“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.”
With eyes that now held a distinct trace of annoyance, Nora let out a huff. “That is a less-than-sufficient explanation, as I’m sure you’re well aware. But I’m afraid you don’t have the luxury of time to finalize affairs with Wilhelmina, especially given the rumors that are already swirling around the city about the two of you. Such rumors will not aid Wilhelmina’s reputation if they’re not put to rest quickly.”
“What rumors?” Edgar asked slowly.
“Ones that center on the idea that you and Wilhelmina were discovered alone together in Mrs. Travers’ conservatory.” Nora caught Edgar’s eye. “The only reason the poor girl’s reputation isn’t in complete tatters is because rumors are also flying about that the two of you are the most romantic couple of the season—childhood sweethearts who were kept apart in your youth but who have finally been reunited.”
Edgar set aside his teacup. “How, pray tell, is it even possible that rumors are swirling around the city? As I mentioned before, everyone left the ball before Mrs. Travers would have had an opportunity to do more than bid everyone a good evening. Add in the notion that the conditions outside on the streets today are less than ideal, and I would have thought that any and all rumors would have been put on hold for the foreseeable future.”