Charlie pulled in a tense breath through flared nostrils. He crossed to her and gave her an umbrella.
She eyed it, confused. “You wish to be rid of me?”
“My father’s hair had a good bit of curl in it. I don’t remember much about him, but I do recall what a mess it became in the rain.” Charlie eyed Artemis’s curls. “Yours would be a disaster.”
Ellie fully expected Artemis to scoff or ruffle up. She didn’t. “Rain is my greatest nemesis.”
A hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “I thoughtIwas your greatest nemesis.”
“You have your moments.”
With a silent laugh, Charlie turned back toward Newton. The two exchanged looks of laughing weariness.
“Have you umbrellas for all of us?” Ellie asked. “You will find yourself the greatest nemesis of three additional people otherwise.”
Charlie appeared both diverted and repentant. “Newton has one. But I am afraid, between us, we have only the two.”
Newton looked over the group, thinking. “Two of you could share an umbrella; that would allow all four of you to escape drier than you would otherwise.”
“What of you and Charlie?” Ellie didn’t care for the idea of either of them being left a cold, sodden mess.
“We, it seems, are the ones who will be prisoners in this ribbon shop.”
Charlie leaned a shoulder against the nearby wall, arms folded casually across his chest. “Rather inconsiderate of your parents to live so far from this establishment, Newton. They ought to have thought that through better.”
Newton nodded solemnly.
Daria chimed in. “Artemis’s brother lives near here. I’d wager we could hurry there without being entirely drenched if we put our minds to it.”
They all looked to Artemis. Would she object to the idea of offering Charlie refuge?
“I daresay my brother would be pleased to see the gentlemen.” Artemis shrugged. “He is inexplicably fond of Charlie.”
“Excellent.” Daria slipped up beside Artemis. “Shall we?”
Newton held his umbrella out to Ellie.
“But you will be soaked through,” she said.
He smiled gently. “I won’t be felled by a bit of rain.”
“This is far more than ‘a bit.’”
He held the umbrella closer still, indicating he fully intended for her to take it.
She hesitated.
“I do not shrivel in the rain, Miss Ellie. But I would be horrified to see you pelted by the downpour. I would not wish to see you miserable.”
Kind and thoughtful, as always. “Thank you.”
Artemis was given her length of green ribbon. She thanked the shopkeeper, then motioned for them all to be on their way.
The four ladies, protected by the two umbrellas, and the two gentlemen, far less protected by the brims of their tall hats, rushed from the shop and into the rain. The cloudburst had lightened a little from what it had been. They were still getting wet but not as much as they would have mere minutes earlier, though the journey to the Lancasters’ home was long enough to see their gowns caked in the muck and dirt of the city and dripping with rain. The gentlemen were in even worse shape.
They were let into the house by a confused and overwhelmed Henson. He didn’t seem to have the least idea what to do.
Artemis, as was usual for her, took immediate charge of the situation. “Henson, do show the gentlemen to the guest bedchamber, and ask Mr. Lancaster if he can provide them with a change of clothing.” She eyed Charlie. “You are taller than he is, so I cannot speak to the fit of anything he has to offer.”
