So, it was Elizabeth now: it seemed Miss Grant and my sister had suddenly become intimate friends.

“Oh, so that is what Elizabeth thinks, is it?” I said, unable to temper my hurt. “And how is leading Deele straight to Lady Hester the best way to go ahead?”

“If you let me explain, you will know!”

I returned my sister’s belligerent stare. “Tell me how this idiocy is going to work, then.”

She drew a long breath through pinched nostrils. “When we were following you in the phaeton, Elizabeth told me about Deele and his obsession with reputation. He is just like Duffy, Gus. Everything is sacrificed upon the altar of the family name. It is what drives him to treat Hester so badly; she must not sully the family’s reputation in the eyes of good society. Not after he has worked so hard to reinstate it.”

I had to admit, I had heard him say as much to Evan just minutes before. But I was not ready to concede the point gracefully.

“So?”

“We turn the situation upon its head,” Julia said. “We show Lord Deele that the bon ton accepts Hester and Elizabeth and condemns any bad treatment of them. More to the point, his treatment of them.”

“How do you propose to do that?”

“The bon ton is basically staying with the Ladies of Llangollen, Gus. Mr. Brummell and Lord Alvanley are society. Well, the leaders of it, anyway. What they do and think will be what everyone else will do and think. And by staying with the ladies, are they not declaring their support of that singular arrangement? The same arrangement that Elizabeth and Hester wish to achieve?”

I tilted my head; this point I had to concede. “It is true for Brummell, but we cannot know Alvanley’s thoughts. He is a friend of Deele’s.”

“Brummell is all that matters, Gus. Even Lord Alvanley bows to Mr. Brummell; everyone knows that. Once Lord Deele realizes he would be condemned more for interfering with Hester than for leaving her alone, I believe he will back down.”

“You believe he will? That is quite a risk, Julia.”

“I understand how people think and feel, Gus. Better than you do. You have said so yourself. Besides, every plan you have devised for Miss Grant and Lady Hester has come with risk, often without consultation.” My sister paused upon that accusation, then continued. “This is a risk they know about and are willing to take. Is that not so, Elizabeth?”

“I cannot speak for Hester,” Miss Grant said, tenderly stroking Hester’s hair, “but I believe Lady Julia is right. Reputation is what is important to Lord Deele, and he will not wish to go against society.”