Whirlwind Affair

muttered something that sounded suspiciously like smart dog.

Robert smiled at his audience. 'Would anyone else prefer to go first?'

'No!' they all answered in unison.

'We want you to get it over with, brother dear,' Caroline said with a sweet smile.

'I'll have you know, the piece I plan to play will astound you-'

'Frighten is closer to the truth,' the duke said dryly.

Robert lifted his nose into the air in dramatic fashion. '-will astound you because it is a duet. And I'd now like to ask my lovely partner to join me.' He turned toward her. 'Allie?'

Heat rushed into Allie's cheeks and she shook her head. 'Oh, I couldn't possibly.'

'Of course you can,' Robert said. 'We'll perform the song we played in London-to commemorate Lily's birth.'

'That would be lovely, Robert,' Elizabeth said.

He glared at his audience. 'There? You see? Elizabeth thinks it would be lovely.'

'Elizabeth is hopelessly polite,' the duke muttered.

'Actually,' Elizabeth said, her eyes gleaming with unmistakable mischief, 'I’m anxious to hear Allie sing and play the pianoforte. These must be newly acquired skills for her. I've known her my entire life and'-she coughed discreetly into her hand-'and a singer and musician she was not.'

Forcing herself not to laugh, Allie put on her best haughty expression. She then swept toward the pianoforte like a ship under full sail, and positioned herself on the cushioned bench next to Robert.

'I believe aspersions have been cast upon our musical talent, sir,' she said.

'Indeed they have,' he agreed. 'Therefore, we must, in the name of honor, redeem ourselves.'

'I'll pay you twenty pounds if you don't,' the duke offered with a hopeful expression.

Robert gave his brother an angelic smile. 'You already owe me twenty for the billiards game you lost.'

That revelation set up a hum of conversation. Allie turned to Robert and said in an undertone, 'You won? With your eyes closed?'

'I won. I told you-I always play to win.'

'I suppose your brother was quite distracted,' she murmured with a teasing grin.

'Yes.' In spite of their teasing banter, she clearly read the heat in his eyes. 'But taking advantage of your opponent's weaknesses is part of the game.'

'Ahem. You can begin anytime now, brother,' came the duke's voice. Allie pulled her gaze away from Robert's and realized with no small amount of chagrin that the conversation had stopped, and five pairs of eyes were focused on them with varying degrees of speculation.

Yet instead of appearing embarrassed, Robert grinned broadly. 'Well, since you insist…'

They played the same song they'd played before, and if it were possible, their performance was even more horrendous than the last time. Probably because Allie could not catch her breath from laughing at Robert's dramatic antics, his voice booming, several notes off key.

When they reached the final verse, however, he slowed the tempo and lowered his voice, singing the final words softly, albeit still off key.

The sunlight reflected her features so fair

As she waited and wondered, to see if he d dare.

And he did not disappoint his lovely young miss,

For upon her sweet lips he did bestow a sweet kiss.

With the final discordant note still echoing in the room, she felt his gaze upon her, and she purposely kept her eyes cast down at the ivory keys, afraid if she looked at him that he and everyone else would see how much she anticipated him obeying the song's words and bestowing a sweet kiss. Only when the applause started did she dare raise her gaze, and then she deliberately focused her attention on the audience.

Elizabeth came forward and hugged Robert, then enfolded Allie in her arms. 'That was wonderful,' she enthused.

The duke said in a loud aside to Lord Eddington, ' 'Wonderful' is an American word that means 'Robert, you are hopelessly tone-deaf and should be ashamed of yourself for dragging poor Mrs. Brown down with your lack of musical acumen.' '

'Perhaps you would care to regale us with a song, Austin,' Caroline suggested.

A look of pure horror crossed over his handsome face. 'God save us, no. I've no desire to see you all jump out the window to escape the cacophony. Indeed, I believe it would be best if Elizabeth and I retire.' He looked toward his wife with loving concern. 'I would not want you to overtire yourself, darling.'

'I am rather fatigued,' Elizabeth agreed. She hugged Allie's shoulders. 'But this has been a marvelous evening. And thank you both for the song.'

As it was nearly midnight, everyone else decided to retire as well. They climbed the wide staircase as a group, then separated to adjourn to their respective bedchambers. Allie was very careful not to look directly at Robert, for she knew her face would give her away. Indeed, even not looking at him, she knew her cheeks flamed crimson. After bidding everyone good night, she walked swiftly to her bedchamber. Closing the door behind her, she leaned against the oak panel and closed her eyes, her heart pounding with anticipation.

How long would it take him to come to her?

*********

In Lily's nursery, Elizabeth stood looking down at her tiny, sleeping daughter. Austin came up behind her, placing his warm hands on her shoulders, and she leaned back into his chest. He pressed a loving kiss to the side of her neck, then rested his cheek against hers as they both admired Lily.

A sigh escaped Elizabeth, and Austin straightened, turning her so they faced each other. 'Are you all right?' he asked, his gaze anxiously roaming her face.

She forced a smile to ease his worry. 'Yes. Just tired.' She shook her head. 'No, not just tired. I'm also worried. About Robert and Allie.'

'Have you seen something else?'

She looked into his eyes. 'He's in love with her.'

A tiny smile edged up one corner of his mouth. 'Darling, even I, who do not possess your clairvoyant abilities, can see that.' When she did not return his smile, his amusement disappeared. 'I would have thought a match between them would please you. Indeed, had you not predicted he would fall in love with her?'

'Yes. And it would make me happy, except…'

'You're concerned about the danger you sensed?'

'Yes. I still feel that. But I sense something else… something even more imminent.' She shook her head. 'Robert's heart is going to be broken, Austin.'

His fingers tightened on her shoulders. 'Are you certain? It seems quite clear she cares for him as well.'

'I felt it, very strongly, when I touched them in the music room. Heartbreak. For both of them.'

********

Michael Evers settled himself onto the lumpy mattress, his every muscle aching with fatigue. He'd ridden hard with little rest, changing horses frequently, trying to keep ahead of the storm he saw brewing in the skies just south of his route. He'd arrived in Liverpool less than an hour ago. Exhausted, he'd found an inn, eaten some stew, then all but collapsed upon the bed.

Tomorrow morning he would cross the Irish Sea to Dublin, a journey he was not relishing. Damn it all, he hated the water. Hated everything to do with it. Sailing, fishing, all of it. Most likely his intense dislike arose from the fact that he could not swim. Every time he ventured near water, a sheen of sweat broke out over his entire body. Of course, his fear was not something he shared with anyone. Never show weakness was his motto. And in his line of work, and given the company he kept, he could not afford to do so. He'd rather ride a bloody horse all day than spend five minutes in a bloody boat. Aye, give him some solid horseflesh beneath him-not some wooden planks at the mercy of unpredictable tides and waves that rolled and undulated in a way that made