The duke thumped his canes. “No. I forbid it. I will not support your sending the boy off on a fool’s errand. You were the one to send Freddie south. You will find someone else to dupe into cleaning up your mess.”
“Perhaps I should withdraw,” Felix said, easing back from the confrontation between father and son.
“No, no. You will stay right where you are,” the duke almost shouted. “You have already paid a hefty price for his foolish ambitions. He will not be sending the Selfridge to rescue a grown man because of more foolishness, and that is final.”
The duke’s jaw set stubbornly. Felix was familiar enough with that expression to wisely keep his opinions to himself. He did step back another pace to increase the distance between himself and the feuding pair.
Admiral Templeton rubbed a hand over his head. “She will blame me for this.”
“Maggie already blames you for a great many things,” the duke exclaimed coldly. “And that scorn is something you utterly deserve for the way you have neglected and embarrassed your wife over the years.”
The admiral nodded, but his expression was sour. He slammed his glass down and stormed off. As Felix watched him go,
he felt a pang of regret. Had retrieving Fredrick been all his summons had been about?
“I could have helped in the search,” he told the duke honestly. “I would not have minded going. Fredrick is a good man. A good captain.”
“He will be. One day.” The duke collapsed into his chair. “Sit down, boy. You make a old man feel small.”
Felix lowered his six-foot frame into a chair as swiftly as he could. As he settled, Sally’s cat made the leap across the gap and landed heavily on his lap.
“Devil take it,” he grunted as claws dug into his thighs. “Must you maul me?”
“He attacks everyone he loves. ’Tis part of his charm,” the duke murmured. “It is patently obvious who he cares for. These creatures of Sally’s are rather obvious about it, unlike their owner.”
Felix met the duke’s unwavering gaze and felt himself exposed. “I am sure that is not true.”
“You and the cat are similar creatures. Direct and honest.”
A strange pride filled him at Rutherford’s praise. “Thank you.”
“Young man, I have never met someone who exemplifies all that is good in the service or one so humble. Your actions do you credit, and you have my undying gratitude for the aid you rendered a fellow captain, even when I warned you not to.”
Felix lifted his chin. “He was someone Sally loved. I would do anything for her.”
“I know. That is why I forbid you to search for Fredrick. Your eagerness to please will only risk further heartbreak for her.” He stretched across the table and held out his hand. “Safe journey to London and smooth sailing.”
“That’s it?”
“What were you expecting? A trial at arms? After that performance today on the lawn, I doubt I would last a full breath. No indeed, Sally has enough facts now that she will make the right decision or not. She will not fall prey to fabrications of idle gossip or her father’s agenda ever again.”
Felix stilled. “You did not bring me here to question my command but to hold my character and behavior with women up for scrutiny. Why?”
“The young are often prone to overexcited nerves, especially when it comes to a man’s behavior and affections. And when there might be another woman involved, the more said the better to clear up the misinformation filling her ears.”
He stroked the cat’s head. “This has nothing to do with my command and everything to do with Sally. That is why she was there to hear it all. Why have her offer me a position?”
“You would make an excellent addition to Newberry and the family.”
He drew back in shock. “You do not want Sally to marry Ellicott.”
“Obviously not. He is rash, impulsive, and—”
“She is not in love with him,” Felix added.
“How could she be when she was already in love with you?” The duke scowled. “But what choice does she have but to settle? It is not as if she could hope a distinguished captain would give up his career, passing his ship off to another captain, on the off chance she would see reason before it is too late.”
Felix licked his lips, considering this new development. “I have thought of it, but if she still marries Ellicott, I will have nothing.”