He knew he was taking a risk. Mayhap pushing her too fast. Yet, shehadkissed him.
After a few moments a small smile tugged the corners of her lips. “I do not see how I can help but to dream of you.”
“That is all I can ask at the moment.” He handed her into her carriage and closed the door.
“Lord Harrington,” Lady Bristow said. “I am sorry to say that we will not be able to go to the theater tomorrow night. I was reminded that Lady Jersey’s ball is tomorrow. It would not be wise to send our regrets after already accepting. One does not snub one of Almack’s patronesses.”
“I understand, my lady.” He wasn’t happy about it, but needs must.
He gave the coachman the order to start the carriage before striding to Grandmamma’s coach to attend to her and Cousin.
The evening could not have gone better. He had been proud of Elizabeth’s grace and poise when she met his grandmother and cousin. If she had been nervous—and considering his grandmother’s reputation, no one could blame her if she was—it had not shown. She appeared to get on well with both his relatives. Even Grandmamma’s command that Elizabeth join her for tea had not put her out of countenance in the least.
His courtship of her and the way his family was taking to her could not be going better. He knew she would find favor with his mother. She had been on the list Mama had sent. And he assumed that his father would welcome Elizabeth as well. There was nothing about her not to like.
Now that his life was back on course, it was time for more changes. “Grandmamma, I have decided to give up my rooms. I shall move back into my apartment in Markham House the day I bring Miss Turley to tea.”
“We cannot discuss that in the street. Get in and we shall talk about it on the way home. I’ll have my coach take you back to Jermyn Street afterward.”
“As you wish.” He climbed into the carriage, taking the backward-facing seat, as usual when he rode with them.
“From what I witnessed just now, I take it things are progressing well with Miss Turley.” Grandmamma kept her steady gaze on him.
“I would say my courtship of her is going very well.” He wondered if his grandmother had a point to make and, if so, when she would get to it.
“By the by, I like her a great deal.” Grandmamma smoothed her skirts. “She will make you a splendid wife.”
“She is very well informed,” Cousin Apollonia added.
“I agree. I am fortunate to have found her.” He was now certain she would agree to marry him. “Within the next few days, I shall ask her to marry me.”
His grandmother nodded. “I shall order the rooms your father and mother had when they were first wed made ready. They are larger than your old apartment, and they are sufficient for a family when you are in Town.”
Geoff was surprised that neither his grandmother nor cousin had asked if he liked Elizabeth. “Thank you for thinking of them.”
He hadn’t considered that his parents had had rooms in Markham House when his grandfather was still alive. Yet it made sense. His father had been with the diplomatic corps when they married and Mama had gone with him. There would have been no need for them to have their own town house for the short times they were back in England.
He wondered how long it had been since they had been redecorated. Not that it mattered. He would give Elizabeth a free hand in refurbishing them as she saw fit.
“I’ll write Father as soon as she has accepted me,” Geoff said, more to himself than the ladies.
“He will be pleased.” Grandmamma lapsed into silence, but he could hear her thinking.
Another few minutes brought them to the town house. He jumped down, then assisted the ladies from the coach. “I’ll see you in two days if not before.”
“Harrington.” Grandmamma took his hand. “I hope Miss Turley is the lady you truly want to marry.”
“Of course she is.” He bussed her cheek. “There is no reason for you to be concerned.”
Moments later he was on his way to his rooms. There was no reason to wait. He would propose tomorrow at Lady Jersey’s ball. He would rather have done the deed at the theater, but Lady Bristow had recalled the ball, so, the ball it was. He might as well make it memorable by announcing their betrothal. Lady Jersey would appreciate that. As soon as possible after Elizabeth’s acceptance, she would be his wife.
As usual, Nettle was waiting for Geoff when he arrived back in his rooms. “We are going to move to Markham House in the next few days.”
“Very good, my lord.” His valet took his coat, hat, and gloves. “Shall I resume making preparations for our departure?”
“Yes.” He wondered how quickly he and Elizabeth could hold the ceremony. “Arrange our journey for ten days hence. Make arrangements for us at the Three Cups.” A friend from Eton who was an officer with the 95th Rifles had recently written to say that transport from Harwich to either Ostend or the Hook of Holland was becoming increasingly difficult to find. He and his soldiers had waited over a week for a ship and a second week for the wind to be in the right quarter.
Not only did Geoff not have the time to waste, but he didn’t like the idea of Elizabeth being on a ship filled with soldiers, horses, and who knew what else. It was a shame his father didn’t have a yacht. “Find a captain with a ship who is willing to sail up to the River Stour and anchor up the river from Harwich until he hears from me.”
