“Why would she do that?”
“I believe Mrs. Higgenson intends to ruin you, thinking your grandmother—what with how she disowned your father—will give you the cut direct, which will then have everyone in society doing the same.”
Walter frowned and caught Gwendolyn’s eye. “Forgive me, but I fear I’m at a disadvantage. It almost sounds as if your grandmother travels in society, what with how she evidentlycan deliver you a cut direct, and that has me questioning exactly what you meant when you told me you weren’t an average woman in service.”
“It’s a long story and now is hardly the time to get into it, but yes, my grandmother is society—Boston society to be exact. We’re estranged, but my grandmother values the reputation of the Brinley name above all else. I’m sure Mrs. Higgenson has told her I’m roaming around Newport as an assistant matchmaker, which means I doubt Grandmother Brinley will hesitate to take Mrs. Higgenson up on her invitation to visit.”
Walter considered her for a moment. “You don’t appear overly disturbed about a future encounter with your grandmother.”
Gwendolyn shrugged. “There’s little sense in avoiding unpleasantness, because that only prolongs that state. While I’d prefer not to have this specific obstacle placed in my path at this particular moment, a confrontation is probably long overdue. Hopefully, it’ll be the last tumultuous circumstance I experience for the rest of the summer, because, frankly, I can’t imagine my summer could possibly hold many more unexpected surprises.”
Walter opened his mouth, a hundred questions on the tip of his tongue, but before he could voice a single one, the chatter of background voices suddenly disappeared, leaving an odd silence in its wake.
“Is it my imagination, or has everyone stopped speaking?” Phyllis asked before she stood on tiptoe and squinted to where the majority of guests were assembled. “I can’t see much from here, but if I’m not mistaken, a new guest just arrived.”
“Who do you think it is?” Gwendolyn asked.
“Only one way to find out,” Phyllis said, taking hold of Gwendolyn’s arm, then snagging hold of Walter’s before she pulled them forward.
It didn’t take long to make their way to the edge of the crowd,where Gwendolyn stopped without warning right as she drew in a sharp breath.
Walter turned his attention to where she was now staring and discovered a beautiful woman with red hair sauntering toward the guests. Dressed in the first state of fashion, she walked with such confidence it was clear she was a lady accustomed to drawing and holding attention.
She was also a lady who bore a striking resemblance to Gwendolyn.
“I should have known better than to question the chances of something else unexpected being thrust in my direction,” Gwendolyn muttered.
“You know that lady?” Walter asked.
Gwendolyn gave a bob of her head. “She’s my cousin Catriona Zimmerman. Unfortunately, she possesses a most dramatic nature, as well as the ability to land herself in the midst of shenanigans that would put the antics we’ve experienced at the hands of society ladies this Season to shame.”
Twenty-Three
“I’m still not clear why you’re in Newport, Catriona,” Gwendolyn said, pausing as she rummaged through one of the trunks Catriona had brought for her. “You told me numerous times you were looking forward to spending the summer in the Berkshires with the Sullivan side of the family because you missed your aunt, my mother, as well as all of your cousins.”
Catriona Zimmerman set aside her third cup of coffee for the morning, the numerous cups clearly behind why she kept flittering around the room as Gwendolyn tried to locate one of the tennis ensembles Catriona assured her she’d remembered to pack. “I’m here, as I told you yesterday at that delightful Ward McAllister’s picnic—even though I arrived at his picnic uninvited after Mrs. Parker’s butler told me where I could find you—because you sent me a telegram. It was markedUrgent.”
“I thought you’d take that particular word as a sign you needed to ship my things without delay.”
Catriona shrugged a delicate shoulder. “I tookurgentto mean you wanted me here as quickly as possible because you were in need of my assistance.”
“Assistance with what?”
“Your matchmaking endeavors,” Catriona said, gliding over to a divan upholstered in ivory and gracefully lowering herself onto it. “Matchmaking is not something you’ve ever done before, whereas I... Well, surely you remember when I had a hand in getting that lady in London, I believe her name was Lady Something or Other, engaged to that earl.”
“Lady Summerset and the Earl of Stratford were betrothed to each other from birth. You were simply at the ball where they made it official.”
“That’s merely your side of the story.”
“Thatwasthe story.”
Catriona released a sigh. “Why must you always be so argumentative? I’m here to help you.”
“If you find me challenging, by all means, return to the Berkshires, where, if you’ve forgotten, the Sullivans and Brinleys are holidaying. I’m sure you’ll find them to be far less argumentative.”
“I don’t want to return to the Berkshires. Yes, I enjoyed seeing everyone, but the atmosphere there is rather dull. I found myself growing restless, and I missed you. Life is very mundane when you’re not around.”
Gwendolyn abandoned the trunk and moved to sit beside her cousin. “You know it’s never good when you become restless. An admission like that is usually followed by one of your adventures or at the very least getting yourself into mischief. Remember when you grew restless on our trip out West and snuck off to visit a saloon? The next thing I knew you were challenged to a duel after accusing a man of cheating at cards.”