“He is a dry fellow. Hardly ever see a drink in his hand for all he is meant to be a sailor.”
He drank, of course, but she had never seen him indulge to excess. Not like Ellicott had done on numerous occasions in the past year. She had overlooked his lapses because she had wanted to marry him. Now, though, it was his least appealing attribute after his strong dislike of cats. “I would not know.”
“It hardly signifies. I see your young and handsome neighbor, Lord Cameron, is back again. Does the earl have his own room too, or is it just sailors who are invited to rest their heads where they do not belong?”
Sally ignored the question about Lord Cameron as he did have a guest chamber here, having stayed so often in his youth. She was ple
ased to see Felix and Lord Cameron seemed to have hit it off immediately. If Felix became the estate manager after she married, they might have a great deal to do with each other in the future.
She switched the subject to family. “It is good to see my uncle so high-spirited tonight. Ever since William made landfall, he has not been himself. I swear, only my cousin’s amateur theatricals and musicales made him laugh these past months. His foot has been aching terribly these past weeks too, but it is clear he is feeling better tonight.”
“You mean the foot that is not attached to his leg anymore?” Ellicott laughed as they reached the most distant point in the room. “My dear, what an eccentric family you have to complain of something that is not there.”
She bristled at the term eccentric and was thankful her family were so far away. “I love them all the more for their little quirks.”
“More than just a little quirk in some. Your mother wails about your absent brothers day and night, your sister hardly comes out of her room without a book, your younger cousin squeaks whenever she sees me, and you and your aunt Penelope run the whole of the estate with hardly any help. I told Rutherford he simply had to hire a proper steward, but he claims he already has someone in mind. I think he just agreed with me so I would go away.”
Probably. She coughed quickly. Her grandfather would not have liked to be told what to do by someone who was not part of the family yet, not to mention younger. “He does have someone in mind.”
“Really?” Ellicott waved over a footman and obtained a fresh glass of port. “Who?”
Sally should not speak of the matter openly. Not until Felix had accepted the challenge of managing the estate for her family. “He has not told me the name, but I know he is serious about hiring someone.”
Very serious if he thought a position of steward might tempt the captain to retire to the quiet of Newberry Park. He must have an enticement in mind that he had not told her about to sweeten the deal. What else could tempt Felix to stay?
Ellicott drew close, forcing her to look up. “Mother mentioned there was another captain staying in a guest room. The infamous Captain Jennings. My dear, your family really does consort with the most interesting characters.”
“Captain Jennings is not a guest now. He visited my grandfather briefly, but then returned to his rented rooms at the village.”
“The village inn, you say? How provincial.” The sounds of keys being struck drifted in from the music room. “Ah, wonderful. Another musicale,” Ellicott murmured. “Let us hope it is your sister and not your middle cousin. She is much too fond of the dramatic for my taste.”
“Audrey chooses music to suit her mood rather than the popular choice of the crowd.”
Ellicott scowled. “Then I swear she must have been in a black mood every single day I have been here. Shall we join the family amusements yet again?”
Sally rose, bristling at the sarcasm in his tone, and followed everyone else into the music room, stopping at the doorway when Ellicott did. It was foolish of her to have expected him to appreciate every member of her family. Audrey was so young and could be easily hurt by a cutting remark. She hoped her cousin never realized Ellicott disliked her choice of music so much.
Everyone else was seated and facing the pianoforte. There were three chairs remaining at the rear of the room, but she waited for Ellicott to lead her there.
Ellicott leaned close, drawing her against his body. His hand slipped lower to her hip and caressed her. “On second thought, let’s slip away while we have a chance.”
“My absence will be noticed.”
Ellicott scowled. “I wonder if you will notice mine.”
He strode off in another huff that was entirely her fault. She considered chasing after him, but what good would that do? She did not want to be alone with him. She was not even sure about the marriage.
“Are you going in?” Felix asked in a voice that carried into the music room.
Aunt Pen turned in their direction and gestured to the remaining chairs impatiently.
Sally nodded. “Yes, of course I am.”
She led the way, aware of Felix at her back. She took the middle seat, and Felix took the end, leaving the isle row for Ellicott to claim if he ever came back.
She did not want to be rude, so she smiled at Felix. “Have you heard much music?”
“Some. Your brother is quite proficient on an upturned ale barrel.” His eyes danced with mirth.