Luella raised a hand to her throat. “You are?”
“Indeed, and I’m now waiting with bated breath to learn more about this lily of yours.”
Owen felt his mouth drop open when Luella suddenly entwined her arm with Charles’s.
“Your breath will not need to be bated for long because I’m more than happy to discuss my lily with you, but before I begin talking your ear off, know that any woman who has ever found you dull must not have been in possession of their senses, as I find you utterly fascinating.” With that, Luella tugged Charles into motion and together they continued down Market Street, their heads bent closely together.
It really came as no surprise when Camilla’s eyes began to gleam in a far-too-telling fashion.
“Don’t even consider it,” Owen grumbled, pulling her after his sister and earning an innocent batting of the lashes from Camilla in return.
“Consider what?”
“Matchmaking, or more specifically, matchmaking with Luella in your sights.”
She sent him an overly sweet smile. “You know what they say—once a matchmaker, always a matchmaker.”
“No.”
“Why not?” She nodded to Luella and Charles. “It’s been my experience that when a couple shares a common interest, a spark is soon to follow.”
“There will be no sparking between Luella and Charles.”
“I think there already is.”
“There’s not, nor will you attempt to get anything between them igniting into something remotely resembling a spark.”
“I think that ship has already sailed because—what are the odds that Luella just happens to become introduced to Charles, who just happens to have an interest in horticulture? That’s one of those unusual life happenstances that someone like me, a former matchmaker, simply cannot ignore.”
“You’re going to have to try, although...” Owen stopped in his tracks as a thought struck. “Isn’t Charles one of the two men you mentioned you were thinking about unofficially sponsoring?”
Leopold was suddenly right beside him, beaming a smile Camilla’s way. “Forgive me for eavesdropping,” he began, “but am I to understand that you, Camilla, have been discreetly resuming your matchmaking endeavors and that you have two specific gentlemen in mind already, one of whom may happen to be Charles?”
“Having Charles in my sights shouldn’t come as much of a surprise since you know his mother, Petunia, has been relentless in her quest to convince me to help her one and only son find a suitable match,” Camilla said.
“Petunia does know her way around an unrelenting campaign,” Leopold agreed. “And since that was clearly a yes from you about sponsoring Charles, I now find myself curious about that second gentleman you’re considering. Dare I hope, since you know I’ve been rather forlorn of late, given that Vernon, my very best friend, went off to explore Europe with his new wife, that being your aunt Edna of course, that I’m that second gentleman?”
“I hate seeing you forlorn.”
Leopold’s smile turned brighter than ever. “I’ll take that as a yes as well, and if you’re unaware, I already have the perfect lady in mind for me.”
“It would be next to impossible for me to be unaware of that since your interest in Beulah has been less than subtle.”
“She is a most extraordinary lady,” Leopold proclaimed.
“I don’t think I’m enjoying the direction this conversation is taking,” Owen muttered.
“Nonsense,” Leopold argued. “I would think you’d be pleased to learn that a gentleman who’s well-suited for your grandmother is now determined to win her over.”
“I’m relatively convinced that I’d prefer if you’d simply appreciate how extraordinary she is from afar.”
Leopold laughed. “That’s some wishful thinking there, son, but know that I have only the most honorable of intentions toward Beulah.”
“I’m not sure my meemaw will be so receptive to those intentions.”
“She’s a complicated sort, there’s no question about that,” Leopold agreed. “Nevertheless, now that I know I can count on Camilla’s assistance, I’m convinced it’ll only be a matter of time until I procure Beulah’s affections.”
“While it does appear as if Camilla is very proficient with this whole matchmaking business,” Owen began, “I feel it’s only fair to warn you that Meemaw would never consider leaving this valley, especially not for a place like New York.”
