Page 36 of The Queen of Roses

“Miss Pearce,” he said, leaning into the carriage to take her hand, “you look ravishing as always.”

“It’s a wonder you can see me at all in the dark, Mr. Whitley.”

“I am confident enough of your beauty that I don’t need the assistance of light.”

She couldn’t help her smile. “It was very kind of you to invite us to supper,” she said as he helped her down, the press of his hand against her gloved one sending a little shiver down her spine.

“We will be a lively group for dinner.” He nodded to a pair of liveried hotel employees who stood at the hotel’s front door. They opened it with a flourish. “Mrs. Barnes and her friends the Gormans are joining us, as well as Mr. Carter, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Long.”

“How delightful,” said Adele, noting that the additional gentlemen were a widower of at least sixty, a bachelor of forty-five who seemed more concerned with his ornithological studies than anything else, and a married man whose invalid wife was rarely well enough to venture into society. If Mr. Whitley had any designs on Adele, it appeared he was taking no chances.

The dining room Mr. Whitley led them into, for all the grandeur of its entrance, was far more modest in size than Adele had expected. However, what it lacked in dimension it more than made up for in its fittings. The carpet was a deep, plush forest green, and the walls were done in gold-and-pistachio wallpaper. From the ceiling hung a gold chandelier mounted low over a table set for ten with etched crystal, gold-rimmed china, and brilliantly polished silver. Off to the side, by a small carved gold cart laden with crystal decanters of spirits, stood the other guests.

“Ah, the Pearces have arrived,” said Mrs. Barnes. The lady moved forward to shake hands with Mama and Papa, but when she reached Adele in a whisper of turquoise taffeta she brushed Adele’s cheeks with her lips. “It is good to see you as always, Miss Pearce.”

“I am delighted to see you as well,” said Adele, finding that she actually did mean it. She was glad of the widow’s presence. If Mr. Whitley had a mind to flirt, Adele suspected Mrs. Barnes might prove a helpful ally.

“Mrs. Pearce, are you acquainted with Mr. Long and Mr. Thomas?” asked Mr. Whitley.

“We are,” said Mama, smiling at the other men. “Good evening, sirs.”

“Well, in that case, all we need is Carter,” said Mr. Whitley.

A moment later, Mr. Carter came striding into the room, the tails of his evening coat flapping behind him and his white bow tie slightly askew.

“Apologies, apologies,” the man called. “That jam in front of your hotel made me late, Whitley.”

“Yes, the restaurant at the Andalusian has proven to be very popular tonight,” said Mr. Whitley. “There are so many families from out of town looking for supper before the ball.”

After the necessary introductions were made between Adele and Mr. Carter, Mr. Whitley nodded to Mrs. Barnes, who, acting as hostess, led them to the table.

“How did you manage to wrestle the Thanksgiving ball away from the Raymond Hotel, Whitley?” asked Carter as they all settled into their seats and a pair of waiters began circulating with wine.

“Gill is thinking of investing in my Colorado Grand venture. I told him that nowhere will be superior to the Colorado Grand when it’s open—except the Andalusian, of course. Then I suggested the Thanksgiving ball be held here so that he might test the Andalusian’s hospitality himself,” said Mr. Whitley.

“So if this goes well, you manage to secure the Gills’ business this year and possibly an investor for your new hotel in the future,” said Carter.

Mr. Whitley grinned before taking a sip of wine. “Never turn down a good opportunity, I say.”

“Hear, hear,” said Mr. Carter.

“Mr. Carter was one of my first investors in Pasadena,” said Mr. Whitley. “And Mr. Long followed not long afterward. In fact, just about the only person who refused to invest with me was Mrs. Barnes.”

“I like to think I politely declined rather than refused,” the widow said.

“And then turned around and bought up half the city within six months,” said Mr. Whitley.

“You exaggerate, sir,” said Mrs. Barnes.

“Hardly. But that does not matter. You see, it is shrewd men and women of business, Mrs. Barnes, who keep a fellow like me sharp.”

“And friends are far better than business partners or investors,” said Mrs. Barnes.

Their host lifted a glass to acknowledge the lady.

“My goodness. Business sounds terribly exhausting,” said Mrs. Gorman.

“And trying for those not interested in such matters,” said Mr. Whitley by way of apology. “Tonight is meant to be full of amusement. A proper party. I have it on good authority that the Gills wish nothing more than for all of us to eat, drink, and be merry.”