The man bowed. “Your mother was very sad to leave. I hope you and your lady will be as happy here as she was.”
Later that evening, when he and Elizabeth were having tea, he remembered to tell her about the house.
“And that would be the reason for the green bedchamber.” She pressed her lips together and she shook her head. “As much as I care for your mother, I wonder about her taste in decoration.”
“What, on earth, does her leaving Paris have to do with the bedchamber in London?”
“Has no one told you?” she asked.
“Told me what?” He gazed at her, waiting to be educated.
“Your mother told me that once a boy is born, they had to move back to England. It’s a tradition in your family that the heir may not remain overseas with his first son. She loved Paris and was extremely upset to have to leave after you were born.”
Geoff shook his head. “You mean to say that I was born here?”
Elizabeth nodded. “Did no one tell you? Apparently, your father was born here as well.”
“No one said a word.” To think Father and Geoff were both born in Paris, and no one thought to tell him. “So you mean to tell me that if we have a male child, we’ll be made to return to England, but if we have girls we remain here?”
“Precisely.” She set her cup down.
“Please promise me you will not redecorate your bedchamber in dismal colors when we go back to London.”
She laughed lightly. “I promise.” Rising Elizabeth slid him a glance. “You must promise as well.”
“Naturally, I—wait. I’m not in charge of decorating anything.”
“You might help with the nursery.”
“You’re with child?” Geoff hadn’t thought he could be any happier than to be with the woman who was the love of his life, but this?
“I think so.” She pulled her plump bottom lip between her teeth. “I have not had my courses since we wed. That has never happened before.”
Grabbing her, he lifted her up and swung her around. “We’re going to be parents!”
Epilogue
Eight months later
“Mother, what the deuce is that thing?” Geoff raised his quizzer as a particularly ugly piece of furniture, at least he thought it was furniture, was carried through the door.
Less than two weeks after he had notified his parents that Elizabeth was in a delicate condition, his mother and grandmother made plans to arrive for the birth, along with Elizabeth’s aunt.
“A birthing chair,” his grandmother said. “It will make Elizabeth’s time much easier. I wish I’d had one.”
This wasn’t making any sense. “If it’s not yours, where did you get it?”
“Lady Kenilworth sent it.” His grandmother watched Kenton maneuver the chair up the stairs. “Elizabeth told her we were coming to Paris. She recommended it.”
“I hope you’ve been praying for a boy,” Mama said.
Geoff had almost rolled his eyes when his wife had told him about his mother’s way of ensuring a girl. It hadn’t worked the third time for her.
Fortunately, he was saved from answering by Elizabeth waddling into the hall.
“I heard the commotion and knew it had to be you.” She embraced his mother. “No matter what I say, the prevailing belief in our house at the moment is that I should not be disturbed.” She raised a brow at Geoff. “I wonder where that came from, hmm?”
Perhaps he was being a little overcautious. But when she’d told him she was expecting their first child, he counted back and realized she had been pregnant when she’d been shot. It was a miracle Elizabeth had not lost the child.
