Page 23 of The Best-Laid Plans

“Take Molly with you,” Mother said. “A young lady wandering about on her own would cause even more whispers than we are already enduring.”

Ellie nodded her agreement before taking her leave.

Molly was always eager for any opportunity to be out of the house. Ellie couldn’t help thinking the chambermaid would have been happier at the country estate, where she would have far more opportunities for out of doors.

Ellie had something in common with the soft-spoken maid, though different lives and experiences made it difficult to have a deep or personal conversation. They were limited to comments on the weather and observations about the fashions they saw around them.

They reached the ribbon and trims shop. To Ellie’s great surprise, Artemis and the Huntresses were inside, perusing ribbons and laughing amongst themselves.

Daria spotted her first. “Ellie.” She rushed over, followed quickly by Artemis and more sedately by Gillian. “We are well met.”

“We are, indeed,” Ellie said. “Have you only just begun your shopping, or are you nearly done?”

“This was our final stop,” Artemis said.

“It is myonlystop.”

“Do join us,” Artemis said. “We’ll see you home again. And with all of us here, you won’t need a maid accompanying you.”

Ellie looked to Molly. “You needn’t stay. When you return to the house, do kindly tell my parents that I’ve joined Miss Lancaster, Miss Mullins, and Miss Phelps?”

The maid dipped a curtsy of acknowledgment. There was no missing the disappointment in her expression. Her escape hadn’t been long-lived.

“If you’d care to make your way backslowly,” Ellie said conspiratorially, “I think that would be more than reasonable.”

A bit of a smile touched her face. “Yes, Miss Ellie.” She left the shop with a renewed bounce in her step.

“I have often wondered how desperate the servants in our homes are to have time away from us,” Gillian said.

“I am often desperate to get away from my family,” Daria said with a light laugh. “I cannot imagine our servants feel any differently.”

“I have a confession,” Ellie said. “I am here strictly because I was desperate for some time away frommyfamily.”

She received words of support and empathy. What a difference it would have made to have had friends such as these during her difficult growing-up years. She might not have spent so much time hiding and pretending and wondering if she would ever get to be the person she was.

Artemis ran her fingers over a length of ribbon hanging from a rack above their heads. She lowered her voice. “Are they being unkind to you, Ellie?”

“A little. They have given up on Charlie developing atendrefor me. That is a positive development. But they are upset that Newton isn’t showing more interest in Lillian.”

Artemis nodded. “Lillian is likely equally unhappy about that?”

“She is.”

“Are they blaming you?”

Ellie sighed. “Yes. My ‘untoward’ behavior is driving him away, they say. I’ve embarrassed them and him and am ruining absolutely everything.”

Artemis eyed her a bit narrowly. “They aren’t upset at the possibility that you are...stealinghim away from your sister?”

She snorted. “I don’t think they consider me capable of turning any gentleman’s head, especially if Lillian hasn’t managed it.”

“For what it is worth,” Artemis said, “I believe you have turned Newton’s head a little. He likes your company; I can see that he does.”

“Truly?”

“I cannot say precisely the leaning of his regard, but he does like spending time with you, no matter your family’s skepticism.”

Ellie took comfort in that. Artemis was an expert in being whoever and whatever a situation demanded. She was the epitome of sweetness at certain matrons’ at-homes, then something of a harmless flirt when participating in parlor games with gentlemen their age, then a bit of a dragon when determined to get her way. Yet Ellie had no reason not to believe her in this moment. Artemis had ever been honest with her, even when that honesty had been wrapped in dramatics.

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