Always Proper, Suddenly Scandalous (Scandalous Seasons #3)(89)

Mother shook her head. An uncharacteristic gentleness settled around the lines of her mouth. “Oh Geoffrey, I can and will always regret all that came to pass, but I cannot hold you solely to blame for your father’s death.”

He drew in a shaky breath. “But…”

“I begged your father to set out after you, Geoffrey,” she said, her words so quiet he had to strain to hear them. “He disapproved of Emma Marsh, but I demanded he put a stop to your elopement.” She looked to a point just beyond his shoulder. “And for that, well, I can never forgive myself.” For a moment, a sheen of tears glazed her eyes, but then, she blinked several times, and they were gone, so Geoffrey wondered if he’d imagined them.

Mother reached for her teacup, raised it to her lips, and took a slow sip.

In a silent show of comfort, Sophie touched Mother’s knee, giving it a faint squeeze. The satin fabric rustled beneath Sophie’s subtle gesture.

Abigail looked at Geoffrey.

Geoffrey cleared his throat. “Mother, Sophie, there was, is, an additional reason I’ve asked you to visit this morning.”

His mother paused, glass mid-way to her mouth.

“I wanted to, we wanted to inform you, that Abigail is recently with child.”

Sophie’s eyes went wide; a smile wreathed her cheeks. “Oh, Geoffrey, how very exciting!” She clasped her hands together in front of her.

Geoffrey looked to his mother. She said nothing for a long, long moment. And then, a slow, wide smile turned her lips upward. “Well, this is wonderful news, Geoffrey.” She reached for a pastry and took a bite of the flaky confectionary.

Geoffrey’s gaze fell to his wife. She looked up at him and smiled.

He imagined a little girl with sparkling gray-blue eyes and dark black tresses, and grinned.

Yes. It most certainly is, wonderful.


The End