Chapter 20
Despite my resolve to put the conversation I’d had with Evalyn from my mind, my nerves tingled each time I thought of her reaction to what I’d said about Carrie.
If Evalyn confronted Carrie, that could disrupt the entire group of friends.
Guilt washed over me. I didn’t want to be the cause of a woman’s exile, especially a woman who, for all intents and purposes, had not only encouraged Evalyn to hire me but had also purchased items from the boutique.
I peered through my jeweler’s goggles at the pair of diamond barrettes my father had asked me to make.
I’d been working on them since early morning, and I was ready for a break.
As I put my tools away, I thought about which of the dresses I’d wear to Bea’s.
For the first time since I’d begun work for the McLeans, I’d been invited to join the others on a proper outing.
Bea insisted we go to the pictures at the Apollo theater to see the comedy Cheating Cheaters, starring the glamorous Clara Kimball Young.
The actress’s recent divorce—after her scandalous infidelity—had fueled even larger crowds than usual to her films. I appreciated the much-needed lighter distraction, though I would do better to spend my time at home finishing the barrettes and encouraging Father to work on his new ideas.
But I couldn’t bring myself to decline the invitation. I was thrilled to be asked.
After the picture, we returned to Bea’s house for refreshments.
The rest of the circle of friends arrived shortly after, and Bea’s cook prepared trays of canapés and spritzers.
When she put on a Marion Harris record, several of the ladies sang along, and all were in good spirits.
I was pleased to see Evalyn wearing the gold headband I’d made for her.
The feather bobbed merrily as she swayed to the music.
“What is that headpiece, Evie?” a woman named Rita asked as she tapped her feet to the music. “It’s beautiful.”
Evalyn lightly touched the gem-studded band. “Our Lizzie made it! I just knew I’d chosen well in hiring her.”
“You’ll have to make one for me,” Rita said. “Maybe in silver? Silver would go beautifully with my new dress.”
The others joined in the fawning, and I beamed with pride.
It was the first thing I’d made that had truly garnered any real attention.
Evalyn looked on proudly like a mother hen over her chick.
At her broad smile, a less-than-generous thought popped into my head, and yet I knew it was true.
Anytime Evalyn could take credit for something that made her look good in any way, she would.
Gwen was the only one who had nothing to say about the headband, not a polite nod of encouragement or even an acknowledgment that I was there.
And I found myself staring at her. She wore a long white dress with black pin stripes reminiscent of a man’s suit.
A white hat with a black ribbon crowned the ensemble.
It was a surprising new look but not entirely flattering to a female figure with its tubular shape.
Six weeks ago, I wouldn’t have noticed such a thing, but with the intense education I’d had from Evalyn and her friends, the striking style was now impossible to miss.
I felt a rush of gratitude once again as I looked down at the pale-blue dress Evalyn had given me.
It flattered my alabaster skin and my dark eyes—another thing I wouldn’t have given a second thought to before.
Gwen felt my eyes on her and turned. “Well, don’t you look nice,” she said, her tone light, but the lines around her mouth were pulled as tight as a bow’s strings. “You’re dressed like Evie again. It’s very sweet that you’re trying to look like her.”
She was right; I looked a bit like Evalyn in features, and the dress used to be one of hers, but it was prettier than anything I’d ever owned.
I pictured arriving to one of Evalyn’s parties in my work trousers and my trusty brown smock, my hair loose and snarled, and I suddenly yearned for the privacy of my workshop and the comfort of my real clothes.
When I wore them, they were my armor, and I didn’t have to pretend to be anyone else.
I pasted a false smile on my face. “And you’re wearing a really fascinating design. It reminds a bit of the swatch of fabric I left on my workbench this morning.”
Judging by Evalyn’s expression, she approved of my restrained yet clear jab at Gwen’s dress.
Gwen’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, that’s right. You work for a living. That would explain why your references are…less than desirable. You don’t know much about fashion.”
“I suppose not. I’ve been too busy doing other things with my time.” I wanted to lash out, be as blatantly rude as she’d been, but I didn’t want to overplay my hand.
“You don’t have anything to drink,” Bea observed, interrupting the strained exchange. “We can’t have that.”
The last thing I needed was a drink, but I wouldn’t be the only one to not participate or at least pretend to take part in their merriment.
As Bea leaned forward to hand me a glass, I noticed her earrings, a set of pink freshwater pearls with a small gold loop that curved around the bottom of the earlobe.
I stilled. Julien had made them. I glanced around the room, eyeing each of the women’s jewelry.
To my surprise, two of the others were also wearing Julien’s pieces: Rita, a gold charm bracelet, and Sharon, an oval silver locket with vines etched into its surface.
It was strange three of the women should be wearing Julien’s pieces on the same day.
This was the first time I’d seen them wearing his designs since meeting them, but the coincidence of wearing them simultaneously seemed awfully convenient.
I remembered how Evalyn had brushed off my comment about Carrie wearing a pendant Julien had designed; she’d assured me they’d all bought something of his at one time or another, and here was the proof.
Yet it felt too coordinated, as if they were trying too hard to put my mind at ease. But why?
“Cheers,” Bea said, clinking her glass against mine.
I took a sip. “Delicious.”
“Isn’t it? It’s Perrier-Jouet, my favorite champagne.”
I couldn’t hold my tongue—and Bea couldn’t either. “Bea, I noticed you’re wearing one of my brother’s designs.”
She clutched her earlobes. “Oh yes, the pearls. He had such great taste.”
“He did.” I hesitated an instant, considering how best to needle her for information. At last, I decided to plunge right in and be forthright to see how she’d react. “It’s such a coincidence that several of you are wearing his pieces today. Any particular reason?”
Bea avoided my eyes. “Are others wearing his designs? How about that.” She giggled at a pitch higher than usual.
“I thought perhaps you’d all coordinated for some reason.”
She indulged in a sizable gulp of champagne and said, “The truth is we wanted to show our support. For you, that is.”
“Oh. That’s kind of you.” I kept my eyes on her until she looked away, drank another sip, and pretended the conversation to her right was fascinating.
Though I didn’t know Bea well, I understood this: She wasn’t one to avoid, to smooth over, to pass off a half-truth.
She spoke directly and didn’t back down easily from a challenge.
Her change in behavior was entirely suspicious.
She seemed to be hiding something, or perhaps they all were.
I looked from one woman to the next, watching them as they flaunted their perfect manners and their less-than-genuine smiles.
I had to admit, I felt a push-pull with this crowd.
The desire to belong and the enjoyment of being swept up in the moment as if there was nothing better in the world I could be doing warred with my disgust at the way they treated each other.
And for the hundredth time in a little over a month, I had to remind myself why I was there.
The remnants of another conversation drifted my way, and I turned as my name was mentioned.
“Lizzie is still single, aren’t you?” Evalyn said. “Who should we set her up with, Gwennie? Now that she’s one of us, we need to find her the right match. Look at her! She’s positively pretty in that dress.”
The last thing in the world I wanted to discuss was whether I was single or needed a man. I wished I could fade into the woodwork, be spared from this conversation.
“How about Teddy Carpenter?” Gwen said.
Carrie, who had remained silent through the exchange so far, choked on her drink. “Teddy? Teddy with the large gums and tiny teeth?”
Evalyn laughed uproariously. “Large gums? What are you talking about?”
“Isn’t he the gardener?” Bea replied.
“Of course he is,” Evalyn replied, and then she stuck out her own teeth like a rabbit.
Sharon, Bea, and Gwen burst into laughter. Carrie rolled her eyes and lit a cigarette.
“Oh, the gardener is perfect for Lizzie,” Gwen said, her tone smug. “Is Teddy here now? I’ll talk to him, see if I can set them up.”
“No, it’s fine,” I replied quickly. “I’m not interested in seeing anyone.” Henry’s face flashed in my mind’s eye, despite my resolve not to think about him in that way anymore.
“Come now, why not?” Evalyn said. “It doesn’t have to be Teddy. I’m sure we can come up with someone better.”
Carrie tapped her cigarette, and the ash dropped in a clump into the crystal tray. “At your age, it must be a little concerning that you aren’t married. And for your father, too, I’d imagine.”
“I’ve never considered marrying,” I said. Though it wasn’t entirely true, it certainly wasn’t their business.
Gwen exchanged a knowing look with Bea, who winked at Rita, who then elbowed Evalyn. I’d have had to be blind not to notice it.
“Whyever not?” Gwen said. “Don’t you like men?”
I knew her question was aimed to both make me uncomfortable and spark the others’ imaginations with an image we both knew they’d find unsavory. They weren’t exactly the most open-minded of women.