Trawling for Trouble (8 page)

The carriage inched ahead.

“I don't know what Lord David will think of us, with us missing dinner.”

“I'm sure Francis will explain that the ferry was late. No doubt there will be other late arrivals.”

“And Lionel not even bothering to make an appearance to the man's introduction to Newport society.”

“As I explained to you, my dear, Ballard had business issues that couldn't wait.”

“Ah, business,” she said, dismissing the idea with a wave of her fan.

“Keeps you and the girls in finery, and I must say the three of you are looking exquisite tonight.”

Deanna shot a smile across to her father. Her? Exquisite?

Mrs. Randolph nodded slightly and returned her attention to Deanna. “Lord David is the owner of a huge sugar plantation in Barbados, and from what I hear very handsome—and eligible. And a peer. I expect you to be on your best behavior tonight, Deanna, and please, please try not to scare this one away.”

“But I—” A look from her mother hushed Deanna's tongue. She hadn't scared Joseph Ballard away, had she? It had all happened so suddenly. The families had decided the two of them would marry, and before Deanna had even assimilated the news, Joe had bolted. An unladylike word, but there it was.

It wasn't even as if she'd loved Joe. Or he, her. They had practically grown up together. When Bob died, Joe became a surrogate big brother. He'd always been solicitous to Adelaide, who was just four years younger than he, but Adelaide never wanted to do anything fun or interesting or energetic.

Joe called her Adelaide the Limpid.

Deanna, on the other hand, according to Joe, was a handful. He could be bossy and a little overprotective, like an older brother, but he could also be fun.

She erased the slight smile from her face. She wasn't going to think about Joe tonight.

The carriage moved forward and finally came to a stop at the front steps of Seacrest. The door was opened by a liveried footman, and a ripple of anticipation danced up Deanna's spine.

Jeannette Randolph looked quickly across at her daughters.

“Adelaide, pinch your cheeks. You're looking positively peaked.”

Adelaide pinched her cheeks, and they all descended.

*   *   *

Deanna didn't fall out of the carriage or trip up the steps, but she did stop to take it all in. Deanna and Cassandra Woodruff were great friends, and she'd been to Seacrest hundreds of times. It was one of the many new “cottages” being built in Newport. Not as monumental as Marble House or Chateau-sur-Mer. Not nearly as big as the new Vanderbilt “cottage,” The Breakers, which had just been completed in time for the summer season.

Seacrest was a sprawling confection of towers and turrets and fairy-tale details with wonderful places to play hide-and-seek. The Woodruffs held extravagant parties that Deanna and Cassie had spied on from the oriel window above the ballroom. But tonight was the first time she'd actually been invited to one.

Every window was ablaze with light. The Woodruffs had installed electricity throughout the house last year, and the lights were so much brighter than the gaslight they still used at Randolph House. Gaslight was softer but harder to see by; her father so far had refused to install the new lighting.

Deanna had to admit there was something garish about all that brightness. It took the mystery out of the façade; flattened out the scrollwork until it looked almost like a painting instead of intricately carved detail; turned the turrets, belvederes, and gabled eaves into hard geometric shapes.

Her mother paused on the landing, looked down the sweeping steps, and cleared her throat. Deanna collected herself, lifted her skirt gracefully in one hand, and climbed the steps without mishap.

They stopped in the foyer, where backlit stained glass windows rained particles of color on the visitors as they entered. The major domo showed them through to the ballroom as if none of them had been in the house before. Even Deanna had danced there, but only in the daylight, when Cassie and she would sneak in and twirl to the music in their heads until Cassie's governess found them and shooed them back to the schoolroom.

Tonight it had been transformed. The three giant chandeliers shone brilliantly overhead. Each crystal had been washed and dried and replaced by gloved hands, and they sparkled like diamonds. Wall sconces shot cones of electric light against the new “japonesque” wallpaper that Mrs. Woodruff had commissioned for the occasion. Chaises and chairs were placed for convenience around the dance floor.

The ballroom was already filling with people, the women's colorful dresses standing out among the gentlemen's dark evening wear as if bits of light from the foyer had followed them inside. Music floated down from the hidden orchestra alcove above their heads and filled the room with the latest tune.

The Randolphs made their way to their hosts, who were standing near the entrance to the ballroom. Mrs. Woodruff was wearing a gold-and-orange brocade evening gown with a ruffled scooped neck that showed off her ample bosom. A tiara of diamonds and amethysts was nearly buried in the curls of her coiffure. A diamond choker circled her rather plump neck and a corsage of pale lavender orchids embellished her left shoulder.

She was dressed lavishly but none too tastefully, and Deanna knew her mother would not approve. Mostly, her mother disapproved of Eleanor Woodruff because her wealthy silver-mining family, though rich in money, was poor in pedigree. Deanna thought that what Mrs. Woodruff lacked in taste and refinement, she more than made up for in generosity and good humor.

Fortunately, her mother had to put up with Mrs. Woodruff, because Francis Woodruff not only was a partner in R and W Sugar, but came from a family with both a staggering fortune and an impeccable pedigree. And why she'd allowed Adelaide to become engaged to Charles.

“Don't you look lovely tonight,” Mrs. Woodruff said when it was Deanna's turn to be presented. “Cassie is somewhere around here. She's been looking for you all evening.” She practically winked at Deanna. “Won't it be nice to be down here among the grown folks rather than peeking through the oriel?”

Deanna unconsciously glanced up at the peep window where she and Cassie had sat, heads together as they'd watched the dancers waltzing below. Mrs. Woodruff smiled and turned her attention to her next guest.

“And who is this beauty?” Mr. Woodruff took Deanna's hands in his. Always a slight, lean man, tonight he looked positively frail. There were dark circles under his eyes. But his eyes were bright and his smile was genuine, and Deanna forced a smile to her lips.

“How do you do?”

“Just fine, my dear, just fine.”

“There you are.” Cassie Woodruff, swathed in layers of light rose taffeta, appeared out of the crowd. She was glowing with excitement, her cheeks flushed to the same lovely color as her dress. “I've been waiting ages. I want to introduce you to Lord David and his sister, Lady Madeline. She's gorgeous and so much fun. You're going to love them.”

She took Deanna's hand and began leading her across the room, so close to the swirling dancers that Deanna felt dizzy. She quickly looked around to make sure her mother wasn't watching.

“Cassie, slow down.”

“Oh.” Cassie dropped her hand. “Sorry. I forgot this was your impression night.”

“Yes. And don't pretend you're so old and jaded just because your parents brought you out a year ahead of me.”

“Yes, and still an old maid,” Cassie said. “Though Lord David is definitely delectable.”

“Cassie . . .” Deanna began, but she couldn't chastise her friend for not taking Deanna's first Newport appearance seriously. Cassie loved parties, and she was naturally vivacious and high-spirited, sometimes embarrassingly so.

“There they are, over by the fireplace.”

Deanna looked toward the far end of the ballroom, where a giant spray of peacock feathers screened the fireplace, lending an Egyptian feel to the gabled and gilded overmantel. The dance ended, and the crowd separated to the sides of the room, leaving them a full view of the sugar baron and his sister. But Deanna hardly noticed him. Standing at his right side was Joseph Ballard. He caught her eye, quickly excused himself, and walked swiftly into the crowd and out of sight.

Mortified, Deanna stood frozen for a full ten seconds, while heat flooded her face. What was wrong with her that Joe would be so anxious to avoid her? And why was he even here? So much for what Orrin said. She would make Elspeth promise to never use the words “Orrin says” ever again.

Deanna dragged her gaze from the empty spot next to Lord David and turned to Cassie.

“Why didn't you tell me he was going to be here?”

“Lord David? It's a party in his honor.”

“I meant Joe.”

“Joe? Is he here?”

“He was standing right next to your guest of honor. Didn't you see him?”

Cassie giggled. “No. I didn't even know he was invited. Shall we snub him all evening?”

Deanna shook her head. “I don't think that will be necessary.” From the way he'd reacted to seeing her, she didn't think she had to worry about running into him again. How had she gone from friend to pariah so quickly? She wished their families had never cooked up that marriage scheme. It had ruined everything.

“Well, forget him and come meet our guests.”

Deanna made a concerted effort not to glance around for Joe as Cassie guided her across the floor to Lord David and Lady Madeline. She forgot Joe the instant Lord David saw them and turned his smile on her. He was tall and thin with dark blond hair “kissed by the sun,” probably from overseeing his plantation. A full mustache and a sparkle in his eye made him look slightly roguish, like the hero of one of her dime novels.

And more handsome than Joe, who was dark and clean-shaven, though maybe just a tad taller than Lord David. And a tiny bit more muscular. And he
had
looked very distinguished in a crisp white shirt and black formal attire.

Not that she cared how Joe looked.

“Lord David, Lady Madeline,” Cassie began a little breathlessly, “may I make my friend known to you?”

Deanna curtseyed to Lord David, then turned to his sister. “Lady Madeline.”

“Do call me Maddie. I can tell we're going to be great friends.” Madeline Manchester was as beautiful as her brother was handsome, with even lighter hair and the same sparkling blue eyes fringed in dark lashes. Her gown was a rich azure, trimmed in pointed lace that accentuated her tiny waist, and a décolleté that hinted at, but didn't quite show, high, firm breasts.

Madeline was so bubbly yet so decorously assured that Deanna knew she would be an instant success in Newport, even with the more exacting ladies.

As well as the envy of every girl in the room.

Cassie was enchanted with both guests, though Deanna found the sister the more captivating of the two. So much so, that she was startled when Lord David asked her to dance. Recollecting herself, she curtseyed and let him guide her onto the dance floor.

Shelley Freydont is the author of several mystery series, including the Celebration Bay series (
Independence Slay
;
Silent Knife
;
Foul Play at the Fair
) and the novels featuring Lindy Haggerty and Katie McDonald. Under the name Shelley Noble, she is the author of
Beach Colors
and
Stargazey Point
. Her books have been translated into seven languages.

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