The Davenports: Chapters 14–20

by Krystal Marquis
This first book of the series introduces the Davenport sisters, Olivia and Helen, their maid Amy-Rose Shepherd, and friend Ruby Tremaine—all of whom are trying to figure out what their futures might be like in 1910 Chicago, after Reconstruction had enabled former slaves and their descendants to rise in status and wealth.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–6, Chapters 7–13, Chapters 14–20, Chapters 21–30, Chapters 31–47
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. allotted
    given as a task or a portion
    Ruby missed the afternoons they shopped the storefronts on the South Side. Or when they visited the museums during the hours allotted for Black patrons—or sometimes during normal hours, if Olivia was bored and in a suggestible mood, game for leveraging her family name.
  2. opulence
    wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
    Hastily, Ruby would return to her room, with its leftover opulence, mostly untouched by the cutbacks made to support her father’s campaign.
  3. endeavor
    a purposeful or industrious undertaking
    Securing John’s hand, her contribution to her father’s endeavors—and the salvation of his greatest undertaking—grew less likely by the day.
  4. buffer
    someone who shields you from something harmful or annoying
    The rest of the spectators would serve as a chaperone and a buffer from Agatha, who thought it her duty to shadow Ruby’s every move in addition to talking her ears off.
  5. livid
    furiously angry
    You know, I heard he returned from his first year at college with all sorts of ideas to change his family’s business and no intention to return to his studies. Mr. Davenport was positively livid.
  6. tawdry
    tastelessly showy
    “I doubt the Davenports would appreciate their business being discussed like tawdry gossip.”
  7. earnest
    devout or heartfelt
    She remembered how his eyes had lit up, and with a smile that was earnest and quietly confident.
  8. fray
    a noisy fight
    She slipped back into the fray, making sure she was still in Agatha’s sightline.
  9. smattering
    a small number or amount
    As Amy-Rose listened to her mother tell them the familiar story of her father, she looked through the door and into the face of a blue-eyed girl, older than she was, with a pointed chin and a smattering of freckles like hers.
  10. mundane
    found in the ordinary course of events
    “There will come a time when you meet someone who makes even the mundane things seem magical.”
  11. ingratiate
    gain favor with somebody by deliberate efforts
    “Yes, he is very influential. People come from all over to talk to him. Sometimes even ingratiating themselves with his children to get closer.”
  12. veneer
    an outward appearance that is deliberately misleading
    Her parents sat at the ends of the dressed table, the pain of their younger selves hidden under a veneer of silk and silver.
  13. taboo
    excluded from use or mention
    The struggles of the people on the South Side were as taboo to mention at this table as the scars on her father’s back, as the business he had founded despite those scars.
  14. prudent
    marked by sound judgment
    Mr. Lawrence said, “I think that is prudent. It’s best to leave matters like this to lawyers and politicians and activists.”
  15. matron
    a married woman who is staid and dignified
    The matron hired by her mother to refine her manners turned out to be a humorless woman who insisted every occasion be treated as if they hosted the Queen of England for tea.
  16. flaxen
    pale yellowish to yellowish brown
    They hid their laughs behind napkins and flipped flaxen and raven curls from their faces.
  17. devise
    come up with after a mental effort
    Mrs. Milford always knew when Helen wasn’t wearing a corset, and would devise some torturous punishment like embroidery to remind her of the importance of proper attire.
  18. illicit
    contrary to accepted morality or convention
    Riding beside Mr. Lawrence in a buggy made by her father’s company felt like an illicit act.
  19. plight
    a situation from which extrication is difficult
    Most of her interactions with men revolved around carriages or automobiles. Not her plight against conformity.
    “I’m no damsel,” she repeated. “But maybe I did need some minor rescuing.”
  20. grievance
    a complaint about a wrong that causes resentment
    Great, he must think I’m a lost cause. But why do I even care? And with that thought, the rest of her grievances flew out of her head.
  21. mirth
    great merriment
    His mirth was loud and infectious.
  22. oblige
    provide a service or favor for someone
    She loved dancing, and he was all too happy to oblige.
  23. beau
    a man with whom one has a romantic relationship
    Now if there were just a chance meeting between them and John, or some mutual acquaintance who might tell the young Mr. Davenport that they saw her with a new beau and if he doesn’t act soon he’ll miss his chance, the night would be perfect.
  24. penchant
    a strong liking or preference
    She knew she had a temper and a penchant for retaliation.
  25. laissez-faire
    with minimally restricted freedom, especially in commerce
    I don’t know how to be Ruby Tremaine without the money and the jewels and the parties and the laissez-faire lifestyle.
  26. lax
    without rigor or strictness
    “I know you left with Mr. Barton,” her mother said. “We’ve been lax, but surely, he did not put that smile on your face.” Her words, though soft, carried her clear disapproval.
  27. demeanor
    the way a person behaves toward other people
    The change in the banker’s demeanor made her stomach clench.
    And she’d noticed the way he stiffened when she said Black, as if her lighter complexion negated the part of her identity she’d inherited from her mother.
  28. facade
    the front of a building
    She could already see her plans taking shape around the façade. She’d tend to the empty planter boxes below the window. A fresh coat of white paint would set it apart from a wall of natural brick on either side.
  29. unsolicited
    not asked for
    It would be like when she did Helen’s hair: gossip and unsolicited advice shared freely.
  30. supple
    capable of moving or bending freely
    He held the passenger door open for her now. The interior was all supple leather.
  31. dappled
    having spots or patches of color
    The dappled light that filtered through the branches created a kaleidoscope of greens and yellows, and the air around them cooled to a more manageable temperature.
  32. garner
    acquire or deserve by one's efforts or actions
    When the fundraiser at the start of summer arrived, Olivia would have garnered the votes of the wealthy and influential Black and white people her privilege afforded her.
  33. wistfully
    in a pensively sad manner
    Helen stared wistfully in the direction of the garage.
  34. spry
    moving quickly and lightly
    “I sure do, and I expect you to be as spry as a spring chicken tomorrow. There’s still a lot to be done.”
  35. dubious
    fraught with uncertainty or doubt
    When the dubious frown returned to Hetty’s face, Olivia added, “I’ll be fine right here.”
  36. furtively
    in a secretive manner
    The attendees glanced around them furtively. The snatches of conversation that floated around warned of increased violence, fear that laws against interracial relationships would spread like the Jim Crow laws.
  37. cadence
    the rhythmic rise and fall of the voice
    Then she heard a familiar voice. Warm and rich with Southern cadences.
  38. trite
    repeated too often; overfamiliar through overuse
    “I snuck out of the house, but I didn’t come alone. Unlike you, I can’t go and come as I please. I have other commitments, however trite you may find them.”
  39. nicety
    conformity with some standard of correctness or propriety
    It was a prying, improper thing to ask. She imagined he didn’t heed social niceties unless they suited him.
  40. impertinent
    improperly forward or bold
    No one would ask such an impertinent question.
Created on Fri Aug 09 12:36:45 EDT 2024 (updated Sat Aug 10 14:26:00 EDT 2024)

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