Camilla opened her mouth to argue with that nonsense, realized she might actually be a little prickly at the moment, so closed her mouth and settled for sending him a nod, something that left him grinning.
She opted to not address the grin, stuffing not one but two pieces of cheese into her mouth instead, which was yet another serious breach of proper etiquette, but definitely left her incapable of voicing a prickly remark since her mouth was so full.
“Where was I?” he asked.
It was more than annoying when she couldn’t immediately answer, what with all the cheese in her mouth. Finally, and after a great deal of rapid chewing, she inclined her head. “I believe you were about to explain the safety precautions you and Mr. Timken have put in place.”
“Quite right, and I’m sure you’ll be relieved to learn that besides summoning the authorities, we’ve organized your staff, sending footmen out to patrol the perimeters of your estate until the authorities arrive.”
Camilla frowned. “You think those would-be abductors might try again?”
“You’re an heiress, Miss Pierpont, and holding heiresses forransom is lucrative business.” He leaned forward. “I’m curious, since you must be aware there are threats to you out there, why you were riding without the benefit of a guard.”
“The Hudson Valley is the one place I’ve always felt safe, unlike the city, where I have guards who shadow me anytime I step foot out of the house.”
“I’m afraid the Hudson isn’t safe for you any longer.”
“I’m afraid you’re right, which means I can now expect the small bit of freedom I’ve enjoyed here to disappear as soon as my father learns about the particulars of what happened today.”
“He should hear about those particulars soon, as Mr. Timken instructed the footman who was sent after the authorities to also send your father a telegram.”
Camilla’s shoulders slumped the slightest bit. “Then I expect Father will board his yacht the second he gets that telegram, just as I expect I’ll soon find myself imprisoned in this gilded cage I call home minutes after he lands in the Hudson Valley.”
Owen glanced around the room. “I can think of worse places to be imprisoned.”
“True, but since the mere thought of having my activities severely curtailed is rather unsettling, why don’t you tell me more about your sister and why you want me to take her in hand.”
“What would you like me to tell you about her?”
“How it came to be that she turned into a bit of a handful.”
He drummed his fingers against the arm of the chair. “I suppose that all started when she turned sixteen and my mother began making plans for her debut.”
“Luella didn’t want a debut?”
“I don’t think she was opposed to that at first—until Mother learned that Ada Mae Murchendorfer was intending on holding a debut ball for her daughter, Sally.”
“The lady who has a fondness for bows?”
“Indeed.” Owen shook his head. “Mother and Ada Mae always seemed to be in competition with each other, and Mother evidentlydecided Luella’s debut ball couldn’t be overshadowed by Sally’s ball. That’s when things turned a little concerning, and then turned downright alarming when Ada Mae decided to hold her ball on the same night Mother had chosen for Luella’s.”
“Did Ada Mae decide that on purpose?”
“I would say ... probably.”
“Sounds like there was more than just competition going on between your mother and Ada Mae.”
“I never considered that, but you might be right,” Owen said. “However, once Luella discovered what Ada Mae was intending, she flatly refused to have a debut, which sent Mother into an agitated state, one that didn’t dissipate until my parents made the decision to go on an extended holiday to Paris.”
“Did they decide that because of Luella’s refusal to make her debut?”
“I believe it had more to do with my father’s weak heart. Mother, you see, was concerned Father’s heart might suffer an acute attack after she decided that the manor house they were building in the country needed a few modifications to the original design.”
“Why would he have an acute attack over that?”
“Because our second home was supposed to be a simple farmhouse until Mother learned the Murchendorfers were building a grand manor house a few miles away. Father, wanting to appease Mother’s agitated state, agreed to allow the architect to modify the plans, but Mother had a hard time deciding exactly how the house should be modified, which was causing Father some agitation as well.” He shrugged. “Mother apparently realized at some point that she might be bringing on Father’s imminent demise, and decided the only option to protect his heart was to leave the country. She then left me in charge of completing the house, and then, after Luella flatly refused to leave our beloved grandmother and threatened to jump overboard if our parents insisted she travel on holiday with them, left me in charge of Luella.”
Camilla frowned. “How long have they been on this holiday?”
