The Wedding Affair (Rebel Hearts series Book 1) (2 page)

“Surely Lord George should be making these decisions, or your father or grandfather.”

Sally met the woman’s gaze steadily, resigned to yet another lengthy discussion on what women should do or not do. It was the worst possible time for it. “Uncle George has his own duties, father is barely ever away from the admiralty, and my grandfather cannot ride the estate anymore. What should we do, allow the flock to be fleeced and the estate fall to wrack and ruin while we spin lace in the drawing room?”

Ellicott coughed into his fist. “Never that.”

His mother sniffed haughtily. “A lady should never be without a knowledge of lacemaking. It is certainly more proper than traipsing around the estate at all hours. I always advise my acquaintances to spend as little time out of doors in the elements as possible to preserve the complexion.”

Sally happened to love the outdoors, and she liked the way her skin looked—vivid and glowing with warmth during the summertime months. She also loved to be useful, to be as involved as possible with what happened on the Newberry Park estate. Hiding her involvement in the running of the estate was not easy. Many of the servants came to her with their problems and looked to her to make decisions. When she married Ellicott, she would never be an idle wife, but she had to tread carefully for now.

“And she makes the most delicate pieces,” her mother insisted loyally. To Sally she said, “You always make the right choices for the estate, and I could not be prouder of the woman you have become. Never doubt that, regardless of what anyone says to the contrary.”

Sally struggled to hide her surprise. Normally her mother would say nothing so openly approving about her or about the additional duties they undertook for the estate, certainly not around the Ellicotts. She had agreed that for Sally to make a good impression with the Ellicotts, especially at her age, she had to change, to hide the more unorthodox aspects of their family life.

Hoping to turn the conversation into smoother waters, she smiled warmly at her mother. “Shall we take tea on the terrace today?”

Her mother’s face lit up. “Yes, tea out of doors is just the thing to amuse us all.”

“I think we should rather not. It is so warm outside and blustery,” Lady Ellicott said in a firm voice. Outside, the wind was only gently stirring the bushes of the garden.

Lady Ellicott had a preference for eating all meals indoors. Not even picnics on the cliff tops pleased her. Sally had little choice but to agree with her assessment of the weather since she was trying so hard to win a place in the woman’s good graces. “Well then, shall I twist Ellicott’s arm and have him read to us from the new
London Gazette
while we enjoy the tea together here?”

Ellicott shifted toward her. “I was actually hoping you and I might stroll the grounds. Stretch our legs a bit.” He turned to Sally’s mother. “All within proper sight of the mansion of course.”

Lady Ellicott stared hard at her son a moment but nodded. “I am sure Lady Templeton will happily agree to your suggestion.”

Her mother’s expression grew flinty. “A leisurely stroll about the gardens is acceptable within sight of this room, but propriety must always be observed. You will take a maid.”

Sally wanted the opportunity to be alone with Ellicott so he could propose, and her mother was not making it easy. A maid would gossip afterward. She would rather not receive a proposal with an audience. “Mama, please. What harm could come from a short walk through the gardens without a chaperone? We are at home. The wisteria walk is very beautiful at this time of year.”

“Indeed that is true.” Mama glanced around and then smiled. “I will have a shawl fetched and join you outside.”

Sally groaned. Why was Mama not helping her advance her claim on Lord Ellicott’s affections or time? She knew the right setting for a proposal was essential for many men to unburden themselves and reveal their desire for matrimony.

Ellicott merely smiled at the news that her mother intended to join them. “The more, the merrier. The breeze appears to have died down too. Shall we wait outside in the fresh air?”

“Yes, that would be lovely.” Sally rushed to link arms with him.

Arm in arm, they left her mother behind in the drawing room while her shawl was called for. Undoubtedly Mama would catch up before too many yards had passed beneath their feet. Hopefully Lady Ellicott would sit alone very happily for a little while.

When Ellicott led her at a brisk pace directly toward the wisteria-covered walk, she almost laughed aloud at his haste. She hoped he would propose to her there because it was a lovely, secluded spot.

When they stopped, he caught her hands in his and drew them to his chest. “My dearest Sally, Mother is right. You are the most beautiful woman. I must again convey my thanks for inviting us both for the summer. It has been a pleasant interlude indeed.”

“I feel so too,” Sally agreed, staring up into his handsome face. Waiting.

“I was thinking of you this morning. Of how well you and I get along. And I do not know any other woman Mother has taken under her wing without hesitation.” He laughed softly. “That is quite the coup, I must tell you.”

“I do like her.” Sally’s pulse raced and she bit her lip as she waited for what she hoped might come next. “Her good opinion means the world to me.”

Not that she was sure she had it yet, but…

“I must say I never once thought we would both reach this age and not be married.” Ellicott sighed. “So it seems plain we must marry each other. What do you think of that idea?”

Chapter Two

A
s far as proposals of marriage went, that was possibly the dullest Sally had ever heard of, but it was at least an offer and she was already of the opinion she should accept Lord Ellicott. Therefore, she nodded and set her future in motion. “I would be very pleased to become your wife.”

Ellicott’s smile grew warmer. “Excellent. I must say I appreciate all you have done to stay in Mother’s good graces to this point. She can be difficult, and I know she can be a hard woman to warm to.”

“Hardly that. Lady Ellicott has been very welcoming.” Sally expected her heart to take flight now that her hopes for marriage had come true, but it sat dully in her chest, beating out the same rhythm of old. “We have been acquainted for such a long time that I often wondered if you would ever ask for my hand. I am so pleased you chose to speak up today.”

He released her hands. “Well, a man does not need to rush into matrimony.”

How right he was. Sometimes it was the biggest mistake a soul could make.

“No, he does not need to rush,” she agreed, speaking from experience that Ellicott did not know about nor need to. “I have often thought a hurried courtship a mistake for many women of our class.”

He smiled again. “Indeed, a man could wait his whole life for the right woman and not recognize her until his last days were upon him.”

“But that is not the case with us.” She threaded her arm through his and they started to walk along the path together, away from prying eyes and her mother. “We have found each other and will be happy together.”

“We will indeed.” He glanced at her sideways. “Mother can stop worrying for the succession at last.”

She colored a little. She would have to spend time in his bed to begin their family, but speaking about it now was not something Sally had anticipated. “And my family will be happy too.”

He sighed heavily. “I should like to speak to your father and arrange the marriage contract today.”

“I have not seen him since dawn, but he said he was not to be disturbed until midafternoon. Our butler, Morgan, will let him know you wish to speak with him. I feel confident he can have no objection to a match between us.”

When they reached the protection of a stone archway at the end of the walk, Ellicott drew back and stared at her. “I should like everyone to know at once of course, and I am hoping the admiral will allow me to make the announcement to your family at dinner tonight before I have to go.”

“You are leaving?”

“Nothing to worry yourself about.” He patted her hand. “A pressing matter of business requires my return to London for a few days. Mother prefers not to travel with me so she will remain behind if that is agreeable. I should be back as soon as my business allows, and with luck I will have time enough to speak with the archbishop about a license while I am away. We can then be married and return to London before May entertainments have truly begun.”

Sally was a little surprised by his haste to wed. The end of April was two weeks away. He had never given the impression that he was so anxious for them to be man and wife. It gave Sally little time to prepare for her new life, but she could do it for the right reason. She wanted to be a wife, to have a home of her own and someone specific to care for. “Yes, everything would be perfect for a dinner announcement. I am sure my father would be very pleased to have you do so after your talk.”

She took a step toward him, prepared for a kiss to seal their bargain. Ellicott saw her purpose and smiled gently before lowering his face to hers. His lips claimed hers, delivering a dry, closemouthed kiss that lacked any spark of passion whatsoever. When he drew back after a moment, confusion filled Sally. It was an important day. Why did he not kiss her properly?

He squeezed her fingers and released her. “We should go back inside before your mother or sister or aunt or cousins come looking for us. I should not like to have them think us scandalous.”

Her mother’s voice hailed them urgently from the other side of the wisteria. “Lord Ellicott! Sally, darling!”

Ellicott glanced her way with a sly smile and then laughed. “You see, barely enough time for a private proposal before we are sought out. The sooner you are mine, and away from here, the better.”

“I am sorry.” Sally smiled until her face ached. “My mother is very protective and a stickler for observing propriety.”

“I understand.” He drew back, his eyes dancing with mirth. “You of course would never allow liberties. Your brothers would be very quick to demand satisfaction of any who slighted you.”

Sally’s heart sank, but she kept her smile pasted on her face. Her brothers would not wait on any duel before obtaining satisfaction. They would take matters into their own hands immediately and teach the scoundrel a lesson with their fists. There might not even be a body to be found afterward. Sally’s brothers were dangerous men and not to be crossed. Navy men, used to having their own way. She was glad the war against France allowed for their absence from Newberry Park at such a time. Ellicott needed to remain ignorant of their true natures for a little longer.

And unaware of hers too.

~ * ~

“N
ot long now,” Felix Hastings, captain of His Majesty’s frigate the
Selfridge,
said to his companion as the end of their journey came in sight. Newberry Park, nestled on the windswept Essex coastline, had undoubtedly been designed to intimidate lesser mortals. Home of the Duke of Rutherford and his large family, the estate possessed a tree-lined drive that meandered through lush grounds and led to a large redbrick-and-stone mansion perched high on a distant hill.

He had never expected to see this place, let alone be invited.

Manicured gardens bordered the grand home, but his eye was drawn to the sweeping views of the wild sea, which was lit by the dazzling afternoon sun. It was as pretty as had been described to him once.

“Thought we would never get here,” Gabriel Jennings, former captain of HMS
Persephone
, grumbled sleepily from his spot across the carriage.

Felix spared a brief glance at the shabbily dressed man and had to wonder if he was finally sober enough to make sense. “You could have stayed behind in London. My rooms at Fladong’s Hotel are paid for until the end of the month, and I had a man there.”

Jennings scratched at the scraggy dark stubble gracing his jaw. “London’s become a bore. What else was there for a friend to do but make sure you find a modicum of pleasure during your shore leave.”

“I do not think you have shorted yourself any pleasure since I saw you last,” Felix said, slightly disapproving of his friend’s attitude but willing to overlook it. Jennings looked like hell and had to have had a fine time getting there. Getting him back in the good graces of the admiralty might take a miracle at this rate, but he would do his best when they returned to London.

The man shoved the blanket he had slept under away and stretched like a cat—the kind who felt at home wherever they might be, no matter the conditions. “Who knows what sort of mischief can be had in the country, eh? And we are in your beloved admiral’s neck of the woods too,” Jennings said with a smile, an expression Felix knew well enough to worry about.

It was mischief that had put Jennings out of favor with Admiral Greer and therefore with the admiralty. Harmless mischief to some perhaps, but few at the war office had a sense of humor these days. A mistimed jest had cost the man his command.

Jennings had been having one hell of a time in London when Felix had caught up with him before dragging him home with him to sleep off his intoxication. Unfortunately, things had not gone as planned, and here they were at the end of a hundred-mile journey into Essex.

He shook his head. The first sign that the man had moved on from the loss of his wife and he had been punished for it. Felix hoped to hell he could save his friend from further mischief and misery by speaking up on his behalf. “I am sure to be sent away as soon as the admiral states his business. Then we will pay our respects to Admiral Greer in London and see what can be done to get your command reinstated.”