Whirlwind Wedding

that his sleep was natural. Fatigue overcame her and she allowed herself to lie down… just for a moment. The cold stone floor offered little heat, so she snuggled next to Austin's side for warmth.

I'll only rest my eyes for a moment. But in less than a minute, she was dozing off. A frown knitted her brow, pulling her back from the edge of sleep. Something… something wasn't quite right… in her vision… she'd been so certain she'd heard a gunshot…

But her tired brain couldn't figure out what was niggling at her, and exhaustion overcame her.

Chapter 9

Caroline descended the stairs just after sunrise. Normally she did not arise so early, but the birds chattering outside her bedchamber window had awakened her and her thoughts were too full to go back to sleep. A long solitary walk was exactly what she needed to clear her mind. The instant she stepped outside onto the terrace leading to the gardens, however, a voice sounded behind her.

'Why, Caroline, what a surprise to see you up so early.'

Caroline bit her tongue to suppress a groan. Dash it, it was one of those infernal Digby daughters-Penelope or Prudence, judging by the high-pitched whine. Gritting her teeth, she turned.

Good heavens, it was worse than she'd suspected. Both girls stood before her. Penelope squinted at her through thick-lensed spectacles that magnified her eyes. She reminded Caroline of a bug. A bug with large teeth, three dozen bouncing sausage curls, and wearing a frilly bonnet.

Prudence stood beside her sister, her thin face pinched into a frown. She was currently engaged in her annoying habit of opening and closing her mouth without speaking, an unfortunate action that lent her a distinctly carplike air.

'Good morning, Penelope, Prudence,' Caroline said forcing herself to smile.

'Are you going for a walk?' Penelope asked tilting her head to one side, thus now resembling a lopsided bug.

'Yes.' Caroline realized there was no point in not inviting them to accompany her, for they would simply invite themselves. Somehow managing not to sigh, she asked 'Would you care to join me?'

'We'd love to,' Penelope said.

Prudence opened her mouth and the word 'yes' popped out.

''Tis fortunate we are awake so early to join you,' Penelope said 'as it appears you're without a companion.'

'Indeed' Caroline mumbled. 'Fortunate is just the word I was searching for.'

They descended the steps and Caroline headed down a path leading toward the tower ruins. Penelope launched into an excruciatingly detailed description of her new wardrobe while Prudence remained thankfully silent. Caroline nodded occasionally and uttered noncommittal noises, but otherwise strove to pretend she was alone.

As the tower came into view, she recalled the many times she had climbed the crumbling stone steps, then pretended to be a damsel in distress so either William or Austin would rescue her. Sometimes Robert and Miles would join in their games as well, then she'd have four knights to save her from the perils of evil.

Miles. A breathy sigh puffed from her lips. It was better that she not think of Miles. He was the very reason she'd longed for a solitary walk-to try to force him from her mind. But it was an impossible task, even with Penelope's nonstop stream of chatter to distract her. The man filled every corner of her mind, and every time she found herself in the same room with him, her heart threatened to sputter to a stop.

She'd loved him since childhood but there was a vast difference between loving him and being in love with him. And without a doubt she was in love with him.

She scolded herself, knowing it was hopeless to yearn for a man who regarded her only as his best friend's baby sister, but no matter how many times she branded herself a fool, her heart would not listen.

The trail emerged from the forest and the tower ruins loomed ahead. Carefully picking their way over the stones, they'd nearly reached the tower when she heard a horse's soft nicker.

Prudence opened her mouth and the word 'horse' popped out.

'Yes,' Penelope agreed. 'It sounded like it came from inside the tower.'

'Someone else is clearly out and about this morning,' Caroline murmured wondering why anyone would bring their mount into the tower.

'What fun!' Penelope said. 'Ohhh… perhaps it's your brother, Caroline! Let's say hello!'

Caroline barely withheld a groan. Dear God if Austin was inside the tower and she foisted the Digby daughters on him, he was apt to succumb to apoplexy. She started to call out that they should walk in another direction, but clearly the possibility of coming upon the duke had spurred the Digbys into action. They dashed over the rocks like seasoned mountain goats.

Hiking up her skirts in a manner that would have horrified her mother, Caroline sped after them, but they reached the doorway well before her. Even from ten feet away, she heard Penelope's gasp, and Prudence obviously opened and closed her mouth twice for she said 'Oh. My.'

Jostling them out of her way, Caroline entered through the open arched doorway. It took several seconds for her vision to adjust to the dim interior light. When it did, she, too, gasped.

Austin lay on the stone floor. His arms encircled Elizabeth, who lay on her side next to him, her head cushioned by his shoulder, her hand resting lightly on his chest.

Good Lord, they'd clearly stumbled upon an assignation between them. She should have been shocked. Outraged. On the verge of swooning.

Instead elation ran through her. She had no doubt that Elizabeth and Austin were perfect for each other, and judging by the scene before her, they'd discovered as much themselves.

Another soft nicker captured her attention. Tearing her gaze away from the sleeping couple, she saw Myst and Rosamunde standing in the shadows.

She stepped backward determined to slip away unnoticed and backed into a body.

'Ouch,' said Prudence.

Dear God she'd forgotten about the Digby daughters.

Penelope elbowed her way forward and pointed. 'Is that a bandage wrapped around his grace's head? Why, I'd wager that the Colonial Upstart arranged this assignation, then coshed his grace in an attempt to make it appear he'd ruined her!' She muttered something else that sounded suspiciously like 'Why didn't / think of that?' but Caroline's attention was riveted on Austin.

'Stay here,' she instructed the sisters. On silent feet, she moved closer. Yes, there most certainly was a bandage wrapped around Austin's head. God in heaven, what had happened to him? Clearly he'd suffered an injury. Was Elizabeth hurt as well?

Pushing aside any possible embarrassment, she knelt beside Elizabeth and gently shook her shoulder. 'Elizabeth, wake up.'

Elizabeth came awake slowly, gradually becoming aware of a voice repeating her name in an urgent fashion. She forced her heavy eyelids open a tiny bit. Her muscles were stiff and it seemed as if stones poked into her skin.

Her confusion disappeared instantly when she became aware of two things at once. She was curled up against Austin's warm body, and a pair of surprise-widened blue eyes was staring at her.

Her eyes snapped open and she bolted upright, pushing her tangled hair from her face. 'Caroline!'

'Elizabeth, what happened? Are you all right? Why is Austin's head bandaged?'

'He fell from Myst.'

A derisive snort sounded from the doorway. Turning, Elizabeth saw two Digby daughters-she wasn't sure which ones-standing in the archway. One squinted at her, the other gaped.

Caroline touched her arm, reclaiming her attention. 'How badly is he hurt?'

'He hit his head and sustained a cut that required several stitches. As far as I was able to determine, he did not break any bones.'