Page 122

Everything was as familiar as it had been that morning, yet somehow the room already seemed to belong to another life.

She thought of her parents, of Katherine, and of the terrible unhappiness that had filled the house these past two days.

Then she looked at George. "Yes."

He smiled and took her hand. "Then come along, Lady Templeton."

Her heart gave a delicious leap. "Not quite yet."

"An unfortunate technicality that I intend to remedy with all possible haste."

He opened the door, and together they slipped into the corridor. The house was wonderfully quiet. Cordelia held her breath as they passed the closed doors of the family bedchambers, half expecting a maid to appear at any moment. George, however, moved with the easy confidence of a gentleman who had never once doubted that he could accomplish whatever mischief he set his mind upon.

They reached the stairs without incident. Cordelia glanced at him and whispered, "I cannot believe we are doing this."

"Neither can I. I had rather expected to be discovered before reaching the first landing."

She stifled a giggle. They descended the stairs, George carrying her valise in one hand and holding hers firmly with the other. They had almost reached the entrance hall when footsteps sounded from the adjoining passageway. Cordelia stopped. Her parents appeared around the corner, walking hand in hand. Both looked dreadfully tired. Her mother's face was pale, and her father's expression suggested that he had spent the evening contemplating matters of the greatest gravity.

For several seconds, no one moved.

Lady Ashford stared at Cordelia.

Then at George.

Then at the valise.

Her mouth fell open.

Lord Ashford blinked.

George sighed. "Well," he drawled, "I truly thought we had gotten away. The house seemed so quiet."

Cordelia made a strangled sound. Her mother's eyes widened further. And then, quite helplessly, Cordelia began to giggle. It was an utterly inappropriate response, particularly when her parents looked as though they had just discovered a burglar making off with the family silver. Yet the absurdity of the situation was too much to bear. George, meanwhile, appeared entirely untroubled.

Still holding her hand, he approached her parents and bowed deeply.

"My lord. My lady."

"Lord Templeton?" her father said faintly.

"At your service."

Her mother looked from George to Cordelia. "Whatever is the meaning of this?"

"I am eloping with your daughter to marry her," George said quietly.

Lady Ashford gasped.

Lord Ashford stared.

George continued with the composure of a gentleman discussing an entirely ordinary social engagement.

"Although I teased Cordelia by telling her we were bound for Gretna Green, I am actually taking her to a lovely estate I purchased in Derbyshire a year ago."

Cordelia turned toward him in astonishment.

"Derbyshire?"