“If we are to be co-conspirators,” she continued on, “I would welcome your use of my Christian name. Perhaps not in public—a scandal being a vastly different thing than a mere distraction—but at least when we are scheming together.”
He sketched the tiniest bow, one likely a bit too formal for the decidedly informal conversation they were undertaking. “Very well, Ellie.”
“I do not know your Christian name,” she said.
He was agreeing to a most unusual arrangement with a young lady he knew so little that even his given name was a mystery to her. It was utterly out of character for him. Yet, he pressed on. “Newton.”
“I do not believe I’ve known anyone whose given name was Newton. It is unique without being . . . odd.”
He nodded. “I am not displeased with it.”
“I do not feel that way about my Christian name, I assure you. It is both unusual and strange, and I do not like it at all.”
“Hence your preference for Ellie.”
“More than preference. Insistence.” She looked up at him.
He had always liked brown eyes; he liked hers. “I will, of course, make certain to abide by that insistence.”
She bit back a grin. “I cannot imagine you did not notice how frequently my mother employs that phrase.”
“Of course I did.”
Her smile blossomed, her eyes dancing and sparkling. He had not expected to form an alliance with any young lady, but he was actually looking forward to the diversion this would no doubt prove to be: an unpredictable and excessively interesting lark.
Chapter Five
To Ellie’s delight, Artemis called the next day. She did not arrive alone but with two fashionable, distinguished young ladies their same age. Mother was too in awe to do anything but sit and watch them wide-eyed. Lillian sat among them as well, inserting herself into the conversation as often as possible. None of their visitors was the least bit rude or unkind, but no one could possibly think Lillian was the reason they had come to call.
“Do say you will join our little band for the Dress Ball at the Upper Assembly Rooms on Monday,” Miss Mullins said. “We have such larks when we are together at Society functions.”
The offer was directed to Ellie, exclusively to Ellie. Lillian was clearly not pleased. Mother, however, watched and listened with delight.
“Might I attend with them?” Ellie asked, having maintained the demure aura her mother required, all the while nearly overwhelmed with excitement. She had longed for friends. Dreamed of having them. And here they were.
“We only have a subscription to the Fancy Balls,” Mother reminded her in a tight whisper.
“That is an easily rectified impediment.” Artemis spoke with the confidence only Society’s sweetheart could claim. “I have a subscription to both, and my Dress Ball subscription includes two transferable tickets. My brother allows me the choosing of who receives those.”
“Two?” Lillian asked, her tone both pointed and excessively innocent.
“That is the established number.” Artemis left her explanation at that, avoiding the invitation everyone must have known Lillian was angling for.
“We mean to promenade along the Gravel Walk,” Miss Phelps said. She was quieter than her two friends but just as personable. “Will you come with us?”
“Do,” Artemis said, her tone conspiratorial. “We might cross paths with Mr. Hughes.”
That perked Lillian up on the instant. “Truly?”
Artemis gave her a cursory nod but kept her attention on Ellie. “He told me he enjoyed your brief conversation yesterday at the Pump Room.”
“I enjoyed his company as well.” It wasn’t a lie—he was amiable, and she hadn’t disliked their interaction. But it had been too brief for her to have truly formed an opinion of him. Still, she knew the role she was meant to play. “Will he be at the Dress Ball also, do you suppose?”
Miss Mullins nodded. “As will Mr. Charlie Jonquil.” She traded looks with Miss Phelps. “So, so handsome.”
Artemis held her peace because no one else shared her opinion of Mr. Jonquil.
“Have you ever seen all seven of the Jonquil brothers together?” Miss Mullins flipped open her fan and flicked it back and forth, creating a quick, utilitarian breeze. “No woman should be expected to form a coherent thought when faced with so overwhelmingly beautiful a sight as that.”
Mother found her voice at last. “Will he be on the Gravel Walk this afternoon, do you suppose? I have hoped our Ellie might make his better acquaintance.”
“He and Mr. Hughes are friends,” Artemis said. “They may very well be together.”
Ellie began to say something that might move her mother’s thoughts away from Mr. Jonquil, but a subtle shake of Artemis’s head told her not to.
“We had best make our way there,” Miss Mullins said. “Do come, Ellie.”
Ellie looked to her mother and received permission.
“Do not forget yourself and become disagreeable or forward,” Mother whispered as Ellie passed. “And do what you can to speak of your sister to Mr. Hughes without it seeming pointed or forced.”
Ellie nodded, though she didn’t intend to do any such thing.
“And attempt to claim at least a moment of Mr. Jonquil’s attention, despite his . . . options in this group.”
Ellie offered another disingenuous nod and hurried after her new friends, slipping happily from the house.
“How did we do, Artemis?” Miss Phelps asked.
“Brilliantly,” she said. “Even if you did go on and on in that ridiculous fashion about Charlie Jonquil.”
Miss Mullins and Miss Phelps exchanged delighted looks with Ellie. They obviously found Artemis’s enmity entertaining.
They walked in a clump in the direction of the Gravel Walk. It was a fashionable place to be seen. Ellie had been there once on this trip to Bath, but as she had undertaken the jaunt with her mother and sister, they had not precisely made a splash.
“Artemis told us about your scheme,” Miss Mullins said. “I do hope you will allow us to join in the diversion. I believe you will find we are excellent co-conspirators.”
“I would be delighted to have you join in, Miss Mullins. And you too, of course, Miss Phelps.”
Artemis laughed. “There’s none of that Miss So-and-So amongst us. The Huntresses are on a Christian-name basis.”
“Huntresses?”