Katie Rose (16 page)

They thanked their aunt profusely, touched by her gesture. Jennifer allowed Eve to slip the pearls around her neck, then pulled on her long gloves.

The three sisters raced down the steps, chattering excitedly. Snatching on their cloaks, they bade Eve goodbye. The old woman stood in the doorway, huddled in her shawl, waving as the carriage pulled away from the curb.

The Rutherfords’ house was an elegant white marble, located in the best part of town, on Fifth Avenue. Jennifer gawked as they passed the wealthy homes of the Astors, the Schermerhorns, and the other New York millionaires who practically owned the street. Excitement coursed through her as they stepped inside and quickly allowed the servant to take their cloaks, as Penelope instructed. They hadn’t the money to buy good evening cloaks, but once they shed their everyday coverings, they emerged as beautiful as any butterflies.

The room was a dazzle. Chandeliers gleamed brilliantly, the gaslights flickering behind crystal beads and sending incandescent lights dancing across the black-and-white marble floor. Music played gaily, and women decked in gorgeous gowns swept through the room like angels. Men, looking suave and debonair, stood about the punch bowls talking about investments and politics, while others flirted shamelessly with their demure companions. Fresh flowers bloomed everywhere, peeping from gold sconces in the wall, filling every available vase, and adorning the dresses of the younger girls. It was beautiful, breathtaking, and exciting, everything a ball should be.

Penelope was asked to dance immediately, and she swept across the floor, holding her skirt in one hand, her partner’s hand in the other as smoothly as if she’d been doing this forever. Winifred, preceded by her reputation, was soon surrounded by a group of scholarly ladies and men who found her a witty and knowledgeable companion. Jennifer greeted the excited girls who wanted to know everything about spiritualism, and was questioned endlessly about the sisters’ appearance at the stock exchange and magnetic healing. While some of the older, wealthier women snubbed her and whispered behind their fans, the younger and more liberal seemed happy to meet her.

Jennifer’s gaze continually swept the room, looking for Gabriel, but he apparently hadn’t arrived. Her foot tapped impatiently as she watched the dancing, though she tried to appear interested in the conversation. Sally Weatherwill was just asking her another question about contacting the dead when Jonathan Wiseley pressed forward, his gloved hand extended.

“Do you dance, Miss Appleton? Or only talk to ghosts?” There was a teasing note in his voice, and Jennifer smiled and took his hand.

“No, I dance also. Thank you.”

The young man swept her out onto the floor. Jennifer
felt awkward at first, not having had much experience waltzing, but Jonathan quickly put her at ease and showed her the basic steps. He held her a little too tightly for her comfort, but Jennifer managed, by a misstep or two, to put some distance between them. She noticed the attention she was receiving, and, to Jonathan’s displeasure, was asked again to dance almost immediately.

It was as if some sort of code had been established, for as soon as that waltz ended, another swain asked her for a dance, and another after that. Word had gotten out among the men as well about the
New York Times
article, and Jennifer was peppered with questions as she waltzed, especially about her day at the market. She answered them deftly, smiling all the while so that her partners didn’t know whether her response was serious or teasing, but Jennifer discovered that Penelope was right. Dealing with men was almost mathematical, and once one had the formula, it was quite easy indeed.

“Do you have room in your program for one more dance?”

Jennifer knew the voice before she turned around. There was only one man who could do this to her, one voice she’d know anywhere. Her breath caught and her heart pounded. She could feel the heat rise in her face. Composing herself quickly, she turned and greeted Gabriel.

He looked wonderful—and far more elegant than some of the dandified men—clad totally in black dress clothes with only a sparkling white shirt and simple cravat. His dark wavy hair had been swept back from his face, making his sharp features even more threatening—and attractive. His hand, clad in a pearl gray glove, swept down to her wrist and he lifted her program, displaying the astonishing number of names. He didn’t look entirely pleased when he surveyed the list scrawled on her card.

“It seems you have been enjoying yourself this evening. I would suggest you be careful with men like
Jonathan Wiseley. He has quite a reputation as a cad among the ladies.”

“I will take your advice,” Jennifer said demurely, but her heart sang with laughter. Gabriel sounded almost jealous! It was too good to be true. She gave him a sideways glance and shrugged. “Although Mr. Wiseley is extraordinarily kind. He is also a wonderful dancer.”

Gabriel opened his mouth to argue, but when he saw the glint in her eyes, he started to chuckle. “Miss Appleton, for some reason, you bring out the worst in me. If I didn’t know better, I would think you are deliberately goading me.”

“Do you know better?” Jennifer asked innocently.

Gabriel shook his head. “Where you’re concerned, Miss Appleton, I admit I know nothing. Now are you going to dance with me? I had hoped that the kitten would entitle me to special privileges.”

She took his hand, allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor, overcome with joy. “Angel entitles you to lots of special privileges,” Jennifer demurred, remembering Penelope’s warnings not to act too eager. “Aunt Eve wouldn’t agree, though. It seems our little tiger likes nothing better than to tease her parrot, which we all encourage. Thank you for him. He is a welcome addition to the household.”

“You’re welcome. It was the least I could do, considering that the kitten was about to meet its untimely end, which I thought was very curious.”

“How?”

“I saw the same boy in the park the next morning with another basket of doomed kittens. It seems he has a racket going.”

“You’re joking!” Jennifer gasped. “Do you mean—”

Gabriel shrugged, but his eyes twinkled. “It appears the little entrepreneur knows a good thing when he sees it.”

Jennifer giggled as they swept across the floor. There
was something incredibly intimate about this, being so close to Gabriel, her gloved hand in his, his other settled firmly around her waist. She could feel the heat from his body, smell the masculine scent of him, and enjoy the feeling of being small and feminine in his strong arms. He was an excellent dancer, and her own limited capability bloomed in his experienced strides. To her mounting excitement, she noticed that he was enjoying himself, although she sensed the battle within him. Winifred’s words came back to haunt her, but she dismissed them quickly. He was dancing with her publicly, and that had to be a good sign.

Glancing through the crowd, she saw Winifred engaged with Charles Howe, and Penelope talking flirtatiously with an older gentleman. Both of them looked beautiful, and were obviously having a good time. When the dance ended, Jennifer wondered if he would escort her to dinner, for that would signal his interest to everyone there beyond a doubt. To her intense disappointment, he bowed before her.

“Thank you, Miss Appleton. I’m certain you will be very much engaged the rest of the evening, from the look of your program. Perhaps I will see you before I go.”

“But—” Jennifer protested, wanting to stop him, wanting to tell him she didn’t want to dance with anyone but him.

“Yes?” He paused, but was already looking across the room. His gaze settled on one of the other guests, and Jennifer saw it was Allison Howe. Allison looked wonderful, dressed in an expensive gown that radiated money and taste. She was talking with Elizabeth Billing, and the two girls smiled as if sharing a joke. Allison’s eyes met hers, and Jennifer saw what looked like pity in them before she turned her gaze to Gabriel and smiled warmly. Humiliation swept through Jennifer, though she cast her eyes down quickly so he couldn’t see.

“Did you say something, Miss Appleton?”

“No. Thank you again for the kitten. And the dance.”

She left quickly, afraid she would start crying if she didn’t. Making her way through the crowd, she swallowed hard, fighting the tears that threatened. Winifred was right. Allison was the kind of woman Gabriel would marry, not her, and the sooner she accepted that, the better.

Allison Howe saw Gabriel leave Jennifer and make his way across the dance floor. A frown creased her face and she tapped her fan across her palm in agitation. Elizabeth Billing sighed, then turned to smile at her friend.

“Isn’t Jennifer Appleton pretty? It’s a wonder Gabriel dares to dance with her publicly. She is, after all, very notorious!”

Allison smiled brittlely at Elizabeth Billing’s subtle taunting. Her aristocratic upbringing prevented her from venting her true emotions; however, her eyes narrowed and her voice was tinged with displeasure.

“I’m sure Gabriel can dance with any female he wishes, as can most of the men. I don’t notice that any of the Appleton girls are short of dance partners.”

“Yes, I agree. It is so nice of him to choose Jennifer, particularly since she is new to society,” Elizabeth sighed, “and not altogether accepted. Mama forbade me to ask her to supper. It just wouldn’t be good for my reputation, you know. I hear Gabriel spends a lot of time with her. That’s odd, don’t you think?”

“Gabriel has many acquaintances,” Allison said, though the fan tapped harder. “He is a businessman, after all, and must consort with all kinds of people as a result.”

“I don’t know what business dealings he’d have with the Appletons,” Elizabeth continued, her voice dripping
with sugar. “Do mystics require much marble, do you think? Do you know they say she can really speak to the deceased? Mary Forester swears Jennifer helped her immensely. And she does magnetic healing! Why, it was in the newspaper that she laid her hands on the commodore himself and cured him!”

“I did see that,” Allison answered, staring at Jennifer speculatively. “I think I shall have to pay Miss Appleton a visit very soon.”

As Gabriel approached, Allison smiled sweetly and extended her hand. She glanced back at Elizabeth, and spoke quickly.

“I wouldn’t look so smug if I were you, dear. I saw Charles disappear with Winifred Appleton quite some time ago. Do enjoy the dance, and I hope to see you at dinner.”

Allison departed with Gabriel, while Elizabeth gasped, her fan fluttering indignantly.

“May I fetch you a jelly, or an ice, perhaps?”

“No, thank you,” Winifred answered with detachment. She saw Gabriel escort Allison to dinner and gave a worried frown. She was standing behind the elephant plant with Charles, where they had been arguing the benefits of women in higher education. Charles, seeing her expression, thought lack of refreshment had caused her distraction. He glanced behind him, then turned back to her. “Is something troubling you?”

“No.” Concealing her emotions, Winifred gave Charles a cool glance. “I was just observing your friend dancing with my sister. Mr. Howe, could I ask you something personal?”

Charles’s brow lifted, as if surprised that the normally reticent and completely enticing Winifred would presume anything. “Of course.”

“Does Gabriel Forester have … an arrangement with your sister?”

Understanding seemed to dawn on Charles’s features, and Winifred hoped she’d done the right thing confiding in him. But she could not bear to see Jennifer’s glowing happiness in the arms of a man Winifred was certain would hurt her. If Winifred knew the truth, she could perhaps help soften the blow when it came.

“Gabriel has been seeing Allison for quite some time,” Charles answered carefully. “Our families have been in favor of the match, particularly since we once feared for Allison’s future.”

“What do you mean?”

“Allison had a girlish crush on an entirely inappropriate man. My parents forbade her to see him, for he drank and gambled, and would have brought her to ruin. For that reason, they have encouraged her relationship with Gabriel. I personally have not.”

Winifred shot him a surprised look. “Why not? He is your friend, isn’t he?”

Charles nodded. “Yes, he is a very good friend. However, I’m not convinced the match would make either of them happy. Gabriel needs to really care for someone, and I don’t believe he feels that depth of emotion for Allison. And I also don’t think Allison will ever forget Miguel if she doesn’t truly love someone else.”

“I see,” Winifred said thoughtfully. “Do you think they will become engaged anyway?”

She locked her eyes with his, not allowing him a polite evasion. Charles squirmed, but nodded reluctantly. “Yes, I think so.” When Winifred didn’t respond, Charles took her hand gently. “Miss Appleton, please don’t worry about your sister’s relationship with Gabriel. Gabriel is a gentleman. He would never deliberately lead Jennifer on, I’ll see to it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Howe.” Winifred smiled and pressed his hand, genuinely grateful for his help.

Charles looked down at her, his eyes becoming dark and full of some strange emotion. Winifred couldn’t identify it, but she knew it was vaguely threatening and exciting at the same time. “Miss Appleton, have I told you how absolutely beautiful you look tonight?”

“No,” Winifred answered honestly, taken aback.

“Well, you do. You outshine all the other women here, with their frills and fripperies. In fact, I find you downright stunning.” He leaned closer and placed a tentative kiss on her cheek.

Winifred’s lips parted in astonishment. An odd, tingling pleasure coursed through her, unlike anything she’d experienced before. But her delight was not long-lasting. As if suddenly realizing what he’d done, Charles turned bright red and withdrew a few steps backward.

“I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I don’t know what made me do that. Please forgive me.”

“Certainly,” Winifred said, though her spirit was crushed. She was well aware of what he meant. Charles, like Gabriel, may have been attracted to her, but did not see her as a woman he would consort with publicly. For once her scholarly mind seemed to have deserted her, and she was like any other adolescent girl, experiencing her first heartache.