She looked so earnest, so very ingratiating and like their response would mean so much to her. Despite her anger, some part of Sally twisted with an unbearable ache at the sight of her mother’s agony. Sally glanced over at her younger sister before turning back to reply in a stilted voice. “Thank you for saying that.”
“You believe me?” Desperation lit their mother’s eyes and it made Sally’s throat feel too tight. She nodded. Out of the corner of her eye she saw her sister nod as well.
“Maybe one day…” Their mother’s lips quivered a bit as she trailed. “No, for now this is enough. Seeing you girls, talking to you… It was more than enough.”
“Captain,” one of the men called from behind them. “We’d best be off.”
Sally’s eyes widened as her mother responded with a nod.
Captain? Her mother was their captain?
Their mother smiled at them one more time, her gaze raking over them fiercely as if she were trying to capture every detail.
Sally wasn’t certain how long she and Rebecca stood there in silence after their mother disappeared. It was Rebecca who finally broke it with a whisper. “What now?”
Sally swallowed and shut her eyes. What now? She had no idea. “I have a patient waiting for me and you have a ball to prepare for.” She turned to face Rebecca, whose lips were quivering in the exact same way their mother’s had.
But Rebecca nodded in agreement. “Yes. We should get back. After all, nothing has changed. But Sally…”
Sally nodded. “We need to talk to father.”
Rebecca sighed and linked arms with her once more and together they walked slowly toward the street where their carriage awaited. “I don’t think I can bear to smile and make conversation tonight at dinner with the others.”
“Then I shall make our excuses,” Sally said. Worry had her watching her sister closely. She was feeling more than a little shaken, and everyone knew Sally was better suited to handle stress and shock.
“We should leave as soon as we’re able,” Rebecca continued. “We need to hear what Father has to say.”
Sally glanced over in question. “As soon as we’re able,” she echoed.
Rebecca nodded but she glanced over with a furrowed brow. “Just not before the ball.”
Sally let out a choked laugh and after a brief moment, Rebecca clapped a hand over her mouth to muffle a giggle.
The girlish sound calmed something inside of Sally. For a moment there she’d forgotten just how strong her sister could be.
Just how strong all the Jones girls could be.
Chapter 8
Sebastian craned his neck, trying to see into the hallway. He’d been hoping to catch sight of Sally at some point today and was being dreadfully obvious about it.
“Sebastian, are we boring you?” his father asked, impatience clear in his tone.
Sebastian turned back to see his father behind his desk and his brother sitting across from him, leaning back in his seat with one foot crossed over the other leg as though he had not a care in the world. His expression was bland and bored, as per usual. “Sebastian does not need to stay for this, Father. We all know he finds talk of finances and accounting tiresome.”
Sebastian ran a hand through his hair. This was the truth. He’d never had much of a head for figures and when his father and brother droned on about the state of financial affairs like this, it was all he could do to follow along. This was one of many reasons why he’d never once resented the fact that he was the spare. He’d have made a terrible heir.
But he bristled at the condescending looks he was getting from them both. “That’s not it at all, it’s just—” He stopped with his mouth open as he tried to figure out how best to finish. It’s just that I’m worried. I’m anxious over a girl I barely know but who I know better than I know myself. Or perhaps, I’m concerned because father’s nursemaid has disappeared.
No, none of those would do.
His father and brother exchanged a look he could not decipher, but his next attempt to explain was mercifully cut short by the sight of a no-nonsense chignon that slipped out of view just as he glanced toward the hallway.
Only a glimpse but it was enough to make his whole body feel light with relief. “Will you excuse me, Father? I seem to have forgotten…” He didn’t finish. He didn’t have to, he was already out in the hallway and dashing off in the direction he’d seen her disappear.
“Sally!” He caught up with her in the library where she was returning a book. She whipped around as if caught stealing and ducked her head. “Sorry. I didn’t expect to see anyone and—”
“Are you avoiding me?” As far as conversation starters went, that was the worst he’d ever devised. But it was a fear that had been clinging to him ever since she’d rushed off without meeting his eyes the morning before. And it had only grown as she’d stayed away all day and then hidden in her room rather than join the others.
“No, of course not.” But she didn’t meet his gaze.
“You’re a terrible liar, did you know that?”
She glanced up then with an adorable little moue of annoyance.
“Did I do something to offend you?” He approached her slowly.
She sighed. “No, of course not.”
“Then why have I not seen hide nor hair of you these past two days?”
She blinked at his bluntness. But this was how it was between them. This was what he loved about being around her. There was no need for subtlety or games. He could be himself, and he thought she felt the same.
Or he had until she’d started to avoid him.
“Because…” She bit her lip and a flicker of emotions crossed her features. Emotions he despised, and which had him moving closer in concern.
“Sally,” he
