Page 26 of The Best-Laid Plans

“At this point, I am not particular.” Indeed, the poor gentleman was shivering.

They both were.

“Huntresses”—Artemis motioned them onward—“follow me, and I will see all of you warm and changed into dry clothes in no time.”

Borrowing clothes from Artemis? Ellie was several inches shorter than her friend and several inches more... expansive, as it were. If Artemis could find a single thing in her wardrobe that fit Ellie, she would be more than justified in claiming “worker of miracles” amongst her accomplishments.

For Ellie’s part, she resigned herself to being relegated to a private bedchamber to dry off in a blanket, wishing she’d simply stayed home.

Chapter Ten

Neither Newton nor Charlie wasbuilt much like Mr. Lancaster. Charlie was taller and more slender. Newton was a touch shorter than either of them and not nearly as broad shouldered as their host. The former lieutenant’s clothes—his blessedly dry clothes—were an odd fit on both of them. Yet, they were both remarkably grateful to no longer be dripping and shivering with cold.

Mrs. Lancaster invited all of her soggy guests to the sitting room once they were dry. Upon entering, Newton and Charlie found themselves the recipients of hot tea and hot soup. A low fire was burning, and heavy throws were passed around to provide added warmth and comfort.

Charlie had spoken often about Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster. He’d spoken in such glowing terms, Newton hadn’t truly believed it was possible for the actual people behind the praise to live up to his description. If anything, Charlie had not been effusive enough.

The young ladies had not yet joined them. There were more of them, after all, and, at least to his minute understanding of such things, had more complicated clothing. It likely would take them a while. So he and Charlie sat quietly, waiting. It was a warm and comfortable arrangement.

After a time, Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster joined them as well.

“Thank you for your generous hospitality,” Newton said. “We descended upon you without warning.”

Mr. Lancaster waved that off. “I’m pleased you thought to come here. Being caught in a downpour such as we have just had would be miserable even for the hardiest of people. Being a former navy man myself, I know what it is to be soaked to the bones. I’m grateful you did not have to endure that for long.”

“You are always welcome here,” Mrs. Lancaster said.

One often encountered marriages in which the wife was quite silent and the husband spoke on behalf of them both. Far too often the arrangement appeared to be a forced one. That was not the case here. Mrs. Lancaster gave the clear impression of preferring to be quiet and even seemed grateful when her husband filled in the gaps. Whether she was simply shy amongst people she didn’t know well or shy in general, he could not yet say. Whatever the case might be, he found no reason to be worried for her.

He did, however, worry for Ellie. He only wished he were in a position to do something to relieve that misery she experienced at home.

“The rain does appear to have a let up a little,” Charlie said. “Word likely ought to be sent to the young ladies’ homes while there is a slight break in the weather so their families don’t worry about their whereabouts.” It was a thoughtful gesture, one quite common to Charlie. Truth be told, all the Jonquils were known for their thoughtfulness, even Charlie’s oldest brother, who was also known to be something of an eccentric. Artemis often berated Charlie, but he was a good sort.

Mrs. Lancaster broke her usual silence once more. “We did send word around. The girls’ families will be happy to know they are safe and warm and dry.”

That settled everyone’s worries. A moment later, the warm, dry ladies themselves arrived among them, chattering and talking with the enthusiasm of young ladies taking a brisk and invigorating walk in the country rather than having only just ducked out of a monumental downpour. Their spirits were not flagged by their earlier misery.

Despite himself, Newton found his eye following Ellie in particular. She was such a joy to spend time with, clever and amiable, thoughtful and intelligent. She had become a particularly good friend.

The new arrivals were soon seated, allowing the gentlemen to sit again, and provided with the same warming refreshments that he and Charlie had already indulged in. Artemis sat as far from Charlie as could possibly be managed without actually leaving the room or the group of friends. Newton suspected she was not usually so begrudging in her friendships and welcomes. It was remarkably intriguing.

To Newton’s delight, Ellie sat near him. Everyone in this group knew their courtship was not real. She didn’t have to continue with the charade here. Had she forgotten that? Or was she sitting beside him because she genuinely wished to? And, perhaps more to the point, which answer did he most wish were true?

The gowns Ellie usually wore were not anywhere near the first stare of fashion. She never looked dowdy nor truly unpresentable. He thought her quite pretty, truth be told.

The dress she now donned, which she had apparently borrowed from Artemis, was extremely fashionable. It was a shade of deep purple that somehow made her brown eyes almost golden. And it brought out a hue of honey in her hair he had not noticed before. She was not built on an identical scale with Artemis. To that, their proportions were not at all the same. Yet the dress fit her well.

Indeed, all the young ladies’ borrowed gowns looked as though they were made for the wearer. Either Artemis’s lady’s maid had been remarkably hard at work pinning and taping the various gowns to fit their temporary wearers, or they’d somehow procured gowns elsewhere. Whatever the case might be, Newton found himself unable to look away. He didn’t consider himself a shallow gentleman. He did not place physical appearance above all else. But there was something different in Ellie just now, beyond her more fashionable and striking appearance. She glowed with apparent happiness. Dressing in a fine gown and looking to advantage seemed to have inspired a change in how she viewed herself. There was a confidence there that rang truer than her usual air of self-assurance.

“You look very lovely,” he said. Only after he offered the compliment did he realize it might not have been entirely appropriate. They were not actually courting, after all.

But Ellie, true to form, accepted the compliment with a breezy and pleased demeanor. “Thank you. It really is beautiful. And it fits me so well. I don’t know how Artemis managed to find anything amongst her gowns that would fit me when my proportions are so different from her own.”

“Artemis?” he pressed. “Was she directly involved in acquiring your dress?”

She grinned unrepentantly. “Artemis threw open the doors of her wardrobe and pulled out two gowns without needing to even think it through and simultaneously sent one of the maids for a dress in her sister-in-law’s wardrobe. The three were perfectly suited to the one of us she intended it for. Different colors, different styles, but exactly what looks best on each of us. And then, as nimbly and quickly as any lady’s maid one could hope for—more so even—Artemis pulled out dress pins and tape and ribbons and temporarily altered each of the gowns to fit us beautifully. I’m half-convinced she’s more witch than seamstress.”

Newton made a sound of pondering. “Witchcraft, for sure.”

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