Curses and Confetti by Jenny Schwartz

Author:Jenny Schwartz [Schwartz, Jenny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jenny Schwartz
Published: 2014-09-25T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Esme craned her neck to view the perky white bow on the bustle of her new mulberry red gown. It looked ridiculous, but she trusted Jane’s fashion sense and this was her newest dress. It was meant to be for her trousseau, but this afternoon’s bunfight was more important than new clothes for the trip to San Francisco.

She tugged at the crisp white cuffs that gathered the fullness of the puffy sleeves into tight constraint. They were as pristine as her new white gloves. She carefully adjusted the angle of Jed’s engagement ring on her finger.

A white ostrich feather on her mulberry velvet hat brushed her face. She pursed her lips and blew it away before it touched her mouth or tickled her nose. She would have to remember to hold her head straight or the darned feather would get in her tea.

Nothing could be allowed to get in the way of restoring Jed’s reputation—and her own. She had her responsibilities to the Institute of Modern Women to think of. Most important, though, was for Jed to know that his honor was respected. He was an honorable and proud man. She would defend his honor.

In this militant mood, she marched down the stairs, slightly disappointed that her fashionably slippered feet were silent rather than defiant.

But she couldn’t be disappointed in the expressions on the faces of the men waiting for her in the hallway. Her father regarded her with pride, Uncle Henry with approval and Jed…he walked forward to take her arm and his expression was desire, awe and fierce possession.

“My darling Amazon, you look beautiful.”

“Ahem.” Mrs. Reeve tapped her walking stick on the floor. “Now that you’re here, let’s get this show on the road.”

Uncle Henry offered her his arm and they all exited to the carriage.

Esme ducked her head, careful not to damage her hat as she entered the largest of their carriages. The grooms had polished its brass till the carriage shone and the matching pair of grey horses gleamed.

“I need to think about getting an automobile,” her father said. “Or my future son-in-law could give me a bounding-vehicle.”

“Just as soon as I can be sure the design won’t tip you out and break bones.”

Mrs. Reeve shuddered. “The risks you take in the name of science.”

In their own ways, they were each trying to appear normal, but there was no denying the sense of strain in the carriage during the brief ride to the Tea Shoppe. Esme sat beside Jed and took comfort in the familiar clean linen and bay rum scent of him.

The carriage halted on a side street and they descended.

With Jed supporting her on one side and Aaron on the other, Mrs. Reeve safely navigated the moving stairs of the Tea Shoppe. She stopped at the top to shake out her skirts. Waves of silence spread through the room as gossiping tables noticed the newcomers. Heads turned—etiquette being no match for curiosity—then turned back, bowing close together as the level of conversation resumed and built to a crescendo.

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