It was late November and Elizabeth was surprised to see the weather holding so well. It was uncommonly fine and she hoped it held long enough for everyone to travel as planned. It had been arranged that her parents would be heading home to their own estate at about the same time that Elizabeth and the earl would be leaving for Heath. Elizabeth felt a pang at the thought of not being in her own home for the first time in her life. She knew it was the normal turn of events and she should have been expecting it, but she had, of course, always expected a trifle more time to prepare. Meeting and marrying one’s mate within a nine day period was monstrously disconcerting. She rolled her eyes at her reflection of the ludicrous thought. Having been left alone for a moment, she was glad for the reprieve. Elizabeth was dressed, as the earl had requested, in the lovely green gown and her hair was arranged in what appeared to be the exact same style as that fateful night.
