She nodded to Phyllis. “Odd that I need to ask this, but which lady is my grandmother?”
Phyllis began fanning her face with her hand. “I’m not certain I should tell you that because your grandmother is in the company of Mrs. Higgenson. As you’ve already been apprised, that society matron has it out for you.”
“And doesn’t that sound exactly like a challenge, so ... where are they?”
Phyllis gestured to where a gathering of ladies had assembled underneath a shade tree. “Your grandmother is in the green afternoon gown. Mrs. Higgenson is the lady beside her in pink.”
“Lovely,” Gwendolyn said briskly. “If everyone will excuse me? This won’t take long.” She stalked into motion, her every step filled with determination.
“You need to go with her,” Phyllis said, giving Walter a less than subtle nudge.
“My thoughts exactly.”
Walter nodded to Oscar. “You’ll watch over the twins until I return?”
“Don’t I always?” Oscar asked, an underlying trace of something concerning in his tone.
“Why do I get the distinct impression there’s something you’re not saying?”
Oscar shrugged. “Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t.”
Knowing now was hardly the time to discuss the matter further because he had to ascertain Gwendolyn didn’t suffer any repercussions from her decision to confront her grandmother, Walter considered Oscar for a moment. “I think it’s past time you and I set aside an evening to discuss what’s been bothering you of late.”
It was less than encouraging when Oscar’s only response was a rolling of his eyes. But confident his son could be trusted, as always, to look after the twins, Walter strode after Gwendolyn, catching up with her right as she sailed her way through the throng of ladies gathered around her grandmother, not bothering to stop until she stood a mere foot from the woman.
“Grandmother!” Gwendolyn exclaimed in a downright chirpy voice. “How lovely to see you in Newport, although I wasn’t expecting you to get here quite so rapidly. I only recently learned Mrs. Higgenson extended you such a thoughtful invitation. Why, you must have packed your bags the moment you received it and hightailed it to Newport.”
Given that Opal Brinley’s mouth was now slightly agape, it was evident she’d not been expecting a direct confrontation from her granddaughter, but Gwendolyn didn’t stop with her chirpy greeting. No, she moved closer, beaming a smile all the while, then kissed Opal soundly on the cheek, stepping back a moment later.
To Walter’s concern, Opal’s nose shot into the air, quite like Gwendolyn’s had recently done. She then released a sniff and moved to turn her back on her granddaughter, foiled in her attempt to give Gwendolyn the cut direct when Gwendolyntook hold of her grandmother’s arm, her smile disappearing as ice settled in her eyes.
“If you think I’m going to allow you to ostracize me, which will encourage others to do the same, you’re sadly mistaken,” Gwendolyn said, lowering her voice to a whisper. “Know that I won’t hesitate to cause a scene, one where our family nastiness will be publicized for everyone to hear. Since your greatest fear is apparently to have even a whisper of scandal attached to the Brinley name, I suggest you paste a smile on your face and nod every now and again as I tell you what’s on my mind. You may pretend we’re merely enjoying a delightful grandmother and granddaughter reunion.”
Ice settled in Mrs. Brinley’s eyes as well as she considered Gwendolyn before she gave a slight inclination of her head. “Make it brief.”
“I don’t deal well with demands,” Gwendolyn said before she turned to the crowd of ladies edging closer so they wouldn’t miss a word of what was certainly going to be an interesting exchange.
“Ladies, I’m sure you’ll understand the need my grandmother and I have for privacy, given how long we’ve been parted. If you’ll excuse us, I hear they’re serving some lovely refreshments in the dining room.”
It came as little surprise when no one seemed keen to leave what was certainly going to be a gossip-worthy encounter.
Walter cleared his throat and summoned up a smile. “I understand the casino is offering a wonderful lemon sorbet today.” He nodded to Phyllis and Adelaide, who’d come to stand beside him. “Would the two of you be so kind as to escort everyone into the casino for their treat, and also be so kind as to request the staff put the cost of the sorbets on my tab?”
Phyllis squared her shoulders. “It would be our pleasure.” She gestured to the crowd. “Off we go, and no need to linger tooffer Mr. Townsend any word of appreciation for his generosity. All of you may do that after he joins us in the club later.”
Even though Phyllis’s words were met with frowns and a few grumbles here and there, because she’d taken to looking every inch the formidable society matron she was, everyone turned and headed for the clubhouse, except for Gwendolyn, her grandmother, Mrs. Higgenson, Catriona, who’d stolen up beside him, as well as his mother, who’d surprised Walter by turning up for the match, declaring she was there to lend Gwendolyn her full support.
Evidently, that support was also going to be offered as Gwendolyn faced down her grandmother, although why Ethel had had such a change of heart about his matchmaker, Walter couldn’t actually say, but he vowed to get to the bottom of that particular mystery at his earliest convenience.
Once the crowd removed themselves from their vicinity, Gwendolyn returned her attention to her grandmother. “I suppose the first order of business would be an introduction. I’m Gwendolyn, the eldest of your son’s six children.”
“I know who you are.”
Gwendolyn smiled. “Ah, my reputation precedes me.” She inclined her head in Mrs. Higgenson’s direction. “I’m sure Mrs. Higgenson was eager to apprise you of my role in Newport this Season, just as I’m certain you didn’t hesitate to journey here because learning your granddaughter, even one you’ve never met, is employed as a matchmaker must have irritated you.”
Mrs. Brinley’s eyes narrowed. “Quite. You’ve brought disgrace to the Brinley name, although I can’t say I’m surprised, given who your mother is.”
“You’ll leave my mother out of this.”