Neferet's Curse (House of Night Novellas #3)(21)

“Miss Elcott.” Arthur had bowed stiffly, formally. “Mrs. Elcott, good evening. I am escorting my mother as my father is still unwell.”

“What a coincidence! My Camille joins me this evening because Mr. Elcott believes he may be coming down with an ague. And, of course, I so wanted to be sure I was here to support Emily at her first formal dinner as Lady of Wheiler House that I couldn’t bear to cancel.” Mrs. Elcott had explained with a honeyed tone, but her pinched expression as she cast her gaze from Arthur to me belied her words. “Though, sadly, I have only daughters and no devoted son. You are a fortunate mother, Mrs. Simpton.”

“Oh, I readily agree with you, Mrs. Elcott,” Arthur’s mother had said with a fond smile. “He is a devoted and an observant son. We were just discussing that it was he who guessed that these lovely decorations were created by Miss Wheiler herself.”

“Emily? You did that?”

Camille had sounded so shocked that I’d had a sudden urge to slap her. Instead I lifted my chin and did not soften my voice and make little of my accomplishments, as Mother would have.

“Hello, Camille, what a surprise it is to see you. And, yes, I did make this arrangement. I also created all of the arrangements on the dining table, as well as those in Father’s library.”

“You are a credit to me, my dear,” Father had said.

I’d ignored him and kept my focus on Camille, and very precisely said, “As you and your mother observed during your last visit, I am learning early what it is to be the Lady of a great house.” I had not added the rest of what Mrs. Elcott had said, which is something my future husband will be glad of. I hadn’t needed to. I’d simply needed to turn my gaze from Camille to Arthur, and then return the warm smile he’d been beaming at me.

“Yes, well, as I said. You are a credit to me.” Father offered his arm to me again. I’d had to take it. He nodded to the Simptons and Elcotts, saying, “And now we must greet the rest of our guests. Emily, I do not see the champagne being served.”

“That is because I chose to follow the University Club’s lead with the menu tonight. George will be serving amontillado before the first course instead of champagne. It will pair much better with the fresh oysters.”

“Very good, very good. Let us find some of that amontillado, my dear. Ah, I see the Ayers have arrived. There is talk of a permanent art collection for his Indian relics, which the bank will be very interested in…”

I’d stopped listening, though I allowed Father to lead me away with him. That entire night, as I played the part of hostess and Lady of Wheiler House, I kept always in my mind the hope that Arthur Simpton was noticing, and each time I managed to steal a look at him our eyes met because he had been watching me. His smile had seemed to say he had also been appreciating me.

As the evening progressed, I’d understood that, as always, after dinner the men would leave us and retire to Father’s library for brandy and cigars. The women would go to Mother’s formal parlor, sip iced wine, nibble on tea cakes and, of course, gossip. I’d dreaded that separation, and not simply because Arthur would not be there, but because I had no experience conversing with ladies of my mother’s age. Camille was the only one of them within a decade of my age. I’d realized I had a choice to make. I could sit beside Camille and chatter like I was nothing more than any other young girl, or I could truly attempt to be Lady of Wheiler House. I knew I might be treated with condescension. There were, after all, great ladies such as Mrs. Ryerson, Mrs. Pullman, and Mrs. Ayer present, and I was but a sixteen-year-old girl. But as I led the ladies into Mother’s parlor, and was met with the familiar and soothing scent of the stargazers I had so meticulously arranged, I made my choice. I did not withdraw to the window seat with Camille and cling to my childhood. Instead, I took Mother’s position in the center of the room on the divan, supervised Mary’s refreshing of the ladies’ wine, and tried to hold my chin up and think of something—anything intelligent—to say into the building silence.

Arthur’s mother was my salvation.

“Miss Wheiler, I am interested in these unusual bouquet creations you have beautifully displayed in each of the rooms. Would you share with me your inspiration?” she’d asked with a warm smile that had reminded me so much of her son’s.

“Yes, dear,” I’d been amazed to hear Mrs. Ayer say. “The decorations are quite cunning. You must share your secret with us.”

“I was inspired by our gardens and by the fountain at its heart. I wanted to bring the lily scent and the water imagery, and my favorite tree, the willow, inside tonight.”

“Oh, I see! The cattails evoke the presence of water,” Mrs. Simpton had said.

“And the trailing ivy is arranged much like the fronds of a willow,” Mrs. Ayer had said, nodding in obvious appreciation. “That was an excellent idea.”

“Emily, I haven’t known you to be particularly fond of the garden. I thought you and Camille were much more concerned with bicycling and the latest Gibson Girl styles than gardening.” Mrs. Elcott had spoken with the exact tone of condescension I had been dreading.

For a moment I said nothing. There had seemed to be a breathless silence in the room, as if the house itself awaited my response. Would I be a girl or a lady?

I straightened my back, lifted my chin, and met Mrs. Elcott’s patronizing gaze. “Indeed, Mrs. Elcott, I have enjoyed bicycling and Gibson Girl styles, but that was when my mother, your particular friend, was Lady of Wheiler House. She is dead. I have had to step into her role, and I find that I must be concerned with things that are not so girlish.” I’d heard clucks of concern and several of the women whispered the poor thing. That further emboldened me, and I’d realized how I could use Mrs. Elcott’s condescension to my favor. I’d continued, “I know I cannot hope to be as great a lady as Mother was, but I have resolved to do my best. I can only hope that Mother is looking down on me with pride.” I’d sniffed delicately and used my lace napkin to dab the corners of my eyes.