Whirlwind Wedding (3 page)

"No, your grace."

"Are you saying my brother wasn't a hero?"

"No. I'm saying that he didn't die. Your brother William is alive."

Elizabeth felt the onset of the numbing fatigue that sometimes followed a vision. She wanted desperately to sit down, but the suspicion blazing from the duke's eyes held her pinned in place.

"You will tell me everything you know that makes you claim my brother is alive," he commanded in an icy tone. "Immediately."

Dear God, why did I say anything?
But even as she asked herself, Elizabeth knew the answer. A young woman's face flashed in her mind. . . the beloved friend she'd never see again . . . all because Elizabeth remained silent about a premonition. It was a mistake she'd vowed never to make again.

And the fact that this William was alive—surely that was joyous news?

But the hostility and distrust in the duke's eyes indicated she'd spoken too hastily. Yet surely she could convince him she spoke the truth.

"I know your brother is alive because I saw him—"

"Where did you see him? When?"

"Just now." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "In my mind."

His eyes narrowed to slits. "In your
mind?
What rubbish is this? Are you daft?"

"No, your grace. I . . . I am able to see things. In my mind. I suppose some might call it a second sight. I'm afraid I cannot really explain it."

"And you're saying you saw my brother. Alive."

"Yes."

"If that is true, where is he?"

A frown puckered her brow. "I do not know. My visions are most often vague. I only know he did not die as everyone believes."

"And you expect me to believe this?"

The icy disbelief in his tone chilled her. "I understand your doubts. That which cannot be explained scientifically is easy to dismiss as fiction. I can only assure you that what I am telling you is true."

"What did this man you claim was my brother look like?"

Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, forcing her mind to empty then focus on what she'd seen. "Tall. Broad shouldered. Dark hair."

"How convenient. You've just described half the men in England, including the Regent himself, who, as I'm sure you know, is very much alive. And it would not be difficult to describe my brother when there is a large portrait of him hanging in the gallery."

Opening her eyes, she said "I have not seen a portrait. The man I saw looked like you, and he had a scar."

He stilled and she sensed his sudden tension. 'Scar? Where?"

"On his upper right arm."

"Many men bear scars." A muscle in his jaw ticked. "If you think to convince me that you possess some sort of magical powers, you've picked the wrong man to ply with your schemes. Gypsy thieves have roamed Europe for centuries, claiming such powers, lying, hoping to trick foolish people into parting with their gold, and stealing it if they failed."

Anger shot through her. "I am not a gypsy, a schemer, a thief, or a liar."

"Indeed? I suppose next you'll tell me you can read minds."

"Only occasionally." Her gaze dropped to his mouth, which was set in a disdainful line. "I read your thoughts when you touched my hand."

"Did you? And what was I thinking?"

"You . . . wished to kiss me."

He merely raised his brows. "It would not require any special powers to hazard such a guess. My attention was momentarily fixed on your mouth."

In spite of his casual reply, however, she could feel his tension, his wariness and suspicion—feelings she was well used to discerning. But underneath those, she felt something else that, in spite of her anger, called out to her.

Loneliness.

Sadness.

Guilt.

They surrounded him like a dark cloak and her heart pinched in sympathy. She knew those feelings all too well, how much they hurt the spirit, ate at the soul.

She, too, had regrets she wished to atone for. Could she, perhaps, help him? Would that ease her own guilt?

Determined to convince him she wasn't crazy and that he had truly desired her for a moment, she whispered "You wanted to kiss me. You wondered what I would taste like. You imagined leaning forward, brushing your lips over mine, once, twice. Then you deepened the kiss . . ."

His eyes flickered, his gaze darkening then dropping to her mouth. "Go on."

Heat curled through her when she imagined what he'd thought next. . .

his tongue caressing hers. "I believe I've proven my point."

"Do you?" Austin regarded her through narrowed eyes. It was one thing to hazard a guess that he'd thought about kissing her, but it was damned odd that her words had so exactly mirrored his thoughts.

Jesus, what if she were right? What if William was alive? Impossible, illogical hope rushed forward with such force he nearly staggered, but sanity quickly returned. Several soldiers had witnessed William going down in battle. Even though the gunshot wound had destroyed his face, he'd been positively identified by the engraved timepiece found under his body.

There was no mistake. William was dead. If he wasn't, he would have contacted his family and come home.

Unless he were a traitor to the crown.

His mind reeled. It was damned suspicious that Miss Matthews made this claim on the heels of the disturbing note he'd received a fortnight ago, a note that confirmed his worst fears regarding William's loyalty to the crown. Could she know something about that letter or William's war activities? Might she know something about the Frenchman he'd seen with William?

How had she known about the scar? William had a small scar on his upper right arm, a trophy from a childhood riding mishap. Could she have known William? Intimately enough to know his body?

Softly illuminated in the moonlight, her disarranged hair teased by the summer breeze, she certainly did not look like a spy, a murderess, or a seductress, but he well knew that looks were deceiving. Some of the most beautiful women he knew were vicious, conniving, and heartless. What sort of person lay beneath her innocent facade? He didn't know what game she was playing, but he was determined to find out. And if it was necessary to play along with her "visions" ploy, he would.

He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could utter a word she said "I'm not playing games, your grace. I want to help you."

Damn. He was going to have to be very careful around this woman.

While he discarded her claims of visions— what sane man wouldn't?—she was uncannily, eerily perceptive.

If he didn't watch his step, he suspected she might somehow learn his secrets—secrets that could ruin his family.

"Tell me what you know about my brother," he said.

"I don't know anything about him, your grace. Until I touched your hands, I hadn't known he existed."

"Indeed? How long have you been in England?"

"Six months."

"And you expect me to believe that in all that time, no one has mentioned my brother?" A mirthless laugh escaped him.

She hesitated then said in a quiet voice, "I'm afraid I haven't been what one would call the social success of the Season. I find I am most often talked
about
rather than talked to."

"Surely your aunt keeps you abreast of the latest
on dits?

A wry, half smile curved her lips. "To be perfectly honest, your grace, my aunt speaks of little else but the comings and goings of London's finest. I love her dearly, but after five minutes of such conversation, I fear I develop a bit of a deaf ear."

"I see. Tell me more about this, er, vision you had of William."

"I saw a young man wearing a military uniform. He was injured, but alive. I only know his name was William, and he was important to you."

She turned troubled eyes to him. "You believe he is dead, but he is not. I'm sure of it."

"You make this outlandish claim, yet you offer no proof."

"No . . . at least not yet."

"Meaning?"

"If we spend some time together, I might be able to tell you more. My visions are erratic and usually nothing more than flashes, but they normally occur when I'm touching something, most often a person's hands."

He raised his brows. "So you're saying that if we sit about holding hands, you might be able to see something more."

Her eyes clouded at his sarcastic remark. "I understand your skepticism, and for that reason I normally do not reveal my premonitions."

"Yet you revealed this one."

"Yes. Because the last time I remained silent it cost me dearly." She frowned. "Are you not pleased to know your brother is alive?"

"What I
know
is that my brother is dead. And I won't have you mentioning this vision nonsense to anyone else, most especially my mother or sister. It would be unspeakably cruel to offer them hope where none exists. Do you understand?"

She gazed at him steadily for several heartbeats. There was no mistaking the steely menace in his tone. "I shall respect your wishes, your grace. As you know, my aunt and I will be your houseguests for the next several weeks. If you change your mind and would like me to try to help you, I will not be hard to find. I'm very tired and wish to retire now. Good night, your grace."

He watched her climb the steps to the guest chambers.

Oh, you'll help me, Miss Matthews. If you know anything about William, you
won't have a choice.

It took Austin several minutes to locate Miles Avery in the crowded ballroom. When he finally spotted his friend, he wasn't surprised to see the dashing earl surrounded by a bevy of ladies. Damn it, he hoped he wouldn't have to drag Miles by the hair to wrest him away from his adoring audience.

He was saved from that unpleasantness, however, when Miles spotted Austin bearing down on him. Leveling a pointed look at his friend, Austin jerked his head toward the corridor leading to his private study, then made his way to the room, confident Miles would arrive close behind him. After more than two decades of friendship, they understood each other well.

He'd barely finished pouring two brandies when a discreet knock sounded on the door.

"Come in."

Miles entered the room, closing the door behind him. A crooked smile curved his lips. "It's about time you resurfaced. I've been looking for you everywhere. Where were you hiding yourself?"

"I took a stroll in the garden."

"Oh? Were you admiring the flowers?" Miles's eyes danced with mischief. "Or were you perhaps partaking of nature's delights in some other . . . oh, shall we say,
lusty
way?"

"Neither. I simply took myself off in search of some peace and quiet."

"And was your search successful?"

An image of Miss Matthews flashed in his mind. "I'm afraid not. Why were you looking for me?"

The teasing gleam lighting Miles's eyes grew more pronounced. "To give you a piece of my mind. What sort of friend are you, deserting me in such a manner? You hardly ever attend parties and suffer your portion of the wedding-minded virgins who pursue us, and even when the ball is in your own home, you're nowhere to be found. Lady Digby and her numerous daughters trapped me behind a potted palm. Thanks to your departure, she foisted the chits on me. They're all cabbage-headed nincompoops and horrid dancers as well. My poor abused toes will never be the same."

With a perfectly straight face, Miles went on, "Of course that group you summoned me away from just now appeared much more promising. The ladies were all but hanging on my every word. Do you see the pearls of wisdom dripping from my lips?"

Austin regarded him over the rim of his snifter. "I cannot fathom why you find the false adoration of brainless twits so diverting. Don't you ever grow tired of it?"

"Of course. You know how I utterly detest it when beautiful, nubile females with ripe, lush curves throw themselves at me. I shudder with horror every time." Miles was about to sip his brandy, but his hand arrested halfway to his lips. "I say, Austin. Are you all right? You look, well, rather peaked."

"Thank you, Miles. Your kind words never fail to warm my heart." He took a long swallow of brandy, searching for the right words. "To answer your question, I'm a bit unsettled. Something has happened and I need a favor."

The humor instantly vanished from Miles's eyes. "You know you have only to ask."

A pent-up breath he hadn't realized he held escaped Austin. Of course he could count on Miles, just as he'd always been able to. The fact that he kept secrets from this man who'd been his closest friend since childhood filled him with guilt.
It's for his own good and protection that he not know the
circumstances surrounding William's war activities.
"I need some discreet inquiries made."

Interest kindled in Miles's intelligent ebony eyes. "Regarding what?"

"A certain young woman."

"Ah. I see. Looking to hang yourself in the matrimonial noose?" Before Austin could correct him, Miles plunged on. "Can't say I envy you. There's not a woman alive I'd care to see across the dinner table every day. The very words
Till death do you part
send chills of horror down my spine. But I suppose you must do your duty to the title and you're not getting any younger. I thank God every day my cousin Gerald can inherit the earldom from me. Of course, Robert can inherit the dukedom, but we both know your younger brother wants the title as much as he'd relish the pox. In fact —"

"Miles." The single brusque syllable halted the flow of words.

"Yes?"

"Not that sort of young lady."

A knowing grin touched Miles's lips.
"Aha.
Say no more. You need information regarding someone who is . . . less than suitable. I understand."