“I’m not really sure this is a sound plan because it’s not as if anyone but you and Beulah would be around when I’m doing these chores.”
Elma waved that aside. “Now don’t you fret about that. I’ll provide you with an audience to witness your ineptitude. And with that settled, I’ll be expectin’ you tomorrow at my cabin come sunrise. Don’t dress fancy.”
“Why not?” Camilla forced herself to ask.
Elma sent her another rather frightening grin. “Cuz I got a white-picket fence that needs whitewarshed, and that fence done got your name written all over it.”
Eighteen
“Are you certain Elma won’t come after me because I didn’t present myself at her house bright and early to do something called ‘whitewarshin’ a fence’?” Camilla asked, holding on to Owen’s arm as they strolled down Market Street, garnering more than their fair share of attention.
“There’s no need for you to worry about Aunt Elma,” Luella began, stopping to turn on the sidewalk before settling her attention on Camilla. “I rode over to her cabin early this morning and told her you wouldn’t be doing her fence today.”
“That was awfully brave of you,” Camilla pointed out.
“Aunt Elma doesn’t scare me, but you’ll be pleased to learn I handled the situation somewhat graciously, even after I was forced to take Aunt Elma’s rifle away from her after I told her you weren’t coming and she grabbed it and tried to head out the door.”
“I’m not sure grabbing is ever considered gracious.”
“It was in this instance because I gave Aunt Elma’s rifle back to her after I explained that your decision to not see to her fence this morning was all my fault.”
“Another act of bravery.”
“Not when I had control of the rifle at the time.” Luella grinned. “Aunt Elma looked fit to be tied for a few seconds until I remindedher that she’s been itching to see Ada Mae taken down a few pegs. I then reminded her that the only way that’s going to happen is if you’re able to turn me into one of those Diamonds of the First Water you mentioned were all the rage in New York.”
“You do realize that obtaining Diamond status will require an extreme undertaking on your part, don’t you?” Camilla asked.
Luella waved that aside. “Doesn’t matter. All that matters is the end result, which, if we’re successful, will show Ada Mae Murchendorfer and her cad of a son once and for all that I’m perfectly capable of turning refined.”
“You won’t balk at fittings, dance instruction, and etiquette lessons that will most assuredly eat up several hours of your days?”
“I’ll be exactly like that Miss Adelaide Duveen you took in hand a few months back, the picture-perfect student.”
Camilla’s lips twitched. “Here’s hoping you’ll be nothing like Adelaide because she gave new meaning to the wordchallenging. She loathed fittings and had a difficult time sitting still whenever I brought in someone to arrange her hair.”
“Since I didn’t fidget at all while Bernadette did my hair this morning, nor did a single whisper of complaint escape my lips while your lady’s maid altered a few of my older dresses that you deemed salvageable, I think I’ve already shown that I’m not going to be a problem.” Luella smoothed a hand down the sleeve of an afternoon gown of palest yellow that complemented hair that turned out to be auburn once it had been given a good scrubbing. “Mother would be appalled that you had Bernadette de-bow this particular gown.”
“I doubt she’d be appalled if she saw you in it since the tailored and frill-free style agrees with you. However . . .” Camilla frowned. “If we may return to Elma, are you quite certain she’s reconciled herself to the fact I won’t have time to tend to her fence, or any of the many other menial tasks I think she may have her heart set on me completing?”
“Elma’s not reconciled herself to that at all,” Luella countered. “She expects you at her house tomorrow morning before daybreakto attend to her fence and told me to tell you that in order to fit everything into your schedule, you’ll probably need to rise from your bed a few hours earlier than you normally do.”
“Ah, I see,” Camilla began, tapping a finger against her chin. “Elma’s obviously throwing down a gauntlet, one I’m sure she’s going to be surprised to learn I won’t hesitate to pick up.”
“Why would you do that?” Owen asked.
“Because Elma’s evidently of the belief I’ll be incapable of successfully completing the tasks, and I don’t think I should give her the satisfaction of watching me fail, although...” She wrinkled her nose. “What exactly is involved with whitewarshing a fence, or better yet, what doeswarshingmean in the first place?”
“It’s just a West Virginian way of sayingwash,” Owen began. “And whitewashing a fence isn’t complicated. It’s just sloshing diluted paint on the pickets.”
“I can probably handle that.”
“I’m sure you can, but I should warn you that Aunt Elma will undoubtedly take to heckling you as she sits on her front porch, critiquing your technique.”
“I’ve never been heckled before,” Camilla admitted. “Should make for a more-than-amusing experience, but dare I hope Elma will expect me to heckle her in return?”
“That might have her whipping out her rifle.”
Camilla grinned, the sight of her grin leaving Owen’s collar feeling uncomfortably snug and his cheeks a little warm.
