Bette had worn the cat’s eye brooch the brothers had gifted them earlier that year, while Tina wore an "eternity" gold-and-platinum necklace that Bette had given her for her birthday.  In Bette’s elegant black silk evening gown, and Tina’s emerald glittery evening dress, the jewelry choices had drawn positive comments from the brothers, firstly, then later on from people at the party also.  

Bette recalled that reactions to her and Tina from the Skinners’ crowd had been mostly friendly, but some had been openly hostile.  The worst one happened when both Luke and Brom had been close-by when, within earshot of Bette and Tina, the women they’d just been introduced to unleashed their nasty comments. 

One of the women had started things as Bette and Tina turned away from the two women instead of continuing a rapidly declining conversation with them, in order to avoid making a scene at the glittery charity event.  She’d uttered, "I still can’t imagine how two women…granted they’re both quite attractive… I don’t understand how they can get married? What’s happening out there today is just madness." Her friend had added, as she nodded her head in agreement, "I know… I bet they’re just hanging around the Skinner boys because of the boys’ money.  Intriguing those poor boys with something as unnatural as "being married," when everyone knows that just can’t be, you know, a real marriage…"

Luke and Brom had taken a woman each by the elbows, to firmly escort both out of the gala.  As they frog-marched the women out, Bette and Tina had overheard Brom saying harshly, "…and we frankly don’t care if you were sisters of one of mother’s best friends…." while Luke was adding in tones that barely maintained the usual smooth baritone of their friend, "…don’t mistake…gratitude…"

Matthew had walked over to Bette and Tina in the meantime, smoothly steering the couple to the brothers’ table, mouth pursed, eyebrows knit.  As they sat he signaled a waiter to bring them a bottle, and then began apologizing for having put the two in an awkward scene.  "Matthew, let’s not make a big deal out of it," Bette was saying while Tina lightly rubbed his arm, soothingly.  "I can’t tell you how many times we’ve ran into people like that," Bette continued.