Their welcome was that of dear friends reunited. Even Ellie, who had met the Hugheses only briefly at a ball, was received with warmth.
Newton always looked handsome, but he was dressed particularly well this evening, and his smile was warm and personal. The seven of them stood in a friendly, intimate clump.
After a moment, Mrs. Carter passed and offered her greetings to Mrs. Hughes.
Mr. Hughes spoke first. “Mrs. Carter, are you acquainted with the Lancasters and Miss Ellie Napper?”
Mrs. Carter nodded slowly, her gaze narrowing with curiosity. “We hail from near the same village. I heard you had become acquainted with Miss Ellie.”
The Hugheses exchanged looks of confusion before returning their gaze to Mrs. Carter.
“She is a friend of the family,” Mrs. Hughes said. “Why do you assume our acquaintance is of short duration?”
Oh, they were adept at this dance. With that simple question, Mrs. Hughes had undermined the rumor and put one who had been embracing it on the defensive. And she had managed it without being rude or unkind.
“Forgive me,” Mrs. Carter said. “I had not realized the connection was of long standing.” She turned and looked at Ellie. “A pleasure to see you again.”
Ellie dipped a curtsy. “And I you.”
The same thing repeated a few times. Sometimes the Hugheses took the lead, sometimes the Lancasters. The encounters played out in different ways, but the point was always the same. It would not take long for the whispers in Society to shift. The next day, ladies would be talking over their teacups, not about poor put-upon Newton Hughes being so mercilessly tricked by a presumptuous mushroom, but about how the gullible among Society had actually believed those rumors, conveniently ignoring the fact that most of those doing the whispering had believed the gossip themselves.
The group was still surrounded by friends, acquaintances, and the curious when Lillian had the audacity to thrust her company upon them all.
She looked at Ellie with what could only be described as pity. “Mother and Father were worried you would be here,” she said, doing a remarkable job of making herself seem as though she actually cared about her sister. “I promised them I would come see if you were in attendance and attempt to extract you from this unfortunate plot of yours.”
“And what plot would that be?” Artemis asked.
Lillian pressed a hand to her heart. “You cannot be ignorant of Elfrida’s plan to ensnare Mr. Hughes. I only wish I had realized it sooner.”
“I fear you will have to be more specific.” Artemis was not giving an inch.
“I cannot bear the thought of her playing Mr. Hughes such a dirty trick. He’s a good, kind, and caring gentleman. He ought not be treated this way.”
“Are you suggesting my son is a dunderhead?” Mrs. Hughes asked, her tone both icy and challenging.
“Oh, heavens, no.” Lillian didn’t pause for even the length of a breath.
“Then what is it you are implying?”
Lillian eyed all the gathering, clearly determining whether or not she had an attentive audience. “Ellie has designs on your son. She has been pushing her company on him, forcing a connection that does not exist.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Mrs. Hughes asked. “A connection certainly does exist. Indeed, I have been telling these good people, ‘Look how good of a dear friend she has been to our family.’”
They were wielding their shields, but was it working?
Lillian turned to Ellie once more. “Why are you keeping silent while they say these things? You know it is not true. Surely, they know it isn’t.”
The shields were proving insufficient. The time had come to return fire. “Step carefully, dearest sister. You are tiptoeing terribly close to calling Mrs. Hughes a liar.”
For the first time, Lillian showed a little hesitancy. “I am certain she realizes that was not my intent.”
Mrs. Hughes stood in firm silence.
Mr. Hughes spoke on her behalf. “I confess, I began to worry myself that you were about to make that precise accusation, Miss Napper.”
Lillian’s eyes pulled wide, clearly uncertain what to do next.
“I would like to add,” Artemis said, “you know I am privy to a tidbit about your behavior toward Mr. Newton Hughes that I am absolutely certain you wouldn’t want to be generally known. Unlike the rumors and whispers you have been instrumental in spreading, my information is entirely true. Proceed with caution, for my reach is far greater than yours.” Artemis spoke that last sentence chillingly, with an authority that could not be questioned.
