“It is just nerves about the wedding.”
“And the wedding night.” Louisa laughed and then hurried out before she could be scolded for teasing her.
Sally was not worried about her wedding night, or any of the nights of her marriage. She knew full well what could happen between a man and a woman. But she was thinking a lot about her life and what she would miss when she left Newberry as a bride. There were ten women at Newberry, and they somehow managed never to get in each other’s way. Everyone pulled together. Would she eventually work that well with Lady Ellicott?
Sally made her way to the main staircase, lost in thought, and ascended to the entrance hall. The house was quiet for this time of day, and she prowled the ground floor rooms restlessly, discreetly searching for the captain while also keeping her eye out for her aunt or grandfather who had disappeared too. Aunt Pen had been taking notes for the duke today while Sally dealt with a stock issue. She needed to mention the outcome to either of them so they were not surprised by her decisions.
Mr. Morgan was not at his post, and the other servants she questioned had no idea where the butler had gone. Felix had not been in the library or the drawing room with Lady Ellicott and Sally’s remaining family. Her grandfather’s study door was open, and the captain was not there either, seated before the large table talking war with the duke.
There was only one conclusion she could reach: he’d left her.
Had he taken up Arianna’s invitation to visit her at Lofton Downs, or had he gone away entirely thanks to their argument? He had claimed to have no desire to see Arianna again, but she could not help but feel after last night that she might have driven him away.
Jealousy, a feeling she hated, seethed beneath her skin at the very idea of another woman touching him, especially Arianna.
She took the west staircase, ascended to the first floor, and slowly approached his bedchamber. If he had gone for good, she wanted to know immediately. The last time, after she had broken off the engagement, he had left England and she had not known for two whole days. She might have been the one to have stopped their wedding, but he had not even tried to win her back. The crushing pain of abandonment was a feeling she never wanted to experience again.
After checking that she was unobserved, she tapped on his door, then tested the handle. Unlocked. Sally let herself inside and glanced around, expecting the worst and finding it.
His possessions were gone, his bed stripped, and the hearth cold.
So he had gone without saying good-bye again.
Sally took a long moment to accept it, to acknowledge the end of a young woman’s dream of love and desire.
She should be relieved that the temptation of him was gone, but instead the hollow ache of loss, a feeling she was all too familiar with when it came to Felix, returned to pain her. After all this time, she still was not immune to foolishness.
She still cared about Felix, and far too deeply.
She glanced around once more, her gaze lingering on the bed. Memories might be all she could ever have with him, but they were good memories for the most part. Passionate ones. When she married Ellicott, she would devote herself to feeling that way about her husband instead. After all, many women loved more than once in their lifetime.
Sally slipped from the room and pulled the door shut quietly behind her. She was filled with sadness, but had she ever expected better where he was concerned?
A few paces down the hall, she spotted her aunt disappearing into a distant guest room. In need of a distraction, she headed in that direction to see if her aunt needed assistance for anything at all. Keeping busy had always been good for mending her soul, and with a wedding ahead there was much yet to do.
The door had been left slightly ajar. Other voices talking low joined with Aunt Pen’s and drifted into the hall. Sally leaned close to listen before blundering inside and interrupting.
“He seems no better or worse,” Aunt Penelope said.
“Why did you move him?” her grandfather asked.
“I did not dare take any chances,” Aunt Pen replied. “There was no hint of fever on his arrival, but I thought it prudent to have him moved in case it is a serious illness that might spread.”
“This is unfortunate,” the duke said. “Find out who he has had most contact with and keep a discreet eye on them for signs of similar symptoms.”
“If only we knew what they were. He collapsed so suddenly,” her aunt said. “Besides o
urselves, my nieces have all stood close to him. Maggie partnered with him at dinner and a valet attended to him morning and night. They could all be at risk.”
“He visited William before arriving here too. Send a warning to the nurse to keep a close watch on William’s health in the coming weeks and specifically to watch for signs of a fever. His health is still much too delicate to fight off another infection.”
“I have already done so,” Aunt Pen promised.
The duke thumped his canes on the carpeted rugs inside the room. “Damn it all, I wanted to see what he has made of himself, not bury him. Something must be done.”
A throat cleared and Mr. Morgan spoke. “There was a gentleman with him in the carriage on the day of his arrival, Your Grace. The man went on to the inn and intended to remain there, I believe. Could he know the nature and perhaps a cure for this illness?”
“Bring him, by whatever means necessary,” the duke demanded. “We must know what we are dealing with and be prepared to contain the spread.”