the saucer, Pyne glanced at Masterton, then caught her eye. “Perhaps Masterton and I might pop up and see Cavanaugh—alleviate his boredom, offer some sympathy, what?”
Remembering her last sight of Godfrey, Ellie was certain he wouldn’t welcome such an interruption. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” Inspiration struck. “As studying the documents is a part of his assessment of the painting, and he’s already started examining them, we shouldn’t unnecessarily distract him.”
Pyne grimaced, but didn’t argue.
Masterton merely arched his brows. After a moment, he looked at her father. “Matthew, as the road is apparently passable on horseback, I believe I’ll return home.” Masterton folded his napkin, laid it beside his plate, and smiled at Ellie, then swept his smile over Harry and Maggie before, ultimately, directing it at her father. “Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll call in a few days to see how you’re getting on.”
All murmured farewells as Masterton rose. He shook hands with Pyne, Morris, and her father. Then he tipped a salute to Harry and Maggie and, at the last, caught Ellie’s eye. He held her gaze for a second, then inclined his head in polite farewell. She responded with a polite yet cool nod of her own. His smile—too quietly arrogant for her liking—resurfaced, then he turned and walked from the room.
She heard Masterton speak to Kemp in the hall, asking to have his horse saddled. She returned her gaze to Morris and Pyne, wondering if they, too, would depart.
Her father read her mind, smiled, and said to his friends, “As you two came in your gigs, you’ll need to wait until the roads clear further before attempting to return to your homes.”
“Aye.” Morris peered through the windows at the still very snowy park. “Tomorrow, perhaps—if it doesn’t freeze again.”
Pyne, Ellie noticed, looked rather glum at the prospect of returning to his own hearth.
Harry and Maggie excused themselves, rose, and departed.
Her father pushed back his chair and, as Morris and Pyne rose, waved them toward the door. “I told Kemp to put the newspapers in the library. We might as well adjourn there and read in comfort.”
The three men made for the door, with the footman, Mike, pushing her father’s chair. When they drew level with her, Ellie prepared to rise and follow them out, but her father held up his hand, signaling Mike to halt.
When Morris and Pyne paused and looked back, her father waved them on. “I’ll join you in a minute.”
The pair nodded and walked on. When they’d passed down the corridor leading to the front hall, her father waved again at Mike. “Leave us—I’ll call when I need you.”
Ellie sat back in her chair and waited.
Her father turned, met her gaze, and smiled rather ruefully. “Masterton spoke to me again. About his offer.”
“Oh.” Her tone effectively conveyed that she hadn’t changed her mind.
Her father sighed. “I know you don’t fancy him, but he seems a steady, steadfast sort, and stuck out here at the Hall as you are, your chances of meeting another eligible man aren’t high.” He paused, then added, “You might be hard-pressed to find a better man.”
She thought of the man in the bed in the best guest bedchamber—a gentleman her father had yet to set eyes on.
Then she thought of Masterton. “I’ve said this before, Papa, and I suspect you shrugged it aside as a glib response, but in your heart, you must know I’m sincere when I say that I would rather die an old maid than marry a man for whom I feel not an ounce of affection.”
Her father grimaced. “Aye, you did say that, and I hoped you would come around in time. Masterton even lives locally, so won’t take you away from us. Indeed, he even mentioned that, when he spoke with me earlier today—that he’d be willing to live here, at least to begin with. But if you haven’t changed your mind…” He held up both hands. “I’ve always said it’s your decision, and I stand by that—I won’t pressure you one way or the other.”
She laid a hand on his arm. “Thank you, Papa. I appreciate that.”
He blew out a breath. “Yes, well, I suppose I should tell you that Morris spoke with me again, too.”
She sighed. “He found me after the service on Sunday and explained his…well, proposition.”
Her father softly snorted. “He might be one of my oldest friends, but no matter how much I wish to see you wed, that’s one proposal you won’t hear me supporting.