Whirlwind Wedding

She nodded. 'It's the only time I ever have, and I swear on my soul, I never will again.'

He appeared almost dazed for several seconds, then a slow smile spread over his face, a devastating smile that stopped her breath.

'You lied to me,' he said again.

'You seem… happy?'

'My darling, under the circumstances, I'm ecstatic.'

Relief, so intense it left her weak, flooded her. 'There's something else I must tell you.'

Her expression clearly mirrored her serious tone because the humor faded from his eyes. 'I'm listening,' he said.

'When I thought I was going to die, never see or touch you again, I felt such profound regrets. About you. And our child.' Reaching up, she laid her palm against his stubbled jaw. 'No more regrets,' she whispered. 'I want us to have a real marriage. I want to have our baby, regardless of what manner of hardships we will have to face together.'

His eyes searched her face. 'Elizabeth, are you certain?'

She nodded and swallowed the hard knot gripping her throat. 'Life is too short, too precious. There's a beautiful child in our future, a child I don't want to deny life to- even if that life is destined to be short. I can be strong because I love you, because you love me.' Drawing a deep breath, she studied his grave expression. 'Do you want the same, Austin? Do you want our child? Knowing we'll lose her? Knowing the pain we'll have to face?'

He grasped her hand and squeezed it hard. 'I always wanted her, even knowing we could lose her. And I swear on my soul that I will do everything in my power to see that we don't.'

'But if we do?'

'Then I'll thank God for the time I had her, for the precious days she was ours to love.'

Dear God she was terrified to tell him the full extent of her vision, of his despair and guilt and self-blame, but she had to know. 'Austin, what if something one of us does causes her death?'

He rubbed his thumbs over the backs of her hands, his eyes riveted to hers. 'We would handle it. Together. Always.' Leaning forward he brushed his mouth across hers in a tender, bittersweet kiss. 'Our love is strong enough to survive anything.'

His quiet vow wrenched her heart and she blinked back the hot tears pooling in her eyes. Clutching his words to her heart, she prayed he wouldn't regret saying them after she told him the rest of her vision. And she had to tell him. It was only fair that she make him understand the depth of misery she knew awaited him.

'Austin, I saw you grieving. I felt your despair, your hopelessness and guilt. I heard you say, 'Please, God, don't tell me I've killed her by bringing her here' and 'I cannot live without her.''

He stared at her with a puzzled frown. 'But I said those very words. Yesterday. When I thought you were dying.'

Before she could reply, voices sounded outside the door. Austin rose. 'William, Claudine, and Josette have returned,' he said. 'They are anxious to meet you.'

He crossed the room and opened the door. The woman whom Elizabeth had last seen bound to a chair walked in, her arm linked with a man who was undeniably Austin's brother. Elizabeth smiled. Before she could say hello, however, the child appeared in the doorway.

Elizabeth looked at the little girl with ebony hair and gray eyes.

And her entire world shifted on its axis.

Chapter 28

Only two days had passed since Austin had departed for France, and already Robert knew that he didn't have a prayer of keeping up with his brother's correspondence. He sat behind Austin's massive mahogany desk and groaned at the ever-growing mountain of letters piled in the center. Trying to keep his head above water until Austin and Elizabeth returned from the Continent was going to prove a daunting task.

A knock sounded at the door. Relieved to have something to contemplate other than the correspond-dence, he called 'Come in.'

Miles entered. 'You wished to see me?'

'Yes. There's something I need to discuss with you.'

Miles settled himself in the chair opposite him. 'I'm listening.'

'This concerns Caroline, and I'll not mince words with you. My sister is in love with you.' He sat back and regarded Miles through hooded eyes. 'I'd like to know what you plan to do about it.'

Miles grew very still. 'Caroline told you she, er, cares for me?'

'No, she hasn't directly said so, but she was unable to deny it when I asked her point blank. Good God Miles, even a blind man can see she loves you. I think you'd make an admirable husband for my sister, provided of course, that you hold her in some affection.'

Miles tapped his chin, clearly mulling over his words. 'And if I don't wish to marry at this time?' he finally asked.

'In that case, I'm certain Austin will entertain other offers for her.' He waved his hand over the letters covering the desk. 'There's a note somewhere in this monstrous pile from Charles Blankenship. In it he strongly hints that he's considering offering for Caroline.' Rising, he laid his hand on Miles's shoulder. 'Think about it, my friend,' he said then left the room.

The instant he was alone, Miles paced the length of the room, plunging shaking fingers through his hair. Caroline was in love with him! The thought brought his agitated pacing to an abrupt halt. He recalled her melting in his arms, her eager lips seeking his, and his pulse took off at a brisk gallop. A thin film of perspiration broke out on his forehead. Bloody hell!

He wasn't ready to get married! Married, for God's sake. A lifelong commitment. Hell no. Not me. Caroline was lovely, but there were many lovely women in the world. But none that makes me feel like she does.

He tried to shake off the bothersome inner murmurings that threatened his sacred bachelorhood, but the voice simply would not cease. Caroline would give me handsome and strong sons, and daughters as beautiful as their mother.

Sons? Daughters? Hang it, he was going mad.

He almost ran to the decanters. Pouring himself a generous amount of brandy, he swallowed the potent liquor in a single gulp. He immediately felt better.

Caroline wasn't really in love with him, she was merely infatuated. And he was attracted to her only because she was so unlike the other women he knew. Why, the only thing he needed was to leave this blasted house and engage in a good sexual romp. Slamming down his empty glass, he headed toward the door.

Just as he entered the foyer he heard Carters speaking to someone.

'I'm so sorry, Lord Blankenship, but his grace isn't in at the moment,' Carters intoned in a deep monotone.

Miles skidded to a halt. Blankenship. He must be here to offer for Caroline. And Robert had said that Austin would entertain offers…

'I say, are you quite certain?' Lord Blankenship asked. 'I sent a note around several days ago advising him of my arrival this afternoon. Surely he was expecting me.'

'He was called away rather suddenly-'

'I'll handle this, Carters,' Miles broke in, walking to the door. 'His grace gave me a message to deliver to Lord Blankenship.'

Carters bowed and left the two men alone. Miles turned to Lord Blankenship and gave him a frosty smile. 'Blankenship.'

'Always a pleasure to see you, Eddington.'

Ten minutes later, Lord Blankenship no longer thought it was a pleasure to see Miles. With his handkerchief pressed to his bleeding nose, Lord Blankenship stalked angrily from the drawing room. He saw Caroline in the foyer