Chapter Nine

“Does anyone else find it curious that a minute after our rented cab breaks a wheel, Myrtle’s father and sister just happen to drive past us, graciously stopping to see if we need assistance?” Ruthanne asked from where she was squished up against the window of the automobile they were currently racing down the road in, trying to get to a Newport ball as quickly as possible.

“I think that’s what’s known as divine intervention,” Eloise Schermerhorn said, turning to smile at Ruthanne from her position in the middle seat of the automobile driven by a chauffeur who’d told Jack his name was Duncan. “I was already supposed to be at the ball, you see, but decided on impulse to take a trip to the Newport Casino earlier.” She glanced at her father, Mr. James Schermerhorn, who sat beside her. “I needed to talk to Daddy about what I’d learned about Percy, but Mother was being annoyingly difficult, always swooping in whenever I managed to get Daddy alone. That’s why I snuck out to the casino, leaving word with our butler about where I was going, knowing Mother would send Daddy to fetch me when she realized I might miss the ball.”

“You could have simply told me you needed a private word,” James said dryly.

“But then we wouldn’t have run across Jack, Walter, Ruthanne, and Opal,” Eloise pointed out. She glanced at Jack, who was squished between Opal and Walter in the back seat. “Myrtle’s told me all about you, and may I say that I’m delighted you’ve decided to come after my sister. She’s very fond of you.”

Jack blinked. “She told you that?”

“Indeed, and I hope you realize she wouldn’t have left matters with you as she did if Mother hadn’t insisted Percy deliver that ridiculous letter, stating that she was at her last prayers.”

“You didn’t tell me anything about your mother sending a letter to Myrtle,” James said.

“I haven’t had time to tell you everything, Daddy. It took you forever to come fetch me from the casino, and because we’re on a tight schedule, I thought it was more important to tell you about how Percy’s intending on making a grand announcement at the ball tonight.”

“One he apparently believes will cause Myrtle to accept his proposal because he intends to do it in front of Newport society, if I understand you correctly,” James added with a shake of his head. “I really cannot believe your mother neglected to mention that Percy has decided marriage to Myrtle is his only option to save his family from financial ruin, something your mother must have known I wouldn’t agree to and certainly wouldn’t give my blessing to. What could she have been thinking?”

Eloise shrugged. “Mother longs for the time when society was different, Daddy. She misses the exclusivity of old society, and because the Kanes have been a part of New York society forever, I believe Mother thinks that if she’s able to help them maintain their social position, she’ll be able to hang onto at least a bit of the society she’s always loved.”

“A ridiculous notion, to be sure,” James said. “It’s the twentieth century. Of course things are changing. If I had any idea Cora was intending to use Myrtle’s dowry to get the Kanes out of a financial disaster of their own making, I would have gotten rid of Myrtle’s dowry with a stroke of a pen.”

Jack tried to sit forward, then abandoned that when he realized he was firmly wedged between Opal and Walter. “Mr. Schermerhorn, Myrtle told me that you and your wife cut her off from her finances when she decided to become a Harvey Girl.”

James leaned over the back of the seat and frowned. “I did nothing of the sort. Myrtle’s my daughter, and while I was a little wary about her picking up and moving out west, I think that move was exactly what she needed. She seems more confident in herself now, more self-assured. But there was no need for her to believe she had to take a job as a Harvey Girl. She always had access to her trust fund.”

“She has a trust fund?” Ruthanne asked.

“She does.”

“She also seems to have a dowry,” Opal added, her eyes wide as she kept gazing around the large automobile. She’d admitted to Jack in a whisper when they’d first driven off that she’d never been in an automobile before and found it somewhat terrifying.

“Speaking of Myrtle’s dowry,” James said, catching Jack’s eye, “am I to understand that you’ve rushed to Newport because you want to make amends with my daughter and then ask her to marry you?”

Jack rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m not sure she’ll have me, sir. I did break off our courtship after Percy showed up, which I’m convinced hurt Myrtle and left her disappointed with me.”

“He only did that, though, Mr. Schermerhorn,” Ruthanne added, “because Myrtle was withholding some of the details of her past. She didn’t mention anything about growing up in society, nor how much money she had.” She smiled. “Not that I blame her, mind you, since Jack didn’t take the news about her fortune well. I think Myrtle will forgive him, though, seeing as how she loves him.”

James shot a look at Jack, then returned his attention to Ruthanne. “You think my daughter loves him?”

Ruthanne nodded. “Most definitely.”

“And what of you, Mr. Daggett?” James asked, turning a stern look on Jack. “Do you return that love?”

“I do, sir.” Jack blew out a breath. “And with that said, I would like to ask for your blessing before I ask Myrtle to marry me, but do know that I’ll understand if you’re not yet comfortable giving it to me.”

“Can you provide her with a happy life?”

“I’m somewhat well off, Mr. Schermerhorn. My business, Daggett Industries, is rather profitable.”

“I know who you are, Jack, as well as about your business,” James surprised him by saying. “I’m heavily invested in the telephone industry, where your name and the products you supply are well known. I’m aware of how successful you’ve been, and how you can provide for Myrtle. But that’s not what I asked you. I asked if you can provide her with a happy life.”

Jack took a moment to allow the question to settle.

While it was clear Myrtle had no need of his fortune since she already possessed one, he was beginning to hope that she might have need of him, because she seemed to enjoy his company, and he’d been told she’d been distraught after he’d parted ways with her. That suggested she truly did care about him, and perhaps once she learned he loved her, that would provide her with the happy life her father was questioning him about.

He sent James a nod. “I believe I can.”

James returned the nod. “Then you have my blessing. But further talk about other details will need to wait, because we’re almost to Rosecliff.”

Everyone leaned left as the car took that moment to turn, then a minute later, it stopped in front of a grand courtyard. After Duncan opened the door and James got out, everyone else followed, practically falling from the automobile, since they’d been so squished inside it.

“You ready for this?” Walter asked, gesturing to the large mansion in front of them.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Just remember, everyone in there is really no different than us. A bit snobbier, perhaps, but at the end of the day, we’re all just people trying to get through this extraordinary thing called life.”

Unfortunately, the butler manning the front door was definitely of the belief that Jack and Walter were different, because he took one look at their less-than-formal attire and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let the two of you pass. Mrs. Oelrichs has strict rules about what her guests are allowed to wear, and tonight you can only gain entrance if you’re wearing formal wear—and by that I mean black jacket, black trousers, white shirt and collar, white tie, and white waistcoat.”

James stepped forward. “I’m sure Mrs. Oelrichs would allow you to make an exception just this one time, since we’ve got a bit of an emergency we need to handle inside.”

“Mrs. Oelrichs made me turn away Mr. Leer last month because he’d forgotten his tie, and she’s fast friends with him.” The butler shook his head. “I’m sorry, sir, but I really can’t make an exception.”

“I’ll be right back,” Eloise said, and even though she was not dressed in an evening gown, the butler inclined his head to her after she sent him a sweet smile and dashed through the door.

“Perhaps I should go make certain Percy hasn’t done anything yet,” James said, moving for the front door and disappearing through it, leaving Jack and Walter behind.

Jack glanced back to the far end of the courtyard, where Ruthanne and Opal had insisted on staying, both of them proclaiming they would not be comfortable going inside since they were dressed in plain skirts and blouses. He smiled when he noticed they’d begun strolling casually toward the side of the house, obviously looking for another way inside for Jack. Unfortunately, they were stopped a second later by a uniformed guard. He immediately took hold of their arms and began ushering them down the drive, which sent Walter sprinting after them, telling Jack over his shoulder he’d be back in a trice.

“I found a solution,” Eloise suddenly called, drawing Jack’s attention as she dashed out of the house, pulling a very large man with her. That man, Jack was amused to discover, seemed to be about his size and was dressed in the formal attire the butler had told him was needed to gain entrance to the ball.

“Jack, this is Mr. Howard Van Alen, a dear friend of mine who has graciously agreed to loan you the use of his clothing as well as the use of his personal invitation to this event on the chance the butler might demand one of those from you next. Howard, this is Mr. Jack Daggett, a most desperate gentleman at the moment and the man I’m convinced will soon be my brother-in-law.”

Mr. Van Alen grinned. “Pleasure, Mr. Daggett, but do know that I’m not actually being overly gracious. Eloise promised me a game of tennis tomorrow if I’d lend her some assistance, and I’ve been trying to get her to agree to a match all summer.”

“Enough of the pleasantries,” Eloise barked, nodding toward some large bushes. “You two can switch clothes behind those.”

It took less than five minutes to change, and even though Jack couldn’t help but think his life had turned very peculiar of late, anticipation was flowing through him, as was a great sense of hope.

Thanking Mr. Van Alen again, Jack headed for the door, bracing himself as the butler looked him over, then looked over the invitation Mr. Van Alen had given him. To Jack’s relief, the butler finally gestured him into the house.

Striding down a marble hallway, Jack followed the sound of music, coming to a stop directly in the middle of a doorway that led to a ballroom. A second later the music stopped, and a second after that, a lady dripping with jewels stepped to the very front of the orchestra. Clapping her hands together, she waited until the ballroom grew silent before she smiled.

“Treasured guests, it is my distinct pleasure to allow one of our own a few minutes to speak tonight. So, without further ado, I give you . . . Mr. Percy Kane.”

As polite applause sounded, Jack glanced around the room, unable to resist a grin when his gaze landed on Myrtle. She looked furious, though that wasn’t what had him grinning. His grin was a direct result of the book she was holding in her hand, one that she seemed to be holding exactly as if she were once again contemplating using it as a weapon.