Page 22 of The Best-Laid Plans

His gaze narrowed on her a little. “We are about to be separated once more. When I return to your side, I intend to quite thoroughly interrogate you on the topic of your mysterious breaches of etiquette.”

She might’ve been intimidated if she hadn’t seen mischief twinkling in his eyes. And further, she was touched that he could not immediately think of at least a half dozen breaches of etiquette, as he called them, that she had committed just during the time they had spent together. He was enough in Society to realize ladies were meant to be demure, and she was never that when not forced into decorum by her parents. He was a kind soul, Newton Hughes. How she enjoyed talking with him. His company was reassuring and soothing and kind.

His romantic interest in her was feigned. But his goodness was genuine.

As promised, he dove in when they were next together. “Have you taken up a career on the stage?”

She smiled and shook her head.

“Begun frequenting gambling dens?”

Again, she could not keep back a smile.

“Then I will assume you have gone about singing inappropriately bawdy tunes at the top of your voice in Hyde Park during the fashionable hour. There can be no other possibility.”

She laughed. The sound drew a bit of attention from those nearest them. “I don’t imagine it’s possible for me to have done anything in Hyde Park when one takes into consideration the fact that I have not once in all my life been to London.”

She was watched a little closely by those in the set dancing nearest them. Whether the confusion or curiosity or disapproval or whatever it was that she saw in their faces arose from her admission that she’d never been to Town or the fact that she had done the unthinkable and laughed whilst dancing a country set, she couldn’t say. At the moment, she did not particularly care. Newton was working his magic once more, weaving a spell of contentment over her.

“Well then,” he said, “I haven’t the first idea what shocking infringement you are guilty of.”

Ellie answered quickly before the dance pulled them apart. “I speak my mind too freely and do not pretend to be an idiot.”

Though he did not breach protocol and laugh, she could see how tempted he was to do precisely that. Her heart soared. Her spirits lifted. If only this were not a pretended courtship. She was beginning to suspect that Newton Hughes was precisely the sort of gentleman with whom she could build a happy life.

But he was entirely out of reach.

Chapter Nine

“Laughing out loud in themidst of a dance. I’ve never been so humiliated in all my life.” Lillian had been blustering ever since they’d returned home from the Upper Assembly Rooms the night before. “And she showed not the least embarrassment over it. I could have endured the stares had she at least appeared to recognize the impropriety of her behavior. How are we to obtain advantageous connections if she makes us the laughingstock of Society?” That seemed a bit harsh. But it fit well with most of what Lillian had been saying to and about her the last few days.

Ellie loved her sister; she truly did. But Lillian’s single-minded pursuit of an auspicious match was making her more and more difficult to live with.

“I did not laugh as an intentional violation of propriety,” Ellie said. “My laughter caught me off guard, I assure you. Mr. Hughes said something quite diverting, and I couldn’t help myself.”

Mother was not appeased by the explanation. “A lady with manners can always help herself.”

“I am trying.” She suspected they would not believe her, but she had to at least attempt to defend herself. If only they knew how much she did keep back, how many things she didn’t say that would upset them. She was not an uncouth person. She didn’t do anything truly shocking, and even her minor missteps were unintentional. They simply had expectations that required her to be someone other than the person she actually was. Did they have any idea how exhausting that was?

“I do not believe too much damage was done,” Father said. “Mr. Hughes did return and speak with us again that evening. Miss Lancaster returned again and again. Mr. Jonquil was also relatively solicitous. He is showing only the most impersonal interest in Ellie, though I cannot say I blame him.”

Ellie bit back a response. Her father was again joining in the backhanded comments.

“We might do best to abandon our ambitions where Mr. Jonquil is concerned.” Father tapped his chin with his fingers as he thought.

Ellie inwardly sighed. They had managed one of their two goals. Charlie needn’t worry any longer about her family’s machinations. If only she could find a means of extricating Newton from Lillian’s increasingly talon-like grip.

“Our only hope on that score,” Lillian said with clear bitterness in her voice, “is to rid ourselves of Ellie. Perhaps even send her home to Shropshire. Mr. Hughes spends more time speaking with her than he ought. And whenever they are in company, she never fails to do something to embarrass our family.”

“I have heard all the finest families make a regular practice of ‘ridding themselves’ of their children,” Ellie said sarcastically. “Very refined of us.”

Lillian shot her a look of frustrated disapproval.

It was Mother, however, who spoke. “You have been the cause of enough difficulties, Elfrida. Do not add impertinence to your list of infractions.”

When her family was put out with her, Ellie found it best to escape. Were she at home, she would simply go for a walk about the grounds or in the gardens. She hadn’t that luxury in Bath. Still, she knew how to make herself scarce.

“Perhaps, Mother, you would feel it best if I go search up the ribbon you’ve been suggesting I get to retrim my bonnet. I would be out of your hair for a time, and you can discuss these important matters without me making them difficult.”

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