At Your Request (Apart from the Crowd 0.5)(14)
It took a concerted effort to avoid releasing the snort he longed to release. “I’ve known Asher Rutherford since my school days, Mother, and believe me, he is no angel—no matter that he seems especially proficient at convincing the mothers of his closest friends he is.”
Nora pursed her lips. “Any gentleman who has been able to create such an inviting atmosphere for ladies to shop in has to be possessed of a most considerate nature, darling. Why, he has actually decorated the designer room in shades of pale pink, giving clear testimony to what I can only describe as his sensitive side.”
Seeing little point in arguing with his mother, or disappointing her by explaining that Asher had only chosen the pink because he’d discovered that particular color seemed to increase spending in his store, Edgar crossed one ankle over the other and sent his mother a smile. “I’ll be sure to tell Asher that you’re impressed with how sensitive he is. But really, Mother, I must admit I take issue with the direction of this conversation. I have rarely caused you any trouble, something your earlier statement seems to suggest you’ve forgotten.”
“You don’t think the current state of affairs with Wilhelmina constitutes a troubling situation?”
“Since I haven’t seen Wilhelmina since we parted ways at the ball last night, I can’t say with any certainty just yet if she and I are involved in anything that could be considered troubling.”
Nora leaned toward Edgar. “She did actually agree to marry you this time, though, didn’t she? I’m afraid that is something you didn’t explain to satisfaction last night.”
“When you say agree, do you mean verbally agree?” Edgar asked slowly.
Nora took a hefty gulp of her tea, set down the cup, and exchanged a rather meaningful look with Mr. Hodges. “Didn’t I tell you, Mr. Hodges, that I had a feeling Edgar hadn’t settled matters properly with Wilhelmina?”
“You did, Mrs. Wanamaker, and once again, it appears you were quite right.”
Edgar pretended he hadn’t heard that bit of nonsense. “The only reason Wilhelmina and I didn’t completely settle matters between us was because we were forced to contend with a blizzard.”
“What does that have to do with you being unable to settle matters properly with Wilhelmina?” Nora demanded.
“I’m getting to that,” Edgar said even as he caught his mother and Mr. Hodges exchange yet another significant glance.
“You’re not getting to it very quickly,” his mother muttered.
“It’s not a very complicated story, Mother,” Edgar returned. “Right after I announced to Mrs. Travers that Wilhelmina and I were getting married, the walls of the conservatory we were in began shaking quite fiercely, lending credence to the idea that the blizzard was increasing in intensity. Because of that, I, along with Wilhelmina, Mrs. Travers, Miss Permilia Griswold, and a lady I believe was named Miss Lucy Webster, deemed it prudent to make our way back to the ball before the courtyard became impassable.”
“Why didn’t you settle matters once you returned to the ball?” Nora pressed.
“Because all the guests decided directly after we returned that it would be in their best interests to leave while they still could. However, since most of the carriages had already become buried in snow, I, along with a good many other gentlemen, were pressed into service to help get those carriages unburied.”
He held up his hand when Nora opened her mouth again. “And before you inquire as to why I didn’t settle matters with Wilhelmina after I finished my task, allow me to tell you that she’d accepted a ride home with Miss Griswold, a practical young lady who’d had the foresight to arrive at the ball in a sleigh.”
Nora leaned forward. “Wilhelmina departing in such a cloak-and-dagger fashion seems to me to be a most ominous sign.”
“There was nothing cloak and dagger about it, Mother. In fact, I was the one who encouraged her to accept Miss Griswold’s offer, knowing there was little chance my carriage would be up for the task of getting Wilhelmina all the way to Gramercy Park—the area of the city where she and her family are now living.”
He took a sip of his tea and regarded his mother over the rim of the cup. “I considered making my way to Wilhelmina’s home after I finished seeing everyone safely off in their carriages, but by the time I got into my own carriage, the roads were almost impassable.”
Nora narrowed her eyes on him. “While I must admit that does make a great deal of sense, I would have thought you’d have gone out bright and early this morning to get matters firmed up between the two of you once and for all.”
“I had to meet with Asher this morning.”
“Whatever for?”
“He has a useful contact in the shipping industry, a gentleman we then sought out down on 28th Street, although that seeking took far longer than I expected, given the abysmal state of the streets today.”
Nora arched a brow. “Don’t you believe your time would have been better spent seeking out an audience with Wilhelmina instead of visiting some shipping gentleman on 28th Street?”
“That visit is directly tied to my current situation with Wilhelmina, Mother. Although, I can’t say much more on the subject just yet, since I don’t know what the outcome will be from meeting with Mr. Harrison Sinclair, Asher’s friend in the shipping industry.”