Chapter 6
The following day, I fussed over what to wear for the first time in my life.
Everything in my closet seemed too boyish or too plain next to the beautiful clothing Evalyn and her friends wore.
And yet I felt I must make some effort to fit into her world.
At last, I settled on one of the few skirts I owned and paired it with a blouse with a lacy collar.
I spent extra time brushing and pinning my hair and applying what little makeup I had.
As I reached for my plain and likely out-of-fashion handbag, I caught sight of my reflection in the mirror and realized what was missing: jewelry.
Of course I should wear our pieces! It was the perfect way to advertise.
I tried on several pieces before I finally settled on a pair of teardrop pearl earrings, a brooch made of shiny platinum shaped into a seal balancing a pearl on the tip of its nose, and a bracelet of four strings of pearls held together by a large platinum clasp dotted with tiny, brilliant white diamonds.
The jewelry, as beautiful as it was, didn’t suit my personal style, but I hoped the others would admire it.
As a finishing touch, I spritzed on a dash of French perfume reserved for special occasions, slipped Evalyn’s gift into my handbag, and reluctantly headed across town.
When I arrived at Friendship, Evalyn swept into the room in a tulip-pink dress as fresh as spring that cinched at the waist and flowed to her calves.
She wore a long double strand of pearls and, suspended from it, another legendary gemstone I recognized on sight: the Star of the East. The nearly ninety-five-carat, pear-shaped diamond was set with an enormous hexagonal emerald of at least thirty carats or more and a coin-size pearl that hovered above the Star like points in a constellation.
Despite the necklace’s stunning beauty and size, my gaze flicked to Evalyn’s neck, drawn to the irresistible blue of the Hope Diamond.
Somehow, it overshadowed the other stones, despite its smaller size.
“Stunning, isn’t it? I thought you’d like it,” Evalyn said, noticing my bold stare.
“The Star of the East once belonged to a sultan of the Ottoman Empire. How could I resist it? I bought it on my honeymoon from Pierre Cartier.” She reached for my hand.
“Anyway, darling, I’m glad you stopped by today.
I was just telling Jerry that I needed some air. What do you say we go for a drive?”
A drive? She didn’t seem to care that I wasn’t a part of her regular circle, and I found myself wondering if she was lonely. Given how she was surrounded by people every time I saw her, that didn’t seem likely, and yet here she was, inviting a virtual stranger on a drive with her.
Ned bounced down the staircase, dressed in a pin-striped suit, whistling as he went.
“Have you met my husband, Ned, yet?” Evalyn asked, reaching for her purse. “Ned, this is Lizzie Beaumont.”
I hid my surprise. I’d met him the night of their party, but it was clearly an unmemorable event for either of them. Perhaps the champagne had had something to do with it. “How do you do, sir.”
“Sir!” he said. “The only sir is my father and he’s gone. Call me Ned.” He reached for my hand and brought it to his lips.
My cheeks grew hot at the unexpected show of gallantry.
“Always the charmer,” Evalyn said, her voice tinged with sarcasm. “You’ll have to excuse my husband. He can’t seem to help himself.”
He smiled broadly at the quip, as if he’d enjoyed it. “Where are you two ladies off to?”
“We’re going for a drive.”
“The last time you drove, we ended up with a bent fender and a hefty repair bill,” he said. “Why don’t you let Johnny drive? I’d take you myself, but I have a meeting.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, darling. I’m a better driver than you are, by far.”
“Not a chance,” he said, laughing. “I’ll meet you for dinner later?”
“I’ll have Cook make the steak you like.” She kissed him lightly. “Perhaps even Lizzie will join us, too.”
He winked at me before he continued on his way.
“He’s the worst flirt,” she said, turning to me. “Mama always warned me, but he’s the love of my life, so what can I say? He charmed me, too, all those years ago when we were children. Let’s go, shall we?”
I hesitated, deciding if I should mention her hiring me.
Something told me I shouldn’t, especially given how aggressive I’d already been with her and the gaffe, too, where I’d all but bolted from the house when Julien’s name was mentioned.
I capitulated to her request, at least partially.
“Mrs. McLean—Evalyn—I’m not sure I can get away from the boutique for long. ”
“I suppose I’ll have to settle for Evalyn rather that Evie,” she said, ignoring my concern. With an amused smile, she added, “But anything is better than Mrs. McLean.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to overstep,” I said, blushing to my hairline.
“Not at all. Say, what’s the package sticking out of your handbag? Is that the gift you promised me?” Her tone was playful.
“Oh! I nearly forgot. Yes, here you are.”
She took it, all smiles, unwrapped the butcher paper monogrammed with the Beaumont seal, and untied the red ribbon.
“They’re lovely!” She held up the ornate pair of hair combs to examine the scalloped edges I’d designed to look like seashells.
I’d painted them silver and affixed three small aquamarines on each for added sparkle.
It had taken me most of the afternoon and evening to finish them, but I was pleased with how they’d turned out.
She slipped the hair combs into her handbag. “Now, how about that drive?”
Given her easy dismissal of the combs, I doubted she truly liked them, but I forced a polite smile and pretended not to notice. This wasn’t the time for me to worry about my skills or ruminate on my shortcomings. “I’m delighted you like them,” I replied. “And a drive sounds nice.”
We met the chauffeur outside as he pulled up in a creamy-yellow car with red wheel spokes and a roof that opened and closed in folds like an accordion. As he slipped out of the driver’s side, he held open the door for Evalyn and then the passenger side for me.
“Are you sure I can’t take you somewhere, Mrs. McLean?” he said.
“Have I ever been unsure of anything, Johnny?” Evalyn said with a smile. “I’m in the mood for a drive.”
I was surprised to see the smallest flicker of relief pass over the chauffeur’s face before his expression changed back to one of stoic servitude. Before I had time to consider the strange behavior, she shooed him away.
“I’ve never seen such a beautiful car,” I said.
“It’s a convertible. Isn’t it gorgeous?” Evalyn bubbled like the champagne she loved.
“Is it safe?”
She grinned like a schoolgirl and shifted the car into drive. “Must everything be safe to enjoy it? I hope you pinned your hat well, because the wind’s going to be fierce.”
She laughed at my expression, and we shot off with a jolt.
Perfectly manicured lawns and impressive homes streaked by as we trundled over the roads.
Cloudless blue skies stretched overhead, and a soft warm wind blew around us, tossing loose tendrils of hair into my eyes.
We drove for well over an hour, Evalyn prattling on about all manner of things, pointing out landmarks, homes of people she knew, and I got the distinct impression she didn’t mind that I was mostly silent.
It gave her the opportunity to fill the space with her own musings, her own voice, and she carried on without restraint.
She laughed as she took a corner too fast, and the tires screeched against the pavement. I didn’t complain, but I clutched the dashboard with a death grip to steady myself.
“Oh, don’t be such a prude, Lizzie. Enjoy yourself. This is fun!”
“It is fun!” I shouted back, trying to play along. I hadn’t known fun in months, could hardly grasp the meaning of the word, but I wouldn’t ruin her good time. Not if it bought more time with her.
Evalyn zoomed through an intersection, passing a traffic policeman and a red electric traffic light. The policeman blew his whistle, but she didn’t so much as brake. Instead, she threw back her head and laughed.
“As if his little old whistle is going to slow me down!”
There was talk of installing a fully automated system of traffic lights in Ohio as had been done in Los Angeles, as well as in the busier intersections in Washington, but they were still being tested.
Julien loved inventions and progress—and argued with our father about whether they helped humanity or caused more nuanced problems—and I’d been subjected to far too many discussions about it.
As Evalyn mashed her foot on the gas and we roared through another intersection without a traffic light, veering to miss another car in the midst of turning, I couldn’t help but wish the city had more traffic lights already in place.
“Tell me more about yourself,” she said, interrupting my thoughts.
“There isn’t much to tell. I was born in France but raised here.
I’ve never been much of anywhere else.” I didn’t mention the way I’d yearned to explore new places and go on expeditions in the wild to search for stones, or the many times my father had planned to take us to New York, center of the country’s jewelry trade, or to Paris, only to be derailed by his latest obsession over a project.
“We’ll have to remedy that,” she said with a wink.
I blinked. I couldn’t imagine where Evalyn might possibly take me and, more importantly, why. I certainly couldn’t afford such an extravagance. “I imagine you’ve traveled the world,” I replied at last.
“Oh, not everywhere, but I’ve been to some of the prettiest countries in Europe and the places that matter in America.”
The places that mattered? I suspected Evalyn required designer boutiques and reputable restaurants and expansive homes for party-making in her “places that mattered.” Expectations I couldn’t relate to in the slightest.