“They are,” she told him. “We are very fortunate in all our neighbors at Riddings Park.”
“Having friendly neighbors is indeed important,” he said. “I am also fortunate in that regard. Franck seems a pleasant enough fellow too. I understand he has been lonely since the death of his wife and is a bit fragile.”
“Fragile?” She raised her eyebrows.
“It is the very word with which he was described to me by the wife of an acquaintance of mine,” he told her. “It would be regrettable if any lady were to toy with his feelings, since he fancies himself in need of a new wife. The lady who spoke of him is of the firm belief, however, that he is not ready for remarriage yet, if he ever will be, poor man. Apparently he doted upon his wife.”
Elizabeth frowned as they drove toward Hyde Park and turned between the gates. Why had he said that? As a warning? So that she would not hurt Mr. Franck? So that she would guard against his hurtinghersince he did not have a whole heart to offer? So that she would not marry another man and leavehimdisappointed?
He turned his head and looked sharply at her, perhaps alerted by her silence. “I have just been listening to the echo of my own words,” he said. “They made me sound like a jealous fool. I do beg your pardon. I am no such thing. At least, I am notjealous. You must decide if I am a fool.”
“That is the last word by which I would describe you,” she said.
“Thank you,” he said. “That is a relief to hear.”
She laughed.
They spent the next twenty minutes or so driving slowly about the circuit that was always crowded with carriages and horses and pedestrians at this time of day, greeting acquaintances and friends, stopping to exchange more than just a few words with some of them, listening to tidbits of news and gossip. Elizabeth promised two more sets for the evening’s ball.
“If I do not speak up promptly,” Sir Geoffrey said as he drew his curricle away from the crowds, “I may discover this evening that your card is too full to accommodate me. Will you keep the first waltz for me, Lady Overfield?”
She hesitated for only a moment. “I am afraid I promised it a while ago,” she said.
“Ah,” he said. “The second, then?”
“Yes,” she said. “I shall certainly reserve that one for you and will look forward to it.”
He sighed. “I wish I did not always have to come second even in waiting to waltz with you,” he said. “Is it to young Hodges you have promised the first tonight? He seems to enjoy waltzing with you. I suppose there are not enough young ladies who have been approved to dance it.”
But he was distracted at that moment, and she was rather startled to see the distinctive white coach and horses with the black outriders approaching. Sir Geoffrey was forced to pull his curricle almost right off the roadway. Elizabeth caught a glimpse of the white-veiled figure of Lady Hodges. What? Two days in a row?
“For one moment,” Sir Geoffrey said when the carriage and its entourage had passed, “I thought it must be the prince regent approaching.”
“No,” she said. “Just Lady Hodges.”
“Ah,” he said. “The famous eccentric. And mother of Lady Riverdale. And Lord Hodges.”
“Yes,” she said.
He turned the curricle onto a quieter avenue, though she was in a bit of a hurry to get home with the ball to prepare for this evening. He slowed his pace and she understood what was coming. She was not sure she was ready. But when would she be if not now?
“I asked you last year if I might still dare hope,” he said. “You did not answer me then and I chose to believe that Icouldhope. Tell me now if you would prefer me not to continue.”
The time had come, then, and there could be no more procrastinating. If she did indeed tell him she would prefer that he said no more, she must also add that her answer would never change. She could not keep him dangling forever. It would be vastly unfair to him. He deserved better.
And she had reasoned this out with herself all winter and more recently here in London after seeing him again and spending some time in his company. She could not do better. He was all she could ever ask for in a husband—except that there was no spark of romance in their relationship. No romantic love. There had been both in her first marriage, but look where that had got her.
You can be so foolish sometimes…you were made for love…do not do something you will forever regret.She could almost hear Colin say those words to her just yesterday.
“I shall not tell you not to continue,” she said.
He turned to look into her face. “I may proceed, then?” he asked her. “Willyou marry me? I have been devoted to you all these long years. I will remain devoted for the rest of my life.”
It was the most ardent he had ever sounded, and Elizabeth felt a moment’s panic. But she had gone too far now to retreat. And she knew that when she had time to think about it later, she would be satisfied that she had done the right thing. Her future would be settled. She would soon be a married lady again with her own home and the hope of a child of her own. Perhaps children. Life was offering her a second chance and she would be foolish indeed not to take it. And this time she would not be rushing into it, stars in her eyes and foolishness in her heart—despite what Colin had said.
“I will,” she said. “I would be honored to be your wife, Sir Geoffrey.”
He continued to gaze at her. It was a good thing the roadway ahead of them was deserted.
