Page 2 of A Lesson in Propriety (Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies #1)
Two
It was next to impossible to wrap her mind around the idea that Elbert had just called her poor , an obscene word within society if there ever was one, even if he wasn’t exactly off the mark.
Drawing in a deep breath in the hopes of staving off the sense of panic that was threatening to overwhelm her, given that the repercussions of having her engagement nullified were beginning to sink in, Drusilla lifted her chin and met Elbert’s gaze. “Am I wrong in concluding that your desire to end our engagement revolves around my dowry?”
“You no longer have a dowry.”
“Through no fault of my own.”
“I never said it was your fault,” Elbert argued. “If anyone was to blame, it was your late father because he left the managing of the Merriweather fortune and assets to Mr. Sanford Duncan.”
“Sanford was Father’s trusted solicitor, as well as best friend,” Drusilla countered.
“Sanford was anything but a friend to your father or family as he not only absconded with the Merriweather millions but also ran up outrageous debts he claimed were on behalf of your mother, telling a variety of vendors that the purchases were only made on credit because Merriweather finances were tied up in probate.”
“I’m well aware of that, Elbert,” Drusilla returned. “I’m also aware that the Pinkertons think Sanford ran up debts as some type of personal vendetta, given that he purchased an outrageously expensive yacht in Mother’s name. With that said, though, I would have thought that you of all people would have had at least a few suspicions about what Sanford was doing before he disappeared, given that Father was intending to bring you on in some business capacity after we wed.”
Elbert’s brow furrowed. “To be more specific, your father was going to groom me to take over the company for him someday. However, since he didn’t put that in writing, and as we weren’t wed when he died, I had no legal standing to demand Sanford include me in any Merriweather ventures—something that would have only changed after we exchanged vows. It was hardly my fault that your mother decided a few months after your father died that we needed to delay our wedding until she was finished with her two-year mourning period.”
“It wasn’t exactly an unreasonable request since she had lost her husband of over twenty years and needed something to look forward to.”
“Except that your mother’s request gave Sanford the extra time he needed to put his diabolical plan into motion,” Elbert pointed out. “And, before you ask, know that I did consider pressing the matter of becoming involved with Merriweather ventures at one point. However, my solicitor thought that would be a horrible idea.”
She quirked a brow. “Because?”
He quirked a brow right back at her. “Come now, Drusilla. Given your father’s unexpected death, you must realize that my solicitor and I discussed every possible scenario, including what would happen if you came to an untimely end before we were wed. Can you honestly say that were I already involved in Merriweather matters and you suddenly passed away, that your mother wouldn’t see that as an opportunity to get your sister, Annaliese, married off to the man who was already managing Merriweather business ventures?”
Drusilla frowned. “What would have been so horrible about marrying Annaliese? She’s one of the most beautiful ladies in New York.”
“Beautiful or not, everyone knows Annaliese is odd, which certainly wouldn’t have helped my standing within the Four Hundred.”
“Simply because Annaliese enjoys studying insects doesn’t mean she’s odd. Many ladies enjoy studying butterflies and the like.”
“No, they enjoy painting pictures of them,” Elbert countered. “Annaliese observes them in a scientific manner and also refuses to maintain her bug collection in a cabinet of curiosity, preferring to keep her bugs alive and stored in glass containers, which even the thought of would send any normal lady reaching for her smelling salts.” He settled back in his chair. “Besides the bugs, though, she’s submitted articles for all the newspapers stating her position against plume hunters and was also recently spotted in Central Park during a rally against the fur industry. She’s turning into somewhat of a zealot with her questionable causes, and you mark my words, if she continues with her nonsense, she’ll be thrown out of the Four Hundred once and for all.”
“With you dissolving our engagement, I’m sure the Four Hundred will be turning their collective backs on my entire family since my mother will have no choice but to sell our last remaining asset—that being our house on Washington Square—to settle the remaining debts Sanford ran up in her name.”
Elbert blinked. “Surely you weren’t counting on me to settle those debts, were you?”
“How did you think we were going to settle the remaining debts?”
“I thought your mother would reach out to family members.”
Drusilla pressed a finger against a temple that was definitely beginning to throb. “I have no idea how it came to be that we’ve been engaged for over two years and yet you don’t seem aware of the fact that I only have one living relative—that being my aunt Ottilie. And before you claim that I never mentioned her to you, know that I distinctly remember telling you that she left for one of her frequent world adventures a few months before my father died, and that she wasn’t at the funeral because we sent word to her solicitor, Mr. William Baumgartner, to have him contact her but never heard back from him.”
“I don’t remember you ever mentioning anything about an Ottilie before, but if she has the wherewithal to fund a world adventure, she certainly has the means to look after you and your family.”
“Did you miss the part where I said we never heard back from her solicitor after we sent word to him about Father’s death?”
“Your aunt’s been on a world adventure for over two years?”
“She has, but that isn’t unusual since Aunt Ottilie enjoys exploring places that are off the beaten track, although...” Drusilla wrinkled her nose. “Now that we’re speaking of Aunt Ottilie, I suppose my family won’t be truly homeless, as Aunt Ottilie gave Annaliese and me some property in Chicago before she left on her adventure when she stopped by for a quick visit at our house on Washington Square. If memory serves me correctly, there’s some type of dwelling on that property as well.”
“You certainly never told me you and Annaliese own any property.”
“Because it’s in Chicago and I never had any interest to travel there, not when my family used to own places in Paris, Rome, and England—all of which, of course, have now been sold.”
Elbert leaned across the table. “Chicago’s not exactly a fashionable destination, but I’ve heard that real estate is booming there of late.” He edged forward another inch. “Do you happen to know if this property of yours is located anywhere near Prairie Avenue, where I know for a fact all the most prominent families live?”
“Aunt Ottilie never mentioned Prairie Avenue.”
“How unfortunate, although...” He caught her eye. “Did she mention anything about it being near Lake Michigan?”
“There might have been a mention of views of some water.”
“How encouraging, as that certainly puts a different light on matters since I imagine lakefront property is becoming desirable.” Elbert settled back in his chair. “All we need to do now is have this property assessed.”
“Because?”
“You could be sitting on a lot of money.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “And if I am?”
“There’d be no need for us to end our engagement.”
“Except that even if this property is worth something, Annaliese and I promised our aunt we’d always keep it in the family.”
“Why would you have done that?”
“Because Aunt Ottilie asked us to, and I certainly had no reason to argue the point as I had no way of knowing I’d ever be in a position where I needed funds. At that time, my family was one of the wealthiest in the country.”
Elbert waved that aside. “I’m sure if your aunt was aware of your current circumstances, she’d be more than happy to rescind the promise she had you make.”
“Perhaps she would, but since my aunt isn’t around to discuss the matter, I need to honor the word I gave her.”
“A woman giving her word isn’t the same as a gentleman giving his.”
Drusilla reached for another cucumber sandwich. “Honor isn’t something that’s incapable of transcending gender lines, Elbert. It’s a mark of a person’s character, which means, no, I won’t be setting aside my honor and selling off my aunt’s property to avoid having you toss me over, even if I’m now going to have to figure out a way to make sure my family doesn’t starve to death.”
“You’re not going to starve to death, as I did come up with another plan for you on the chance none of your relatives were available to take you in after we ended our engagement.” He bestowed another one of his charming smiles on her. “You’ll be pleased to learn that I’ve spoken with five wealthy gentlemen, all of whom would be more than happy to marry you.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.” Elbert’s smile turned more charming than ever. “You just say the word and five—that’s right, five— gentlemen will present themselves on your doorstep, and all you have to do is choose one of them to marry.”
“What’s wrong with these gentlemen?”
“Nothing much,” Elbert hurried to say. “They’re simply members of the nouveau riche, which isn’t nearly as troubling as it was, say, even two years ago, not since Alva Vanderbilt changed the dynamics of high society when she convinced Mrs. Astor to admit the Vanderbilt family into the highest social circles.”
Drusilla began drumming her fingers against the table, earning a frown from Elbert in the process, which she ignored. “Out of blatant curiosity, tell me this. Why would any gentleman, even those from the nouveau riche set, want to marry me—a lady who is already twenty-two years old, almost twenty-three, and no longer possesses a fortune?”
“Because marriage to you will allow them unfettered access to the Four Hundred.”
“And they’d be willing to overlook those deficiencies you kindly pointed out to acquire that unfettered access?”
“I assume so, because none of the men I spoke with were even curious about the basics when it came to you. All they were concerned with was exactly how established your family was within society. Every one of them was suitably impressed to learn that you have Knickerbocker status, and ...” His smile turned downright smug. “I know any of these men will marry you within the month, which will certainly allow you to avoid that whole starvation business.”
It was almost impossible to ignore the urge she suddenly felt to lob her teacup across the table, an action that would undoubtedly wipe the smug smile directly off Elbert’s face.