaration he’d just made.
She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, because she had news for him—she wasn’t pleased in the least, in fact, she was what could only be described as infuriated.
Thirty-Six
It was immediately evident to Walter that he might have made a rather large faux pas with his opening remark, because Gwendolyn’s eyes were now spewing sparks his way. Before he could make amends though, Cordelia began stalking his way.
“You’re not serious, are you, Mr. Townsend?” Cordelia demanded, stopping a foot away from him. “You cannot believe this woman would make an excellent mother for those adorable children of yours, not when you saw how competent I was with them.”
It took a colossal effort to refuse the urge he felt to flee, because the hostile looks he was receiving—not only from Cordelia and Gwendolyn, but also from Adelaide and Phyllis Duveen—were enough to make any man claim a just-remembered appointment and rush out of the room, begging everyone’s pardon as he bolted.
He permitted himself the luxury of a sigh instead as he caught Cordelia’s eye. “Forgive me, Miss Lowe, because I have enjoyed the time we’ve spent in each other’s company this Season. With that said, it may be best if we’re perfectly honest with each other. While I find you to be a pleasant—”
Cordelia held up her hand, cutting him off as her eyes turned icy. “Do not speak another word to me, Mr. Townsend, especially if you’re going to use additional words like pleasant. Clearly, I’ve been mistaken about you, and it’s now evident we won’t suit at all.” She dipped into a curtsy. “To be clear, I didn’t find your company pleasant in the least.”
Lifting her chin, she spun on her heel and stalked for the doorway, disappearing through it a second later, leaving Walter alone with three ladies who immediately settled their attention on him.
“I told you the word pleasant was rarely well received,” Gwendolyn said before she narrowed her eyes on him. “But pleasantness aside, care to explain what you’re doing here.”
He gave a tug on a tie that was beginning to feel as if it were strangling him. “I came to speak with you about what happened last night.”
“Oh? You mean the humiliating circumstance of my being left to fend for myself after the children, being children, thought they’d found the perfect solution to your quest of a mother for them, and announced to one and all that I was that solution? Or perhaps,” Gwendolyn continued before he could respond, “you want to explain your reaction to Oscar’s announcement, which was to stand in front of the orchestra and gape at me with an expression of what can only be described as horror on your face.”
“I’m sure you’re mistaken about that.”
Gwendolyn crossed her arms over her chest. “I assure you, I’m not. I was there, watching you, and then, the icing on the cake, after the ballroom erupted with accusations about my character, was that you didn’t bother to come to my defense.”
Walter took a step toward her, stopping when she settled an ice-filled glare on him. “You must not have seen this, but I was just about to come to your aid when you turned and strode out of the room. I was then waylaid by one irate lady after another, all of whom I’m sure I offended when I cut short their attempted conversations with me. By the time I made it out of Sea Haven, you were gone. Mrs. Parker then informed me you’d told her you wanted nothing to do with members of society, including me. I felt compelled to honor that request, at least until you had an opportunity to get your temper under control.”
Given the temper already in her eyes began burning hotter than ever, it was a foregone conclusion he’d been clumsy with his words yet again, because what lady enjoyed being told she needed to, in essence, rein in her temper?
He raked a hand through his hair. “That came out wrong.”
“Too right it did. And since I’m not in the proper frame of mind to humor any additional missteps on your part, this is where I’ll bid you good-bye.”