“In that case, I wish you the best,” Lady Markham said. “We will be able to discuss this at length when you visit me.”
Elizabeth curtseyed and lied. “I shall look forward to it.”
She did not know what it was about the Dowager Marchioness of Markham, but she scared Elizabeth to death.
* * *
The next day, Elizabeth changed her gown three times before deciding to wear the first one she had tried on. “I do not know why I am so nervous.” She pressed her palms to her flushed cheeks. “It is not as if I haven’t met Lady Markham before.”
“There’s no accounting for nerves,” her maid said prosaically. “Like as not, it’s that you’ll be part of her family soon.”
“Yes, that must be it.” Or perhaps it was that she had made her decision, and her life was about to change dramatically and in very short order. “The pearls, I think.”
Earlier her brother had written to their father informing him that Elizabeth and Geoffrey were to marry. Papa would be so happy that she had made a good match. She expected to find him back in Town no later than tomorrow afternoon.
Today, Geoffrey was to apply to the Archbishop’s office at Doctors’ Commons for the special license and speak to the vicar at Saint George’s Church about the timing of the wedding. He had also planned to write to his father to instruct their family solicitor to contact Papa’s solicitor regarding the settlement agreements.
She was busy as well. After writing to Lady Worthington—Elizabeth did not know exactly where her friends were at the moment—and asking her to inform Charlotte, Louisa, and Dotty of the wedding, Elizabeth had spent several hours with her aunt at the modiste. Unbeknownst to her, Aunt Bristow had arranged for the woman to begin making up a new wardrobe for her.
“Once you are married,” she had said, “there is no reason for you to dress like a girl just out. A little faith and forethought was all that was needed.”
“But I don’t understand how she could have sewn this many gowns in such a short time,” Elizabeth had replied after having her fifth dress fitted.
“As your father will not be put to the expense of another Season for you, I decided he could well afford new clothing for your married life.” Aunt indicated that Elizabeth should turn around. “Aside from that, it is nearly the end of the Season, so not as many orders are coming in.”
She briefly wondered if her father would agree that all these new garments were necessary, but he wasn’t there to object, and by the time he received the bill, she and her aunt would be gone.
If last night had felt like she was living a dream, this morning Elizabeth felt as if she had been thrown onto the back of a runaway horse.
“If you don’t stop fidgeting,” her maid said, “I’ll never get your hair properly done.”
She wanted to say she wasn’t fidgeting, but it wouldn’t be true. “I’m trying.” Albeit not very successfully. “Just put it in a knot and be done with it. I cannot sit any longer.”
Vickers stuck a comb in Elizabeth’s hair and clasped the pearls around her neck. “There.”
She added a pair of earrings before her maid fitted a new bonnet on her head. A glance at the clock informed her that she still had several minutes before Geoffrey would arrive. “Have you ordered the trunks to be taken down from the attic?”
“First thing this morning. They are in the next room over. You will need more than the two you have. Do you want me to have Mr. Broadwell make arrangements for their purchase?”
“Yes, please.” She quickly reconsidered. “If you wish, you may visit the shop and select the trunks and other luggage you think we shall require.”
A smile appeared on her maid’s face. “Yes, miss. I’d be happy to.”
She hoped that the look meant Vickers planned to remain with Elizabeth. It would be nice to have one’s own servants with her. “You will come with me, won’t you?”
“If you want me to. There’s nothing keeping me in England, and I think I’d like seeing something of Europe. Even if it’s only a little bit of it.”
“I do want you with me.” It occurred to her that she was leaving everything she knew. She should discuss the possibility of being able to take her footman, Kenton, and her groom, Farley, with her as well. That way she would have three people she knew and trusted with her.
Somewhere a clock struck the hour. Geoffrey would be here any moment. “I do not know when I shall return. It will be sometime before dinner.”
“I’ll look into the additional trunks while you’re gone.” Vickers handed Elizabeth her gloves.
There was so much to accomplish in such a short time. Elizabeth took a breath. She could do this.
Chapter Sixteen
Elizabeth was standing at the top of the stairs when her father’s butler opened the door to Geoffrey. As if he knew exactly where she would be, he gazed up at her and butterflies took up residence in her breast as his eyes met hers and he smiled.
