The Best-Laid Plans by Sarah M. Eden

Author:Sarah M. Eden [Eden, Sarah M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: 2020-12-31T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The next twenty-four hours were overwhelming. Ellie’s belongings were brought to the Lancaster home. The note she had received the previous day had called her judgment into question, insisted her welcome would be worn to a thread within moments of her arrival, and declared she couldn’t possibly know how to behave properly and, therefore, was most certainly embarrassing them all and making a fool of herself. It wasn’t anything Ellie hadn’t been told before, but to read those harsh words after having had such a pleasant and welcoming interval with Artemis, the Huntresses, Charlie, and, most especially, Newton had been too jarring for her equilibrium.

Then, just as she began to feel as though she had her feet under her again, Mother and Lillian called at the Lancasters’ house. Ellie had no illusions that the visit was a friendly one, given their last communication. The look on Lillian’s face only further convinced Ellie to brace herself for the worst.

Ellie sat on a chair across from her sister, providing Ellie an unobstructed view of Lillian’s hard, unyielding pout. It wasn’t petulant; it was something far closer to angry. Had they not been granted privacy for this visit, Lillian would have kept her expression far more neutral.

“This is most unusual, you know,” Mother whispered, eyeing the opulent room. “I am certain people in Society are wondering why you’ve left home.”

“I am here as the particular guest of Artemis Lancaster,” Ellie said. “That is far from a comedown. Indeed, it will reflect well on our family’s standing.”

“I was making adequate strides in that area,” Lillian insisted. “This scheme of yours is inexcusable.”

“It is not a scheme. I made no suggestion that I stay here, no request that I be taken in. Artemis insisted on it without my input whatsoever.”

Lillian’s mouth pulled tight. “And your audacity in calling someone of Miss Lancaster’s standing by her Christian name is shocking.”

“She asked me to.” Ellie’s jaw was tightening right along with her sister’s expression.

“I needn’t remind you,” Mother said, “that Lillian and your father and I are working diligently toward securing a match with Mr. Hughes. Do not ruin that.”

“I have spent time with Mr. Hughes—he is a close friend of the Lancasters and Mr. Jonquil—and I have not seen any indication that he is interested in Lillian.”

“Likely because you spend your time with him giggling instead of helping our cause,” Lillian said. “It’s unseemly, you know.”

“As unseemly as doggedly pursuing a disinterested gentleman?” Ellie asked under her breath.

Lillian’s expression somehow hardened further. “You have no understanding of the obstacles we face. Do not mock me for not being as ignorant as you are.”

“I am not ignorant.”

“Then you are a fool.” Lillian looked away, her mouth set in a line of disapproval.

Mother was a bit more conciliatory. “Please, Ellie, do not make our situation worse. Yes, being Miss Lancaster’s particular guest is a welcome opportunity, but only if you do not misbehave and turn it into a disaster, as you do with so many things.”

She

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