I had been in some of the clothing stores in New York, but this one was more than their equal. Artful window displays almost compelled you to come inside. And inside did not disappoint. Soft lighting and delicious aromas combined to seduce customers to stay and shop. Well-dressed women moved about, examining fashionable coats and dresses, trying on hats or stopping to examine jewelry displayed beneath glass-topped counters.

“All the new, oil-rich women shop here,” Mayflower said, more loudly than was necessary, “and of course some from the old cotton and ranching families. Next time we come we’ll buy ourselves something fine.”

I gasped. “But I could never afford any of this,” I said, gesturing around.

She winked at me. “Maybe not, honey, but Aidan sure can.”

I was astonished and a little angry. Did Mayflower think I was the sort to take money from a man? I decided to leave it alone; there was no point arguing with her.

Our outing to Neiman-Marcus was followed by lunch in the nearby Adolphus Hotel.

“Best damn hotel in Texas,” Mayflower declared. “Just look at these chandeliers, and you could sink up to your ankles in the carpeting.”

The restaurant was formal, with white tablecloths and flowers. The first-class dining room on the Titanic had probably been just like this, I thought. But for all the formality, there was no hint of stuffiness. I found myself not even worrying if my table manners were up to snuff. I was beginning to like this aspect of Texas life.

“Can I ask you a question, Mayflower?”

“Shoot!”

“How did you get the name Mayflower? It’s so unusual.”

She gave a loud, husky laugh. “It was my momma’s doing. She was from back East, and though she loved my daddy, she thought she was better than other folks ’round here. My momma held up her nose so high, she’d of near drowned in a rainstorm, and that’s the truth. Her people had come from England on the ship the Mayflower, so she decided to name me after it so as folks would realize how important she was.”

I smiled. “And did they?”

She laughed again. “Oh, honey, they wouldn’t have cared if she’d been born in a barn. Nobody ’round here is impressed with things like that. I got stuck with this name for nothing.”

“I rather like it.”

“Most folks call me May, but there’s them that still uses the full name.”

“Well, I shall call you Mayflower.”