Gilded Girl by Pamela Kelley

A Gilded Age Cinderella story...of sorts.

When Eliza Chapman, a London ladies maid, learns soon after her mother's death, the identity of her father, her whole world changes. Ward Redfield is one of the richest, most successful men in New York City and he sent a one-way ticket for her to join him, his mother and his two daughters, Alice and Rose, at his Manhattan mansion--the biggest in the city. Though Eliza quickly learns that her new sisters are not so enthusiastic about her arrival.

To say Eliza is a fish out of water is an understatement. She suddenly has her own ladies maid and learns that she is expected to find a husband as the social season gets underway. Eliza is swept into a whirl of teas, luncheons, balls and other events.

Two men vie for her interests, Will is the most eligible bachelor of the season--he's handsome and charming, practically perfect as they have many shared interests. Nick is a lot of fun, he's also English, spending the season in the city and it’s understood that he is in search of a wife with a fortune--he has the title. Though Alice quite firmly has her eye on him.

And then there's Harry, the first person she meets in the city as he is sent to collect her. He works for the family and has dreams of starting his own company. She's most comfortable with him and he becomes a friend. He's not a contender for more than that as he's not part of Mrs. Astor's famous '400' respected members of high society. 

As Eliza settles in she meets new people--among them Minnie--a brilliant married friend, who is a gifted and driven investor. Eliza helps her father with his correspondence and falls in love with his real estate development business discovering that she has both an interest and an aptitude for it. She begins to question what is most important to her--maybe it's not finding a husband in a single season.

But then an unexpected tragedy changes everything and Eliza has to reconsider her dreams and consider new possibilities.