Geoffrey turned her around and into his arms, his face full of concern. “Are you unhappy that we—”
“No.” She placed her fingers over his lips. “Never. I was simply shocked to hear your parents would arrive so soon.”
“As was I.” Bending his head, he kissed her. “Thank God, our servants are here. I don’t know that we could have been fully dressed and ready to greet them if they were not.” A knock came on the door. “That will be the housekeeper.”
A few minutes later, Mrs. Droughty, the housekeeper, was taking notes and exclaiming over the changes Elizabeth was making. “I only wish you could see the changes before you leave, miss. If there is any way to make that happen, I’ll do it. You have my word.”
No sooner had the housekeeper left, than the house seemed to come alive with servants bustling about.
“Shall we go downstairs?” Geoff held out his arm. “I believe my parents have arrived.”
She smoothed her skirts before placing her fingers on his arm. “I hope they like me.”
“How could they not like you?” He gave her a smile meant to reassure. Still, Elizabeth was nervous.
They could very easily not like her. She was well aware that he’d had to travel to his family’s estate to receive permission to marry Charlotte who was an earl’s daughter with a large dowry. Elizabeth’s father was a viscount, and her dowry was modest in comparison.
It was not as if Lord Markham could stop the wedding. No gentleman would cry off absent malfeasance on the part of the lady. And she had done nothing wrong. Not only that, but the settlement agreements had been signed, and Geoffrey had the special license. The one she’d wanted to see and hadn’t had the chance to look at.
Still, if his parents did not like her, they could cause problems. No one was more aware than she of the misery an unhappy parent could and did cause. Still, they would be overseas for several years. And if she could give him an heir his parents might like her better.
Elizabeth gnawed on her lower lip. Trunks of all sorts were being carried out of the hall. She and Geoffrey had just reached the bottom step when a fashionable lady with blond hair stepped through the door, followed by an equally fashionable gentleman with light brown hair. Geoffrey had his mother’s coloring, but looked almost exactly like his father.
Lady Markham glanced up. “Harrington, and this must be Miss Turley.” Her ladyship held out her hands to Elizabeth. “I am delighted you are here. Do let me welcome you to the family, my dear.”
For a moment she was so shocked, she could do nothing, but Geoffrey led her forward, slipping an arm around her as they approached his mother. “Elizabeth has spent the last several minutes convincing herself you would be disappointed in her.”
Really, she could have hit him. “How—”
“You’re biting your lip raw,” he whispered.
“Oh, my dear child!” Suddenly, she was smothered in a warm lavender-scented embrace. “You need not have worried. We are thrilled with Harrington’s choice of bride.” Lady Markham stepped back. “How could we not be? My mother-in-law writes that you are everything we would wish for in a daughter. She was extremely impressed with you.” Her ladyship hugged Elizabeth again. “I hope I may call you Elizabeth.” Not waiting for a reply, she narrowed her eyes at Geoffrey. “That was not well done of you to expose Elizabeth so. Do not do it again.”
Elizabeth bit off a laugh as he took on a suitably humble mien. “Yes, Mother.”
“At least I am not the only male to incur your mother’s wrath,” Lord Markham drawled as he strolled toward them. “Welcome to the family, my dear. We are indeed pleased you agreed to wed our feckless son.”
Allowed out of Lady Markham’s embrace, Elizabeth curtseyed to her future father-in-law. “Thank you, sir. I am happy to finally meet you.”
“Now then,” her ladyship said, “I know it is early for tea, but I am parched and hungry. We shall meet you in the morning room as soon as we have had a chance to wash and change. Elizabeth, I wish to hear about the changes you plan to make to that dreadful dark green room. I do not know what I was thinking when I had it done in such dismal colors. I am sure you will make it much prettier.”
Her ladyship was still talking as she ascended the stairs, this time to her lady’s maid who had come out on the landing. Elizabeth felt as if she had just been in the middle of a whirlwind.
“She is very energetical.”
“You have no idea. She was the one who would tramp around the home wood with us and never tired. We visited the Lake District one year and she wore us all out.” Geoffrey held her hand as he led her toward the back of the house. “You see why I said you had nothing to worry about.”
“I suppose not, but I agree with your mother. I wanted to hit you when you told her how nervous I was.”
“Did she wish to strike me?” He tilted his head as if he was thinking about the idea, then said, “I believe you may be right. Fortunately, she would never do so.” He smiled ruefully. “She decided years ago I was too old for spankings. Although, she found other ways to make me regret some of the things I got into.”
This was a side of Geoffrey she had never seen before and Elizabeth liked it. “I will have your word, my lord.”
“Yes, of course. I shall never embarrass you again. At least not around others.” He pulled her to him. “When we are alone, that might be another matter.”
She leaned back and raised her brows. “I beg your pardon?”
“I meant something you have not experienced before in our bed.” His voice caressed her like velvet, and his mouth claimed hers.
