“I shall order a pot of tea,” Lady Hollidge said. “Do sit and try to catch your breath.”
Caroline’s lovely gaze looked up at him. “Do we have time? Have I ruined everything?”
Geoffrey tried to calm his racing heart. She was in his arms, and she still wanted to elope with him. Everything was fine again.
“We should begin our journey. It will take three days if we don’t kill the horses. You’ll have plenty of time to sit, I assure you.”
“I have nothing with me. I couldn’t leave home with a bag.”
Lady Hollidge instantly became their angel. “Take tea, please, Caroline. While you do, I shall have a trunk packed at once with everything you’ll need.”
“Dear Daphne. How can I ever repay you?”
“We are like sisters, are we not?” She was already heading for the door. “Catch your breath. Tea will arrive in five minutes, and I vow I will have you out the door in fifteen.”
As good as her word, Lady Hollidge sent them swiftly on their way, and Caroline was a good deal calmer than when she’d stumbled in.
“My friend is so thoughtful,” she said when they were passing Shoreditch Church. “She even gave me a novel and some biscuits and cake.” She was digging in the carpet bag that had been pressed into her hands after a trunk was stowed on top of Geoffrey’s travel coach.
“Her husband is equally kind. I hope you will enjoy their company as much as I do,” she added.
Geoffrey nodded. “Gaining a wife and two friends into the bargain! And I hope, despite Lord Trent’s failings, you come to like him, too. He’s been a good friend to me for years.”
“Maybe we shall gain yet another friend,” she mused, “for he has his sights set upon Miss Holcombe, a pretty brunette.”
Geoffrey was astounded. He had heard nothing about it. “How on earth do you know that?”
She smiled. “I have kept my eyes open all Season. Mostly, I was looking for you. But when you were not in sight, I noticed other people.”
He laughed. “Will you sit beside me?” He patted the leather seat.
“Will you behave yourself?” she asked, tilting her head, beaming with happiness.
He could only promise he would try, but the unusual circumstance of being in a carriage alone with a beautiful woman without a chaperone was titillating beyond all measure.
Moreover, in light of what they were doing, her question gave him pause.
“You know it no longer matters what we do or do not do. We are alone, and thus you are irreparably ruined.”
She wrinkled her adorable nose. “A horrid word.”
“But you understand we shall be spending two or possibly three nights staying at coaching inns. Even if we have separate rooms, which you should demand of me, it shall make no difference to what others will say and conclude.”
“I know,” she agreed quietly. “I am ruined.”
“But you shall be my wife and one day a countess. I believe when we return as a wedded couple, as long as we behave with decorum, the scourge of our disgrace will disappear.”
“Eventually,” she agreed.
“Soon,” he corrected.
“Unless we have a child too quickly.”
Geoffrey’s heart sped up at the realization she was already contemplating swiving, which was practically all he could think about. He didn’t like to consider himself a randy dog, but he hadn’t enjoyed any female company in his bed since the night he slammed into Caroline Chimes.
“Luckily,” he said, “that won’t be the case. Even if we ...” He trailed off when faced with her curious green gaze.
“Yes?” she prompted.
