“Proposal?”
Camilla took a step closer. “I fear with finding you in a tree, your plummet to the ground, and then the kitty cat skirmish, the intention of our visit has been overshadowed.” She turned Gideon’s way and called, “Adelaide is properly dressed now, so you may join us to disclose why we’re here.”
A second later, Gideon was striding their way, settling one of his charming smiles on Camilla once he stopped in front of her. “I thought it would be best for you to explain.”
It was immediately clear that Camilla was immune to his charming smiles because instead of divulging all, she shook her head. “Absolutely not. It was your idea.”
A sliver of trepidation began working its way up Adelaide’s spine when Gideon turned his charming smile her way.
The trepidation increased when he suddenly took hold of her hand.
“First, allow me to thank you for your assistance last night, something I’ve neglected to do until now,” he began. “As agesture of my appreciation for your support, I’ve asked a favor of Camilla, one she’s agreed to grant me.”
Understanding was immediate and caused Adelaide’s mouth to gape open until she had the presence of mind to snap it shut. “Do not say you’ve coerced Miss Pierpont to come out of matchmaker retirement to take me on, because I told you last night that I’m content with my spinster status.” She held up her hand when Gideon opened his mouth. “Besides that, and of equal importance, is this—I came to your assistance because I felt indebted toyou. If you now attempt to do me another service, I’ll be beholden to you once again. Frankly, I’m not certain I’m up for repaying another obligation. My attempt to do that last night, while surprisingly successful, given the diversion of attacking swans, didn’t go off as I intended and has left society contemplating giving me the cut direct.”
“And that right there is why you need to at least hear me out because it’s my fault you’re facing societal ostracization,” Gideon countered.
She waved that aside. “You’re not to blame for my unfortunate societal state. The Four Hundred has been less than receptive toward me since my first Season. I’ve simply given them the perfect validation to part ways with me without suffering even a smidgen of guilt, since I singlehandedly was to blame for pressed duck raining down on esteemed guests last night.”
“Flying pressed duck was certainly not something I ever expected to witness,” Camilla muttered.
“I don’t believe anyone could have anticipated that particular incident,” Adelaide said, turning to Camilla. “But ducks aside, if we may return to this proposal, while I appreciate the offer, I need to respectfully decline. As I said, I’m no longer interested in securing a match. And while my refusal will most assuredly disappoint my mother, I don’t want to be the reason you suffer a crushing defeat, something I know you’ve never experienced before.”
“We aren’t proposing a sponsorship on the marriage mart.”
Adelaide blinked. “You aren’t?”
“No,” Camilla returned. “Although I thought that’s what Gideon had in mind when he first raised the topic of taking you in hand.”
Adelaide shot a glance to Gideon, who sent her another charming smile before taking a marked interest in a cloud passing overhead. She returned her attention to Camilla. “I know I’m going to regret asking this, but what do the two of you have in mind for me?”
“I’d like to refashion you into a diamond of the first water.”
A snort escaped Adelaide before she could stop it. “That’s certainly unexpected, and forgive me, Miss Pierpont, but that’s a feat I’m afraid will be impossible for even you. Frankly, it could very well see society ostracizingyoubecause they’ll conclude you’ve taken leave of your senses.”
“Are you questioning my abilities, because I assure you, it won’t take all that much for me to get society to abandon their decision to give you the cut direct. That will then allow us to move forward with convincing them you should be considered in high demand.”
Adelaide gave her nose a scratch. “It’s not that I doubt you exert a great deal of power within society, but I don’t believe you’re grasping how deeply tainted my reputation is amongst the upper crust.” She stepped closer to Camilla. “And while I truly appreciate that you’d be willing to attempt to reinvent me, you won’t persuade anyone I’m a diamond of the first water. That title has eluded me for a reason—I’m simply not fashionable.”
“And we’ll have to agree to disagree about that because once I have time to devise a plan, I’m convinced I can change society’s perception of you.”
“It would have to be some plan.”
“True, but after I consult with your mother, because mothers always know these things, about exactly what went wrongwith your debut and then your subsequent failure to take within society over the following years, I’m sure something will spring to mind.”
“I would prefer to keep my mother in the dark about this matter.”
Camilla winced. “She might already know why I’m here.”
Adelaide arched a brow Gideon’s way, garnering a wince from him as well.
“Would you believe we encountered your mother on the drive leading up to the house when we first arrived and that she very quickly discerned why we were here?” he asked.
“It’s more likely you apprised her of the situation because you’re hoping to persuade me to accept your proposal by using my mother’s disappointment if I don’t do exactly that to strengthen your case.”
Gideon was sporting yet another charming smile a second later. “It’s almost uncanny how competent you are with figuring matters out.”
“Involving my mother was hardly fair, especially when she’s been beside herself this morning,” Adelaide countered, finding it rather difficult to resist the urge to throttle the man.