Whirlwind Affair

'Yes.' Leaning down, she touched her lips to Elizabeth 's forehead. 'Good night.' She bid good evening to the duke, then quit the room, closing the door with a quiet click.

Austin immediately strode across the room, grabbing up Elizabeth 's cold hands. Unease edged down his spine at her strained expression. 'Something is wrong,' he said. 'Are you unwell?'

'No, I'm fine,' she quickly assured him.

'But something is amiss.' He peered at her face, and tensed. 'You've had a vision.'

She nodded slowly. 'Yes. When I touched Allie's hand.' She squeezed his hands, then gave him a searching look. 'You know about the danger she and Robert have faced.'

'Robert informed me, yes.'

'You deliberately kept it from me.'

'He only told me this afternoon, Elizabeth.' He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips. 'And you were a bit occupied.'

'It's not over, Austin,' she whispered. 'I don't know how, but it's going to happen soon…'

He sat on the edge of the bed and grasped her shoulders. 'What's going to happen? What did you see?'

She swallowed, her eyes stricken. 'Death.'

His heart seemed to stall. When he'd first met her, he'd doubted her bewildering ability to 'see' past and future events-but no more. Her gift had saved not only his life, but William's and Claudine's and Josette's as well. Austin well knew the frightening word she'd just spoken would come to pass unless steps were taken to stop the events she had seen.

'Who is going to die?' he asked urgently.

'I don't know… it wasn't clear. But I sensed death. Very strongly.'

'Did you tell Allie?'

'I told her about my visions, yes. Told her I felt danger. Warned her to be careful.' She briefly closed her eyes, then shook her head, clearly frightened and frustrated. 'There is a menace approaching… Its exact nature I can't determine. But it's moving closer. And I do know this'-reaching out, she grasped his upper arms-'Austin, Allie is in grave danger. And Robert as well.'

*************

Robert stood in the darkened drawing room, staring out the French windows. Clouds obscured the moon, and from the gusts of chill wind rattling the glass panes, he judged a storm most likely on its way. He swirled his brandy slowly in the snifter cupped in his hand, then tilted back his head and drained the potent liquor down his throat. The mantel clock chimed softly, proclaiming the hour. Two a.m. Way past time to retire, as everyone else had hours earlier. But sleep, he knew, would not come, and he could not bear the thought of lying in bed, aroused, thinking of her, lying in her own bed just two doors away. Best he stayed down here, at a safe distance. Closer to the brandy. In fact, another brandy sounded like a capital idea.

As he poured himself another fingerful, Austin 's voice rose from the shadowed doorway. 'I'll have one as well, as long as you're pouring.'

Robert bit back a sigh. Devil take it, there were over fifty bloody rooms in Bradford Hall. Why did Austin have to choose this room to haunt? There was only one person whose company he wanted, and Austin wasn't that person. Much as he loved his brother, he'd prefer to be alone with his thoughts. Wordlessly, he poured a second drink.

'To Lily. And her mother,' Austin said softly, raising his snifter.

Feeling churlish for wishing his brother out of his own drawing room, Robert touched his glass to Austin 's, the chime of crystal tapping crystal echoing through the room. 'To Lily and Elizabeth,' he repeated. He tossed back his drink with one burning gulp, then returned to the window and stared out at the darkness. 'A beautiful wife, a new daughter, a healthy son… you're a lucky man, Austin.'

'That I am.' Robert heard him cross the room. Seconds later Austin joined him at the windows. 'Lucky… and worried.'

Robert turned quickly toward him. ' Elizabeth? Lily?'

'No. You. And Mrs. Brown.'

'Has something happened I'm not aware of?'

'Not exactly…'

'I sense a 'but.' '

'I'm afraid so. Elizabeth had one of her visions earlier. When she touched Mrs. Brown.'

The serious look in Austin 's eyes, combined with his grave tone, tightened Robert's every muscle. 'What did she see?'

Austin 's expression grew even more grim. 'Death. And danger. Someone is going to die, Robert. She does not know who. But she knows that both you and Mrs. Brown are in danger.'

Robert froze. Allie in danger. Austin 's words reverberated through his mind. Someone is going to die…

Before Robert could fashion a reply, Austin crossed to the sofa and picked up something, then returned to the windows. He held out his hand, revealing a pistol. 'Keep this close to you. Do you carry a knife?'

'Always.'

'Good. Do not go anywhere alone. If Elizabeth 'sees' anything else, I'll inform you immediately.'

Robert took the pistol, balancing the weight in his hand. Someone is going to die.

Grim determination filled him. That someone is going to be you, you bastard, whoever you are.

Clearing his throat, he looked at Austin. 'I thank you for the warning. And the weapon. You have my word that no harm will come to Allie.'

Austin slowly raised his brows. 'Allie?'

There was no misinterpreting the question asked with that single word. Robert's gaze did not waver. 'Yes. Allie. I trust you aren't going to voice any objections.' It was a statement rather than a question.

'No. No objections. I believe I, more than anyone, can understand the allure of a beautiful American. I'm just a bit surprised, as you haven't known her very long.'

'Indeed? And how long did you know Elizabeth before you knew?'

A sheepish look crossed Austin 's face. 'About a minute and a half. Of course, it took me several weeks to admit it to myself.'

Robert sighed dramatically. 'I've always suspected you were slow-witted. I calculate it only took me forty-three seconds. But I only just admitted it to myself a few hours ago.'

'Still, I believe that is a new family record.'

'Yes. One that I'd prefer remain between us, at least until I've declared myself to the lady.'

'Understood. But you should know that Elizabeth will probably 'feel' your emotions. And I suspect Caroline will guess. Our sister can ferret out these emotional sort of things with unerring accuracy.'

'Noted.' The mantel clock chimed the half hour. 'If you'll excuse me, I'd best retire now. It's been a long day.'

They exchanged good nights, with Austin opting to remain for another brandy. Robert climbed the stairs. He had to keep Allie safe at any cost. And the best way to do that was to be exactly where she was.

He headed for her bedchamber.

Chapter 15

Allie stood in the darkened corner of her bedchamber looking out the window. All she could see was darkness and her own pale reflection. She'd lain in the wide bed for hours, praying for sleep to release her from the maelstrom of thoughts whirling through her mind, but sleep had stubbornly refused to come. Instead, emotions and worries and fears marched through her head like a battalion of soldiers-Robert, the ring, Robert, the note, Robert,