Nuzzling her hair, he asked, “Are you all right?”
She turned her head, brushing her swollen lips against his. “I am better than I expected to be. It won’t hurt the next time, will it?”
“No. It will be much better.” He rolled off her, tucking her next to him before reaching for the cloth and bowl of water he had placed on his night table. He pressed the cloth gently to her nether parts before wiping himself and putting the linen back in the bowl.
Her hand lay on his chest, and Geoff tried to think of something to say, some conversation to start. He knew women liked to talk after copulation. But what would she wish to discuss? Then her breathing deepened.
Damn. She is asleep.
Geoff had never had a woman do that before. Now he would have to be the one to watch the time. They had hours yet. They would, however, be expected to join his grandmother for tea. And the housekeeper still had to come and take notes on which fabrics Elizabeth wanted and where.
They would have to dress soon. He could play lady’s maid for her, but she, likely, had no idea how to help him. Although, it couldn’t be that difficult. Still, he ought not to have let Nettle have the entire afternoon off.
One of her curls tickled his jaw. He’d wanted to take her hair down, but they had been so hot for each other, he’d forgotten. Carefully, he removed the ribbon that was threaded through her curls. Next he dropped the pearl-tipped pins on his night table. He found as many of the rest of the pins as he could before running his fingers through her hair, loosening it. Taking one lock, he pulled it down to her waist and let it go. Marveling at how it sprang to the middle of her back.
It became cooler in the room, but they were on top of the bedcover. Reaching over her slender shoulder, he pulled the fabric to him and flipped it over her. When she snuggled closer, Geoff tightened his hold. He’d never been this content with a woman. Generally, he wanted a short nap and couldn’t wait to leave.
If only they could remain here the rest of the afternoon. Hell, the rest of the night and all day tomorrow.
Sometime later, a knock sounded at the bedroom door. Who the devil could that be? “I left instructions we were not to be disturbed.”
“My lord.” Nettle’s voice filtered through the door. “Your parents will be here within the hour. His lordship’s and her ladyship’s valet and lady’s maid have just arrived.”
Deuce take it!
Geoff thought they would arrive just before the wedding. “That’s devilish bad timing.” Then he remembered he’d given his valet the afternoon off. “What are you doing here?”
“I had nothing else to do.” Nettle sounded apologetic. “So I thought I would make the acquaintance of Miss Turley’s dresser. She wished to view the dressing room. May I enter, my lord?”
The door opened a crack. “No! Give me a few moments.” At least Nettle had knocked. Geoff shook Elizabeth’s shoulder. “Sweetheart, you have to wake up.”
Her eyes fluttered open. “Is something wrong?”
You could say that. “My parents are about to descend upon us.”
She glanced around the room as if looking for someplace to hide. “What are we going to do? They cannot see me like this.”
“Fortuitously, your maid is here.” She opened her mouth, but he hurried on. “She can tell you how that happened.” Jumping out of bed, he looked for her chemise and found it across the room on the floor. “Here.” He handed it to her. “Put this on and I’ll help you to your dressing room. We should have just enough time to dress and call the housekeeper.”
Elizabeth nodded as Geoffrey assisted her with her stays and petticoats and gathered up the rest of her clothing. As promised, Vickers was waiting in the dressing room. Thankfully, without comment, she took one look at Elizabeth and began to help her with her gown.
It wasn’t until her maid was rearranging her hair that Vickers finally spoke. “It’s a fine dressing room. I’m glad Mr. Nettle took the time to introduce himself and agreed to let me come look at it.” One giggle escaped Elizabeth and the others followed until she was laughing so hard, tears came to her eyes. “Sit still, miss. I’ll never get your hair right if you keep moving.”
She struggled to get herself back under control. “I cannot tell you how happyIam that you are here.”
“We don’t need to discuss that. You’re betrothed, after all, and will be wed soon enough.”
Just as Elizabeth rose from the table, Geoffrey ambled into the room, coming straight to her and kissing her on her cheek. “The housekeeper will be here any moment. Please do not ask me her name, because I don’t know it. She has only been here a few years.”
“In that case, we shall meet her at the same time.”
Vickers harrumphed as she picked up the comb she had got from somewhere. “I’ll be in the dressing room for the next few minutes, but I expect Mr. Nettle will want to introduce me to the rest of the staff.”
Elizabeth’s cheeks flooded with heat. Did the whole house know what she and Geoffrey had been doing?
“If you can stop blushing, no one will take any interest in what you and his lordship were up to.” With that piece of advice, her maid strode out of the bedchamber.
“Thank you,” she managed to choke out.
