In Sally’s opinion, Lord Ellicott’s mother was a puzzling woman. Not given to moving too often or too quickly and certainly not given to theatrics, she did not have much patience with explanations but required that she know everything. She had not much liking for talk of the navy either, which had been a frequent topic during her visit, and Sally hoped that despite their difference of interests they could become friends one day. And yet she felt as if each meeting was a battle. “More tea, Lady Ellicott?”
“I should think two cups are more than enough for the evening.”
Sally ignored the urge to agree and had a maid take Lady Ellicott’s cup away. She poured another for herself and her mother. “Will it rain tomorrow, Uncle George?”
He glanced down at his absent foot, lost when a dog had mauled him as a child. “No chance of rain, sadly. We will have clear skies for the next few days.”
“Wonderful.” Uncle George was never wrong about the weather, so Sally made up her mind to enjoy a few pleasant days out of doors while she could. “Might I take your girls for a picnic lunch tomorrow?”
“Indeed you might. Audrey was hoping to have gone out today, but you were occupied.”
She smiled, relieved that she would have family about her tomorrow and would not have to deal with Ellicott alone. Sally usually spent a number of hours with her younger cousins, but between her work and the Ellicott’s visit, and Felix, she had neglected them. “We might go to the lookout this time and take telescopes with us.”
“Are you hoping to see a battle underway?” Ellicott asked, his tone still as surly as it had been this morning. She had managed to spend the whole afternoon with her grandfather discussing the estate, and Ellicott was not pleased or the least bit understanding.
“Whales, we like to look for passing whales.” Sally sipped her tea and then fondly petted the cat perched on her knees. “Arturo might even come with us.”
Ellicott shook his head. “Take the cat walking?”
She scratched Arturo behind his ear until he purred loudly. “Have you ever tried to stop a cat going wherever it pleases?”
“That is what I keep dogs for,” Ellicott muttered angrily.
Sally gasped in shock. She glanced at Lady Ellicott, but her expression revealed none of Sally’s distress. “You would not.”
Ellicott glanced away as Louisa rushed over then and placed Arturo in a wicker basket. Her expression was horrified. “I will keep him now.”
Sally struggled with her temper as Louisa hurried from the room, then she turned on Ellicott. “I never thought you could be cruel to a lesser creature. Cat’s are harmless.”
When he shrugged, Sally stiffened. She had never imagined her future husband would be a danger to her cats. She had intended to take them with her to Shropshire, but that did not seem like a wise plan now given his attitude. She would have to leave them behind, along with so much more. Was starting a new life always so difficult, or was it simply that Sally had made a bad choice?
Perhaps there were many other things they should discuss before they wed? Such as what he had been doing in London and why he felt he could not explain his errand to her. Did he think her simple?
“That is a lovely color on you,” Lady Ellicott said suddenly, diverting her from quizzing Ellicott immediately. “You are always so elegant and stylish.”
Sally glanced toward Lady Ellicott and blinked at her interruption. She had worn a gown from last season tonight. Not her best or most elegant and certainly not worn to impress the Ellicotts, but one that felt right for the night. “Thank you. So are you. Is that another new gown?”
“Indeed it is. Four yards of lace in the skirt and pure silk all the way from Asia. Ellicott went to London just to fetch it for me.”
Sally was rendered speechless, but Uncle George grunted out, “You would look just as well in sackcloth.”
Lady Ellicott opened her mouth and then snapped it shut at the insult. Everyone else in the room froze and then started talking at once about other matters.
Sally licked her lips. “You have to forgive Uncle George. He does not think much of current fashion. You have no idea of his resistance to funding a new wardrobe for Victoria and Audrey’s come-out.”
“Few men have a sense of what’s important,” Lady Ellicott replied, but it was clear she was annoyed with Uncle George. “Except for my dear Ellicott.”
Uncle George’s eyebrows rose high, and then he made a show of opening his book with a shake of his head.
Sally’s doubts about marriage doubled. To her it was extraordinary that Ellicott should have made a special trip to London just to collect a new gown for his mother.
“That reminds me, how long is Captain Hastings staying at Newberry,” Lady Ellicott enquired. “He comes and goes with extraordinary irregularity, but should he not be on his ship somewhere, defending our great nation from the French?”
“I have no idea,” Sally answered when no one else replied. How much time could she steal with Felix? “He is my grandfather’s guest.”
The countess frowned. “And that other fellow, Hennings?”
“Jennings,” Sally corrected.