He only wished for Miss Sally’s sake that his father had not witnessed her handiwork with the patient.
He fought a grimace as his father skipped over a fair amount of pleasantries to get straight to the point. “I’d like your daughter to join us at Hampton Manor.”
The captain’s white mustache quivered as he stared at the earl. “I beg your pardon?”
Sebastian assumed this was his moment to take over. His father might not trust him to do much of anything at all, but they both knew that while the earl excelled at issuing commands, Sebastian was far better equipped to explain them.
“He means Miss Sally,” Sebastian said. “You see, Captain, my father is in need of some assistance.”
The captain’s brows drew down. “What sort of assistance?”
“Looking after my father’s health,” Sebastian said. “Dr. Roberts typically comes to stay with my father when we are in residence in the country for this very reason but it seems he has other obligations—”
“Leaving me high and dry,” his father muttered.
Sebastian ignored him, his smile growing as he addressed the captain again. “So, you see, the doctor recommended that we ask for your daughter’s assistance. Nothing too taxing, I assure you. We just require someone with some experience in a sickroom.”
“I see.” The captain’s frown was not all together a good sign. Not surprisingly. The captain’s daughters might not have been high born, but they’d been gently raised and this request was not exactly normal.
“Of course we would provide her with a lady’s maid,” he continued. “And she would be welcome at our table, to enjoy all the comforts and amenities of our home along with our guests—”
“I certainly hope that is not required.” The low, soft female voice behind him caught him by surprise, and he turned to see her. Miss Sally. She’d apparently been speaking to herself and when he turned to see her, she clamped her lips shut and met his gaze evenly.
He blinked as another darker haired young lady appeared at her side. “Hush, Sally.” The other girl’s eyes were bright. “Lovely to see you again, Lieutenant Colonel.”
His smile grew. “Miss Rebecca. A pleasure to see you again.”
Of all the daughters, Rebecca was the only one who’d made an effort to speak to him, his father, and their guests at the ball. In fact, she’d been most eager to make their acquaintance and had charmed the ladies of the group with her pleasing manners and charming demeanor.
“We’d love to have Miss Rebecca stay as well,” he said quickly. “As a companion for Miss Sally.”
Rebecca lit up with delight, but he did not miss the way Miss Sally shot her an exasperated sidelong glance.
The captain went over to his daughters. “Sally, I suppose you heard the news.”
Even he could tell that the captain was trying to gauge her reaction. Trying to see whether she was amenable to the idea of dropping everything to rush off and aid an old man.
A titled, powerful, wealthy old man, so he supposed they had that going for them.
He glanced over at his father who was scowling fiercely at the poor young lady. Everyone was watching her—waiting, it seemed, for her verdict. It was clear her father would not force her to go if she did not wish it, and it was equally clear that Rebecca would throttle her should she say no.
But what Sally thought of this idea was impossible to tell. He had a better view of her now than he had the evening of the ball, when she’d been a whirlwind of activity. Despite the smudge of dirt still on her forehead—or perhaps because of it—she was more enchanting than ever.
Not beautiful. Rebecca had the rosy cheeks and fair skin, the lush mouth and the pert nose. Sally’s features were sharper, but there was a nobility to them that pleased him. They gave her an air of an ancient Greek soldier. A warrior in a plain morning gown.
He smiled at the thought of a statue of the lady alongside those he’d seen at the British Museum.
“If Dr. Roberts believes me to be up to the task then I have no reason not to assist in any way that I can.”
It was hardly an enthusiastic yes, but Sebastian felt certain that the entire room exhaled as one with that quiet, staid pronouncement. The others fell into movement at once. His father and hers moved together to discuss the logistics of this new arrangement, while Rebecca announced to any who would listen that she was off to tell her sisters the good news.
Sally, meanwhile, stood straight and proud...and silent.
He found himself drawn to her, moving to stand beside her as she watched her father speaking on her behalf.
“While I’m certain taking care of an old earl was not on your scheduled itinerary for the coming weeks, I must admit that I will be glad for the company,” he said.
Her head lifted and he had the rather humbling sensation that she’d only now just noticed him.
Not that he was one to brag, but he was typically deemed quite noticeable indeed. As the son of an earl and handsome, by most ladies’ standards, he was usually noticed quite quickly. And with far more smiles.
As it was, Sally batted her long lashes, not in a flirtatious way, but in the way of someone trying to call their focus to the person standing before them. In the way of someone who’d forgotten the name of the person to whom they were speaking.
In a rather insulting way, to be honest.
But it also made him grin. There it was again. That dreadfully sweet feeling in his chest. Not so different from the sensation he’d gotten as a child when he’d discovered his new favorite pastime. Excitement mixed with anticipation, along with that relish that came with discovering a new challenge.
He tilted his head to the side, his gaze catching on the streak of dirt on her forehead. Yes, indeed. He was very glad she’d be coming to stay. A breath of fresh air would do them all good. Especially with the current guests in residence. The lords and ladies his father had invited to join him for hunting this fall gave new meaning to the word stale.
“Is there something on my face?” Miss Sally asked with a frown.
Now it was his turn to blink as he brought his mind to the topic at hand.
Her thin brows drew down over a narrow nose. “You’re looking at me as though, I…” She didn’t bother finishing, moving past him instead to see her reflection in the mirror on the wall.
“Oh drat,” she murmured as she scrubbed the cuff of her sleeve at the dirt until it was gone. Her gaze caught him staring at her reflection. “I was in the garden, you see.”
“Yes, I saw,” he said. “Are you an avid gardener?”
Her lips curved up but it fell flat before it could become a proper smile. So close.
“Not really,” she said. “But Dr. Roberts lent me a book on medicinal herbs. Some of it seems like old wives’ tales but he assures me there’s some truth in it.”
“And so you have been growing your own,” he guessed.
She nodded. There was that hint of a smile again. “I’ve been trying. Trying is the key word there. I’m afraid I don’t have much of a green thumb.”
He grinned at her rueful tone. “Well, perhaps at our estate you can convince our gardener to share his secrets.” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “The man is a veritable wizard when it comes to all things green.”
“Is he?” Her eyes lit with excitement.
He leaned back. Interesting.
“And aside from magical plant keepers,” he continued. “We’re hosting a small house party so there shall be fine dinners and plenty of dancing.” He grimaced. “Possibly more musicales and charades than one might wish.”
The light in her eyes dimmed. “Will there?”
She did not sound pleased. Not in the least.
Interesting, indeed. What an odd young lady. “I take it you do not relish musicales either?”
“Not as such.” She hesitated and then added in a rueful tone, “And I’m sorry to say dancing is not my forte.”
He found himself swallowing down a laugh. Yes, sh
e was very odd indeed. So unlike the young ladies who were currently residing in his home.
She seemed to gather herself and summoned a small polite smile. “Tell me, Lieutenant—”
“Sebastian, please,” he interrupted.
She blinked at the intimacy of it and he could only give her a little shrug of chagrin. Since leaving the army he’d come to despise the title. It no longer fit. But then the honorary Lord Sebastian didn’t feel quite right either. What’s in a name? Shakespeare had written.
Quite a lot, in Sebastian’s humble opinion.
She tipped her chin down and wariness hovered in her eyes. “I’m afraid I don’t know you well enough—”
“Ah, but we have met before today,” he informed her.
She blinked at him. “Have we?”
His lips curved up in a rakish grin that made women everywhere swoon. Miss Sally did not swoon. She frowned, in fact. “I don’t recall,” she murmured.
“Well, perhaps it was not a proper introduction.” He rocked back on his heels and stuck his hands into his pockets. “As you were in the midst of tending to an absurdly large brute with a knife in his leg, I shall not take offense that you do not recall my presence at your family’s ball.”
Her eyes widened slightly and he caught a flicker of amusement that seemed to lighten her dark brown eyes with a glow that was irresistible. “How very good of you,” she said. Her lips twitched at the corners as she fought and won against a smile.
Oh, how he wished to see that smile.
The sound of high-pitched excited voices coming from behind a door behind them had her flinching and him suppressing a laugh. It was clear that Rebecca, at least, was enthusiastic in the extreme.
After a long moment in which they both studiously pretended to ignore the high-pitched shrieking, he turned to her with a bland expression. “Tell me, does this door often creak so?”
Her lips twitched but her answer was equally bland. “It’s the salt air, you see.” Her lips quivered in her effort to stifle a laugh as another shriek hit their ears. “It’s terrible for the hinges.”
They maintained eye contact for one moment longer and then another piercing shriek came from the other room and he burst out in a laugh.
And then...there. At long last. She gave up the fight and her lips curved up in a gorgeous grin that stole his breath. So very worth the wait.
It was over too quickly, though. She was once more staid and determined looking, as though her time here chatting with him was some chore she had to fight her way through.
He didn’t care for that. Not one bit. He wanted to see that smile again, and he wanted to see it often. In fact…
He straightened. A sense of purpose the likes of which he hadn’t known in ages had him straightening, his chest swelling as it did anytime he’d been faced with a new adventure. A new mission.
Oh yes. He finally had a new mission.
And it was to see this lady’s smile.
Chapter 2
What an odd man. Sally eyed the gentleman and his knowing grin. Definitely odd, she decided.
Amusing, but odd.
Sally clasped her hands together to keep from fidgeting. Or striking him. Something about him just begged to be smacked.
Or kissed.
She blinked hard to rid herself of that ridiculous notion. Of course she did not wish to kiss him. There was no denying he was handsome enough, if one liked such men. Ones who smiled like they held a secret. Ones whose gazes held a laughter that made her uncertain whether she wished to laugh along with him or...well, striking him still sounded rather appealing.
It certainly would not do to strike a man she hardly knew just because he was looking at her like… Well, like that. As though she were some new, diverting form of entertainment. His grin was decidedly wolfish as he leaned in toward her. “I promise you shall enjoy yourself at Hampton Manor, Miss Sally.”
“I am not certain how you could make such a promise, but I appreciate the thought.” She’d added the last part out of sheer civility, and she knew without a doubt that he was wrong. The idea of going to an earl’s country estate sounded as unpleasant a fate as she could imagine. Though there was no doubt Rebecca would enjoy herself.
Even as she thought it, they both heard Rebecca’s high-pitched voice filled with excitement. She was informing Hattie of this latest turn of events. Their youngest sister was undoubtedly smiling and laughing, and all around encouraging Rebecca’s giddy antics.
Minerva and Abigail would be thrilled for her too. For Sally, not so much. As much as Rebecca dreamed of balls and soirees, Sally avoided them at all costs. But she wouldn’t be going there to dance or be entertained.
She eyed the earl who was speaking solemnly to her father. Not once had he glanced in her direction, which seemed a bit odd as he was here to see her.
Had she truly agreed to this? She bit her lip to keep from calling her words back. Her stomach was already churning with the thought of what was to come. Gowns. Dancing.
Musicales.
Her stomach tightened with anxiety. Heaven help her. This would be a nightmare. But...her gaze fell on the old earl again. She would be there for a patient, and that was what mattered.
True she was no real physician, nor was she likely to ever become one. But this was an opportunity to practice what she’d learned. So…there was that.
But even the promise of taking care of a patient of her own was not enough to dispel the tight knot of anxiety that rose up every time she tried to imagine life at an earl’s estate. Surrounded by young ladies who would no doubt look down at her, mingling with members of the ton…
Oh, she did not belong in such a crowd as that. She clasped her hands together once more and squeezed them tight to keep from wringing them as the earl’s son was drawn into the gentlemen’s conversation.
At least she had a reprieve from his knowing grin.
But what exactly did he think he knew? And why had he seemed so very amused by her? She’d done nothing to warrant those smiles, nor that glint of laughter.
Though the squeaky hinges conversation had been rather amusing. Even now she felt the urge to laugh aloud at his feigned solemnity in the face of her sister’s giddy squeals.
Soon enough the details of this new arrangement had been worked out, a date set, a decision made. And Sally curtsied politely as they took their leave.
“Isn’t this too exciting?” Rebecca wrapped her arms about Sally’s waist as the door shut behind their visitors.
“The earl’s son was quite handsome, was he not?” Rebecca continued.
Sally rolled her eyes and rested her head back on her sister’s shoulder. “He’s not for the likes of us, Rebecca.”
“Why?” Her slightly younger, much prettier sister pouted. “Because we’re not the daughters of a duke?”
Sally laughed. “Yes.” She turned to face her. “That is precisely why.”
Rebecca shrugged, not seeming too upset. Sally let out a breath of relief. At least her sister was not pining over the earl’s second son. That was something. It would be hard enough to keep her sweet, innocent, and decidedly flirtatious sister safe in the midst of a society gathering. But at least she wouldn’t have to worry about her sister getting caught in Sebastian’s predatory gaze.
She shivered at the memory of his eyes. Of the look of intent. She wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders and forced a smile for her sister’s sake. “Let’s go back outside and tell Min.”
“Yes, we must tell her that she’s not the only one off on a grand adventure.” Rebecca leaned in and whispered loudly. “Maybe you and I shall fall head over heels just like she’s done with her charming pirate.”
“Maybe,” Sally hedged. But hopefully not. Falling for a lord of such high rank could surely only lead to heartache. Particularly for one as sweet and outgoing as Rebecca.
“After all, there must be other gentlemen at the manor. He’s hosting a hunting party, did you hear? There must be loads of el
igible men.”
Sally patted her sister’s hand on her arm. “Yes, dear. But let’s do our best not to get carried away, shall we?”
“Of course!” Rebecca stopped and turned to her with wide eyes. “Do you think if I got engaged at Hampton Manor, we would be able to have the wedding there in the spring?”
Sally stared at her sister. “We who, dear?”
Rebecca’s lips formed a little moue of disdain. Sally laughed and patted her hand “Never mind. I’m just glad to see you’re not getting carried away.”
After the surprise visit from the earl and his son, time moved far too quickly for Sally’s liking.
Sally had resolved not to cry when she said farewell to her eldest sister, but her resolve didn’t stand a chance when her normally stoic sister was weeping openly on her shoulder.
“I’ll miss you all so,” Minerva said through her sniffles.
Minerva’s embrace was fierce.
Sally managed a nod, her throat too choked to speak at first. “You know, I wouldn’t let you go if I didn’t think you would be blissfully happy with Marcus.”
Her sister leaned back to give her a watery smile that was filled with understanding. Of all her sisters, Minerva had the temperament closest to Sally’s. Neither was overly sentimental—at least, not typically. And neither was prone to girlish swooning or overly romantic dreams.
And so it had actually been highly amusing to watch Minerva fall in love. And with a pirate, no less. Or a privateer, rather. That was what he and Mr. Calhoun claimed to be, but Sally supposed none of them really cared how he’d made his fortune just so long as he continued to look upon their dear Minerva as though she hung the moon.
Marcus was surrounded by a sniffling Abigail, a weeping Rebecca crying on his shoulder, and Hattie in his arms as she buried her face against his chest with a loud sob.
Yes, they’d all come to love Marcus as a brother rather quickly, and while they were all loath to see Minerva sail off for distant shores, there was no denying that she was getting a fairy tale ending, in a way.
Miss Sally's Unsuitable Soldier Page 2