The Wedding Affair (Rebel Hearts series Book 1) (27 page)

She lavished attention on the cat, then looked him over. “I thought all captains rose with the sunrise.”

“Must be the country air and the energetic late nights,” he said. His weariness was entirely due to having Sally waltz back into his bedchamber. Satisfying her hunger had been a wild ride. “Has Lord Cameron arrived?”

“He is speaking with the duke round the corner, through the study window.”

Felix grinned. “As good a vantage point as any. We can practice on the lawn below the study.”

“I think Cameron’s nervous.” She bit her lip, and Felix considered leaning in and kiss her good morning.

He resisted the temptation by sheer force of will. “There is nothing to be nervous about. I meant to ask you last night, what has become of Lord Ellicott?”

“He had business elsewhere.”

“Business? Well, his absence last night was my gain.” He stroked her cheek softly. “And I hope yours too.”

“Yes. I think so. Felix, we need to talk.”

“So we do, but it will have to wait until I have tested your neighbor’s skill with a blade.” He strode off, shrugging out of his coat so he could face Lord Cameron with the fewest impediments to his movements. “Good morning,” he called and then looked harder at his opponent. He laughed. “What are you wearing?”

“Protection,” Louisa quipped with a smug smile. “He is not accustomed to fighting as navy men do.”

“We are sparring, my lady. I am not obligated to slice him to ribbons at the first provocation.” He pointed at Lord Cameron. “Take that lot off or yield now.”

“I told you he would not like it,” Lord Cameron complained to Louisa as he shrugged out of the specially padded waistcoat and arm guards and tossed them to a waiting servant.

Felix found his spot on the grass below the duke’s study and waited for his rival. Louisa apparently had more than a few hushed words to say to the young earl, but whatever was said was endured, though with a mournful expression by Lord Cameron.

When they parted company, Louisa ran to her sister’s side and the pair stood arm in arm. He saluted them and faced Lord Cameron.

The young earl appeared a little more nervous now than before.

“We start at half speed,” Felix murmured and then explained how the morning practice would proceed.

“Very good, Captain.” Lord Cameron flexed his arms when he finished and then prepared to fight.

“Let’s begin.” Felix had trained many young men within the confines of the ship’s narrow layout. He had taught them how to avoid entrapment, how to use the ship’s rigging and timbers as shields, and not traps to hamper their movements. Fighting in a pretty, open garden afforded no such impediments. A wild, uncontrolled swing could cut deeply.

The young man was much more skilled than he, and Louisa, had given the earl credit for. Very soon he urged Lord Cameron to fight faster, and they battled around the garden until a fine sweat beaded his temple. A crowd had gathered—servants and family were placing bets, some hanging from upper windows and calling to each other. Drawn by the sound of weapon strikes, they gossiped and gasped depending on who appeared to have the upper hand.

Lord Cameron caught his heel in a divot and fell backward over the short clipped hedge that surrounded the garden. He went down hard and groaned as his head struck earth. Felix surged forward, believing the man had dealt his head a severe blow. As he leaned over him, Lord Cameron raised his sword arm and swung.

Sally screamed as the blade sliced his shirt.

“Victory,” Lord Cameron crowed, pulling his arm back quickly so Felix was not impaled upon his blade, and tossed the weapon away.

Felix found his breath at last, then checked his sliced shirt and the skin beneath, knowing from experience an injury often did not feel bad until a moment or two has passed. The shirt was ruined, but nothing more perilous had occurred. “No harm done.”

Lord Cameron rested his head on the gravel path and puffed. “Had to do something to best you,” he complained. “Even if you were holding back, I could not have lasted any longer.”

“Well played.” He helped Lord Cameron stand and then shook his hand. “If I ever need practice, remind me not to come to see you anytime soon. You are deceptively modest about your skills, my lord.”

Lord Cameron grinned, his pride full and obvious. “Thank you.”

Morgan rushed over. “His Grace wishes to see you both in his study.”

Felix sighed even though he was growing used to the duke’s urgent summonses. If he agreed to work for the man, he would be answering them for all the days that remained of his life. “Tell him we will join him as soon as we are presentable and have our breath back.”

“Very good, Captain. My lord.”

They parted to redress.

As Felix was shrugging on his coat, he became aware that Sally stood near. Everyone was off congratulating Lord Cameron on his fine show of skill and cunning victory, but she crept closer, one hesitant step at a time. “Sally?”

“Did he hurt you?”

Felix glanced at his stomach. “The shirt will need a few stitches, but it is not dire.”

“Leave it out and it will be repaired,” she told him, her hands clenched at her waist. “He could have killed you.”

“No. He might be proficient with a sword, but he is not a killer. He was always in control.”

Sally chewed her lip. “I almost died when he swung.”

Felix approached her, bringing his sword with him. Sally was pale, her eyes wide with lingering fear. “You should not worry for me. I know what I am doing.”

“I don’t. Not anymore.”

Although he should take every care with her reputation, he touched her arm and squeezed. “Come to me again tonight, and I will remind you.”

Felix knew what he was doing. He was winning Sally back—one indiscretion at a time.

Morgan returned, his expression apologetic. “Captain?”

“I have to go now unfortunately. The duke wants me.”

The corner of her mouth lifted in a rueful smile. “I know the feeling.”

“Hold that thought. I will be back as soon as I can.” He grinned and then strode off, collecting Lord Cameron on his way to the duke’s study. Whatever the duke wanted he could have, as long as they were both of the same mind where Sally was concerned.

He wanted her and would have her back.

There had to be a way.

Chapter Thirty

F
elix turned his head to view the dark cat sitting beside him. “So, what did you do to warrant your summons?”

The cat commenced to groom himself, uncaring of his exalted location before the duke’s desk. Cats were creatures indifferent to proper behavior. Lord Cameron had only stayed long enough to be congratulated and had been ushered on his way.

“Ah, Hastings, thank you for waiting.”

Felix stood quickly at the unexpected voice, surprised to find Admiral Templeton had returned to Newberry. No one had warned Felix, and the admiral had been gone so long Felix had stopped asking when he might be coming back. He had also been too full of anxiety over Sally, keen to know she had returned to her bedchamber undetected after their tryst last night to properly notice who had witness the morning’s sword practice. “My lord admiral. I had not heard you had come home.”

Admiral Templeton crossed to the sideboard and poured himself a drink. “My schedule changed unexpectedly.”

Felix fidgeted, relieved the man had not returned last night. He might have come to his bedchamber door and discovered his daughter in a state no father should find his child in.

Admiral Templeton downed his glass and poured another. “Damn good of you to cool your heels like this.”

Since the duke had not given him a choice in the matter, he wisely kept his mouth shut. Sally had said nothing so far about calling off her engagement, so he could very well be left with the pain of leaving without her once more.

“Now, to the matter at hand.” The admiral strode across the room to a large table and sifted through the maps. “What do you recall of this region of the sea?”

Felix took a moment to study the map and then nodded. He sketched out his last journey in that region with the tip of his finger. “Shoals here and here. Deep water. This island has freshwater at the southernmost point.” He pointed to a gentle curve in the topography. “We dropped anchor during a storm and then next morning awoke to find ourselves in paradise.”

The admiral grunted. “Was the island inhabited?”

“Not at the time of our visit.” He pointed again. “I placed men at these vantage points, and we saw no sign of other ships, smoke, or signs of human life.”

The admiral grimaced and sucked his teeth. “Fredrick’s ship is overdue to return. He should have traversed the same route as you did, but there has been no sign of his vessel.”

“Could he have been taken as a prize elsewhere, or do you fear he ran afoul of a reef?”

“The reef. He is too smart to engage a ship he was not a match for. Far too cautious.” The admiral tapped the map again. “According to all other reports and sightings in the region, this island is the most likely one to support life.”

“I believe so.” Felix rubbed his jaw. “He knew about that place too.”

The admiral’s brows rose. “How’s that?”

“I bumped into Fredrick a few years ago, and he mentioned my stroke of luck to find the place. He had dropped anchor there, a year before me. If he needed to find shelter, it is likely he would have made for the island if he could. What is to be done?”

“That is a very good question. The admiralty will not sanction a search, and there are few captains willing to risk their career on such flimsy hope.” The admiral tossed the maps away and returned to the decanter of whiskey.

“The duke insists the war is at an end. If Fredrick made shore, he could be well situated for a long stay until help comes.”

The tap of canes across the room had Felix spinning around to bow. “Your Grace.”

“Felix, what trouble is my son luring you into now?”

The admiral flushed a dark red and mumbled an expletive.

The duke paused by the maps. “A long voyage, it seems. I might have something to say about that.”

“Freddie’s missing,” Admiral Templeton explained.

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.”