“I was not going to. I had half a dozen young men from excellent families contending for my hand and my connections. Unfortunately, there was none that I liked more than the others. My parents pressured me, so I decided to use another method to choose which family I gave my fortune to.”
“So you chose Father, not for himself but for the connection?”
“No, I chose him for his family.” Her mother grinned. “I knew I would have to spend the rest of my life in this place, live side by side with your aunts. Not to mention their husbands and children too. Rutherford liked to keep everyone close, and of course the duke rules this place. I was young and considered by many to be just another pretty face with a pretty penny to her name. I liked your father’s family from the moment we met. They made room for me in their lives, in the running of this place, and never made me feel unwelcome. Over the years I never had to fight to have my way simply because I was to be the next duchess. I wished for a peaceful existence because I understood everyone has needs and ambitions. They have become my family, much more so than your father.”
Sally sank into a chair and hugged a
pillow. She could not say she would choose to marry Ellicott for his family. She would rather not be around his mother even now. “Not everyone can say that about the family they marry into.”
“True,” Mama murmured. “I am just lucky that they liked me being around as well, or I would indeed have been miserable. As you will be too if Lady Ellicott’s opinions continue to hold sway and conflict with your own. I am not suggesting you change, but there will be a battle ahead. You are too much like your aunt to back down every time there is opposition. You are used to being heard.”
She adjusted the pillow on her lap. “Does it bother you that Aunt Penelope decides so much of what happens here?”
“Never. She has good taste, and we hardly ever disagree.”
Sally tossed the pillow aside as her mother joined her. “What do you disagree about?”
“You.”
Sally blinked. “Me? What did I do?”
“You and your sisters.” Her mother squeezed her hand. “She has always believed I allowed you girls too much freedom.”
“I am sorry to be the source of any argument between you.”
“Not to worry. We have been discussing your futures for years. I tell her you know your own mind and can easily put a stop to any shenanigans some young men might tempt you with.” Her mother rubbed her temple and then smiled. “Then Penelope reminds me that even the smallest flirtation can lead to eventual ruin.”
“Yes, she has warned me of that often over the years since I almost married Felix.”
“I know. That is why I did not feel the need to bring up the subject of him again. You have heard it all from her. You have already had a close call. But are you sure you do not want to see what sort of man he has become? He seems rather intense whenever we discuss you. The look on his face when I mentioned to him your engagement broke my heart, but it had to be done.”
Sally gasped. “You were the one who told him I was to marry?”
Mama nodded. “At dinner the first night. I did not want him to imagine he could walk back into your life and pick up where he had left off. If he wanted you, he had to work for your forgiveness. Do you forgive him?”
“I do not know.”
“That is an excellent answer. The very best in fact.” She drew Sally into her arms and squeezed. “He was not a fortune hunter, darling. He did not keep the breach-of-promise payment your father gave to him. He sent back every penny to your grandfather with a note protesting his innocence.”
Sally’s head spun. “How did he achieve the rank of captain without funds to buy his way up the ranks?”
“I do not know, but I have a suspicion someone does.”
“Who?”
Her mother raised one brow. “Who knows everything that happens in this family?”
“Aunt Penelope.” Sally ground her teeth. “And Grandfather.”
“Penelope has not said a word.” Her mother crossed the room and shook out a length of cloth. “What do you think of the color?”
Sally wrenched her mind back to the moment and studied the weave. “Beautiful. French?”
Her mother nodded.
“That will look lovely. Trust Maitland to send you an early birthday present. I loved the prints in the last shipment.”
Her mother shook her head. “Maitland sends nothing back to Newberry. He never has.”