He faced the duke, an awful sense of dread descending over him. “Sally is here?”
The duke’s eyes glittered with dreadful anticipation. “Oh, did not I mention it?”
Foolish hope filled him. “No.”
“This has always been her principal residence.” The duke’s expression soured. “She recently returned from London and brought guests who require entertaining. Undoubtedly, Lord Ellicott has tried to steal her away for yet another private tête-à-tête. I suspect a wedding is in the wind.”
Every part of Felix’s body screamed out in violent protest at the news that Sally was likely being courted, but he did not dare show any reaction in front of the duke. He had had his chance and lost it through his own stupidity and bad timing. He had known this day would come. Marriage was undoubtedly in Sally’s best interests and even more so for her family’s connections within the ton. “I will stay in the village inn.”
“Nonsense. The past is water under the bridge.” The duke raised a brow. “It has been six years since the debacle of your ill-advised engagement. I am assured she has forgotten all about you.”
The duke’s words were meant to hurt him, and he supposed he deserved it. Debacle was an interesting way to describe how he had walked right into her father’s political scheming and lost the love of the only woman he had ever wanted. He had been a fool and Sally a stubborn wench who would not listen to his side of the story. She had broken their engagement and sworn to run him through if they ever met again.
Since her brother had tutored her in fencing and he had seen her proficiency with his own eyes, he had believed her utterly capable of it too. As to whether she would regret it later or not, he was unsure, so he had kept a distance. At times several thousand miles and continents had lain between them.
He swallowed the bitter lump of misery that formed in his throat and pretended to be unaffected. “I am sure she never thought of me again.”
“Yes, yes,” the duke said, eyes narrowing. “The family has agreed that your past connection with my granddaughter will not be spoken of before our esteemed guests. It will be as if it never happened.”
So he was to be swept under the rug. How typical of the noble born to wave away the unpleasant with a flick of a perfumed wrist, as if Sally’s lost innocence could be restored as easily and their perfect world would remain unsullied.
He smiled tightly and nodded once.
The duke’s gaze left him. “Morgan, take the captain to his quarters and provide him with anything he needs for a comfortable stay. I am sure he is greatly fatigued by his journey.”
“Of course.” Morgan nodded. “Forgive the impertinence, Your Grace, but I would be remiss not to remind you of the promise you made last night at dinner.”
The duke’s face lit up with uncharacteristic amusement as he met Felix’s gaze. “My youngest granddaughter has the whole fami
ly under her tiny thumb but has the patience of the ferocious kittens Sally keeps about the place. Barely sixteen and every young man in the district is singling Evelyn out for attention already.”
“We met in Southampton a few years ago, and I remember thinking the same,” Felix confessed. The duke appeared startled by his observation. “She was with her brother inspecting the ships, and I was unable to avoid the introduction.”
The duke grunted. “She is a curious creature at heart and utterly without guile.”
“I thought so too. Very much like…” He broke off that thought and straightened his shoulders. He had been about to mention Sally. And he was not allowed to think of her anymore.
The duke’s attention slid away to the butler. “You might tell Evelyn that the carriage will be made ready in good time and we can spend a pleasant hour in the village.”
The butler nodded and led Felix to the door.
“Until the dinner hour, Captain Hastings,” Rutherford called out. “You will be joining the family for all meals.”
His calm faltered at that news. He would see Sally, be forced to meet her gaze, breathe the same air, perhaps even speak to her, while every Ford looked on. Would those that remembered their almost engagement believe the lie that he had meant to use her to advance his career or that he had loved her so much he had been willing to agree to anything her father had asked of him?
Sally should have believed in him, and her furious accusations had fired his blood to prove he deserved his command. He had paid highly for his success. Since he had the opportunity, he would set the record straight about her father’s scheming. He smiled, imagining the pleasure of what he might do and say to her when they did meet. He intended the event to be very memorable indeed.
He bowed deeply to the duke. “I look forward to it.”
Chapter Four
How did one fall in love a second time and know it would last? It was a question Sally had asked herself many times in the past years and especially today. She still had no answer that comforted her.
“You are so beautiful, sister,” Louisa enthused, fiddling with the delicate lace on the capped sleeve of the gown Sally would wear for her wedding at the end of the month.
“Thank you, my dear,” Sally murmured, twisting a little before her mirror. The little touches made after the gown’s creation made her apparel so dear to her heart. Each relative, whether skilled or clumsy, had embroidered in white a small motif upon the garment. The abundance of anchors and other seafaring signals made her smile.
Sally had been preparing for marriage all her life, as had her sister and three female cousins. At five and twenty, Sally and her family too had begun to despair her spinster state. But the fit of the gown was exquisite and her future husband was all she required in a gentleman. She would marry a very distinguished earl—and have the life she’d been born to live.