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Harriet placed a hand on Emmeline’s shoulder and suggested, “Why don’t you take a long soak and rest up before dinner?”
A sigh escaped her lips. “That sounds wonderful.”
“I assumed as much,” Harriet remarked. “I shall see to the preparations, then.”
As Harriet walked away, Emmeline turned to Oliver and asked in a low, hushed voice, “Your mother does realize that this is a marriage of convenience, doesn’t she?”
Jane spoke up. “I didn’t have the heart to inform her of that,” she revealed. “I just told her that you two had eloped.”
Oliver muttered something incoherent under his breath before he brought a smile to his lips. “Then I will have to be the one to inform her.”
“Thank you,” Emmeline said.
Jane looped her arm through Emmeline’s. “Let me show you to your bedchamber,” she offered.
Emmeline felt a rush of panic at Jane’s words. “Oliver and I won’t be expected to share the same bedchamber, will we?”
“Of course not,” Jane assured her. “You do, however, share a sitting room between your two bedchambers.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, Emmeline said, “That won’t be an issue.”
Oliver arched an eyebrow. “Is sharing a room with me so repulsive to you?”
“That’s not what I meant—” she rushed to say.
He put his hand up, stilling her words. “I am just teasing you, Emme.”
“Oh, I should have known.”
“Go enjoy your soak,” he said, placing a hand on the small of her back, “and I will see you soon enough.”
Oliver smiled at her, and she felt her stomach flutter in response. Dear heavens, she thought. It would not do if she started developing real affection towards her husband. This was a marriage of convenience, nothing more.
Oliver stopped outsideof his mother’s bedchamber door and let out a sigh. He was dreading this most assuredly difficult conversation, but he knew it must be done. He brought his hand up and knocked on her door.
“Enter,” he heard his mother order.
He opened the door and stepped inside. “Mother,” he greeted as he closed the door behind him.
“Oliver,” his mother said from her dressing table chair, “what a pleasant surprise.”
“I wanted to thank you for seeing to Emmeline’s needs.”
“That is kind of you to say, but I assure you that it was entirely my pleasure.”
Oliver hesitated for only a moment before saying, “I did want to speak to you about something.”
“What would you care to discuss?” his mother asked, giving him her full attention.
“It is about Emmeline.”
She smiled up at him. “I think I know what you are going to say.”
“You do?”
“I do,” she replied, “and I promise you that I do not think any less of you or Emmeline for eloping.”
“I am pleased to hear that, but—”
