the blush in her cheeks, and she caught more than one man’s eye as she giggled with her friends.
“Who is that?” Emma Van Cortlandt sniffed as she allowed the waiter to pour her a second cup.
“Penelope Appleton.” Catherine Parks sneered as she leaned closer to the other woman. “She made her debut at the Vanderbilts’ Christmas ball.”
“She certainly is lovely,” Irene Vander Poole sighed. “You can’t deny that. It is said she is the most beautiful woman in all of New York. Why, the young men can talk of no one else!”
Emma gave a quick glance at Catherine, and then hid a Cheshire cat–like smile as she nibbled on a biscuit. “Well, I’ve heard tell she’s caught the eye of one young man who is bound and determined to win her.”
“Who?” the others chimed in unison.
“Mr. Marton, that’s who.” Emma daintily dusted a crumb from her sleeve.
Catherine choked on her tea. “Why, that’s ridiculous!” she protested once she’d cleared her throat. “He and my Susan … I mean, from the time they were children, we all assumed it would be a wonderful match.”
“Maybe so.” Emma rolled her eyes knowingly. “But I have it on good understanding that he danced with her at the ball, and said or did something to cause her to swoon. You know how masculine he is.” She paused, pleased with the stunned reaction to her news.
“Perhaps she simply took ill! I recall when my Susan had the fever …”
“And I hear he sent her dozens of flowers, all of which she refused and donated to the church! St. Patrick’s Cathedral must have looked marvelous, adorned with all those roses!”
“How do you know all this?” Irene wondered.
Emma gave them a self-satisfied smile. “Eve Appleton’s maid is a friend of my coal dealer.”
Catherine Parks sipped her tea, digesting the other woman’s words. “Well, if she really did that, then Mr. Marton must realize his attentions are unwanted …”
“Not at all,” Emma said knowingly. “If anything, I believe it’s the other way around. It appears to have just made him more eager.”
“They disappeared into the arcade today for quite a long time …” Irene mused, letting the words hang in the air like a shimmering piece of tinsel. “More than one person noted that. Perhaps he means to court her by Christmas!”
“She is nothing more than an upstart, and entirely inappropriate for a man like Jared Marton.” Catherine glared at the radiant blonde sitting across the room. “I happen to know his mother, and she had her heart set on him making a good marriage. I think I will invite Agnes Marton to tea. It has been a long time since I’ve entertained her, and the holiday season provides the perfect excuse.”
Chapter Five
Jared returned to his office a couple of weeks later, running a frustrated hand through his hair. Tossing his walking stick onto the green leather couch, he plopped down into a chair, grateful that one of the partners had thought to light a fire.
It was no use. Every time he tried to get close to Penelope Appleton, she thwarted him. Jared had fenced with the most talented swordsmen in New York City and won, only to find himself outmaneuvered by a slip of a girl whom he couldn’t forget.
Last week Jennifer had tipped him off about a sleigh ride where he was certain to run into her sister. But when he arrived, she was cozily ensconced in the lap of the hated William Sweeney.
She looked like a child seeing Santa for Christmas, he thought bitterly, recalling Thomas Nast’s drawing in
Harper’s Weekly
. William Sweeney appeared smug and satisfied with his arms around the beautiful Penelope as the sleigh slid down the snow-padded road.
Then the Billings girls informed him that Penelope was joining them for a Christmas musical. Again, William Sweeney escorted her, making sure every man in the room knew she was his as surely as a male dog marked his territory.
Finally, he attended a Christmas fête, having heard from