Our clever captain? Rutherford hardly ever complimented sailors, so his praise of Felix was noteworthy. “He also promised Frazer he could count on assistance for the repairs he now needs to the cottage from Newberry.”
“Oh, did he now?” The duke nodded firmly. “I was right about him then. Always willing to take charge in a difficult situation but not take the credit. He would make an exceptional estate manager when peace comes.”
“Estate manager? But that has been my role for years.”
The duke cupped her cheeks and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “And you are getting married in a few days’ time, might I remind you. Who will run the place when you leave, eh? Who will be my legs and eyes and ears when you are far away? Certainly not your sister, and I have already asked far too much of your aunt and mother as it is.”
“Louisa would indeed be much too timid to confront the tenants when they are being obstinate.” Sally grimaced. “Even I find that difficult.”
“Our brave, brave girl. What we need is a man with a presence that can get things done. A competent man who will tolerate no nonsense. Someone who knows our methods would be preferred, but also able to compromise within reason. What do you say you show Felix the ropes while I tempt him to stay on?”
Sally shook her head. “I do not think you will be in luck.”
“Oh, I don’t know. Until today, he appeared very comfortable around the estate. I wonder what could have prompted him to leave so suddenly. He was in remarkably good spirits this morning. Has anyone been difficult about your former betrothed being at Newberry?”
“No. Hardly anyone mentions our past relationship even in private, and I still have not mentioned it to Lord Ellicott. He wandered deeper into the stables after Ellicott found me there.” Her voice trailed off as understanding dawned. Felix had turned away as soon as his replacement, Lord Ellicott, had reappeared in her life.
The closeness she craved had vanished as soon as he had spotted the earl, and why would he not turn away from them?
“Probably for the best. Dudley and he need to become acquainted if he is to take up duties here,” the duke murmured, missing Sally’s conclusion entirely. “Felix has made a good effort to restore his friendship with your mother and sister and cousins already, so that is a wonderful start to having him live here. Your mother will be the duchess when my time comes, and given your father’s undependable nature and his dislike of country living, I would not rest easy thinking Maggie had no one to depend on.”
“Mother does have staff of her own.”
“Who mollycoddle her moods just as much as you do.” The duke banged the floor with his canes. “She must have more than just blood relations to guide her. She needs someone who will not abuse her trust. You cousin Rothwell trusts the captain, and we both know how cynical he can be. If Maitland were out of danger I would not have this worry, but even he will have a lot to do on his return. Oh, if only this wretched war would end soon,” Rutherford grumbled with more heat than usual.
“Please, Grandfather. Calm yourself. Maitland will be back. I have no doubt of that nothing could keep my brother away from us for long. And Fredrick and Laurence and William will return one day soon as well.” Sally rushed to her grandfather’s side and gripped his shoulder, feeling the sharpness of bones rather than the muscle of his younger days. “Felix would look after the family’s interests before his own, I am very sure of that. We can always offer him the position and see what he says about it. I do think he likes it here.”
And with that, Sally committed herself to securing Felix for Newberry Park’s estate manager. It pained her that she would have to see him whenever she returned to visit her family, but that could not be helped. He could be of use to them and be as happy here as Sally had always been.
All she had to do was convince him to accept the position after the war was won. If he survived to see the day come. She glanced out the window and spotted Ellicott passing by the study windows. He was waiting for her to finish talking with her grandfather so he could lure her to a private spot and try to kiss her again. He looked to still be in a bit of a temper too. “Would you like company for luncheon?”
The duke spotted Ellicott too. “Just you? No one else?”
Sally nodded quickly, relieved to her core to have an excuse to avoid Ellicott for a little while longer. “Just me. I am sure Mother will not mind entertaining our guests without the pair of us.”
Rutherford studied her long and hard, one brow rising slowly. “Maggie has always been a congenial hostess. I am positive she will not mind at all.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Now that is one fiery wench,” Gabriel Jennings said as the innkeeper’s wife sauntered past their table yet again, juggling a pile of dirty plates and tankards.
“Married woman,” Felix reminded Gabriel as he peered across the smoky dark room too. Not that he needed to point out the woman’s status. Gabriel had rules about attached women, especially those with large and dangerous husbands like the innkeeper of the Newberry Arms.
Gabriel peered into his tankard. “I can still admire a married woman’s fine temper, is that not so, Mr. Wharton?”
The innkeeper drew close with a jug of ale. “That you can, but just remember that her temper often requires an outlet and she will use whatever object is near to hand.”
Felix squinted across the room. He was just a little bit inebriated and a pleasant lassitude had washed over him some time ago. Several hours or so had passed since leaving Newberry, and although he was no closer to leaving his own bad mood behind, the fresher company and drink had managed to make his problem recede. “I think she is a fine wench too, but Mrs. Wharton also has a fire poker in hand and deserves the utmost respect.”
He toasted the woman and earned a laugh from the innkeeper.
“Another drink, Captains?”
Gabriel scowled. “He’s the captain, I am just the lone wolf in your midst.”
“You need to get yourself a wife to distract you from saying that over and over,” the innkeeper said and then scowled at Jennings. “And do stop admiring my wife, sir. Find your own.”
“I had a wife. She’s dead,” Gabriel said bitterly. He drained his tankard and slammed it on the table. “More.”