“Love works in mysterious ways, but your grandmother is crafty, which is why I need your help to get Beulah to accept the idea that Leopold is perfect for her.”
Owen blinked. “You wantmeto helpyouarrange a match between Meemaw and some gentleman I’ve never met before?”
“Did you miss the part where I told you that Leopold’s an upstanding gentleman?”
“I don’t care how upstanding he is. He has no business courting my grandmother.”
Camilla waved that aside. “Don’t be a child.”
“I’m not a child, merely a concerned grandson.”
“I would think my validation of Leopold would be enough to alleviate any concerns you have. But since that doesn’t seem to be the case, know that he’s a widower, possesses a very large fortune, and is a member of the Four Hundred.”
“That tells me next to nothing about the man.”
“It tells you that he’s respectable.”
“No, it doesn’t. It merely tells me that he’s from the world you inhabit, which isn’t a world Meemaw would ever be interested in.”
“Leopold isn’t like most men involved with the Four Hundred because he led quite an adventurous life before he settled down to become an established member of society. He’s no stick in the mud and would keep your grandmother highly entertained, as well as assure she’s never lonely.”
“Meemaw has never complained about being lonely.”
“That’s simply because she’s one of those suffer-in-silence types.”
“She’s rarely silent.”
“True, but I doubt she’d want to burden her grandchildren with the notion her life hasn’t been all sunshine and lima beans, something she apparently finds absolutely delicious.”
“You don’t know what lima beans are?”
“I will after supper, as Beulah calls it, instead of dinner, because, as I just said, she’s whipping them up for me right now.”
“You don’t actually whip up lima beans. You just boil them.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if I ever find myself in a kitchen, in front of a stove, boiling water no less, which I readily admit I’ve never done before. However, none of that has anything to do with Beulah and Leopold. You need to believe me when I say they’re perfect for each other. And before you think the smitten state is one-sided, know that Beulah turned decidedly flustered after Leopold kissed her hand. Beulah doesn’t strike me as the type who gets flustered often.”
Owen’s mouth dropped open again. “Leopold kissed my grandmother’s hand?”
“Twice.”
He spun on his heel. “I believe it’s past time I had a word with this man.”
“Absolutely not,” Camilla argued, snagging hold of his hand and pulling him to a stop. “The last thing their burgeoning romance needs is for you to turn all blustery over the expected behavior from a gentleman when he makes the acquaintance of a lovely lady.”
“There isn’t any burgeoning romance transpiring right now, nor, if I have a say, will there be any burgeoning in the future.”
“That’s just wishful grandson thinking on your part. And while I understand that it’s uncomfortable to think about your meemaw as a woman a man might want to court, you need to pull yourself together and do what’s best for her. She’s not ancient, you know, and I imagine she’d love spending her days with a dashing gentleman to keep her company.”
“I saw Leopold in the receiving parlor just a moment ago and I’m not certaindashingis the word that springs to mind to describe him.”
“Of course he’s dashing, although I suppose he’s looking a little windswept still, what with how Beulah did shoot his hat off his head, leaving his hair rather untidy—not that Leopold has noticed that state.” She smiled. “He’s much too interested in pulling information out of Luella regarding your grandmother to concern himself with shot-up hair.”
“What kind of information could my sister possibly lend Leopold that would aid his romantic intentions toward Meemaw?”
“I’m sure Leopold is interested in the basics—such as what Beulah enjoys doing throughout the day, what types of books she reads, what type of chocolate she prefers, and what her favorite flowers are.”
“He will not be plying my grandmother with chocolate and daisies.”
