Whirlwind Wedding

As long as she was willing, there were at least half a dozen things he wanted to do in the next ten minutes.

And talking was most definitely not one of them.

Chapter 16

Thirty minutes later, Elizabeth stood in front of the cheval glass and stared at her reflection. Even her own parents would not recognize her.

Snug black breeches hugged her legs. Scuffed boots, slightly too large, covered her feet. A billowing white man's shirt and cravat hid her wrapped bosom. With her hair firmly tucked under a sailor's cap pulled low over her eyes, she could easily pass for a tall, slim young man. Once she donned the black coat hanging on the bedpost, no one would ever realize she was a woman, let alone a duchess.

The bedchamber door opened and Austin walked in. 'All right. Everyone has departed for the theater. Are you'-he caught sight of her and his footsteps faltered- 'ready?'

She turned to face him. 'Yes. What do you think?'

His gaze traveled from her head to her toes, then back again. Then he approached her, his expression downright grim.

Halting directly in front of her, he said between clearly clenched teeth, 'You are not leaving the house dressed like that.'

She planted her hands on her hips. 'May I ask why not? This is a perfect disguise. No one will guess I'm not a man.'

'The hell they won't. The way those breeches fit you…' He waved his hand around his lips clamped into a flat line. 'It's indecent.'

'Indecent! You gave them to me!'

'I didn't know you'd look like that in them.'

She tapped her booted foot. 'Like what?'

'Like…' Again he waved his hand about, as if trying to conjure the word he was seeking from thin air. 'Like that,' he finally said.

A sigh escaped her. Clearly he was going to allow a misplaced sense of propriety to ruin their plan. Pulling the black coat from the bedpost, she slipped it on and buttoned it.

'Look,' she said turning in a slow circle before him. 'I'm covered from chin to knee.'

He continued to glower. After she'd turned before him twice, he all but growled 'That coat stays on every minute. On and buttoned. This pub we're going to where Gaspard was seen caters to a very rough crowd. The results could be disastrous should anyone there suspect you're a woman.'

'I understand.'

His gaze riveted on her cap. 'How secure is that?'

'Like it was nailed to my head.'

His expression didn't relax one iota and for a moment she feared he would truly refuse to bring her along. Arranging her features into what she hoped was studied calm, she simply stood and waited.

He finally spoke. 'Let's go.'

She followed him from the room, careful to hide her relief. And apprehension. She certainly didn't want to be left at home.

For she knew something important would happen tonight.

A half hour later, when the hired hack drew to a stop in front of a dilapidated building, Elizabeth drew the curtain aside several inches and peered into the darkness. Although she didn't know exactly where they were, the stench of rotting fish indicated their proximity to the riverfront. Her nostrils twitched in protest. 'Are you ready, Elizabeth?'

She jerked her attention away from the window and looked across at Austin. Even in the dim light she could see his frown. Tension was all but emanating from him in dark waves. Hoping to dispel his obvious disquiet, she forced a smile. 'Yes, I'm ready.'

He did not return her smile. 'Do you understand exactly what I want you to do?'

'Of course. If I sense anything, I'll inform you immediately.'

Although she would have thought it impossible, his frown grew grimmer. 'Thank you, but that is not what I meant.'

A frown pinched her own brow. 'I don't understand. I thought you wanted me to tell you if I felt anything.'

'I do. But you must not leave my side.'

'I won't. I-'

He reached out and grabbed both her hands in his, cutting off her words. His intense stare sent shivers tingling across her skin. 'Promise me,' he said in an urgent whisper.

'I promise, but-'

'No buts. This is an exceedingly dangerous place. I cannot protect you if you wander away from me. Is my meaning clear?'

'Perfectly. Consider me sewn to your sleeve.'

He blew out a breath. 'Damn it, this a not a good idea. A thousand things could go wrong.'

'A thousand things could go right.'

'I'm placing you in danger.'

'I'm in no more danger than you.'

He released her and shoved his hands through his hair. 'The more I think on this whole matter, the more I'm convinced this is not a wise idea. I'm instructing the driver to take you home.' He made a move to open the door.

She slapped his wrist. 'No.'

He quirked an ebony brow at her.

'If you make me go home, I'll simply hire another hack and return here.'

His gaze bore into hers like a spear of fire. She'd never seen him this angry and although she knew he wouldn't hurt her, a chill edged down her spine at the banked fury in his eyes.

'You'll do nothing of the kind' he said very slowly and distinctly.

'I will if I must.' Before he could voice another objection, she cradled his frowning face between her palms. 'Do you believe I can help you?'

He studied her for a long moment and she wondered if he had any idea how the shadows in his eyes hurt her. She sensed he withheld something from her-some dark, terrible secret that ate at his soul, and she suspected he deliberately held back his feelings and thoughts from her so she'd have no chance to 'see' them.

Dear God, his torment was painful to see. If only he would trust her with his secrets… and see how much she wanted, needed, to help him.

How much she loved him.

She'd never said the words, not quite ready to voice the depth of her feelings out loud and also not convinced he'd want to hear them, but dear God couldn't he see it in her eyes?

Finally he said 'If I didn't believe William was alive and that you could help me find him, I never would have brought you here.'

'Then let me help you. Please. I don't want you in pain any longer. Let me help you find the answers you seek. I'll stay so close to you, you'll be able to feel my every heartbeat.'

She'd hoped to coax a smile from him, but his gaze remained serious. Reaching up, he slid her palms from his cheeks and intertwined their fingers, holding her hands so tightly her fingertips tingled. She could not clearly read his thoughts, but there was no mistaking his turmoil.