Whirlwind Wedding

needed money and the Longrens were financially well off. But worst of all, I knew he was going to break Alberta's heart. I prayed her feelings toward him would change, but two weeks later she and David announced they planned to marry. In one month.'

Her voice dropped to a whisper. 'I didn't know what to do. She was so in love with him, but she was making a terrible mistake. Again I tried to warn her gently but to no avail. Finally, the day before the wedding, I told her… not that I'd had a vision… but that I had reason to believe David was dishonest and not the man for her. That he would bring her nothing but heartache.'

The anguish in her voice ripped at him. 'What did she say?'

A humorless sound erupted from her throat. 'She flatly refused to listen. She then accused me of being jealous, of wanting David for myself. He'd told her how I'd visited him at the livery and he'd apparently convinced her that I'd gone there in the hopes of winning him for myself. I could not believe that she would think that of me, but she did.'

'Did you tell her about your visions?'

'I tried but she wouldn't listen to another word. She was so angry with me for trying to ruin her happiness and wanting the man she loved. She told me she didn't want me at her wedding. Didn't want me in her life.' Stopping directly in front of him, she stared at him with tear-filled eyes that twisted his insides. 'She told me to pack my things and leave her family's house.'

'Elizabeth.' He reached for her, but she stepped farther away from him.

'Maybe if I'd told her about the vision from the start, she would have believed me. I don't know. But I vowed right then and there that I would never remain silent about another one-not if it involved someone's happiness.' She spread her arms in a defeated helpless gesture. 'I did not experience another vision until the night I met you. That is why I told you about seeing William.'

After squeezing her eyes shut for a brief moment, she continued 'Mr. and Mrs. Longren were surprised I was leaving, but their allegiance was to Alberta and she was adamant that I go. I knew deep down she was hurting, too. She loved me, but she loved David more. I packed my things and departed that same afternoon. I left Patch with them. He was too old to travel and the younger children loved him as much as I did.'

Her voice cracked and he imagined her leaving, alone and filled with despair. Bloody hell, his chest ached and his heart simply broke for her. 'What did you do?'

'I walked to town and withdrew my savings from the bank. I had nowhere to go, and I wanted to get away, as far away as possible. I arranged transportation to the coast. When I arrived I booked passage on The Starseeker and hired a traveling companion. I sent a letter to Aunt Joanna advising her of my arrival. I am fortunate and forever grateful that she was willing to take me in.'

'Do you know what happened to Alberta and David?'

'No. I pray every day for their happiness, but I know it is only a matter of time before Alberta's heart is broken.'

He had no idea what to say to her, how to comfort her, but he knew he had to try. The torment in her eyes was killing him. 'I'm so sorry you were hurt like that, darling,' he said 'but as sad as leaving your home was, it did bring us together.' He held out his band to her.

She stared at it blankly for a moment, then raised her gaze to his. Her expression actually frightened him. It looked as if all the life, all the energy and vitality, had been drained from her, leaving unspeakable anguish and guilt in its wake.

'There's more, Austin. I had another vision. Last night.'

He slowly lowered his hand. 'What did you see?'

'I saw someone dying.'

Her agony was so palpable, he could all but see it flowing off her in waves. 'Who?'

'It was our child, Austin.'

He actually felt the blood drain from his head. 'Our child? How do you know?'

'A little girl. She looked just like you, with ebony curls and beautiful gray eyes.' Walking forward with jerky steps, she grasped his arms, her fingers digging into his skin. 'Do you understand what I'm saying? I saw the future. We had a child. She was about two years old. And she died.'

His mind reeled from the impact of her words. 'Surely you're mistaken.'

'No. I saw it. And I cannot allow it to happen. I cannot allow our child to die.'

Drawing a deep breath, he tried to think clearly, but it didn't even occur to him to doubt her premonition. 'All right. We won't allow it to happen. You've forewarned us, so we'll be prepared. She'll be watched every moment of every day. Nothing will happen to her.'

'Don't you see? I cannot take that risk. I've already lost my parents, the Longrens, and Alberta. I cannot bear to lose someone else I love-our child. Nor can I bear to watch you suffer her death.' She stared at him for several heartbeats. 'There is only one way to ensure that our child does not die… and that is to not have a child.'

Not have a child? Of course they would have a child. Many children. Sons with her keen intelligence and beautiful daughters with their mother's hair. 'What are you saying?'

Letting go of his arms, she turned toward the window. He stared at her profile and listened to her flat-voiced words. 'I cannot have a child with you. I refuse to have a child with you. The only way to ensure that I don't is to cease being a wife to you. Naturally, I do not expect you to live with such an untenable arrangement. I realize the importance of an heir to a man in your position.' She raised her chin a notch, but her voice fell to a shaky whisper. 'I therefore wish to end our marriage.'

He froze, unable to comprehend her words for a full minute. Finally, he found his voice.

'Such drastic measures are not necessary, Elizabeth.'

'I'm afraid they are. I cannot ask you to accept a wife who will not share your bed.'

His hands fisted at his sides, but he managed to keep his voice calm. 'There is no reason for me to accept a wife who will not share my bed. There are ways to prevent pregnancy-if that is ultimately what we decide to do.'

'You are not listening to me, Austin. I have already decided. I will not risk becoming pregnant.'

'I promise you we can find a way-'

'You cannot possibly hope to keep such a promise for a lifetime? She turned to look at him and the cold determination in her eyes chilled him. 'Why can you not simply accept my decision?'

A bark of disbelief erupted from him. 'Simply accept that you want to end our marriage? I'm stunned that you would even consider such a thing… giving up like this. Surely our marriage means more to you than that.'

'We both know you married me only because you believed you had to.'

'And we both know that nothing could have forced me to marry you had I not wanted to.' Closing the distance between them, he gently took her by the shoulders. 'Elizabeth. It doesn't matter why we married. What matters is how we feel about each other and what we make of our life together. We can make this marriage strong enough to survive anything.'

'But surely you want to have children.'

'Yes. I do. Very much.' He gazed at her steadily. 'With you.'

She inhaled sharply. 'I'm sorry. I cannot. I will not.'

Silence stretched between them. He tried to reconcile this coldly resolute, distant woman with his warm, loving Elizabeth, and could not. Forcing words through his tight throat, he said 'I understand you're upset about this vision, but you can't let it destroy what we have together. I won't allow it.' He cupped her face between his palms. 'I love you, Elizabeth. I love you. And I won't let you go.'

Every drop of color seeped from her face. He searched her eyes, and for an instant stark, raw pain emanated from their depths. She turned away from him, and it appeared as if she were choking back tears. But when she faced him again, her expression had hardened. Grim determination replaced the pain and she pulled away from him.

'I'm sorry, Austin. Your love isn't enough.'

Those words slapped him right in the heart. Left him bleeding. God Almighty, if he'd been able to draw a deep enough breath, he would have laughed at the irony of this. After waiting a lifetime to give a woman his love, she'd tossed it aside like an unwanted trinket. Your love isn't enough.