by Ella Quinn
Geoff went back to his bedchamber and paced.
He wanted to commiserate with someone, but the only two men left in Town that he might be able to talk to were Bentley, which would require too much effort, and Turley. Her brother, though, would be more concerned about Elizabeth than listening to Geoff. Father would only tell him to leave it to his mother.
He grabbed his hat and cane. There was one place he could go to that would help. Jackson’s boxing saloon. If he wasn’t going to be allowed to see his wife, at least he could hit something.
As luck would have it, he met up with Endicott crossing Bond Street and fell in with him. “Going to Jackson’s?”
Elliott inclined his head in greeting. “Yes. You?”
“I need some exercise before the journey tomorrow.” They reached the door and Geoff pulled it open.
“I take it your bride is being pulled in ten different ways.” Endicott strode through the door after Geoff. “Devil of a thing about families. Don’t want you around until they do. We had to pry my mother’s hands off my brother and his wife when they left to go to Cumbria, and they were only going for a month. I can’t imagine what the two of you are going through.”
When they arrived there were two men in the ring, but no one seemed to be waiting. “We’ve already had to put off leaving for three days.”
“Wouldn’t be surprised if she took to her bed with a sick headache. I know my sister-in-law threatened to do just that.”
Was that it? Had Elizabeth merely wanted time alone? God. Geoff prayed that was all it was. He wouldn’t even blame her for it. She had taken on the logistical aspects of their journey like she was born to it. Still, it had to have taken its toll on her strength, especially after their coupling. “Care to spar with me?”
“Pleasure.” Endicott grinned.
As they strolled into the changing room, Geoff’s mood lightened. There was nothing like talking things over with a friend.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Now”—Elizabeth heard her mother-in-law say to her maid—“tell me if your mistress is having her courses, or if it is something else?”
“She . . . well . . . I . . . I’m not sure I should say anything, my lady.” Elizabeth could practically hear Vickers’s mind trying to come up with an excuse that would satisfy Lady Markham. Finally Vickers said, “It is not her courses. I don’t know what’s happened, my lady.”
“Ask her if she will see me.”
This was horrible. Elizabeth could not tell her mother-in-law of all people what she had heard. She was sure to take Geoffrey’s side. He was her son, after all.
She was tempted to pull her covers over her head and pretend she wasn’t awake.
“My lady?” Her maid was beside her bed. “If you don’t let her talk to you, someone’s going to call the doctor.”
And then everyone in the house would know she was not physically ill. “Very well. Let her in.”
A few seconds later, Lady Markham drew a chair up to Elizabeth’s bed and peered at her face. “You have been weeping. I can only imagine it was something my beef-witted son said or did.” Elizabeth nodded as her ladyship tapped her chin. “But not to you? If you’d had words, he would not be so at sea about why you refuse to see him.” Not knowing where to begin, Elizabeth nodded again. “I can attempt to help you, my dear, but I am not a soothsayer. You will have to tell me what occurred.”
Tears welled in her eyes again, and she dashed them away. “I—I thought he loved me. He never said it, but everything he did . . . and today I found out he does not. H-he just married me for his position and because I am qualified. I would not have wed him if I had known his feelings were not the same as mine. I wanted a love match. And I don’t know what to do.”
Another sob broke from her. Yet it was out.
Her ladyship sat back in the chair. “You do not strike me as a gullible woman. He must have been extremely convincing.” Lady Markham started in the direction of the windows for a few moments. “In fact, if asked, I would have said that he is in love with you.”
“Blast the boy.” The dowager strode into the room frowning. “Someone get me a chair.”
Vickers quickly found a chair and placed it next to the younger Lady Markham. “Here you are, my lady.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking over her shoulder at the maid, before turning back to Elizabeth. “I blame myself for this. Now then, tell us what happened and don’t leave anything out. And you, Vickers, isn’t it? We shall require tea.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
While Elizabeth’s maid went to comply with the dowager’s request, she scooted back in the bed against her pillows and sat up. “I suppose I should tell that he never said he loved me.”
“Many men have trouble saying the words.” Lady Markham’s kind eyes had a soothing effect on Elizabeth. She was thankful she had someone in whom to confide. “It is wise to watch how they behave.”
“That did not help.” She rubbed her forehead in an attempt to ward off a headache. “Even my friends watched him and thought he was in love with me.”
Lady Markham heaved a sigh. “What a pickle.”
The dowager took a piece of foolscap from her reticule. “Did he do everything on this list?”
Elizabeth read it over three times. The only thing not on it was kissing her. He must have thought of that himself.
Dance with her twice at every event.
Send her flowers.
Take her riding.
Remain by her side all evening even if she dances with others.
Ask her questions about what she likes. By the end of the conversation you should know her favorite color, which flowers she prefers, and her favorite piece of music.
Take her someplace she would like to go. Gunter’s for an ice is always pleasant. A picnic in Richmond is nice as well, but you would have to get up a party.
“All this and more. Why?”
“I knew we should have let him figure it out for himself,” the older lady said, more to herself than to Elizabeth or her ladyship. “But he told me he liked you, and he wanted help courting you. So I gave him this list thinking that while he was doing all those things he would come to realize he loved you.”
Lady Markham glanced at the paper and shook her head. “But how did you discover he does not love you?”
“I wanted to ask him a question. Gibson told me he was in the study. But when I approached the door I heard his lordship tell Geof—Harrington that he was proud of him for having brought me up to scratch.” Elizabeth’s throat started to close again, but she forced herself to go on. “His lordship said it looked like I would make a good hostess, and—and Harrington said I had all the qualifications.”
“Skitter-brained boy.” The dowager scowled.
“I must agree,” Lady Markham said. “He is extraordinarily thick-headed. Much like Markham when I first wed him. Although, he was Harrington at the time.”
“Just like my Henry at the beginning.” The dowager glanced at Elizabeth. “Well, you can’t stay in bed and cry your eyes out. Though, I understand why you are tempted to. What do you intend to do?”
“I—I suppose I shall tell him that I overheard his conversation with his father, and it . . . it . . .” Elizabeth tried to finish the sentence, but could not.
“I can almost assure you that will not work.” Lady Markham patted Elizabeth’s hand. “We shall attempt to think of some course of action for you to take.”
“Do you really think he might love me?” Elizabeth’s hopes had been raised by what her mother and grandmother-in-law had said. If these ladies thought so, he must have some feelings for her.
“It appeared that way to me, but Harrington has never looked for a love match,” Lady Markham said. “He had two close friends who fell violently in love and married the ladies. Within a year both couples were at each other’s throats.”
“Was your marriage a love match?” Elizabeth asked.
“Well”—her ladyship smiled
rather wickedly—“not on Markham’s side at first, but he discovered being in love was not such a bad thing after all.”
“Henry fought falling in love tooth and nail, but he finally came around.” The dowager glanced at the door as Vickers entered with the tea tray. “Put that on the night table.”
Lady Markham poured tea, handing it around. “What you do not want is Harrington simply telling you that he loves you.”
“Would he do that?” For the first time Elizabeth was glad she had not confronted him.
“He would,” the dowager said. “Men will always take the easy way out when it comes to feelings. And you are married, so for him there would be no difficulty in lying to you if it made you happy.”
Taking her cup, Elizabeth sipped the tea. She could see it all now. She would tell him what she overheard and, fearing a scene or some other such thing, he’d take her in his arms and convince her she was wrong. Then she would never know how he felt. “No. I would never trust that his feelings matched his words.”
“That young man needs to be made to see how much he needs you in order to admit he loves you.” The dowager tapped her hand in a tattoo on the arm of the chair.
Lady Markham sipped her tea, and the bedchamber was silent for several moments. Then she said, “He was most distraught that your maid would not allow him into the room.”
“Oh, I have no doubt he wants Elizabeth.” The dowager frowned. “And that will help. When it comes to women, men lead with their nether parts.”
Elizabeth glanced first at the dowager and then at her mother-in-law. “That still doesn’t tell me what action I should take.” She let out a breath. “What did you do?”
A slow smile formed on the older lady’s lips. “I led Henry a merry dance. We were in Paris, and I flirted with every Frenchman around, including the king. That last part almost got me into a fix I couldn’t get out of. Henry was so jealous, he finally forbade me from flirting. That’s when I told him that if he didn’t want me there were a lot of gentlemen, including the king, who did.”
Elizabeth’s jaw almost dropped. She could not imagine telling her husband that. Although, based on Geoffrey’s reaction to Lord Littleton, it might work. The only problem was she had never flirted very much.
“That was when he realized I was right.” The dowager smirked. “And it was either admit how he felt, or lose me.”
“I was not quite as daring.” Lady Markham cut a look at her mother-in-law. “I decided to show him what a marriage without love and passion would be like. I was cordial and much cooler to Markham than he wanted me to be. He wracked his brain trying to gain all of my attention. Yet, I was firm. It took him several months, but he finally realized that he loved me.”
“I do not think I could be as bold as you, ma’am,” Elizabeth said to the dowager. She also did not know how long she could be cold to Geoffrey. Yet, she had to do something, and being cold to him was the only option that might work. “What if I were to let him know I am angry”—heartsick was a better word—“with him, but only drop hints as to the reason?”
Both ladies stared at her for a few moments, then Lady Markham said in a doubtful tone, “It might work.”
“It might at that,” the dowager said. “Although men aren’t quick to understand hints.”
“That is true,” Lady Markham agreed.
That settled that. Elizabeth would have to try being cool toward him. She would also see if he took her hints.
Both ladies rose. “I shall send Harrington to you when he returns,” Lady Markham bent over and smoothed Elizabeth’s hair back. “I believe Gibson said he was muttering something about Jackson’s.”
“Just like a man”—the dowager shook out her skirts—“instead of staying here and making you see him, he’d rather go punch someone.” She kissed Elizabeth’s cheek. “There are times I think the Amazons had the right idea about men.”
“Mama!” Lady Markham’s sound was somewhere between a gasp and a laugh. “You adored Henry!”
“That was after I got him sorted out,” the dowager said loftily.
“Thank you both for your help.” The weight that had been pressing on Elizabeth’s breast began to lift. If they were correct, somehow, she would make Geoffrey realize he loved her.
She had to if the rest of her life was not to be ruined.
“It was our pleasure, my dear.” Lady Markham had her hand on the latch. “That you call him by his first name is an extremely good sign.”
Elizabeth slid out of bed and padded to the mirror. A woman with swollen, red eyes stared back. Even the cucumbers had not helped. There was nothing for it. She cringed. This would be the face she showed to Geoffrey and the rest of the household for she still had a few things to accomplish.
Mr. Grantham sent her a note that the contracts were ready for her signature, so that was Elizabeth’s first stop.
On her way to speak with her new housekeeper, her mother-in-law found her. “I forgot to mention this before, but if Harrington wishes to ride in the coach with you, you must put him off. If he is anything like his father, he will be able to find several ways to make the ride more interesting.”
It took two or three seconds for her to understand Lady Markham. “Oh.” Elizabeth’s cheeks grew warm.
“Indeed.” Her ladyship nodded. “I suggest you make some excuse about your maid having to ride with you.”
“That is good advice.” In fact, she would not have even thought about what could occur in a carriage.
“There you are, my dear.” Lord Markham strolled up. “Have you seen Harrington?”
Her mother-in-law shook her head, and Elizabeth said, “I believe he has gone out for a while.”
“In that case, tell him I have already had your horses sent ahead. You’ll be using mine. I’ve also posted horses along the road.”
By the time Elizabeth dressed for dinner, she was confident all was ready for the departure in the morning.
After donning a muslin evening gown, she selected one of the new books she’d bought and sat on the chaise near a window. Unfortunately, she never seemed to get past the first page.
When her husband had not returned home by seven—indeed, he had not even bothered to send word when he would be home—Elizabeth ordered dinner to be served to her in her dining room.
That was just as well. If she could not be honest with Geoffrey, she had no idea what to say to him. Yet, his grandmother was correct. If she told him she was upset because he did not love her, he might just say it to make her feel better, and that was not what Elizabeth wanted. She wished for him to realize he was in love with her rather then just tell her he was.
Elizabeth used the rest of the evening considering and rejecting different ideas. She briefly considered continuing to share his bed, but did not think she could go through with it. Not when she didn’t know if the act meant as much to him as it did to her. Although Elizabeth rarely had suffered from headaches, she supposed a series of the things were in her future if she was to avoid him.
Later, Vickers brought Elizabeth a cup of warm milk sweetened with honey, and when the clock struck ten, she went to bed, alone and with no good idea how to proceed. It was strange how quickly one became used to sharing a bed. Well, Geoffrey would be alone as well. That should give him a thing or two to think about.
Rolling over, Elizabeth hit her pillow. Blast it all. Being in love was not supposed to hurt this much.
* * *
After going a few rounds with Endicott at Jackson’s, the two of them had taken themselves off to Boodle’s. Not even returning home to change into evening kit. They dined and discussed the possibility that Wellington would not have a sufficient force to win against Napoleon.
“The question is, Who is the better general?” Endicott said.
“My money is on Wellington.” Geoff signaled the servant to bring more wine.
“That is what we all hope.” His friend drained his wineglass. “I’d join you over there if it wasn’t for th
e Peace Party making difficulties about the funding.”
“There are a lot of peers still in Town for that reason. Even my father. Although he said it was because m’mother didn’t want to miss my wedding.”
“Wish your bride safe travels for me.” Endicott glanced around. “How would you like to find some other fellows for a game of whist?”
“Only one or two hands. I have to be up early tomorrow.”
* * *
It was after eleven o’clock that evening when Geoff opened the door to his bedchamber, praying Elizabeth was there. Instead, a large, empty bed greeted him. Damn. He knew he should have gone to her no matter what her maid and his mother had said.
Nettle appeared from the dressing room. “Her ladyship is in her own chamber.”
“How is she doing?” Geoff sat on the bed while his valet removed his boots.
“Your mother and the dowager visited with her for a time. After that she finished the preparations for tomorrow, then she read. When you did not return to dine, she ate alone.” He could hear the rebuke in Nettle’s tone. “You did not send word that you would be dining out.”
Devil take it! Geoff had forgotten to write a note and send it.
No matter how aggravated he’d been at being shut out of her chamber, he should have been here for her. His first challenge as a husband and he had failed. Now, in addition to being overwhelmed, she’d probably be angry with him for not dining with her. What other reason could there be for her not being in his bed?
He vowed to do whatever was necessary to find a way to make whatever it was up to her. Perhaps the journey to Harwich would give him an opportunity to get back in Elizabeth’s good graces. Surely it couldn’t be that hard. They had been getting along so well.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The following morning, Geoff woke before dawn. He hadn’t slept well without Elizabeth next to him. Even the fact that they were finally leaving for Belgium didn’t make him as happy as it should have.
He waited until Nettle had set out his shaving kit before rising. Once he was dressed he went into the apartment’s dining room to find Elizabeth with an empty plate in front of her drinking a cup of tea.