Luckily, Geoffrey needed time to plan, too.
“Can you go to Lady Hollidge’s tomorrow around ten o’clock? I shall meet you there with enough funds for our journey, and we shall take flight directly.”
Just eight hours!Caroline had trouble catching her breath. She was going to do something she had never consideredpossible —elopement!Some thought it a starry-eyed endeavor. Most knew it was the stuff of foolish girls and greedy, wicked men. But she was no fool, and Geoffrey was not after her money.
Yet even if she could get ready in time, which she would, her mother would question her sanity at going out visiting at such an impolite hour.
“Eleven would be better, for the sake of civility,” she said.
“Very well. I will be at Lady Hollidge’s home five minutes before eleven.”
In the glow of his lantern, she could see his handsome grin, and her heart clenched.
“I love you,” he said, surprising her.
More than ever, she wished she were in his arms instead of hanging over the casement.
“I love you, too,” she told him, no longer the least bit embarrassed.
“Parting is such sweet sorrow,” quipped Lord Trent, whom she’d entirely forgotten.
“Shut your gob!” Geoffrey ordered. And then the two men disappeared into the shadows.
Caroline sighed and, with frozen fingers, closed the window sash. She knew she would not sleep, nor could she ask the staff for a bath or do anything out of the ordinary until morning. Belatedly, she realized it would have been smart of her to toss a sack down to Geoffrey containing clothing, for she would not be able to leave in the morning with anything except her reticule.
In fact, knowing she would have to hide her excitement from her clever mother, she decided to take breakfast in her room and stay there until the last possible moment.
Even when her maid was delivering the requested hot chocolate and toast to her room, Caroline was still toying with the notion of wearing a second dress under her day gown, but if her mother should see her leave, it would be all too obvious.
Unless she put on her fur-trimmed redingote while still in her room.
“Bring my winter coat up here,” she asked her maid. “I’m going out in an hour, and I’ll get bundled up before I go downstairs.”
Her maid looked at her, probably wondering why Caroline was prattling on and explaining herself. She offered the young woman a smile and sent her on her way. And then, as she was wondering which of her prettier dresses would best fit under what she was wearing, something she would be proud to be seen in even for an anvil wedding, there was a knock at her door.
She knew that knock. Only her mother’s knuckles made that particular rapping sound.
Glancing around the room, she began to shove the dresses from her bed into her wardrobe, knowing it to be a hopeless task.
Her plan for a speedy escape was already in ruins.
Chapter Twelve
“Caroline, are you awake and dressed?”
“Yes, Mother.” Drat!Why hadn’t she said she was feeling ill and had decided to sleep in?
With that answer, her mother felt it her place to open the door and stroll in. And thus, Caroline was discovered with an arm full of gowns.
“What on earth are you doing?”
What was she doing?Caroline could barely come up with the simplest excuse.
“I was bored and decided to look through my dresses and see if I should consider having any altered.” With that, she dumped them back on the bed.
“Your poor maid will have quite a time tidying all that up,” her mother said. “If you’re bored, why don’t you come with me? I’m going to the new National Gallery.”
“We’ve already been,” Caroline reminded her.
