She shook her head quickly and more chestnut brown locks fell around her face. She was not pretty. No, not pretty. A tepid word like ‘pretty’ hardly did her justice. This young lady was striking. And real. There was something so alarmingly genuine about her and it resonated in his chest in the most curious way. It was difficult to look away.
“No, no. Definitely not,” she said in a tight, choked voice. “I wouldn’t dream of laughing.”
“Oh good. Because if you found me amusing, we would have to find some medical assistance for you, as well. And assuredly that assistant would also require her sister in attendance, and this house party would quickly grow overrun with companions.”
Her eyes glimmered with humor but she kept an impressively straight face. “We wouldn’t want that.”
“Indeed not.” He leaned forward. “I’m afraid all the young ladies present would not take kindly to being outshone by beautiful companions.”
“You are teasing again.” Her tone was stiffer than before, the laughter gone as her smile fell and she blinked rapidly as though she’d been struck across the face. “I do not appreciate your mockery.”
His chest tightened and his insides seemed to fall to his feet. He’d insulted her. Good heavens, that was the last thing he’d meant to do. “I am sorry, Miss Sally. I did not intend—”
“I know what you meant.” Her smile was stiff. Not at all genuine like before.
He didn’t like it. Not one bit.
The silence that followed was awkward. Sebastian shifted from one foot to the other as he tried to sort out how to fix this.
Sebastian did not do awkward.
Nor did he do silence, for that matter.
“Er, is your father about?”
She blinked, her lips pursing and all signs of a smile—genuine or otherwise—faded fast. “No.” Her gaze drifted to the fort behind him. “He’s not at home, but you might be able to find him at the fort.”
He followed her gaze as if the good captain might be hiding amidst the craggy gray stones that made up the fort.
“Did you need to speak to him?”
“No. No, it is nothing urgent. I just wanted to ensure he was comfortable with the plans that had been made for you and your sister’s travels tomorrow.”
Her smile was polite, if small. “My father is quite pleased with the trouble your father has gone to on our behalf.” She hesitated briefly. “He does my sister and I quite an honor.”
“Mmhmm.” For all her words, he couldn’t help but sense that while she might have been honored, she was far from pleased. Not nearly as pleased as her father, at least.
Not for the first time it occurred to him that his father had acted before fully regarding the thoughts of anyone else involved.
He supposed that was an earl’s right. He could only hope his elder brother displayed a bit more tact and regard for others when he eventually inherited.
“Miss Sally, if you do not wish to come to the manor—”
“I would not have agreed to attend to your father if I did not wish to be of assistance.” Her chin tilted up in a stubborn set that made his lips twitch with the urge to smile or laugh or...or kiss her.
Oh drat. That wiped the smile right off his lips. She was to be a guest in their home. She was doing them a favor, catering to his father’s ridiculous need to be coddled and comforted constantly.
She was not someone to be dreaming of kissing. And she certainly wasn’t the sort of lady his father meant for him to marry. His mood shifted so quickly it felt as if a sudden storm had formed overhead blocking out the sun.
Half the reason he’d come all the way back to Billingham to escort the Jones girls was to avoid the young ladies his father kept foisting at him at the manor.
She fidgeted with her skirts. “If you’d like, I will tell my father you’re looking for him and—”
“No, no. That won’t be necessary,” he said quickly.
Silence descended and she glanced around them as if assistance might be on its way via sailboat. It was when she turned her head to the side that he saw it.
Her eyes were red-rimmed.
She’d been crying.
His heart twisted into a knot at the thought of it. “Are you all right? That is…” He cleared his throat as her gaze shot back to his and met it unflinchingly. “You seem upset.”
Her brows drew together in a frown of disbelief. “Do I?”
No. No, she didn’t. It was just the red swelling around her eyes that hinted that something was the matter. But how to politely tell a woman that she looked wrecked?
Her lips quirked up in a bit of a smirk as she seemed to read his mind. “Is it that obvious then?”
He didn’t answer. There was no right answer to that question.
Her small smile was rueful, but at least it was a smile. “I assure you, it is nothing for you to concern yourself with.”
He waited. Silence was not his forte but he had a hunch she would cave if given time. Sure enough, after a long moment of considering one another, she added with a shrug, “My eldest sister left for America, that’s all.”
“Ah, I see,” he said.
He did not see. Not entirely. For a man so well used to speaking, he was finding it remarkably difficult today. He half suspected that anything he might say would cause offense...or at the very least come out sounding far too obtuse and perhaps even glaringly snobby.
For example...had she left to find employment? He suspected not. A naval captain—even one who was no longer in command of a ship at sea—was surely still receiving some sort of income. Half pay at the very least.
But concern for this young lady and her family outweighed all other fears. Was her family struggling financially? Surely his father would remunerate Miss Sally for her time, but would it be enough? He made a mental note
