Her father shook his head slowly. “It might be better to get one of the innkeepers to do it.” They all turned as one to look at the barman who was blowing his nose on a rag and drinking what appeared to be a large glass of whisky.
“Or some type ofofficialperson, if not an actual vicar,” her father continued. “Your mother will have a fit if you let a blacksmith marry you.”
Caroline considered all the demands her mother might make when she arrived. The wedding could be delayed for days if not weeks.
“This is why we eloped,” she protested. “We are not supposed to wait for family or worry about the officiator. Next thing, Mother will arrive and want to order a special gown.”
“You should have traveled as quickly as Diamond and I did if you wanted to elope without interference,” her father said, “not dillydallying up the countryside, stopping each night.”
As he said the last word, his gaze turned to Geoffrey. His expression became a scowl. “I’m sure you had separate rooms for the journey.”
Caroline pressed her lips together, but Geoffrey swallowed his wine in a gulp and began to cough, spluttering the wooden table with droplets. His father reached around and began to pound his back until he held up his hand.
She was glad when Geoffrey said nothing. It was better not to respond than to offer an outright lie.
“There is nothing for it,” she said, changing the subject. “We shall have to wait for the ladies. Hopefully, the weather remains clear. Now, I shall eat my stew and get a good night’s sleep, for I vow I have barely —” she cut herself off.
What a ninny!She nearly told both the fathers how little sleep she’d had the past two nights.And how would she explain that?
“Both inns were extremely loud,” Geoffrey said into the awkward silence.
“A good thing this one seems perfectly quiet,” her father said tightly, continuing to glare at Geoffrey.
Caroline felt the heat rush to her cheeks. She could never have imagined sitting at a table with three noblemen, one of whom was her father, with the prattle being about her sleeping or not sleeping, as the case had been.
Another mortifying moment occurred when they retired. The barman led her and Geoffrey upstairs to a room. A single room.
“I told you,” Geoffrey said, “we need two.”
“You said the other was for your servants,” the man protested. “In any case, this is the last one, and both your trunks have been put inside by your footman.”
“My son will sleep with me,” Lord Diamond said, averting disaster. “Grab your case.”
Hurrying to avoid the sight of their trunks resting side by side taking up all the floor space, Geoffrey hefted it into his arms. She stood aside so he could exit the small room.
“Goodnight, Lady Caroline,” he said politely as if they’d never been entwined naked in each other’s arms. And he disappeared from view around her father, who stood with his arms crossed in the hall.
Just like that, without even being able to give Geoffrey a kiss, she found herself alone in the room where a single lamp had been lit and three small chunks of coal were smoldering.
“I’m in the room directly beside yours,” her father said as a warning more than to reassure her of her safety. Then he closed the door on her astonished face.
As it turned out, she slept like the dead after stripping off her outer garments and climbing into the soft bed in her shift. However, in the morning, two astonishing things happened.
“Did you see the snow?” she asked Geoffrey, who was seated in the room across from where they’d eaten the night before. The hearth was glowing, and he was the only one there, reading an old newspaper and drinking tea.
He rose to his feet upon her entrance.
“I couldn’t miss it. There was a large gap in the window glazing in our room, and the snow started blowing in last night before we stuffed my father’s handkerchief in the hole.”
“It’s beautiful,” she exclaimed with a sigh.
“Not when it’s on your counterpane,” he said. “Besides, the only beauty I see is you.”
With that, she walked directly into his outstretched arms, and they shared a kiss. Her body tingled when his mouth touched hers, and she couldn’t help pressing close.
“A fine sight for a father to see on Christmas Eve.”
Belatedly, they sprang apart. With cheeks flaming, she faced her father.
