Page 49 of The Best-Laid Plans

Mrs. Lancaster was not feelingparticularly well that evening, so they all opted to remain at home rather than toss themselves out into the social whirl. Ellie’s family would be attending a few smaller events, the last they would be part of before returning to Shropshire. Perhaps she ought to have been a little sad at missing this final opportunity to see them.

She wasn’t.

“Entirely understandable,” Mr. Lancaster said, having poked his head into the sitting room. “They have caused you no end of trouble. Perhaps, in time, you will wish to see them again, but the fact that they are family does not obligate you to inflict further misery on yourself.”

Artemis nodded her wholehearted agreement, having already told Ellie much the same thing.

“And doyouagree with your sister that I will not be intruding if I join her at Falstone Castle?” Ellie had worried over that.

Mr. Lancaster offered a broad smile, one nearly identical to his youngest sister’s. “Adam will grump and grumble a great deal, but pay him no heed. He will be grateful that Artemis has a friend with her.”

“Because I am meant to keep her out of mischief?” Ellie asked. “That is what his letter said.”

“Despite both of their efforts to appear otherwise, Adam and Artemis are rather fond of each other.”

“What a great deal of fiddle-faddle,” Artemis said. “Mark my words, ours is a mutual dislike that will one day be legendary.”

Mr. Lancaster shook his head. “Good evening, both of you.”

“Good evening?” Artemis clicked her tongue and shook her head. “You are retiring so early that I begin to wonder if you aren’t secretly ninety years old.”

“You age a person, Artemis.” He pressed his hand dramatically to his heart. “You age a person.”

Artemis laughed and waved him away.

“Your brother dotes on you,” Ellie said. “I’ve often wondered, If I’d had a brother, would he have been so fond of me?”

“I should hope so.” Artemis took up her book of fashion plates once more. “Any brother who did not adore you would not be a brother worth having.”

Artemis was good for Ellie’s too-oft wounded pride. Her own family had dealt it so many felling blows.

“If Rose didn’t find my company too tedious when not permitted ample time apart, I would beg her to go over these prints with me and begin planning your new wardrobe.”

“I don’t think she finds you tedious,” Ellie said with a laugh.

Artemis grinned. “Rose says I am best taken in small doses. I cannot entirely disagree with her.”

Ellie looked forward to coming to know this remarkable woman better over the winter. She had known so few people. Her circle of acquaintances was expanding in remarkable ways.

A knock sounded at the door. Ellie and Artemis glanced at each other, confused. It was not so late that a caller was improper, but it was a bit odd.

Ellie rose and pulled back the curtain in the tall front-facing window. She saw no carriage, no horse, nothing to indicate who stood at the door, which was not visible from her vantage point. “I suspect we may soon be asked if we are at-home to a ghost.”

“Excellent,” Artemis said. “I have spent years attempting to find a ghost in my brother-in-law’s castle. Nary a one.” She clicked her tongue. “A terrible disappointment.”

In the next moment, a very confused and extremely intrigued Henson popped his head in the room. “A visitor for Miss Ellie.” He shrugged. “He said it weren’t improper if Miss Lancaster kept to the room.”

“He?” Artemis looked to Ellie with wide eyes.

“Who is it?” Ellie asked the butler.

“Mr. Hughes.”

She swallowed. “Father or son?”

“Oh.” Henson assumed a more proper posture. “Mr.NewtonHughes.”

“Son,” Artemis said, a bit of cheek beneath her unneeded clarification.

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