Chapter Twenty-two, part two

If it hadn’t been for Sadie, Violet wouldn’t have gone to the party at the yacht club. She didn’t feel much like dancing, or toasting the end of the two-week stay, or anything even faintly festive.

But there was Sadie.

“I’m worried about you,” Violet said.

Sadie was slumped across her bed, an unusual sight for four o’clock in the afternoon. Her hair wasn’t done, and she was in her stocking feet.

“Maybe you’d like to go to the party? I’ll do your hair.” Violet smoothed the fabric on Sadie’s back. “We could try that style with all the coils in the back. And your white velvet ribbon, maybe? That would be so pretty with the pink dress.”

Sadie moaned and rolled partway over. “What’s the point in looking nice if there’s no one I care to impress at the party? I don’t feel like getting dressed. You go on without me.”

Now Violet really was alarmed. She kept her voice light, trying to tease her sister out of her despondence. “You know I won’t go on my own, silly goose. Do come. This is our chance to say a proper goodbye to Flora and the others.” She paused. “But if you won’t go, I won’t go either.”

That did the trick. Sadie sat up. “You have to go. Earl will be there—you can dance with him. And maybe Charlie will be back?”

“No. Charlie isn’t coming back.”

Sadie bit her lip. “Is it my fault? Because of the money?”

Violet shook her head. “No, he’s gone for a medical appointment. To a fancy eye doctor.”

“It doesn’t take four days to see an eye doctor.”

“No, but I—I made it clear that he needn’t come back. Not for me, at any rate.”

Sadie grasped Violet’s hand and squeezed it. “Not now, you mean? Now that I’ve lost all our money? Oh, Violet!” She started to cry. Violet hugged her tight, wishing she could sponge the pain out of Sadie’s body, although there was too much in her own to absorb another teaspoon.

“Please don’t cry. It wasn’t only on my side. He had his own doubts, truckloads of them, and he’s probably relieved. Come on.” She took her sister by the shoulders and wiped the tears off her face. “Mother didn’t raise a pair of party-skippers, did she? We’ll have to face her at the séance tomorrow—we’d better be able to say honestly that we can revel with the best of them.”

“There’s another séance? When will these things end?”

“Tomorrow’s is the last one. It’s in the morning, so we can leave for home after luncheon. There’s plenty of time to pack tomorrow.”

Sadie rose then and went to the wardrobe. She turned back around, holding the pink dress in front of her. The pale blush sheath was softened by a voile overlay, adorned with roses and twining leaves. “I am hereby returning this to you. I should never have taken it in the first place. You’ll look charming in it tonight. Earl will love it.”

Violet’s heart melted at the edges as she rose and took the dress. She gave her sister a swift kiss on the cheek, then guided her to the vanity table and their assortment of hair pins.

An hour later, the Van Waters sisters were dressed and coifed, exiting the Breakers’ Rolls-Royce at the Newport Yacht Club. Flora and the Worth girls had poured over every detail, from the guest list to the lighting. A buffet supper would be served during the party, and a live band played from a far corner. When Violet and Sadie stepped through the doors, they entered a world crammed tight with music and voices. A pyramid of filled champagne glasses sparkled on a table. Couples were already dancing, or eating from small plates, or sipping drinks out on the veranda.

Sadie had just found a glass of champagne when Earl approached Violet.

“Care to fox trot?” He held out his hand, awaiting hers.

Violet hesitated, but Sadie caught her elbow. “For mother!” she sang, taking a deep drink of champagne. “We will leave no dance un-danced!” And Violet, glad that her sister was regaining her usual good cheer, followed Earl to the dance area.

Just as she placed her hand on his shoulder, Floyd appeared in the crowd. Violet drew in her breath. To her knowledge, none of them had seen Floyd since that morning at his parents’ house. He’d sent a servant for his things but hadn’t come in person to say goodbye to any of them, not even Sadie. And now, here he was, making a beeline for her sister.

“That was very sly of you,” Earl said, “pulling my mother into your band of suffragettes.”

“What?” Violet was busy watching Sadie’s face brighten at Floyd’s arrival. He seemed to be explaining something, holding his hands to the front, the sides, then out to Sadie in a beseeching way. Were they making up? There, they were heading to the dance floor. Maybe all would be well for Sadie. “I hardly drew her in. She asked me what brought me to the Breakers, and I told her. You can’t blame me if she has an innate interest in voting.”

“Oh, but I do blame you. If you hadn’t caught my eye with your pretty ways, I would never have invited my mother to meet you, and she wouldn’t—even this minute—be eagerly awaiting the newsletter you promised. I hold you very much responsible. In fact, I daresay you owe me.”

“Owe you!”

“Yes. I think you do. Because in spite of your radical politics, I’d like to see you after our party at the Breakers ends tomorrow. And I think you owe me the honor of an answer.”

“What, exactly, is the question?”

“Where will we meet again, after this? Would you like to come down to Newport? Should I come to you, upstate?”

Violet’s feet slowed. She leaned back and looked up at Earl. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“Why not? If it’s because of Sadie’s losses at the card table, you don’t have to worry about that. I know all about it. My family wouldn’t bat an eye if you were as poor as a pauper.”

“No, Earl, it isn’t that. I just don’t think we’re suited to one another.”

“Of course, we are!” He re-clasped her waist and started dancing again. “Don’t be absurd. I think you’re smashing.”

She pulled herself away again. “I’m sorry, Earl. I enjoy your company very much, but I just don’t think of you that way.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Don’t tell me you’re still thinking about Tremblay. In case you hadn’t noticed, he isn’t here.”

“Yes, I can see that. But it doesn’t change the truth of how I feel. I’m sorry, Earl.”

She backed away a few steps, then turned and made for the buffet table. Not because she was hungry, but just to have a place to go. When she looked around a few minutes later, Earl was dancing with one of the Worth sisters. Violet exhaled, long and slow. She retreated to the wall with an untouched plate, watching the swirl of ladies’ dresses and men’s jackets. Sadie and Floyd were dancing, slowly, deep in conversation. Violet was just starting to feel at ease when motion near the door drew her eyes.

It was Anna from the Breakers in just her dark dress, no cap or apron.

On her arm was Charlie.