Normally not one to lose her temper so easily, Victoria wasn’t sure if it had been mortification or anger that had caused her to respond so vehemently. Most likely it had been a combination of the two, because when she’d espied him staring at her, she’d feared he’d been reading her mind. How she’d been thinking that if any one of her suitors had been more like him, she might’ve been more lenient in getting to know them. He met all of the characteristic criteria on her mental list for a husband, as in personality, integrity, being an overall good person. His handsomeness was certainly undeniable, but that was more of an added benefit in her opinion.
Handsome men could be just as unsavory as homely men.
Obviously.
The fear that he’d read her mind had turned into mortification when he’d begun speaking of marriage, and had grown into anger at his assumption that was the reason she was here. Looking for a husband, and that it could never be him.
She’d already known it could never be him, but having it spoken so directly had sent her ire to unimaginable heights. She fully understood her standing in society and that a man of his stature, of old money, would never be interested in her, but hadn’t needed it tossed in her face.
The picture on her lap added to her anger, because it was proof that men were, and would only ever be, interested in her only because of her grandfather’s money. Men who didn’t have their own money and wanted it to move up in society. Everyone knew that old money ruled New York, but new money could open doors, and that’s what the men seeking her attention wanted. Doors opened for them into society.
“I apologize, Victoria,” he said quietly. “It was not my intent to upset or insult you.”
Due to past visits, she knew him well enough to believe that hadn’t been his intention, and she couldn’t blame him for believing she was like so many other women in the city who were hoping to get him to the altar. Audrey had mentioned that in many of her letters, as well as how many of them were silly, lovestruck society girls who drove him crazy. However, she also knew Roseanne, his mother, and knew he was mistaken in his thoughts about her matchmaking the two of them. “You did not upset, nor insult me. I am fully aware that I am not a member of the blue bloods.”
“Not a—What’s that supposed to mean? You are as much a member of society as I am.”
That was hardly the case, but she wasn’t going to argue with him any longer. Drawing in a deep breath, she said, “Let’s just leave this conversation as is, knowing we both understand what was said.”
He nodded and was silent for a moment, but then whispered, “Just for the record, I don’t agree that you are not a member of society.”
Her own stubbornness wouldn’t let her remain silent, either. “For goodness’ sake, Lincoln, this is not a trial, nothing needs to be on record.”
“I am fully aware of that.”
“Then you should be fully aware that there is no reason to argue your case.”
“It’s not my case, it’s yours. You’re the one who said it.”
“Because it’s true.”
“Tell me why you believe that.”
She sucked in a breath and held it at the frustration that was growing inside her, at him and the thought that the driver might hear their whispering. “This is ridiculous.”
“Yes, it is.”
She knew he wasn’t agreeing to what she’d been referring to. “I meant this conversation.”
“That’s what I’m referring to.”
“No, it’s not. You’re referring to one specific point, I’m referring to the entire conversation, which has been ridiculous since it started. Once again, I suggest we end this discussion.”
“Why? So you can claim the last word?”
“No.” Thankfully she had a very viable answer and smiled as the clip-clop of the horses’ hooves slowed. “Because we are turning into your driveway.”
He glanced at the house, then back at her.
She smiled and focused on their arrival. It truly had been a meaningless conversation that had nothing to do with her reason for being here.
The house her grandfather had built for them in Tarrytown was large and very lovely, with all the modern conveniences, and she loved living there, but there was something about the Dryer home, about being in the heart of the city, that instilled a sense of exhilaration inside her whenever she was here. Life in the city was different than in Tarrytown, and that thrilled her deeply embedded sense of curiosity in many ways.
Fifth Avenue hosted some of the most extravagant mansions and brownstone homes in all of New York City, and the Dryer house was one of them. Their ancestors had been in shipping since the Revolutionary War. One of Audrey’s great-uncles still oversaw the shipping company and lived a block up the road, in a house just as large as the one where they’d just arrived. Made of stone and brick, with marble pillars and floors, the Dryer home encompassed a large corner lot, was four stories tall, and one side overlooked a section of Central Park.
Audrey, with her blond hair fashioned in a Newport coiffure and wearing a beautiful light green dress with a stand-up collar, was on the steps near the side door, waving ecstatically, and shouting, “You’re here! You’re here!”
Despite the frustration of the ride, Victoria was elated to see her friend. “I am! I’ve missed you!”
“I’ve missed you, too!” Audrey exclaimed.
Lincoln stepped out as soon as the carriage stopped. “Give me your picture while you step out. I’ll be careful with it.”
Victoria hated to take the chance of the glass getting smudged, but couldn’t hold on to it while climbing out and there was no place to put it, except for on the seat like before, but this time she’d have to turn around, which would be awkward and seemed senseless with the way Lincoln was holding out his hands. “Please hold it by the edges,” she said.
“I will.” He took the picture as she handed it over, and he still had a free hand to assist her out of the carriage. Before she could ask for her picture, Audrey engulfed her in a huge hug.
“I’m so happy you are here!”
Victoria returned the hug. “Me, too!”
“Come,” Audrey said, releasing the hug and taking a hold of Victoria’s hand. “The dressmaker is here, waiting to take your measurements for your bridesmaid dress. It’s such a lovely design and will look so wonderful on you.”
“I need to see to my luggage,” Victoria said, glancing at Lincoln.
Audrey didn’t release her hand. “Curtis will see to that.”
Curtis was their butler, and though Victoria trusted him, she still wanted to take the picture inside herself. She dug her heels into the stone steps, but Audrey pulled harder.
“I can’t wait for you to see the material samples,” Audrey said. “It’s a lovely shade of rose red, muted of course, because no one would want bright red for a wedding this time of year.”
Victoria sought an appropriate response, but wasn’t having much luck.
“I will carry your picture up to your room,” Lincoln said. “By the edges.”
“Thanks, Linc,” Audrey answered as if he’d been talking to her and won the tug of war, pulling Victoria into the house through the side door.
Victoria had no choice but to hope that Lincoln wouldn’t smudge the glass as Audrey pulled her down a long, marble tiled floor, while talking nonstop about dress patterns, materials, and so many other things, Victoria gave up trying to comment. Until Audrey mentioned her father.
Stopping so hard and fast, Audrey had to stop too, Victoria asked, “Your father isn’t home?”
“No, he’s down in Florida, something to do with the shipping company, but don’t worry, he’ll be home in plenty of time for the wedding.”
Victoria’s stomach sank. “When will that be?”
“He promised to be back a week before the wedding.” Audrey frowned. “Why? It’s nothing to worry about.”
It was to Victoria. She wanted an investigation into Elwood started immediately. Otherwise, he’d think he’d gotten away with it completely.
“Victoria?”
She shook her head, and told a white lie, something she rarely did, until lately when it came to the picture Lincoln was carrying upstairs to her bedroom. “I was just thinking about you, all the events before the wedding.”
“Oh, you are such a wonderful friend.” Audrey hugged her again. “Don’t worry. Linc promised to fill in for Daddy at all the necessary events.”
She couldn’t ask him to fill in for her, yet found a smile. “That’s nice of him.”
“He’s the best brother ever, just like you’re the best friend ever.”
Lincoln delivered the picture to the room assigned to Victoria, and immediately left the house again, this time to go to the office where he should have been all morning. The firm employed a large number of top-notch lawyers, and with his father out of town, it was his job to oversee the cases they accepted, and won. They had a loss now and again, but for the most part, they didn’t take on a case without fully believing they’d win—by following the law. Other firms could be bought off. Not theirs, and he was proud of that.
Corruption had no boundaries or limits, and the current political environment was making it worse. There wasn’t a business or resident in the city that wasn’t affected by it, and what bothered him the most was that politicians weren’t willing to do anything about it, because they were being enriched by it. As long as they continued to buy votes, it wouldn’t end.
What he wouldn’t give to get a case where he could go after one of them. Prove how corrupt they’d become and get them expelled from their seats. It was the only way to stop it, and if someone didn’t do it soon, the city would be in ruin. No longer be known as the Empire City, the home of America’s national and international business.
As the carriage traversed through the traffic, Lincoln glanced to his left, to the seat where Victoria had sat holding on to her picture, and couldn’t stop a grin from forming. He hoped she got her picture cleaned. The grin slipped as he wondered about her statement concerning her not being a member of the blue bloods. High society had their rules, but the only rule concerning entrance was money, and her grandfather had plenty.
His father had handled some investments for Emmet Biggs, and the money was there. More money than many families who felt they wore the crowns of society had in their coffers. Yes, it was new money, but old money—as it was referred to—was changing. Times were changing.
Maybe she felt that way because she didn’t act like so many flighty society girls. She didn’t giggle nonstop, or talk constantly, or drop things, waiting for a man to pick them up, or twist an ankle and insist upon being carried, or a number of other ridiculous actions that he’d been the target of too many times to count.
However, she could argue. He’d never experienced that with her before, and despite the subject, sparring back and forth with her, while keeping their voices low, had been entertaining.
He could recall it as entertaining now. At the time, he hadn’t found much amusement in it. He’d never had such difficulties attempting to get a point across. She would find out what he was referring to soon enough. His mother was relentless.
Yet his mother could also be sly, and probably wouldn’t be as forward with Victoria as she was with him. He would just sit back and watch, and when the time came, he could say I told you so.
Until then, he’d just ignore it all. Her, and his mother’s ploy.
Work would allow him to put that plan in place, so that’s what he did. Worked. He went into the office early and stayed late, and planned on continuing to until after the wedding.
His plan worked the rest of Monday and Tuesday, but by Wednesday, his mother was on to him and caught him before he left for the office in the morning.
“Audrey and Jake will be taking a ride in the park this evening,” she said. “You and Victoria will accompany them.”
“They’re engaged,” he responded, while spreading orange marmalade on his toast.
She merely stared at him from the other side of the table, giving him the I’m your mother and you will listen look.
“They no longer need a chaperone,” he added.
Pouring coffee form the silver pot into a floral china cup with matching saucer, she shook her head. “You will not be accompanying them as a chaperone. You will accompany them so Victoria will not be left home alone.”
He sliced his toast in half and picked up one piece. “Does Victoria want to go?”
“Of course, she wants to go.”
“How do you know? Did you ask her?”
Her lips puckered and she pointed the spoon she’d used to add sugar to her cup at him. “Do not talk with food in your mouth.”
“I didn’t. I’d already swallowed.” He held the toast up near to his mouth for a second bite, but spoke first. “Did you ask her if she wants to go?”
“No, but she does. The two of them haven’t gone anywhere except shopping since she arrived.”
He swallowed his toast and took a drink of coffee before saying, “She’s only been here a day and a half.”
“It will be three days this evening. She arrived on Monday and this is Wednesday. I’ll expect you home for dinner. Jake will be joining us, then the four of you will go riding.” She lifted her cup and took a sip before adding, “You promised you’d fulfill all your father’s duties while he’s absent.”
Lincoln considered pointing out that hours-wise, Victoria had been here less than forty-eight, but chose not to. He set his napkin on the table and stood. “I will, but father wouldn’t go riding with them in the park.” On his way around the table, he paused and kissed her cheek. “Have a good day, Mother.”
Keeping his smile hidden until he was out of the room, he then added a chuckle to it. He would be home in time for supper, and would go riding, so Victoria could see exactly what he’d been attempting to explain to her.
That thought and a smile hung with him all day. Although, he did experience an odd tightening in his chest once in a while when thinking about Victoria. She was innocent in all this, even though he had warned her. That could be the true sense of why she didn’t consider herself a part of high society, for the mere fact her family wasn’t as cutthroat as some.
He wouldn’t define his mother as such, either. She was a kind and caring person, except for when it came to the subject of him getting married. Not even she would consider him marriageable if she knew the real him. The man who was far more interested in fighting corruption than going about town with a wife on his arm and having the main goal of procreating the next generation of Dryers.
That would come someday. His family would need the next generation to continue the name and the successes of previous generations, but he was only twenty-six and had years before he’d need to procure a son. By then, he would be an elected official, enforcing laws that would make this world safer and more secure than the current conditions provided for.
Until then, a wife would only be in the way.
Young women wanted a man’s undying attention, a fantasy life of love and adoration. When the time came for him to choose a wife, it would be a woman mature enough to understand that respectability and security would make them happier in the long run, because it didn’t fade over time. He’d already seen men, friends of his, who had been so love smitten they couldn’t think straight, then married only to be miserable within months of the wedding. Two were already seeking divorces and there were others who’d come to him seeking legal advice on ways to get out of the situations they now found themselves in with women they’d once claimed to love and now couldn’t stand to be in the same house as.
He felt sympathy for his friends, but at the same time, he couldn’t help but think how those men should have thought things through rather than rushing to the altar. A fraction of impulse control would have benefitted them greatly.
Then again, perhaps they didn’t know all that he knew. How marriage had ruined lives before, including his uncle’s.
If his mother knew his inner thoughts, she wouldn’t be so intent to marry him off, especially to Victoria, because the entire family liked her and wanted the best for her. Maybe he should point that out to his mother.
He quickly forwent that thought. She’d simply try to convince him how wrong he was, and that could make matters worse.
Thumping his pencil on the stack of papers on his desk, he glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. Most days he was surprised when he looked up and realized it was past time to go home. Today, barely a few minutes ticked by between glances.
Victoria had to know that the two of them would be accompanying Audrey and Jake for a ride in the park this evening, and he wondered what she thought about that. If she was beginning to see through his mother’s request or not. He also wondered what she thought about him being right.
Giving his head a shake, he shoved all thoughts to the back of his mind and put his focus on the papers before him. John Webster was selling his downtown department store to Blackwells, who had several other stores throughout the city. It was a simple sale, and he’d written dozens of such contracts practically with his eyes closed. This one should be just as easy. He just couldn’t seem to keep his mind on it.
Needing a way for that to happen, he picked up the telephone and called John Webster. Once the line was connected, he said, “Hello, Mr. Webster, it’s Lincoln Dryer.”
“Hello, Mr. Dryer, thank you for considering my case.”
Case? Lincoln quickly scanned through the paperwork, looking for who had taken the original request to write up a sales contract. Seeing no name, just a letter from Mr. Webster requesting a contract for the sale, he said, “It’s my understanding you are selling your department store.”
“That’s what they’re calling it,” Mr. Webster said.
A shiver tickled Lincoln’s spine, and he gave himself a second to determine if he wanted to go down a road that was sure to be dirty, but already knew the answer. “Would you be interested in having a consultation on this sale?”
The silence on the other end of the line was his answer. Webster was being coerced into selling. Something that was becoming too common.
“If you aren’t interested in selling,” Lincoln said. “I might be able to help. We could set up a time to meet.”
“They know where I am at all times.”
Lincoln’s assumptions were stacking up like bricks. “I have some shopping to do, at your store, around three tomorrow afternoon.”
“I could be in the men’s department.”
Because he’d never bought anything at Webster’s store, that might appear too obvious to onlookers. “Make it the women’s department,” Lincoln said. “I have to purchase a gift for my sister’s upcoming wedding.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Mr. Dryer. Good day.”
“Good day,” Lincoln said, hanging up the handpiece. Was he getting his hopes up, or could this be the case he’d been hoping for?
Victoria stared at the list Roseanne Dryer had created with disbelief. Audrey’s mother was a lovely woman whom Victoria had always adored. She still did, and her disbelief wasn’t so much at Roseanne as it was to herself, because she was wondering if Lincoln been right.
Every event between now and the wedding, and there was a long list of them, had her attending them with Lincoln. Even a ride in the park this evening. She understood that the wedding greatly increased the number of parties, balls, and outings that Audrey would want to attend, but that didn’t mean Victoria had to attend. It didn’t mean that Lincoln had to, either. Especially things like riding in the park, or attending the theater, and other things that had no relation to the wedding.
Nothing close to this had ever happened on her prior visits.
“Is there something wrong, dear?” Roseanne asked, taking a sip of her tea.
“I’m just thinking about Audrey,” Victoria said. “She and Jake might like to attend some of these events alone, together.”
“They’ll have the rest of their lives to be alone together.” Roseanne looked towards the doorway through which Audrey had disappeared a few moments ago.
Although neither Victoria nor Audrey had seen a grease spot on Audrey’s dress, Roseanne had and Audrey had left to change into another dress. Glancing back down at the list, Victoria said, “Lincoln may have to work late again.”
“He’ll be home tonight, and will be at each of those events.” Rosanne lowered her voice to near a whisper. “The truth is, dear, I’m worried about Lincoln.”
A tiny shiver rippled over Victoria. “Why?”
“He’s the eldest, everyone expected him to marry first. Though he acts like that doesn’t matter, I know it’s on his mind.” Roseanne lowered her voice even more. “He’s not courting anyone, so without you, he’d have to attend all these events by himself, which would just add to his embarrassment.”
Victoria highly doubted Lincoln was embarrassed to not be courting someone. He’d been adamant about not being interested in marriage during their carriage ride from the train station on Monday. “Perhaps it would be more of an embarrassment for him to be seen with me.”
“Oh, heavens no! Why would you say such a thing? You’re practically family. That’s why it’s perfect for you and him to attend functions together.” Roseanne picked up her cup again. “It the perfect solution for everyone.”
No, it wasn’t, but Victoria couldn’t voice that. Lincoln was going to be quite smug if his theory proved true. Which would also prove her wrong. “Perhaps Lincoln doesn’t want to attend all of these functions.”
“Of course, he does. He fully understands the importance of the entire family supporting Audrey and Jake in their decision to marry.” Roseanne smiled. “Just as I know you understand how important your support is. It means so much to Audrey to have you here and to share this very special time with her.”
Victoria hadn’t questioned Audrey’s request to come and stay with her for an entire month, but now wondered if it had even been Audrey’s idea. Traveling from Tarrytown for dress fittings and a few mandatory events wouldn’t have been an issue. That is what she and Audrey had discussed in their letters, until the one Audrey had written last week, asking for her to come and stay for the next month. Victoria had readily agreed, but it hadn’t just been for Audrey. Getting away from the onslaught of suitors had excited her to no end. It seemed as if Audrey’s wedding had put some kind of urgency in her mother when it came to finding her a husband. The number of men invited for dinner the past few weeks had been ridiculous.
“Well, now that we have that settled,” Roseanne said. “I have a few things to see to.”
Victoria stood as Roseanne rose and accepted a kiss on the cheek before Roseanne left the room. With the list in her hand, Victoria left the sitting room, too, and made her way through the massive house to the second floor, where she found Audrey now dressed in a lovely pink-and-white gown and instructing a maid to have Mrs. Clark examine the dress that she’d just removed for a grease spot on the front of the skirt.
“I never did see the spot that Mother could,” Audrey said as the maid exited the room.
“I couldn’t see it, either.” Victoria sat down on the sofa in the sitting area of Audrey’s bedroom, having formed a conclusion that there wasn’t a spot. Roseanne had simply wanted a private opportunity to give her the list and attempt to convince her to go along with it.
“What’s that?”
Victoria handed the list to Audrey. “A list of outings between now and your wedding date.” The two of them had shared many secrets over the years, and never having withheld a single one, she added, “That Lincoln and I need to attend with you and Jake.”
“Oh, that will be fun.”
“Fun? Don’t the two of you want to be alone?”
Audrey sat down on the bed and looked at the note. “This will give us more time alone. You and Linc can cover for us while we slip away for a few moments.” Her grin was filled with delight, and the shimmer in her eyes said there would be a lot of kissing between her and Jake when they slipped away. Audrey insisted that there was nothing like kissing the man you loved.
Although she’d never held back from saying anything to Audrey, Victoria simply couldn’t accuse Roseanne of matchmaking as Lincoln had. She decided to try another route. “Your mother said she’s worried about Lincoln.”
Audrey sighed and handed her back the list. “She is. My wedding has increased the pressure on him to get married. I’ve written to you about how the socialites are coming out of the woodwork after Lincoln. Mother is afraid that one of them might try to trick him into marriage. You know, create a scandal. It would be first one in our family and could be detrimental to all of us. That would be terrible, and even worse if it happened right before my wedding. It could ruin it.”
A scandal had been known to ruin a wedding or two, and Victoria pressed a hand to her chest, where her heart had started to pound harder. She hadn’t thought of it along those lines, and had to admit how much sense it made. “It’s that bad? There are that many women after him?”
“Yes,” Audrey said while nodding vigorously. “You’ll see on Friday when we attend the ball at the Christie mansion. I wrote to you about when Eloise Watson pretended to twist her ankle and insisted that Lincoln carry her off the dance floor last month. She’d wanted him to carry her into the library so she could rest her ankle. He was onto her ploy and instead carried her over to her brother, handed her to him and suggested they find some ice for her ankle. Eloise was furious, and that’s just one of the things that has happened lately. Sheila Butler pretended to faint and Kathrine Foster dumped punch down the front of her dress and handed Lincoln her handkerchief to wipe it off.”
Appalled that a woman would act so forward, Victoria asked, “She didn’t?”
“Yes, she did.”
Victoria let out a long sigh. Lincoln was wrong. His mother wasn’t matchmaking, she was simply trying to save him from a scandal, and that meant one thing. There was no choice but to go to all of the functions on the list with him.