Page 24 of The Best-Laid Plans

“I wish I could be hopeful that my family would take me to London when the Season arrives next year,” Ellie said. “But I am quite certain they won’t. They might take Lillian, but even that seems unlikely.”

Artemis motioned to the shopkeeper that she was interested in a length of the deep-green ribbon hanging near Ellie. He dipped his head and moved to the wall full of drawers, where his goods were kept.

“You have told your parents that I expressed a desire for you to be in London?” Artemis returned to the topic at hand.

“I did.”

Artemis shook her head. “With how much store they put by status and wealth, that ought to have convinced them to jump at the opportunity. As tiring as it is to be pretentious, it is useful at times. My brother-in-law taught me that.” Her terrifying, dictatorial brother-in-law, no doubt.

“I am certain they would have seized the chance for such an important connection, but my mother did not believe me when I told her of it.”

A look of deepening understanding entered Artemis’s expression.

“You aren’t coming to London, Ellie?” Gillian looked thoroughly disappointed. “You have to. The Huntresses won’t be complete without you. And you haven’t even met the others yet.”

She’d known these ladies less than a fortnight, and they already considered her a crucial part of their group. She couldn’t possibly give that up and return to being the scolded and dismissed youngest daughter on an isolated estate in an isolated corner of the kingdom.

“We will think of something,” Artemis said. “The Huntresses are not easily defeated.”

“We are, however, easily soaked.” Daria motioned to the front windows.

The skies had burst open. Rain pelted the glass, falling hard on the scrambling passersby.

“Heavens,” Gillian said. “I did not even think to bring an umbrella.”

“Perhaps it will not last long.” Ellie watched the downpour, her heart dropping. Had Molly managed to reach home or duck into a shop somewhere? If the rain lasted too long, she herself would have to brave it. Mother would be none too pleased if she ruined her dress. Their sojourn in Bath had not been without expense, and her parents were put out enough already without her adding to their displeasure.

The bell over the shop door rang, accompanying the sound of scrambling feet. People were escaping the deluge, taking refuge where they could find it.

“A ribbon shop?” A gentleman objected with a laugh. “Could you not have suggested we duck into a tobacconist’s or a bootmaker’s?”

Ellie felt certain she knew the voice. She looked to her companions, curious if they, too, found the voice familiar. One glance at Artemis sorted the mystery. She had a particular expression of ruffled feathers and prim propriety reserved exclusively for this one person: Charlie Jonquil.

“If your sense of manhood cannot survive a momentary sojourn in a ribbon shop, then you have more significant troubles than this rainfall.” That, Ellie knew immediately, was Newton. He spoke more with Charlie than anyone else and showed himself quite clever and funny, though he had begun to open up with her as well.

That Charlie immediately laughed spoke well ofhissense of humor. Ellie was grateful to have come to know both gentlemen better.

The two came around a corner and spotted the Huntresses standing near the window. All exchanged bows and curtsies. Charlie’s smile set Daria and Gillian a little aflutter but without any of the silliness too many young ladies employed. They found him handsome but refused to be ridiculous.

“I see the lot of you managed to be indoors when the heavens burst into tears,” Charlie said.

“What do you suppose they’re crying about?” Artemis asked a touch too innocently. “Something you ought not to have done?”

“Not I,” Charlie said. “I’ve been a saint.”

Artemis’s mouth twisted tightly to one side. She returned her gaze to the rain-pelted window.

“Have you been a saint as well, Mr. Hughes?” Ellie felt a bit odd addressing him so formally, but she didn’t dare make use of his Christian name in public.

“Always.”

Charlie shook his head in obvious amusement. “Fortunately for you, my friend, we aren’t terribly near a church. You’d be struck by lightning on the instant.”

“Only if I were standing too close toyou.”

Their banter marked a long and friendly association. Ellie would have loved to have a friendship like that. She felt the beginnings of it with Artemis and the Huntresses. If she could only get to London, their friendship would grow and deepen. If only.

“The skies are quite leaden,” Artemis said. “We might be prisoners here for hours and hours.”

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