“Well, when my mother first mentioned Elise to me, she referred to her as aruinedwoman. And when we hosted guests a few months ago, the same term surfaced again. People may not remember the event itself which led to her ostracisation, but they do remember that she has been branded as ruined. Without the particulars of the situation attached to lessen the impact, the label is doing more harm to her now than before.”
“I see what you’re saying,” Henry said, looking contemplative. “The negative connotations associated with being ruined are worse for her without the context of her situation.”
“Exactly,” Reid said. “This is what we’re up against, but I’m determined to rectify the situation—I have to. I need her to feel like she is accepted so she’ll stop worrying about harming my own reputation.”
“She sounds like someone else I know,” Hester said cryptically, shooting a look in Grace’s direction.
Blushing, Grace said, “I’d like to help you Reid, but seeing as I don’t have much clout within thetonyet, I’m not sure what I could do.”
“You’ll get there, my girl, especially seeing as you’re now a duchess,” Hester said. “As for you,” she said, turning to Reid, “it can be done, but it will need to be handled delicately. What we need is to find some well-placed and respected ladies to mention her in conversation. ‘Who? They will say, isn’t she that ruined girl?’ then our messengers will say, ‘oh, she never should have been shunned, she didn’t actually do anything wrong, simply helping out that poor injured footman’. Soon enough, word will spread about how she has been wronged, with my messengers barely having to fan the flames until the common tale is of the injustice done to poor Lady Elise.”
Reid stared at the dowager in awe, a bit intimidated. “And this can be done—just like that?” he asked.
“Just like that,” Hester affirmed with a curt nod. “When she makes her debut back into society, the fools will be tripping over themselves to see who will be the first to apologize and welcome her back into the fold.”
“Amazing,” Henry said shaking his head. “You society women are truly creatures to be feared.”
“And don’t you forget it,” Hester said snappily. “Now, the trick will be finding the right messengers. I’ll have to think on that. You said it was Lady Wrexham who found them?”
“Well, technically it was her daughter, Lady Pricilla who first discovered her with the footman—but she then went and gathered her mother and the others,” Reid explained. “Actually, Priscilla may be more than willing to help, as she now feels ashamed of the entire ordeal and asked Elise for her forgiveness when she saw her a few months ago.”
“Yes,” Hester mused, “she is well situated to begin spreading the word.” Hester squinted into the distance, wheels turning. “As Lady Priscilla was the one who first encountered them, her version of events will carry weight, especially if she plays up the remorse angle. You should speak with her at once.”
Reid’s mind was reeling as they were called into dinner, but he was hopeful that Hester’s plan was just crazy enough to work.
* * *
Dearest Reid,
Your letters really are too much. Who knew you had a poet inside of you? I hope I’m not too much of a distraction, as I am so proud of the work you are doing. Jonathan, Evie, and I have been tracking the debates in the papers, and I smile every time you are quoted or referenced as leading the charge for the Whigs. Beyond reading of your glory, we are planning and dreaming of the vegetable garden we will plant as soon as winter recedes, and I can’t tell you how excited everyone on the estate is.
I miss you terribly and think often of our time together before you had to leave. I crave your kisses and the feel of your skin against mine, and I can’t wait until I can be yours again.
I love you,
Your Elise
Between meetings over the next few days, Reid started putting Hester’s plan into motion. While he was trusting her to talk with some of the society matrons, he personally visited Fitz’s house to speak with Moira and her sister-in-law Angeline, and held a very productive conversation with Lady Priscilla.
Pricilla had been thrilled with the idea and promised to start working Elise into conversations over the holidays, which were quickly approaching. She had also been ecstatic to hear about Reid and Elise finding each other.
“I knew it!” she exclaimed when Reid explained why he was so keen to fix Elise’s reputation. “I could tell when I was at Cliff House with the two of you. You were much too upset about Dorsten for her not to be someone special to you. And the way she clung to you when she was upset, it was clear she felt she could trust you—and it’s hard for a woman to fully trust a man,” Priscilla said a bit sadly.
Now, Reid had just one person left he wanted to talk with. Scanning the halls in Westminster, he wandered about the Tory gathering rooms dodging adversaries left and right until he finally laid eyes on his target.
“Lord Pelham,” Reid greeted Elise’s father. “How are you? I’ve not seen you around much lately.”
“I’m well, Weston, and you?” the man said, all politeness, though he looked utterly confounded as to why Reid had approached him when they were barely acquaintances.
“I’m grand,” he replied. “I came from my estate in Dorset before the session began. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I’ve recently seen your daughter, and she is doing well.”
“My daughter?” Pelham asked, clearly confused. “I wasn’t aware you knew Marianne.”
“No, not Lady Marianne,” Reid said, exasperated that the man didn’t even hesitate to think he was discussing his younger daughter, Elise seeming to be a case of ‘out of sight out of mind’. “I meant Lady Elise. She rents a property on my estate in Dorset.”
“Of course. You’ve seen Elise—she looks well?” Pelham asked eagerly. Reid softened almost instantly as he saw the man’s face light up at the mention of his eldest daughter. Maybe the earl was not used to people discussing her any longer and Reid had rushed to judgment.
“Yes, I would dare to say she is thriving,” Reid offered the man. “She’s created quite the life for herself and is well-beloved in the community.”
