Page 17 of The Queen of Roses

chapter seven ADELE

After a week of leaving cards and making calls, it was almost a relief when Adele learned that Mrs. Barnes had invited Mama and her to a whist party one afternoon. Adele looked forward to the company of a hostess who did not seem interested in sizing her up to decide whether she would present competition for an unmarried daughter during that winter’s round of balls.

Alas, when she and Mama arrived at Mrs. Barnes’s home for the card party, she found herself almost immediately set upon by the Gormans.

“Miss Pearce! What a delight!” cried Mrs. Gorman, drawing the attention of the ladies who were seated with cups of tea around Mrs. Barnes’s drawing room. “I was just saying to Cynthia that after making so many calls this last week, it will be good to see the friendly face of someone we already know so well.”

“Everyone has been so kind,” said Miss Gorman.

“Two gentlemen have already invited Cynthia for carriage rides. Of course, we have the advantage of Mrs. Barnes’s generosity,” Mrs. Gorman added quickly, as though she realized that her words might be misconstrued as highlighting Adele’s lack of success with the bachelors of Pasadena.

Well, as far as Adele was concerned, Miss Gorman could have all of them. She would not have her head turned by one of these unrefined Americans playing at being a gentleman.

“Am I mistaken, or are those my ears that are burning, Mrs. Gorman?” asked Mrs. Barnes, gliding up to them in a deep teal dress with black piping running along the neck and cuffs to match the neat black buttons marching up the middle of its bodice.

“I was just telling the Pearces what a gracious hostess you have been to us already,” said Mrs. Gorman. “Every little thing is thought of before one can even think of it oneself. The rooms are comfortable, and the food is exquisite.”

“That is because I knew enough to tempt Mrs. Bend’s chef to travel with me from New York to California.”

“Oh, Mrs. Barnes. You are wicked,” said Mrs. Gorman. “If Mrs. Bend heard you…”

“Given that I have no intention of returning to New York, I doubt very much that it matters whether Mrs. Bend hears me or not,” said Mrs. Barnes.

“Is New York not where you were raised?” asked Adele.

“It is, and that in and of itself is reason enough for me not to return,” said Mrs. Barnes.

Mrs. Gorman tittered nervously. “Mrs. Barnes is being rather unfair. Society in New York—”

“Is full of vipers who care more about whether one can trace one’s family back to the Knickerbockers or the Dutch,” said Mrs. Barnes. “Do you not agree?”

“Mrs. Barnes, you are too harsh,” said Mrs. Gorman. “What of the Vanderbilts?”

“Whom some of your neighbors on Washington Square still dismiss as new money, Mrs. Gorman. Even you, who insist upon seeing the good in everyone, must know that the old guard would refuse to associate with Mrs. Vanderbilt if it wasn’t for those parties of hers,” said Mrs. Barnes.

Adele glanced at Mama, somewhat taken aback by the openness with which their hostess expressed her opinions.

Mrs. Barnes’s expression softened. “You must forgive me, Miss Pearce. My card parties have always been exclusively for my fellow women, and I am sometimes tempted to speak more freely than I would if we were in mixed company. I find certain men take things so seriously.

“I must confess that I have always found it rather difficult to breathe on the East Coast. I much prefer my Pasadena paradise. Ah, here are Mrs. Bierman and Mrs. Ryhoff.”

The ladies all turned to greet the newcomers, and Adele took the opportunity to lean over to Mama and whisper, “Goodness, Mrs. Barnes is plainspoken. Can you imagine a lady criticizing a society hostess so openly in London?”

Mama’s lips tightened. “Things are done differently here, Adele. You would do well to remember that.”

After all of Mrs. Barnes’s guests had arrived, the housekeeper directed a pair of male servants to open the pocket doors at the far end of the room, and their hostess led everyone to eight tables that waited for them, packs of cards set out in their centers. There was a sideboard laden with sandwiches, cakes, and other treats, and a pair of maids pushed in two silver carts topped with tea things.

Adele settled down across from Mama, a plain, meek young woman named Mrs. Parker and a stout, gray-haired woman named Mrs. Gill sat on either side of her.

After the first hour, several ladies declared themselves finished, including Mrs. Parker. Mrs. Barnes moved over to Adele’s table to make up their fourth and partner with Adele, taking up the cards to shuffle and then quickly dealing out thirteen to each of them.

“Shall we show Mrs. Gill and your mama what stern stuff we’re made of, Miss Pearce?” asked Mrs. Barnes.

Adele sat up a little straighter, unable to resist the challenge. “Let’s.”

The first round of whist was fierce, with Adele and Mrs. Barnes losing on the last trick. However, they handily won the second and third, and soon Adele found herself settling into the rhythm of the game.

“Tell me, Miss Pearce,” Mrs. Barnes said as Mrs. Gill shuffled for their next game. “How have you found your week of making calls?”