“Father, Aurora, I’m so sorry that I wasn’t here when you arrived,” Beckett said as he led Noah into a family parlor at the back of the house. It was well-lit, decorated in bright colors, and contained a grey-haired man who looked a great deal like Beckett and a woman close to Beckett’s and Noah’s age, with Beckett’s thick, dark hair and luminous, brown eyes. “I’d like you to meet a new friend of mine, Mr. Noah Cheevers, from London. He’s in New York on…business, and I’ve invited him to stay with me instead of footing the expense of a hotel.”
Mr. Smith stood and set aside his tea, then extended a hand to Noah. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Cheevers.”
“Likewise, sir,” Noah returned the greeting, shaking the man’s hand. He liked Mr. Smith at once. There was something open and welcoming about the man, something that made Noah feel he didn’t need to hide from him.
He had the same feeling about Beckett’s sister, who jumped up from her chair and rushed to shake Noah’s hand as well, her large eyes sparkling.
“My daughter, Miss Aurora Smith,” Mr. Smith introduced them.
“It is a pleasure to meet you,” Miss Smith said, then giggled when Noah raised her hand to his lips.
“The pleasure is all mine,” Noah said. He turned to Beckett and said, “You didn’t tell me you had such a charming family.”
Beckett smirked at him. “Something tells me you’re the charming one.”
Miss Smith laughed freely, which made Noah like her even more.
He couldn’t believe his luck. Only a few hours ago, his hopes had crashed to despair at Marcus’s rejection. Now, he found himself cozied in the embrace of a delightful family. It was more proof that his fortunes could change in a moment.
And that only encouraged him when it came to winning Marcus back.
“What business brings you to New York?” Mr. Smith asked as the four of them took seats around the parlor.
There was no maid to serve the tea, but Miss Smith seemed to have no qualms about pouring a cup for Noah and for her brother.
“I’ve come to seek out a friend who came here several months ago,” Noah said, cautious about revealing too much in the presence of a lady like Miss Smith. “And to convince him to come home.”
“Oh, I see,” Mr. Smith said.
Noah had the uncanny sense that the man did see, that he saw everything. He couldn’t decide if he liked that or not.
“And what brings you to my humble abode this morning, Father?” Beckett asked, darting a cautious look to Noah which made Noah certain he was changing the subject on purpose.
The mood immediately shifted, and Noah felt as though he’d been embraced even further by the Smith family.
“Mrs. Livingston will be hosting a ball on All-Hallows’ Eve, or so we’ve learned,” Mr. Smith said, speaking as though it were a matter of dire importance, “and I am determined to have Aurora invited.”
Miss Smith glanced anxiously to her brother. “I am desperate to go,” she said. “All of my friends have been invited, and I can’t help but feel as if this could be the event that heralds my success in society.”
“I cannot imagine you are not successful in society,” Noah said, smiling at Miss Smith in a way designed to flatter her into blushing.
It worked. “You are too kind, Mr. Cheevers.”
“Aurora is very popular with the daughters of high society,” Beckett explained, “but their mothers have dug in their heels when it comes to inviting new money to their social events.”
“Isn’t all money just money?” Noah asked, glancing between the three Smiths.
Beckett and his father exchanged a look and humorless laughs.
“New York high society is hopelessly split between new money and old money,” Beckett explained. “Old money are those families who can trace their lineage back to colonial days and to the Revolution.”
“New money are sharp, enterprising men like me, who have made their fortunes through industry and hard work,” Mr. Smith said. “I will allow you to guess whose society I would rather spend my time in, but Aurora has other ideas.” He sent a fond but gently scolding look to his daughter.
Miss Smith looked slightly sheepish for a moment before squaring her shoulders and saying, “Just because you don’t care about status and society doesn’t mean I can’t.” She turned to Noah to say, “The trouble with attending the finest boarding schools in New York is that I’ve made friends who are in Mrs. Astor’s crowd. Only, Mrs. Astor does not approve of the new money people, so I am excluded from too many of the things my friends work themselves up about.”
“Aurora has ambitions of marrying old money as well,” Beckett said with a teasing look. He even winked at his sister.
Miss Smith pretended to be affronted, but Noah could feel the affection between them.