The Heiress of Winterwood - By Sarah Ladd Page 0,18
her eyes bright. Amelia sighed. If only she could play as convincing a role. Captain Sterling smiled at something Helena said, his white teeth flashing in his sun-bronzed face. He appeared so at ease. How dare he be so calm when Lucy’s future remained uncertain?
“That was a weary sigh, my dear.”
The soft words coming from the guest to her left snapped Amelia back to the present, and she shifted to face her friend Jane Hammond. “Pardon?”
“Much too weary for a young woman so very close to her wedding day.”
Amelia fussed with the napkin in her lap and suppressed a nervous laugh. “Forgive me. I’m afraid I was lost in thought.”
Jane nodded toward Amelia’s plate. “You have barely touched your dinner. You’re not unwell, I trust?”
Shame crept over Amelia. For as long as she could remember, the older woman’s nurturing manner had been a comfort to her. Jane, the wife of Darbury’s vicar, had been her mother’s dearest friend and, in the years since her father’s death, had become her own friend and confidante. How Amelia wished she could seek her counsel about the past few days. But how could she? She could not risk the exposure.
Jane leaned close and wrinkled her nose. “Whatever is William Sterling doing here?”
Amelia glanced up at the captain’s brother. “Aunt invited him.”
“Tsk. After his actions toward you, I cannot believe he has the audacity to accept the invitation.”
Amelia shrank back at Jane’s words, regretting she had shared the details of William’s indiscretion. Ever since, her normally kind and forgiving friend had all but shunned the older Sterling, all in the name of loyalty. Amelia hoped she would not reflect her opinion of William Sterling onto the captain. “I honestly do not think he recalls the encounter. He was full of drink. Besides, it is in the past, and no one but you knows of it. I would just as soon forget about it.”
“Well, I certainly have not forgotten.” Jane’s composed face give little hint of the anger in her voice. “One would think a man in his position and influence would hold himself to a higher standard. It is indeed fortunate for him that your Mr. Littleton knows nothing of it.”
Amelia winced at the reminder of the number of secrets regarding the Sterling family that she was withholding from Edward. She pushed them away. She had far too much on her mind to ruminate on the shortcomings of William Sterling.
Jane put down her fork. “Speaking of the Sterlings, I have been meaning to tell you about a very interesting visit I had earlier with Lucy’s father, the captain. What a pleasant man he is—quite the opposite of his brother.”
Amelia felt the tiny hairs stand up at the base of her neck. Had Captain Sterling told Jane what she had done? Surely not. “He does seem quite well spoken.”
“Indeed. Mr. Hammond and I ran into him this morning outside Mr. Higgins’s shop. We were so pleased to see him again, for the last time I saw him he was but a lad. What a pleasant man he has become—every bit as distinguished as one would expect a naval captain to be. And he spoke very favorably of you and the kindness you have shown little Lucy.”
“Oh? What did he say?”
“Simply that he has no idea what would have happened if you had not stepped in.”
With every word that Jane spoke, Amelia eased. Clearly, her friend did not know of her proposal. She cut her eyes toward William Sterling before returning her attention to Jane. “I am sure the captain’s brother would have seen to her well-being.”
The older woman patted her lips with her napkin and returned it to her lap. “I doubt it. You know Mr. Sterling’s disposition. He’s of a selfish bent, and he would hardly be a suitable guardian for a child. I don’t like to repeat rumors, but it is said he has lost his entire fortune at the tables. The lot of it. Mr. Hammond tells me he has heard reports that Mr. Sterling is trying to sell part of his land. Can you imagine?”
“And what of the captain?” Amelia leaned in closer to her friend. “Does he have the means to support Lucy?”
Jane nodded. “Indeed. Though he did not inherit his family’s estate, I have it on good authority that he has done very well in his own right. Of course, Mr. Hammond knows a great deal more about these things than I, but I understand the ship under Captain Sterling’s