Philip lets out a low chuckle. "You need to tell me if you're not comfortable with anything."
"I will," I promise. "But does that mean you're going to stay?"
"For as long as you'll have me," he promises, leaning in to capture my lips with his again.
In that moment, I know that everything is going to be all right, and that our marriage is going to be about far more than friendship and the future of the earldom.
Sixteen
Letitia
I stepinto my drawing room, a small smile lingering on my face as I take in the changes the servants have made. It's a cosy space, and I wouldn't want to host tea for more than three in it, but it's perfect for my current needs.
And it's mine. I'm sure the Countess isn't best pleased about me having a space for my own use, but she hasn't done anything to take it away from me. Perhaps it's because I agreed to the dress of her choosing for Lady Ferrington's next ball. She did seem at least a little placated by that, though I'm not under any illusions that it will have made thingspermanently better between us. Perhaps in time, the Countess will soften to me.
As if summoned by my thoughts, the woman in question appears by my side and studies the room. "The servants have done a good job at making the room suitable for tea," she says, taking me by surprise.
"They have," I agree.
"Which of your friends are visiting our home?"
"Miss Rocke and Miss Falnor, do you know them?" I hope she doesn't find my friendship with the other two ladies an issue. Both come from respectable families, even if their fathers don't have titles.
"I'm not aware of their families," she responds. "But perhaps we can invite them the next time we have a dinner party."
"Thank you, Lady Swancove."
"Hmm." She nods. "Enjoy your tea." She leaves the room and I let out a relieved breath. It's going to take some time for her to properly come around to me, but perhaps there is hope.
I busy myself with making sure everything is ready for my friends.
The door opens and a footman steps inside. "Miss Rocke, and Miss Falnor," he says.
A genuine smile spreads over my face as my friends enter the room.
"Thank you, Bigley. If you could have the kitchens send up the tea tray, I would appreciate it," I say.
"Of course, My Lady." He bows and disappears back into the rest of the house.
"Lady Cygnus," Georgiana says with a twinkle in her eye.
"Don't call me that. I'm still just Letty to you."
"It's still hard to believe you're a Lady now," she responds, taking a seat on one of the chaises.
"Or rather easy to believe," Mary responds. "She was sneaking off with Lord Cygnus at every ball, it was only a matter of time before they got caught."
"And I told her as much," Georgiana responds.
I let out a small groan and try not to think too much about how much she'd done that, and how fair her warnings had been.
"I don't think it matters too much to her," Mary says. "Can you see how she's glowing?”
"Married life does seem to be suiting you," Georgiana says. "What happened?"
Before I can answer, the door opens and a maid enters with a tray of tea. She sets it down on the low table between us and curtsies before leaving.
"Oh, biscuits," Mary says, reaching out andtaking one from the plate before I even offer it to her.