He could not leave. Not when they still had so much to resolve. Panic filled her. “Excuse me. I must speak with my grandfather about an estate matter. It simply cannot wait.”
Ellicott sighed heavily. “Very well, but the minute his business is concluded you and I are going on a long walk and we are not telling anyone where we are going. Just the two of us. I would have you alone for once.”
“Yes, of course,” she murmured, already leaving the room. Sally hurried to her grandfather’s study and knocked loudly on the heavy door.
“Come,” her grandfather called out when she knocked a second time.
When Ellicott restrained her by grasping her arm, Sally gasped, quite surprised to find he had followed her and she had not noticed his presence. She was usually much more aware of him. “What are you doing?”
Ellicott slipped his hand around the back of her neck. “Kissing you.”
“Not here.”
“Why not? We are engaged to be married. The duke can wait a few moments. I cannot.”
A troubling need to flee assailed her. “We are in the front hall where my family and any passing servants can see us.”
She was making excuses and knew it. She did not want his kiss today.
“That is the point. I want to mark you with my lips. My beautiful bride-to-be.”
Sally stepped away. He thought her wanton and she might deserve the stain of the label, but the only man she had enjoyed kissing was the one she could not have. Felix. “We are not married, my lord, and such liberties can wait to be taken until then.”
Ellicott frowned. “Has something changed in my absence?”
“No.”
“Then you and I need to have a private chat. I will wait on the lawn. Ten minutes, then duke or not, I will come and drag you out.”
Taken aback by Ellicott’s clipped tone, she shook her head. “I will be as long as my grandfather needs me, and then I insist upon a chaperone until we are married.”
Ellicott’s jaw firmed and his eyes narrowed. “Is that the way you are going to be when we are married too? Hot and cold?”
“I am not either of those, but I will protect my reputation and set a proper example for my sisters.” Sally let herself into her grandfather’s study and shut the door in Ellicott’s angry face. Gods, what was she doing risking her future with Ellicott? She must have lost her mind when Felix kissed her.
“Sally?” Rutherford was peering out the window. “Was that my carriage going out with Captain Hastings inside?”
Sally hurried across the room in time to catch a last glimpse of the carriage disappearing from view. “I believe so. Did you not know he was leaving?”
“He is not to leave and I told him so.” Her grandfather scowled. “Where the devil is he taking my carriage?”
“He never said a word.” She noticed the dining table in the adjoining room had already been set for two. “Are you expecting someone?”
“Yes. Him.” Rutherford shuffled around to stare at her. “I require him here. What did you say to him?”
“Nothing. He was very helpful this morning.” Sally worried at her lip. “You need not concern yourself. I am certain he will return and explain the situation we found ourselves in with Mr. Frazer to your satisfaction.”
“He told you I sent him.” The duke drew close and peered into her face. The shrewd inspection was very familiar. “You are not angry with me then?”
“The weapons were a little excessive and obvious since he had not carried any before. Are you playing games with him?”
“Hardly.” The duke pursed his lips as if he had tasted bitter fruit. “It is your father who plays games, and damn the consequences for everyone else.”
Sally raised a brow at that outburst. Father and Rutherford often did not see eye to eye. Rutherford was usually annoyed that her father spent so much of his time with the admiralty and none at all here. “His presence was remarkably helpful actually. It seems
Mrs. Frazer has fallen in love with someone else and run off. She left a letter behind that Felix read to him because he could not. The man was very upset about it.”
The duke grunted. “After you mentioned your concerns about the wife, I sent Morgan out to discover if there was any gossip. They were all so very taciturn that he could not get a hint of the truth. It seems our clever captain made the right sort of impression if he could understand a man like Frazer on first meeting.”