“Pleasure.” Endicott grinned.
As they strolled into the changing room, Geoff’s mood lightened. There was nothing like talking things over with a friend.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Now”—Elizabeth heard her mother-in-law say to her maid—“tell me if your mistress is having her courses, or if it is something else?”
“She . . . well . . . I . . . I’m not sure I should say anything, my lady.” Elizabeth could practically hear Vickers’s mind trying to come up with an excuse that would satisfy Lady Markham. Finally Vickers said, “It is not her courses. I don’t know what’s happened, my lady.”
“Ask her if she will see me.”
This was horrible. Elizabeth could not tell her mother-in-law of all people what she had heard. She was sure to take Geoffrey’s side. He was her son, after all.
She was tempted to pull her covers over her head and pretend she wasn’t awake.
“My lady?” Her maid was beside her bed. “If you don’t let her talk to you, someone’s going to call the doctor.”
And then everyone in the house would know she was not physically ill. “Very well. Let her in.”
A few seconds later, Lady Markham drew a chair up to Elizabeth’s bed and peered at her face. “You have been weeping. I can only imagine it was something my beef-witted son said or did.” Elizabeth nodded as her ladyship tapped her chin. “But not to you? If you’d had words, he would not be so at sea about why you refuse to see him.” Not knowing where to begin, Elizabeth nodded again. “I can attempt to help you, my dear, but I am not a soothsayer. You will have to tell me what occurred.”
Tears welled in her eyes again, and she dashed them away. “I—I thought he loved me. He never said it, but everything he did . . . and today I found out he does not. H-he just married me for his position and because I am qualified. I would not have wed him if I had known his feelings were not the same as mine. I wanted a love match. And I don’t know what to do.”
Another sob broke from her. Yet it was out.
Her ladyship sat back in the chair. “You do not strike me as a gullible woman. He must have been extremely convincing.” Lady Markham started in the direction of the windows for a few moments. “In fact, if asked, I would have said that he is in love with you.”
“Blast the boy.” The dowager strode into the room frowning. “Someone get me a chair.”
Vickers quickly found a chair and placed it next to the younger Lady Markham. “Here you are, my lady.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking over her shoulder at the maid, before turning back to Elizabeth. “I blame myself for this. Now then, tell us what happened and don’t leave anything out. And you, Vickers, isn’t it? We shall require tea.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
While Elizabeth’s maid went to comply with the dowager’s request, she scooted back in the bed against her pillows and sat up. “I suppose I should tell that he neversaidhe loved me.”
“Many men have trouble saying the words.” Lady Markham’s kind eyes had a soothing effect on Elizabeth. She was thankful she had someone in whom to confide. “It is wise to watch how they behave.”
“That did not help.” She rubbed her forehead in an attempt to ward off a headache. “Even my friends watched him and thought he was in love with me.”
Lady Markham heaved a sigh. “What a pickle.”
The dowager took a piece of foolscap from her reticule. “Did he do everything on this list?”
Elizabeth read it over three times. The only thing not on it was kissing her. He must have thought of that himself.
Dance with her twice at every event.
Send her flowers.
Take her riding.
Remain by her side all evening even if she dances with others.
Ask her questions about what she likes. By the end of the conversation you should know her favorite color, which flowers she prefers, and her favorite piece of music.
Take her someplace she would like to go. Gunter’s for an ice is always pleasant. A picnic in Richmond is nice as well, but you would have to get up a party.
