For once, Patrick’s counsel didn’t ease Liam’s qualms, but they’d arrived and had no more time to discuss it. The entire clan was already on the beach by the time they disembarked. The breeze carried the aroma of seafood and laughter as children played in the surf. Red-checkered cloths covered the tables, which were filled with baskets of corn bread, tubs of butter, and plenty of iced tea. Most of the adults were at the picnic tables, but Oscar and Poppy sat on padded wicker chairs placed a few yards away because Poppy didn’t like the scent of seafood.

Her grandfather lifted his straw hat in greeting. His face was flushed with good cheer, and a half-empty bottle of white wine graced the table. “There’s still some lobster,” he called out. “Come quickly, before Bertie finishes it off.”

“I’ve only had three,” Bertie defended. He met Gwen’s gaze as they approached the table. “We didn’t expect you back for a few more days. Did Mrs. Carnegie send you packing?”

Gwen glanced at Aunt Martha, whose sheepish look made it clear she’d spilled the beans about where they went and why.

Liam nodded. “She knows how to make her intentions clear.”

“Ha!” Bertie chortled. “That’s why I let Oscar do the talking for us. No wonder you look so glum.”

Her cousin Joshua gave Liam a condescending smile. “Serve an apprenticeship in San Francisco like Grandfather recommends. It’s better to fail in a small pond than in the big city.”

Uncle Oscar’s gaze had the cautious laziness of a panther watching from afar. “Well?” he asked.

“Mrs. Carnegie proved firm in her position about the steel merger,” Gwen said in a deliberately casual tone. “We couldn’t budge her off it.”

Oscar nodded graciously. He raised a wineglass and sent a polite nod to Liam. “That was as expected, but you are to be commended for trying. As my father suggests, a few years in San Francisco might be a better starting place for you.”

Liam didn’t need to hide in San Francisco to learn the ropes. The plan was to get him on the board of directors for U.S. Steel, and Gwen couldn’t be prouder of him. Happiness as pure as the blue sky above them made her almost giddy with joy.

“Although Mrs. Carnegie won’t budge on the steel merger, she has authorized the college’s continued financial support,” she said. “In conjunction with Grandfather and Count Sokolov, we have enough votes to continue funding the college in perpetuity.”

Uncle Oscar set down his wineglass, all traces of humor gone. “No,” he in disbelief.

“Yes,” Patrick countered.

Oscar silently fumed, but all Gwen cared about was Frederick. Her grandfather stood to his full height and doffed his hat, his eyes beaming in pride.

“Well done, Gwendolyn. Well done.”