Their current accommodations were the perfect example. When Luz enlisted her friends to make the trip to the Universal Exposition, Manuela had written back insisting they travel in one of the new steamships from the French Line. This one had been decorated by Jules Allard, the Vanderbilts’ personal designer. Because only a sea vessel outfitted for the likes of Alice Claypoole Vanberbilt herself would do. It wasn’t that she objected to fine things: on the contrary, she quite liked the tearoom they were sitting in now. The pale blue and green damask drapes, the ornate Aubusson carpets and the velvet-covered armchairs built if not for comfort, certainly for broadcasting opulence. It was just harder to enjoy these things when one knew how much money was required to access them.

Luz hadn’t exactly grown up without comforts either. Her family’s business provided the means for that and more—but this was a different level of affluence. The kind of overt display of wealth meant to stun and intimidate. The kind of environment that usually brought with it people Luz had to mentally arm herself for. And it wasn’t that she could not handle herself among this crowd. Two years in a Swiss finishing school had prepared her well for this, but it was exhausting. It was a world she always navigated with caution. She could never fully let her guard down among the so-called well-born, lest one of the barbs they deployed so swiftly caught her unaware.

“I could get her just a few things, Luz,” Manu muttered softly, still absorbed in her task, her countenance a study in concentration as her charcoal-stained fingers fluttered over the page. Luz noticed the dark smudges on the otherwise-pristine cuffs of her friend’s lavender jacket and was struck by a wave of pure affection. Manuela, who loved baubles and expensive things, never thought twice of ruining them when it came to pleasing those she loved.

“Manu,” Luz responded in an equally soft tone, because demands never worked with her friend, unless your intention was to get the exact opposite of what you were asking for. “You already bought Clarita four gowns during that outing to the Ladies’ Mile in Manhattan.” Luz ignored the huff coming from her little sister’s direction as she spoke. “You know that until I’m able to get in touch with the solicitor in Edinburgh and discern what our finances will be like, I can’t spend—”

Manuela opened her mouth to protest—and possibly offer financial assistance again—but Luz Alana held up a hand. “No, querida. You have already been too generous.” She blew a kiss in her friend’s direction in an attempt to soften the rebuff.