Page 9 of The Best-Laid Plans

Lillian offered Mr. Hughes no such reprieve. By the time the next set was over and the two gentlemen returned them to their parents, the poor soul looked ready to run for his life. What little subtlety Lillian had employed during their efforts in Shropshire had yet to make an appearance here.

If they were not all very careful, Lillian’s efforts might just prove successful. And if she managed to ensnare her chosen prey, Ellie would be under increasing pressure to capture the quarry chosen for her.

And they would all live unhappily ever after.

Chapter Four

If not for the veryreal possibility that Miss Napper would drag him quite literally to the altar should he offer her even the tiniest encouragement, Newton would have faced the remainder of his time in Bath with equanimity. The Nappers were not objectionable by Society’s standards, but Newton had no desire to entangle himself. He already felt trapped enough by his parents’ dictates and demands.

“We have been invited to take supper and spend an evening with Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster,” Mother said. The three of them—Newton and both of his parents—were making what was proving to be a biweekly visit to the Grand Pump Room to walk and, in Mother’s case, to take the waters. Charlie, intelligent chap that he was, never joined them.

“An excellent connection, there,” Father said. “And that Miss Lancaster would be quite a feather in your quiver.”

“I beg your pardon?”

Father quickly realized the potential insult in the metaphor. “I hadn’t meant to be demeaning. Her standing in Society is second to none. That you can claim her as a friend will serve to elevate your standing. The possibility of something more is quite encouraging.”

Light spilled in through the windows, brightly illuminating the space, in stark contrast to Newton’s dark and dreary mood as he discussed the current matter. His parents understood so little of what he wished for in life. “I am not interested in ‘something more.’”

Mother patted his arm. “Perhaps not at this exact moment. But do keep your mind open to the possibility. She is a lovely young lady and precisely the sort we would wish for you.”

Countless arguments immediately rose to mind. He knew better than to voice them. His parents had set their sights on more than just his future occupation—or the blocking of it, more accurately. They were also being dictatorial in the matter of his future spouse. It was a difficult thing to be so little understood.

“If I will not be needed,” he said, “I believe I will take a turn about the room on my own. The space is a peaceful one.”

That was something of a lie. Though Bath was not as highly sought-after a city as it had been mere years earlier, it was still popular enough for the Grand Pump Room to be fuller than Newton would have preferred. In that moment, though, he knew himself more equal to enduring the press of strangers than his parents’ intrusion.

Mother nodded. “Take a turn, Newton. I mean to make slow work of the waters today.”

He did not need to be told twice.

A half circuit of the long, high-ceilinged room brought him, to his great surprise, face-to-face with Miss Lancaster and Miss Ellie Napper. He attempted to offer a quick nod and be on his way, but it was not to be.

“We’d hoped to find you here,” Miss Lancaster said. “We are hatching a wonderfully clever scheme, and we need you to join in our conspiracy if we are to have any hope of success.”

He was at an utter loss for a reply. They wished him to join in a plot? He hadn’t a long-standing association with either young lady, and neither did he suspect he’d given either one the impression that he was a likely candidate for group mischief.

“At least hear us out,” Miss Lancaster pleaded.

He could see no means of escaping their explanation. It might even prove a little diverting. The heavens knew he could use a bit of lightening after his difficult interactions with his parents.

He gave a slight nod.

A grin spread across Miss Lancaster’s face. “Excellent.”

Newton took a moment to study Miss Ellie. He couldn’t imagine her undertaking anything remotely likely to raise eyebrows. To his utter shock, he saw as much mischief in her eyes as he did in her companion’s. Entirely unexpected.

“Let us continue our walk around the room,” Miss Lancaster suggested. “We will make you privy to the details of our plot.” She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, not requiring him to offer it. He did, however, undertake the niceties with Miss Ellie and, in the length of a breath, had a young lady on each arm as he resumed his walk around the Pump Room. It was an odd posture for one who tended toward quiet solitude or membership in the crowd of onlookers rather than the out-and-outers. Still, he was not complaining.

“Here is our situation.” It was Miss Ellie and not Miss Lancaster who began the telling. “My parents are single-mindedly determined to see me make a match with Mr. Jonquil, which I don’t particularly care to pursue.”

“No intelligent person would,” Miss Lancaster tossed in.

“And my sister is equally determined to pursueyou, Mr. Hughes,” Miss Ellie said. “Unless I entirely misread the situation, you are not particularly keen on that.”

This was not the demure, quiet miss he’d interacted with thus far. There was a boldness to her no one would predict.

“Have I misunderstood your feelings for my sister?” Miss Ellie pressed.

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