It was strange that she could recall so much of his preferences when she could not say the same about the man she was to marry.
“To your happy future,” Felix toasted and then downed the sherry, only to grimace at the sweet aftertaste.
Lady Duckworth strolled across the room, her eyes narrowed on Felix. “I have never seen a navy man willingly consume sherry. You must indeed be as fierce a swordsman as rumor claims.”
Sally groaned. She did not need her friend involving herself in this affair. Not that she was having an affair with the captain. One kiss did not make a tryst. She knew exactly how this would end anyway.
“Needs must,” he replied with an easy shrug, crossing his long legs and reclining somewhat in his seat. He spread his arm along the back of the chaise as if he owned it. “A humble captain takes what’s on offer and makes do.”
Arianna inserted herself between them on the chaise and turned slightly to give him her full attention. “Then I insist you visit Lofton Downs and take full advantage of your country holiday.”
Hastings withdrew his arm and sat up properly. “I have never heard of the estate. Is it close?”
“Never heard of it?” Arianna laughed and glanced around to see who was paying attention. She skimmed her low-cut bodice with her fingertips. “Oh my word. Lofton Downs is my husband’s ancestral home, though he is seldom there. Less than a mile away, in fact. A place of beauty said to rival Newberry Park’s grand vistas.”
Sally’s mother bustled over and plopped down in her seat. “Now, where were we?”
“Lady Duckworth has extended an invitation to visit Lofton Downs.” Felix leaned toward Sally’s mother. “Should I believe her claim and give Lofton Downs the same distinction as this great estate?”
The countess patted his hand as if they were the best of friends and laughed. “As in everything, a gentleman must make up his own mind about whom to flatter and the timing of it.”
Sally’s stomach turned at the idea that Felix would offer false flattery.
He shifted again to look at Lady Duckworth. “I have my doubts a better place exists or the wisdom in agreeing to such a thing without confirmation. But I must warn you after so many years with hardwood boards beneath my feet and the roiling seas pitching me about, Newberry Park is heaven on earth to me.”
Sally was impressed he had managed to flatter Newberry without slighting Lofton Downs. Clearly he had learned something in the past six years.
“I will convince you that heaven can be found anywhere a man cares to set down his cap,” Arianna purred in a lower tone that Sally could only describe as an attempt to be seductive.
It took all her strength of will not to reveal her dismay and she darted a glance at her mother to see if she had misheard. Her mother nodded and smiled as she glanced between the pair as if seeing a match in the making. Sally was over the disappointment of Felix, but how could Arianna flirt with the man she had almost married right in front of her? And in front of her mother too!
Lord Cameron strolled over. “Do excuse the interruption, Lady Duckworth, but my mother wishes to take her leave and retire to Braden Park. Are you ready to come with us?”
“Yes, indeed.” Arianna held out her hand to Felix. “Until next time, Captain.”
“I look forward to it, Lady Duckworth,” he murmured as he stood and then helped her rise. He dropped her hand immediately.
Arianna turned to Sally. Her eyes were alight with feverish excitement. “Do not be a stranger, and if you have time before the wedding, bring this handsome devil along with you.”
Dread filled Sally at the open mention of her impending marriage before Felix. Although Felix knew she had promised her hand to Ellicott, she was uncomfortable hearing the matter discussed before him. Especially after she had allowed him to kiss her.
She buried her embarrassment again as she said her good-byes to Arianna. “I doubt there will be time.”
“Make time,” Arianna whispered. “Remember what we discussed.”
With a flirtatious wave of her fingers, Arianna swept from the room on Lord Cameron’s arm. Only then did Sally remember that Arianna wanted to punish Felix for breaking her heart. Did Arianna intend to tempt him and then turn away from him? Oh, she hoped not.
Felix relaxed, stretching out his arm along the chaise once more, and drew in a deep breath. “She is not how I recall you describing her,” he said so quietly her mother could not hear the remark. An impressive feat.
“She is married now.”
“So I gathered.” Felix shook his head. “And bored of being so, I suspect.”
There was disapproval in his tone, and Sally straightened, noticing belatedly that she had not consumed one drop of the whiskey that should have been his. No matter what Arianna had in mind for Felix, Sally was no good at holding a grudge. She would take her friend aside and insist she leave the captain alone.
“Take it,” she whispered as she passed him the glass. “I recall you prefer it.”
“And so do you, which is why I suffered the sherry,” Felix remarked dryly, keeping his hands in his lap. “I never could deny you anything you wanted, though I think you should return the glass to your lap. Our conversation has caught the attention of a certain older lady across the room.”