Audra Barkley
Audra let the reticule drop around her wrist as she walked out of the livery. A note from her friend, America, had been waiting when she and her mother arrived home from San Francisco the previous evening. It asked her for tea today at Miss Sally's Tea Shop and to come dressed to impress. Judging from the admiring looks from the boys at the livery and the heads turning in her direction, she had accomplished the task. America was waiting as she walked up to Miss Sally's
"Audra! You look divine! Just perfect!"
Audra started to ask the reason for the specific dress request when Miss Sally escorted them in and sat them at one of her best tables.
"Audra, I'm so glad you could come. You got home just in time."
Audra looked at her friend in curiosity. "For what?"
Her friend could hardly control her excitement. "It's a party of sorts."
One of the waitresses laid the tea and smiled at her customers very winsomely, and Audra held her tongue until she left. "What kind of 'party'?"
"Well, I really don't want to give too much away..." She was interrupted by the arrival of Antoinette Fillmore and Matilda Worth. "Antoinette, Matilda! So nice to see you. You both look lovely!"
Audra and America were approached by the two girls who both smiled. "America, Audra. How are you?"
Audra felt she was missing something in all this, so she let Ami continue. "We're good. Would you like to join us?"
Audra's eyes snapped to Ami. Her friend knew that Audra was no great favorite with either of the two girls now joining them. What on earth was she thinking?
Matilda started, "Audra, what a lovely dress. Did you get it in San Francisco?"
Knowing that her mother expected no less of her, Audra resolved to be as friendly as possible with the two girls who typically snubbed her. "Why yes, thank you. You and Antoinette are certainly dressed beautifully."
Antoinette pursed her lips. "Well, the occasion does call for it, don't you think?"
Audra looked around the table at her companions. "I'm afraid I'm still in the dark about the occasion. Ami said it was a party of sorts, but she's neglected to tell me what kind of party or where it's going to be or what we're celebrating."
All of them smiled back at her. Ami started, "Well, it's sort of a party for you. But then again, it isn't really."
Audra laughed, "All right, let me in on the joke. What's going on?"
They all continued to look at each other, drawing out the suspense. Matilda continued, "Well, you're the reason we're having it, but you're not really the guest of honor."
Audra smiled. "Very mysterious. Who is?"
Antoinette aimed what was normally an indifferent stare at Audra but today was quite friendly. "Why, the Family Van Buren."
Audra blinked in surprise. "The Van Burens are the guests of honor?"
Her companions nodded.
She looked a question specifically at Ami who could usually be trusted. "Why would I want to go to a party honoring them?"
She could hardly hold back a smile. "It's a going away party. They're leaving town! Moving, we think. And, by the way, they don't know anything about the party."
Audra felt scandalized as she looked at her companions to see if they were kidding. They returned her gaze and nodded.
"They're leaving?"
Matilda nodded. "Yes. They haven't said they're actually moving out of the Valley, but they certainly are taking a tremendous amount of luggage if it's only a short trip."
Audra's eyes were huge. "Where are they going?"
Antoinette looked very amused. "It's been such a quick decision that none of them have mentioned a final destination. I'm not entirely sure they know themselves."
Audra tried hard to stop from laughing. "All right, tell me everything."
And so began one of the most interesting conversations that Audra had ever participated in as she learned of the gossip surrounding the Van Burens since Bryce had broken their date. She learned that Bryce had previously spoken of a political career…but that he hadn't mentioned it once since their aborted picnic. She learned that his father had hoped to become a partner in the Webster bank, but that Mr. Webster had abruptly turned him down this week.
To her great surprise, she heard about Nick and Heath's discussion with Bryce regarding Audra and the other young ladies in town. Neither of her brothers had mentioned that, and she wasn't certain how she felt about it. Loved certainly, but she didn't need them to fight her battles. Of course, it wasn't only her they spoke up for, and she supposed she would keep that in mind when she told them off.
Her eyes got very lively when Antoinette told her that she used the boys' threat when she dismissed Bryce out of hand, and how much she thoroughly enjoyed herself in the process. "And I suppose I should thank you for that, Audra. I know that we haven't always gotten along, but I really feel that his treatment of you highlighted just what kind of man Bryce Van Buren is. Now every girl in town knows—indeed, the entire Valley does—and his behavior towards you probably saved the rest of us from potentially making fools of ourselves over him."
Audra looked at Antoinette in a new light. "I don't know what to say, Nettie. Oh, I'm sorry, I know you wish to be addressed as Antoinette now. But you just caught me completely by surprise."
Matilda took up the conversation. "We may never know what we escaped with the Van Burens. None of the other bankers in town would discuss partnership with Mr. Van Buren. In truth, they barely spoke to him at all. No father or brother would allow a young lady to go anywhere with Bryce at this point. Mrs. Van Buren and Catherine became persona non grata at all social events. It's a complete turnaround from just a month ago."
America finished it up, "And we realized that your embarrassment at their hands is what started the whole thing. And for that we thank you and salute you."
Audra was momentarily shocked but then started laughing. "I didn't do anything but ride my horse."
Antoinette appeared to see her in a new light as well. "And that was all that needed doing."
Audra looked down at the table. She felt humbled and needed to move to another topic. "So what else are we doing here today?"
Matilda jumped on that, "Oh, we're seeing the Van Burens off."
Audra blinked. "What?"
America checked her watch pin. "Oh, yes, we need to get into position."
Audra was swept up as Antoinette paid for the tea, and Matilda and America quickly moved all of them outside and to the train station. As they headed down the street, Audra looked about and saw almost every girl and lady in town standing on the sidewalks arrayed in their finest outfits. As she passed, there were many hands thrust out along with thank you's being sent her way. "What's going on?"
Ami wrapped her arm around Audra's waist. "Oh, the Van Burens' carriage just passed on its way to the train station. All the ladies in town turned out in their prettiest dresses to give them a memorable send off. And that's what we're doing, too."
Audra looked around at them as they sped down the street. "We're what?"
Antoinette took her hand and pulled her along. "Hurry, we don't want to miss it. Just follow our lead."
Audra shook her head and allowed herself to be moved ahead to the train station. The girls pulled her to the platform and began searching the windows of the train that was about to leave.
Matilda started pointing at the nearest to last car. "There! There they are. Let's all wave goodbye!"
Audra turned with her friends and saw Bryce Van Buren and his family staring back at them. The girls all started waving and calling, "Goodbye!" Audra caught Bryce's eye, and the stare lengthened. She could tell he was looking her over head to toe, and she felt just a little triumphant. She stepped out in front of her friends and offered her finest curtsy. When she returned her gaze to his, he nodded in resignation and turned from the window. She aimed one final glare at each of the other members of the family, turned her back on the train, and walked away with her friends.
