“Did she box his ears?”
“No. She turned red as a tomato, muttered ‘go on with you,’ and dashed off to speak with Meemaw, bad hip and all.”
Camilla laughed. “I have a feeling it’s going to be an interesting afternoon.”
“Let’s just hope no one else in the family shows up,” Owen murmured.
“And wouldn’t that simply be a shame since I find myself downright enamored with all the Chesterfields I’ve met so far, at least as pertains to the ladies,” Leopold countered. “But speaking of ladies”—he took hold of Camilla’s arm—“what say we repair to the parlor? I imagine Luella still has numerous decorating tasks to be completed, although I readily admit she’s not been overly impressed with my picture-hanging skills.”
“I doubt you’re eager to return to the parlor because of decorating tasks,” Camilla said, walking with Leopold down the hallway as Owen fell into step beside her.
“You’ve found me out,” Leopold said cheerfully.
“It wasn’t difficult,” Camilla said. “You’ve been less than subtle regarding your interest in Beulah.”
“When you reach my age, there’s no time for subtlety, just as, according to Beulah, there’s no time like this evening for me to sample a local delicacy she’s specifically making for me that goes by the name of corn pone.” Leopold smiled. “I think her willingnessto share the local fare with me suggests she may find me almost as intriguing as I find her.”
It wasn’t exactly a surprise when Owen took to scowling, but before Camilla could do more than grin, they were walking into the parlor, Charles excusing himself from where he was helping Luella and Bernadette position an abstract sculpture on one side of a fireplace that dominated the room.
“You must be Owen,” Charles said, holding out his hand for Owen to shake. “Camilla told me a little about you earlier. I hope you’ll forgive us for arriving on your doorstep without prior notice. Hubert Pierpont, Camilla’s father, was on the verge of personally coming here to fetch his ‘wayward daughter,’ as he’s taken to referring to her, but decided against that after Gideon Abbott, who’s a partner at the Accounting Firm, sent him a telegram, explaining the Lord Shrewsbury situation. Hubert then decided it would be best for him to stay in New York to monitor Lord Shrewsbury once he shows up there.”
“Wasn’t Lord Shrewsbury the man you told me was dreadful?” Owen asked, settling a frown on Camilla.
“Indeed.”
“And he’s evidently traveling to New York?” Owen pressed.
Charles’s brow furrowed as he turned to Camilla. “Why am I getting the distinct impression you haven’t disclosed much to Owen about George?”
It was difficult to refuse a sigh. “I did mention George to Owen, although I might have also simply said he was a scourge of a man and left it at that.”
Owen’s lips twitched. “Has it escaped your notice that this scourge of a man shares the same name as my horse?”
“I noted that straightaway,” Camilla said. “However, know that George, as in your horse, is far more amiable than George, the scourge, could ever be.”
Charles cleared his throat. “And while this is a fascinating turn in the conversation, and I’m sure George the horse is a delightfulcreature . . .” He caught Camilla’s eye. “Lord Shrewsbury could be a key figure in the mess you’ve landed yourself in.”
“I know that, and before you say it was irresponsible for me to not come clean to Owen about George, I know that as well. The only excuse I have for withholding that information is that I don’t particularly care to talk about the man who’s responsible for the most humiliating event in my life.”
“What’s this about some man and humiliation?” Elma demanded, barreling up to join them. “You ain’t using my great-nephew to make this man who humiliated you jealous, are you, cuz round about these parts, we don’t take kindly to nonsense like that.”
“Perhaps we should all take a seat so we can discuss everything rationally, without anyone threatening to fetch any rifles” was all she could think to suggest, earning a grunt from Elma in return, although Elma did march over to the nearest chair, plopping down on it a second later.
“I’m listenin’,” she said.
Realizing she had no choice but to disclose all, Camilla took a seat on a delightful yellow settee, taking the next several minutes to fill everyone in on exactly who George Sherrington was, information that Owen took in stride, waving off her apology of not being completely upfront with him, and saying that since he didn’t care to revisit unpleasant encounters from his past, he certainly wasn’t going to hold it against her that she’d withheld unpleasant information from hers.
His willingness to simply accept her explanation without any judgment or resentment had her losing her train of thought for the briefest of seconds, until Elma cleared her throat and sent her a pointed look paired with a knowing smile, which snapped Camilla straight back to the situation at hand.
She immediately launched into a brief explanation about the abduction attempt, then finished up with how it had come to be that she and Owen were feigning their engagement.
Elma squinted in Camilla’s direction. “If I’m understandin’ what you jist said, Gideon Abbott’s investigatin’ that scourge, Lord Something-or-Other, cuz he might be fixin’ to harm you. And that accountin’ firm, which is a mighty funny name for an investigatin’ agency, is lookin’ into Victor Malvado, who may want to snatch you or maybe that companion of yours, who, if you didn’t notice, ain’t around right now.”
Camilla’s gaze shot around the room. “Where is Lottie?”
“She done went off to fetch more furniture with that interestin’ lady’s maid of yours.” Elma shook her head. “’Fore you get to thinkin’ your maid is bein’ overly helpful, know that she only decided to go with Lottie after Edward insisted on accompanyin’ your companion, sayin’ something about makin’ sure Lottie was kept all safe-like.”
Camilla sent a smile Owen’s way. “I told you I was right about Edward and Lottie.”
