Page 43 of The Best-Laid Plans

“I don’t understand,” Newton said.

But Ellie did. “The rumor rests on the belief that I have forced you to keep company with me. If we can underminethat, the rest falls to bits.”

“Brilliant,” Newton whispered.

Artemis took charge again. “Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, if you are willing to help us put forth the alternate explanation, that Miss Ellie is a friend of your family, and stick to that explanation until the whispers die down, I do believe that will save both your son and my dear friend from the ramifications of this ridiculous whispered scandal.”

Mr. and Mrs. Hughes exchanged glances but didn’t speak out loud. Ellie wasn’t familiar enough with them to know if what she was seeing was encouraging or not. One look at Newton gave her hope.

“It is an excellent idea, Miss Lancaster,” Mrs. Hughes said. “And the sooner we begin, the better. Mr. Lancaster, I hope you and your wife, sister, and our mutual friend, Miss Ellie, will join our family at the Theatre Royal this evening.”

“Excellent.” Artemis rose. “We will see you this evening.”

If Mr. Lancaster was at all bothered that his younger sister had just answered on his behalf, he showed no indication of it. He had come to support her, not browbeat her, nor seize control of the effort she herself was spearheading. These siblings loved and cared for and respected each other. Ellie wished she could say the same of her sister.

“I believe this will help,” Newton said. “We might escape these rumors after all.”

Heavens, she hoped so. Because, if it didn’t work, she didn’t have the first idea what they were going to do.

* * *

“I hope all goes well this evening.” Rose slipped another pin into Ellie’s hair, then stepped back to look her over with a critical eye. “Artemis has a flair for strategy, which ought to give you a measure of confidence.”

“Youhave given me a measure of confidence. I likely haven’t thanked you enough.”

Rose acknowledged Ellie’s gratefulness with a quick nod, then adjusted one of the sprigs of tiny flowers in Ellie’s hair. “Looking one’s best and feeling assured is a more effective shield than most realize. It will serve you well tonight.”

Another variation on Artemis’s rules for being bold: dressing to feel confident was a form of wielding one’s shield.

“I will look a mess day in and day out when I have to return to Shropshire.”

A little softness entered Rose’s eyes. “I’ll teach you all I can before you go.”

“Thank you.” Ellie stood and took a reassuring breath. “I could not have done anything I have this last week without you.”

Rose motioned her out. “The surest way to lose a battle is to arrive late.”

Ellie crossed paths with Artemis in the corridor.

“I debated with Rose about the wisdom of putting you in that particular shade of green.” She gave her a quick look over. “Rose was absolutely correct. You look stunning.”

“I do like Rose. She can be reticent, but as I’ve come to know her a little, I have come to realize she is remarkably kind, and she is, as she declared that first day, exceptionally good at what she does.”

“Yes, she is.”

“How did you come to know her?” Ellie asked.

They walked together down the corridor toward the stairs. “Her uncle is valet to... well, actually, to Charlie’s oldest brother.” Artemis hooked her arm through Ellie’s as they walked down the stairs. “I was in need of a lady’s maid who shared more of the vision I had for myself. And Wilson, her uncle, is rather famous, which seems like an odd thing for gentleman’s personal servant, but he is a legend. I asked, through Lady Lampton, if her husband’s valet might be bothered to offer a recommendation. He told me I could do no better than his niece Rose. He was absolutely correct. She has no equal.”

Ellie ventured to say what she absolutely would not have dared to a month earlier. “For someone you swear you adamantly dislike, you are connected to Charlie Jonquil in seemingly countless ways.”

“Do not remind me. It seems I can’t escape that man.”

They had reached the front entryway, where Artemis’s brother was waiting, his wife at his side. “Am I the one you’re so upset you can’t escape? If you would prefer, I could send you back to Falstone Castle, then it would be our brother-in-law you could not escape.”

Artemis quite dramatically made a show of being horrified at the possibility. Mr. Lancaster laughed. Mrs. Lancaster smiled at their antics.

The tone amongst them remained light and teasing all the way to the Beauford Square. Ellie hadn’t the first idea how they were meant to find the Hugheses in the large theater, but her companions did not seem to be suffering under the weight of the same ignorance. They moved through the crowd of theatergoers without hesitation or uncertainty and were soon in the company of the very people they were looking for.

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