In Good Company (32 page)

“I don’t need to be in accord with you in order to enjoy dinner with good friends, Everett,” Caroline said. “But since you obviously don’t want to escort me, I’ll have Dudley step in, something he’s been gracious enough to do numerous . . .” Caroline’s words trailed off as a man in uniform stepped into the room.

After introducing himself as Officer Peterson, he walked over to Everett, pulled out a knife, and before Millie could so much as gasp, sliced it through Everett’s bindings before he did the same to Mr. Victor.

“Begging your pardon, gentlemen, but the manager here has decided he does not want to press charges against the two of you, so you’re both free to leave.” He turned to Millie. “You, however, miss, are going to accompany me down to the station.”

“You’re . . . arresting me?” Millie breathed.

Officer Peterson nodded. “From what numerous members of the Casino have stated,
you’re
responsible for the mayhem that recently occurred. You were also responsible, from what I’ve been able to gather, for another troubling incident that happened here just over a week ago.” He shook his head. “We don’t tolerate mayhem here in Newport, miss, so . . . I’m taking you in.”

Everett rose to his feet and moved to Millie’s side, taking her arm and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Miss Longfellow was in no way responsible for what recently transpired here, which means you have absolutely no grounds for an arrest.”

“Everett, don’t be ridiculous,” Caroline snapped. “Of course Miss Longfellow should be arrested. She admitted to punching Mr. Victor in the nose, and I still bear the marks of her assault on me.” She lifted up her hat and showed Officer Peterson her forehead where just the faintest trace of a bruise remained. “Shall I give you a statement now, or would it be possible for
me to do that at a later date since I do need to get on my way to prepare for a dinner party I’m attending tonight.”

“Being hit in the head with a tennis ball hardly constitutes assault, and it is certainly no reason to have someone arrested,” Everett said between teeth that seemed to be clenched.

“I have no idea why you’re constantly taking her side,” Caroline said right before she threw herself into the nearest chair and began sobbing . . . enthusiastically.

“Since I see no valid reason to arrest anyone today, I’ll just bid all of you farewell,” Officer Peterson said right before he bolted from the room, followed by the burly man who’d been guarding everyone.

Sending Millie a look filled with clear exasperation, Everett moved closer to Caroline and knelt down beside her. “Caroline, there’s no need for such dramatics.”

Caroline raised her head, yet oddly enough, there was not a single tear on her face. “No need for dramatics? You’ve caused us to become the source of rabid speculation by escorting Miss Longfellow and Miss Plum to this establishment, embarrassed me to no small end by getting into a fight, and . . . I have no idea how I’m going to be able to face all of our guests in just two days’ time at the ball you and I, if you’ve forgotten, are hosting together.”

“Perhaps we should consider canceling the ball,” Everett said softly.

In the span of a split second, Caroline’s eyes turned dangerous. “We will consider no such thing. I’ve worked for years to build up my position within society, and this ball . . . our ball . . . is what is going to cement that position for me. That you could even suggest such a thing is completely unacceptable, and . . . you’ve made me promises, promises I’m going to demand you honor.”

She let out a laugh that sounded anything but amused. “I have been the most sought-after lady within society for years, yet I gave
you
the privilege of attaching your name to mine. You will not abandon me now, especially not for . . .” She turned her head and pinned Millie with a glare that was so hot Millie could almost feel the heat from it even though she was standing several feet away from Caroline.

Drawing in a deep breath, Caroline turned back to Everett. “You’ve made some grave errors in judgment these past few weeks, my
darling
, but now it’s time for you to do what’s right for both of us.”

“It’s only a ball, Caroline.”

“It’s not, and you know it.”

Everett reached out and put a finger under Caroline’s chin, raising it so that she was forced to meet his gaze. “Considering the strife between us at the moment, the ball is not going to be the crowning moment of the season, and I wouldn’t count on any surprise announcement at the conclusion of it.”

Prickles of something alarming shot down Millie’s spine when Caroline’s lips thinned as she stared at Everett for what seemed like forever.

Then, to Millie’s surprise, Caroline smiled rather sweetly at Everett, pushed herself up and out of the chair, and headed for the door, turning when she reached it. “Of course there will be a surprise at the end of the ball, darling, and shame on you for saying differently.” With that, she turned on her heel and headed through the door, the distinct sound of her laughter trailing after her.

16

I
had no idea, Everett, when your mother asked me, along with Reverend Gilmore, to track you down, that our tracking would culminate with finding you hiding in the dark depths of the Reading Room, buried behind a newspaper.”

Folding the newspaper over the copy of
Pride and Prejudice
he’d been trying to discreetly read, Everett lifted his head and found his father staring back at him.

“Have you forgotten that you’re hosting a ball in only a few hours’ time?” Fletcher asked as he lowered himself into a chair right beside Everett.

“I’m hardly likely to forget that, since I was woken up this morning at a completely unacceptable hour by Miss Pickenpaugh and ordered to either stay out of her way, or roll up my sleeves and help with the preparations.”

“And I take it you decided there was something wrong with rolling up your sleeves?” Fletcher asked.

“Since I’m paying Miss Pickenpaugh a small fortune to organize what I’m firmly coming to believe is a disaster in the
making . . . yes, I had a problem with the idea of being put to work. Did you mention something about Reverend Gilmore?”

“He’ll be along directly. We ran into Millie, Lucetta, the children, and those adorable, yet incredibly misbehaving, puppies wandering down this very street. Reverend Gilmore is speaking with them now, but I’m sure he won’t be long.” Fletcher smiled. “Thaddeus still seems a little fascinated over some story you told him about this particular club. For some reason, he asked me if I thought Chip, his puppy, would be large enough to ride by next summer.”

Everett settled back in the chair. “He’s talking about the story I told him about how the Newport Casino came to be—the one that had Captain Candy riding his horse into this very establishment.”

Everett smiled and shook his head. “It’s probably a good thing that—what with the way this summer season is shaping up—I’m not all that keen about returning to Newport anytime soon. Although, considering the reputation I’ve been gaining of late, I don’t think anyone would be too surprised if one of my wards tried to ride a dog into the Reading Room. I have to say, though, considering Thaddeus’s fascination with this place, I’m surprised you didn’t bring him in here with you.”

“I extended the darling boy that very offer, but Thaddeus thinks it’s not fair his sisters, or Millie and Lucetta, aren’t allowed in here. That’s why he’s manfully trying to suppress his curiosity.” Fletcher laughed. “I’m not certain about this, but I think Millie might have tried to sneak a peek in one of the downstairs windows, because she had telling flower petals on her clothing, petals that just happen to match the bushes surrounding this place.”

“Her curiosity is going to get her into real trouble someday.”

“I’m sure you’re right, but it was a stroke of genius on her
part to get the children and puppies out of the house, since Caroline seems to be in quite the state today.”

“Why in the world would Caroline be in any type of state at all? She’s getting exactly what she wanted—the ball of her dreams to impress her friends. And because Miss Pickenpaugh brought in an entire army of people to set up and staff the ball, Caroline really doesn’t have to do much of anything.”

“She decided at the last minute there needed to be more impressive gifts to give the guests.”

“I thought the plan was to give the ladies fans and the gentlemen handkerchiefs.”

“You still
will
be giving those out, but Caroline wanted something a little . . . grander, and something that would leave a lasting impression after the ball is over.”

“Do I even want to know what that ‘something grander’ is?”

“Since you’re footing the bill for this added touch, you should want to know.”

Everett closed his eyes. “Go on then, tell me what I’m paying for.”

“To give Caroline credit, it’s a very clever idea, although costly, and the sheer stress of pulling this daunting feat off properly is sure to leave Miss Pickenpaugh with a nervous condition for the rest of her life.” Fletcher cleared his throat. “You’ll be pleased to learn that every guest will be given a children’s pail, filled with sand.”

Everett’s eyes shot open. “That doesn’t sound as if it will be too costly.”

“In that sand is a miniature shovel,” Fletcher continued. “That shovel has been placed at a precise angle, something Reverend Gilmore can attest to since he got coerced into placing those shovels just so before I dragged him after you.”

“Why is there a miniature shovel in all the pails, and why was it so important that it has to be placed so precisely?”

“The placement is, of course, for effect, but the shovel will be used to help your guests dig up the trinkets Caroline had sent over from . . . Tiffany’s.”

Everett sat straight up in the chair. “She ordered trinkets for over two hundred guests from Tiffany’s?”

“I’m afraid she did. Jeweled combs and bracelets for the ladies, and jeweled stick pins and small snuff boxes for the gentlemen.”

“I have half a mind to refuse to pay the bill and make her pay it instead.”

“You and I both know you can’t do that, no matter how wrong Caroline is about the matter.”

Everett raised a hand and began rubbing at an ache that was developing behind his temple. “She must still be very annoyed with me regarding the brawling incident.”

“Of course she’s annoyed with you, and not only about the brawling, if I were to hazard a guess.”

“She has nothing else to be annoyed about.”

“There is Millie,” Fletcher said slowly.

“You mean the woman who has been deliberately avoiding me ever since the brawl?”

“Your mother
thought
something was amiss between the two of you.”

“Well, she’s right, but as for what that something is, I certainly don’t know.” He slouched down in the chair. “Millie’s odd behavior began when we walked through the Casino after the unfortunate brawling incident to get to my buggy.” A trace of temper shot through him. “All of the members of the Casino were gawking at us as we walked, sending Millie, Lucetta, and me looks of what can only be described as disdain. And . . . the society ladies were tittering behind their gloved hands, some of those titters rather loud, and none of them very kind in regard to Millie or Lucetta.”

“Do you think Millie’s upset because you did nothing to stop the tittering?”

“I told the crowd to mind their own business, which didn’t go over very well, since they started tittering about me—and nothing pleasant, I must admit. But, instead of appeasing Millie, my attempt at protecting her and Lucetta from the harsh words seemed to aggravate her.”

“Hmmm. . . . Well, good for you for making a stand, but as for why that would aggravate Millie, I must confess myself a bit perplexed.”

“She’s a complicated woman.”

“All women are complicated, son. You should simply accept that for fact and be prepared to be confused for the rest of your life.”

“I’m certainly confused at the moment.”

“I don’t blame you.” Fletcher settled more comfortably in the chair. “You’ve never been one to seek my advice, and I blame myself for that since I was not available to you in your youth.” Fletcher blew out a breath. “Your mother and I have recently come to the vastly uncomfortable conclusion that we’ve failed you as parents, but I hope you’ll allow me to make amends for that, and give you some advice now.”

“You and Mother did not
fail
me as parents. I was given everything a person could want.”

“Except for our time, Everett. We never gave you enough of that.”

“I was hardly at a disadvantage considering no parents in our social world spend much time with their children. You gave me the best education money could buy. And I was always surrounded by friends of the same social class, which meant I grew up with people holding the same values I do as well as sharing the same interests.”

“Which only proves how much of a disservice I’ve done you,” Fletcher countered. “As you said, you’ve been surrounded solely by like-minded individuals—and that has not given you a proper perspective of life. That right there is why you don’t know how to proceed with that life in a way that’s certain to make you happy.”