“You’venevercensored your speech, even before you turned seventy,” Owen argued. “And the reason no one reprimands you is because you’re slightly terrifying.”
“Only slightly?” Meemaw asked before she settled a quizzical eye on Camilla. “But returning to something you just said, how is it you’re so certain we’re not ne’er-do-wells? It’s not as if you’re overly familiar with the Chesterfield family.”
“I don’t need to be overly familiar with any of you to conclude that, especially after your grandson didn’t hesitate to rush to my rescue when I was under attack by armed men who probably wanted to abduct me. A ne’er-do-well would have never bothered becoming involved, and...” She turned her attention to Luella. “You challenged a fellow academy student to a duel because she was being cruel to another girl. A ne’er-do-well wouldn’t have lifted a finger to help her, and...” She glanced at Meemaw. “You hauled a pig to Wheeling Island to make a point to a woman who’s responsible for your granddaughter now finding herself ostracized from her long-time friends.” She smiled. “It seems to me, and forgive me if I’m wrong, but if you were a ne’er-do-well, you would have hauled that shotgun that I’m almost positive you own to the island and threatened Ada Mae with that instead of a surly pig.”
“I do own a shotgun,” Meemaw admitted. “Five, in fact.”
“And yet you didn’t threaten Ada Mae with a single one ofthose, proving she’s completely off the mark about you and your family, something I’m already well aware of.”
Meemaw set down the coffeepot, then all but thrust the cup she’d just poured into Mr. Timken’s hand and gestured toward an empty chair, which Mr. Timken immediately lowered himself into, undeniably done so because Meemaw was wearing herI-mean-businesslook, before she poured two additional cups of coffee and strode over to the settee Camilla was sitting on.
She gave Camilla one of the cups, then took a seat beside her and swigged a hefty gulp of coffee, her eyes immediately taking to watering, probably because the coffee was hot, not that Meemaw admitted that. Instead, she settled her now-watery gaze on Camilla.
“I believe, before you continue with how you’re going to use your upcoming pretend nuptials to my grandson to everyone’s advantage,” Meemaw began, “you should explain exactly how it came to be that you agreed to travel to Wheeling with my grandson in the first place.”
Camilla took a dainty sip of coffee and set the cup on a small table directly beside her, after she scooted aside a porcelain figure of a cherub holding flowers in its hand, then drew in a breath before she launched into the particulars of what she admitted had been a very unsettling week.
As she spoke, Owen walked to the coffee cart and poured his sister a cup, then one for himself, Meemaw having apparently been far too anxious to hear Camilla’s story to get her grandchildren settled with a beverage.
He stifled a grin when Mr. Timken sent him an apologetic grimace, the butler evidently a bit too terrified of Meemaw to get out of his seat and perform duties that had undoubtedly been instilled in him for decades.
Twenty minutes later, Camilla finished with “and even though, as I mentioned, I was skeptical I’d be of much use salvaging Luella’s tarnished reputation, since she did break Stanley’s nose,although I’m sure it was warranted, even if a lady should never lose her temper, I’ve now devised a plan that will most assuredly see Luella soon finding herself in high demand.”
Meemaw sat forward. “And while I’m curious to hear this plan of yours, I feel compelled to point out that you, my dear Camilla, certainly lost your temper with Ada Mae, the result of which probably has a good portion of Wheeling already aflutter regarding your impending engagement to my grandson.”
“I’m afraid you’re right about that,” Camilla agreed, “just as I’m sure my loss of temper would severely disappoint the decorum instructors I’ve had over the years, as well as send the headmistress of the ladies’ academy I attended into a fit of the vapors.” The corners of her lips curved. “I’ll have you know that I was given an award from that headmistress for being considered the most poised and proper lady who’d ever attended that school, but I may need to consider returning that award after what just transpired with Ada Mae.”
“At least you didn’t assault her like I did with Stanley,” Luella pointed out.
“I’d have to remove myself from the Four Hundred altogether if I ever did that.”
Meemaw settled back against the settee. “I’m curious about this Four Hundred you’ve mentioned a time or two. What is that?”
“It’s merely a name Mr. Ward McAllister, who’s considered the social arbiter of New York high society, came up with to describe the most influential people who travel within the upper crust.” Camilla smiled. “Rumor has it that the reason Ward settled on four hundred was because that’s how many people can comfortably fit into Caroline Astor’s ballroom in her brownstone on Fifth Avenue. Mrs. Astor, if you’re unaware, has been considered the queen of high society for years.”
“And where do you fit in with this Four Hundred?” Meemaw asked. “From what your lady’s maid said, you’re considered one of society’s leaders.”
“I won’t deny that I hold considerable influence within society, but that’s mainly because my parents are Knickerbockers, the name given to families who first settled in New Amsterdam, what New York City used to be called. However, before you ask, no, I won’t ever be in the running to take Caroline Astor’s place astheleader of the Four Hundred because I’m not married, nor do I ever intend to embrace that state.”
“Why not?” Meemaw asked.
“It’s a very long, very dramatic story, and right now we’d be better served discussing the plan I’ve come up with to salvage our current situation.”
Meemaw snorted. “That was an impressive attempt to avoid telling me about the broken heart you’re obviously suffering from.”
“I don’t have a broken heart.”
“How encouraging to hear you’ve recovered from that unfortunate state, but you and I both know that at some point in time, a gentleman treated you shabbily, hence your decision to avoid marriage.”
Camilla opened her mouth, then closed it again before she reached for her coffee, took an honest-to-goodness gulp of it, then smiled, although it seemed rather forced. “The state of my former love life isn’t something I care to discuss—now or ever—and besides, it has nothing to do with the important matter we need to address, that being how we’re going to handle my unintended proclamation of marital intentions.” She settled her gaze on Owen. “I can’t very well return to New York knowing people like Ada Mae are going to use our supposed broken engagement as further ammunition against you.”
“I don’t care what people say about me,” Owen said.
“But you care about your family,” Camilla countered. “That’s why, after Luella becomes in high demand, we’re going to make an announcement that Beulah has made the decision tonotgrant us her blessing.”
Meemaw paused with her coffee cup halfway to her lips. “Why would I do that?”
“Because it’ll put a rapid end to the farce I unintentionally put into motion when my temper may have gotten the better of me.” Camilla smiled. “You admitted that you’re not shy about voicing your opinion, so you’ll proclaim that you cannot in good conscience support a union between your beloved grandson and a lady who is completely unsuited for him.”
