“Mrs. Duveen?” he began, swinging from the saddle and moving closer. “Is something amiss?”
Phyllis stilled for the briefest of seconds before she turned, the sight of her causing Gideon’s eyes to widen because she was looking quite unlike her usual well-put-together self.
Her face was flushed with color, and she was actually perspiring, although she didn’t seem to notice that, nor did she seem to notice that she’d suffered a scratch across her cheek, undoubtedly caused by all the attacking-of-the-hedge business she’d evidently been doing for quite some time, given all the branches that were littering the drive and the row of hedges that were looking downright pitiful.
After dashing a tattered sleeve over her forehead, Phyllis took a step forward, handed the hedge trimmers to a relieved-looking groundskeeper, then settled a strained smile on Gideon.
“Mr. Abbott. Isn’t this a delightful surprise,” Phyllis began. “I wasn’t expecting callers today, especially after the unfortunate events of last night, so do forgive me for being in such an, uh, unusual state of disarray.”
He nodded to the hedges. “May I assume the unfortunate events of last night are why you’ve taken to pruning the shrubbery?”
“It’s more due to the consequences of last night,” she admitted before she glanced at the hedges and winced. “I suppose it’s a fortuitous circumstance that you’ve come to call because I’m not sure the hedges are going to be salvageable after what I’ve done to them.”
“Consequences?” Gideon forced himself to ask.
Phyllis’s lips thinned. “Society has apparently had enough of Adelaide’s antics. We’ve been receiving notes since the crack of dawn rescinding invitations to dinners, teas, luncheons, and even philanthropic meetings.”
A weight settled in the pit of his stomach. “People are uninviting you from scheduled events?”
Phyllis grabbed the hedge trimmers from a now very startled-looking groundskeeper and began attacking another hedge with them. “Too right they are, although Ward McAllister sent around a note an hour ago stating that society will be more than happy to receivemeagain during the upcoming Season,given my Knickerbocker status. He then, dreadful man that he can be, cautioned me against bringing Adelaide to any event because the powers that be—probably Ward himself, along with a few other society matrons—have decided she’s unsuitable to hold the title of a member of the Four Hundred. From what I’ve gathered, society is fully prepared to give her the cut direct if she tries to participate in any of the festivities come January.”
She clipped off another branch, eliciting a groan from the groundskeeper, before she returned her attention to Gideon. “All I can say is thank goodness my other two daughters, Sarah and Ellen, are already successfully settled and are currently out of New York, having decided to holiday at one of our homes in Florida. I’ve already fired off a telegram to them, telling them to stay put for the winter since the Season this year is undoubtedly going to be rather chilly for anyone associated with the Duveen name.”
“A circumstance that will not come to pass if I have anything to say about it,” Camilla said, sliding gracefully from her saddle and gliding up to stand directly beside Phyllis.
Phyllis’s brow furrowed as she thrust the hedge trimmers back into the groundskeeper’s hands, who immediately turned and hurried away, probably not wanting to allow Phyllis another opportunity to prune additional hedges. “Miss Pierpont, what are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story,” Camilla began, “but know that Gideon and I have taken the liberty of descending on you unannounced because we’d like to help Adelaide regain her footing within society after what transpired last night.”
Phyllis raised a hand to her chest. “Good heavens, Miss Pierpont. Are you suggesting you want to sponsor Adelaide during the upcoming Season? I was under the impression you’d stepped away from matchmaking.”
“Ihaveput my matchmaking days behind me, but securingAdelaide a match is not what we have in mind.” Camilla smiled. “A reputation restoration is.”
“I don’t believe I’ve ever heard of anyone attempting one of those before, but...” Phyllis frowned. “You must realize that such an endeavor would be challenging to say the least. Besides that, I’m finding it beyond curious why the two of you want to assist Adelaide with her unfortunate image in the first place. It’s not as if either of you enjoy a close relationship with my daughter.”
“I’m in need of a challenging endeavor,” Camilla said before Gideon could think up a credible response. “As I mentioned, I’ve given up matchmaking, but I’ve realized that decision has left me at loose ends of late. Frankly, I’ve been dreading the idea of participating in another Season, but then this morning, as Gideon and I were discussing the unfortunate event—or rather, events—your daughter experienced at the Nelson dinner party, a fascinating idea sprang to mind, one where I’d use my position within society to aid Adelaide.”
“That’s an unusual scheme to spring to mind.”
“Indeed, but it’s one that could be beneficial, not only to Adelaide, but to me as well, since it’ll give me a noble purpose for the foreseeable future. Adelaide obviously needs a transformation, and who better to help her with that than me—a lady with an indisputable position within society, and a lady with far too much time at her disposal.” She reached out and took hold of Phyllis’s hand. “I also find it deeply disturbing that society would even contemplate the idea of casting out one of its own members, and for something as trivial as marauding swans.”
“You’re forgetting the unmentionables incident.”
“A circumstance that was also trivial, because what lady hasn’t returned from the retiring room with an article of clothing out of place?”
“I can’t think of a single lady besides Adelaide who’s ever experienced such a thing,” Phyllis muttered.
“Be that as it may, it wasn’t as if she harmed anyone.” A glint appeared in Camilla’s eyes. “You mark my words, after I’m done with your daughter, no one will remember last night’s misadventures.”
Phyllis worried her lip for a moment. “Which is a delightful thought to be sure, but I’m not certain Adelaide will be agreeable to your proposal. Truth be told, she seemed somewhat relieved after the rescinded invitation notes began streaming in this morning that she wouldn’t have to suffer through society events anymore.”
“If I’m successful, she’ll be enjoying her time within society, not suffering through anything,” Camilla countered. “But I suppose we won’t know if I can change Adelaide’s mind about society in general until I speak with her. Shall we repair to the house where I can broach the matter with her?”
“She’s not in the house.” Phyllis nodded to a path that cut through the hedges ten feet away from them. “She wandered down that path about an hour ago. If I were to hazard a guess, I’d say you’ll find her by the river under a large maple tree, reading a book about mummies.”
“Then that’s where we’ll look first,” Camilla said.
Phyllis dusted a few leaves from her sleeve. “While you’re off to speak with her, I’ll arrange for a light luncheon to be served. I’d be ever so pleased if the two of you would agree to enjoy a meal with me, which may spare my poor hedges additional attacks.”