Whirlwind Wedding (7 page)

"I never said this mission wasn't without certain dangers," Austin said blandly.

"Downright fraught with danger if you ask me," Miles muttered. "But while I fetched Lady Penbroke numerous cups of punch and dodged her feathers, she told me, quite emphatically, that this is her niece's first visit to England. I believe Lady Penbroke's exact words were 'And it's about damn time.'"

"Do you know how long Miss Matthews is planning to stay?"

"When I asked Lady Penbroke, she fixed a steely look on me and informed me that as the gel had barely just arrived she'd not made any plans to send her back to America."

"What about her family?"

"Her parents are both deceased. Her mother, Lady Penbroke's sister, died eight years ago. The father passed away two years ago."

"Any brothers or sisters?"

"No."

Austin raised his brows. "What did she do after her father died? She can't be much older than twenty. Surely she didn't live alone."

"She is two and twenty. I came away with the impression that Miss Matthews's father left her comfortable, but far from wealthy. She settled her father's affairs, then moved in with distant relations on her father's side who lived in the same town. Apparently these relatives have a daughter close in age to Miss Matthews and they're great friends."

"Did you find out anything else?"

Miles nodded. "When Miss Matthews sailed to England she arrived with a hired traveling companion named Mrs. Loretta Thomkins. They parted company when the ship docked. Lady Penbroke understood that Mrs.

Thomkins planned to remain in London with family. If that is the case, she won't be difficult to locate."

"Excellent. Thank you, Miles."

"You're welcome, but you owe me a boon. Several, in fact."

"Based on your tone, I'm not sure I want to know why."

"I asked so many questions about her niece, I believe Lady Penbroke entertains the notion that I fancy the chit."

Austin stilled. "Indeed? I imagine you promptly disabused her of that notion."

Miles shrugged and flicked a bit of lint from his sleeve. "Not exactly.

Before speaking to Lady Penbroke, I brought up Miss Matthews to several well-connected ladies. The mere mention of her name induced giggles, twitters, and eye rolling. If Lady Penbroke spreads the word that I've shown interest in her niece, perhaps some of the twittering will stop. Miss Matthews strikes me as a nice young woman who does not deserve to be cast out. In fact, now that I think of it, she's really quite lovely, don't you agree?"

"I hadn't particularly noticed."

Miles's brows almost disappeared into his hairline.
"You?
Not notice an attractive female? Are you ill? Feverish?"

"No." Damn it, when did Miles become such a blasted pest?

"Well, allow me to enlighten you. What Miss Matthews lacks in social graces, she more than makes up for with her lovely face, smooth complexion, and dimpling smile. Her beauty is quiet, understated requiring a second look before it can be fully appreciated. While fashionable society decrees her height unfashionable, I find it fascinating."

He tapped his chin with two fingers, his expression thoughtful. "I wonder what it would be like to kiss such a tall woman . . . especially one with a lush mouth like Miss Matthews possesses. Her lips are really quite extraordinary—"

"Miles."

"Yes?"

Austin ordered his clenched muscles to relax. "You've wandered off the subject."

Miles's face bore a mask of pure innocence. "I thought we were discussing Miss Matthews."

"We were. It's simply not necessary to mention her . . . attributes."

A gleam sparkled in Miles's eyes. "Ah. So you
did
notice."

"Notice what?"

"Her . . . attributes."

Determined to put an end to this conversation, Austin said "I'm not blind Miles. Miss Matthews is, as you say, lovely. I do not intend to let that sway or influence me in my search for information." He fixed a penetrating stare on his friend. "I trust you will not allow it to, either."

"Certainly not. I am not the one who is interested in the woman."

"I am not
interested
in her."

"Indeed?" Chuckling, Miles rose, crossed the Axminster rug, then laid a hand on Austin's shoulder. "You have me traipsing about the kingdom gathering information about her for reasons that you've yet to share with me although you must realize I'm burning with curiosity, and you looked positively grim when I waxed poetic about her remarkable lips."

"I'm sure I looked nothing of the sort."

"Grim," Miles repeated "and ready to toss me out on my very elegantly attired posterior."

To Austin's annoyance, heat crept up his neck. Before he could reply, Miles said "You look like a volcano on the verge of eruption. How very . . .

interesting. And on that note, I shall depart for London. I'll report back as soon as I've discovered anything of interest." He crossed the room, but paused at the door. "Good luck with Miss Matthews, Austin. I've a feeling you're going to need it."

Austin spent most of the afternoon ensconced in his study, going over the accounts of his Cornwall estate. Unfortunately, his mind was not focused on the task and the rows of numbers kept running together, refusing to add up properly. His brain churned with questions. Was it possible that the blackmailer had some connection to the Frenchman Gaspard? Or perhaps the blackmailer
was
Gaspard. He strongly suspected so, and if so, he was most likely in England hi which case Austin hoped his Bow Street Runner would locate him.
Contact me again, you bastard. I look forward to finding you.

You plan to write me again in London after July first—but perhaps I'll find
you
first.
He wanted this settled and the threat to his family over. And he needed to figure out how Miss Matthews fit into the equation.

In need of a reprieve, he stretched and walked to the windows. Gazing down on the lawns, he saw Caroline and Miss Matthews frolicking with Gadzooks and three other kittens whom he believed were Egad, Balderdash, and Fiddlesticks—although it was sometimes difficult to tell the beasts apart. It was quite possible they were Damn It All, Bloody Hell, and Blow My Dickey.

Shaking his head he realized that if Miss Matthews and Caroline were going to entertain themselves with the cats, he'd have to warn Mortlin to adjust the beasts' names.

He opened the window a crack, and feminine giggles drifted up to him.

Tenderness seeped through him at Caroline's sweet laughter. It was a sound he had missed for many months after William's death. His gaze settled on Miss Matthews and his heart seemed to skip a beat. A dimpling smile wreathed her face and bright sunlight shimmered on her glorious hair. She looked young, carefree, innocent, and impossibly lovely.

And she'd made his sister laugh.

A rush of gratitude warmed him, catching him off guard. He needed to remember that Miss Matthews was obviously more than she appeared.

Yes, she'd amused Caroline, but what else might she be telling his sister?

Hopefully she wasn't spreading tales of William being alive or spouting nonsense about visions.

Still, if Caroline befriended her, perhaps his sister could offer him some insights into Miss Matthews's character. Yes, he definitely needed to speak with Caroline.

As soon as possible.

Austin's first opportunity to have a private word with Caroline was in the drawing room before dinner that evening. Maneuvering her aside, he remarked in a casual tone, "It appears you've made a new friend."

Caroline accepted a glass of sherry from a footman. "You mean Elizabeth?" At Austin's nod she said "We spent most of the day together. I like her very much. She's unlike anyone I've ever met."

"Indeed? What is so unusual about her?"

"Everything," Caroline said without hesitation. "Her knowledge of medicine, her love of animals. She's amusing, but her humor is not at the expense of others. She did not utter an unkind word about anyone the entire day."

"That isn't unusual," Austin muttered, relieved that Miss Matthews had clearly said nothing to upset Caroline. "That's a miracle." Especially given the way the members of the
ton
had treated her.

"Exactly. She possesses an interesting combination of shy awkwardness and bold intelligence, yet I sensed a sadness about her. She misses her home."

"Had you met her before last evening?"

"We were introduced but I hadn't had the opportunity to speak with her at great length."

"Have you heard any gossip about her?"

"Only that she is a poor dancer and considered somewhat of a bluestocking. I noticed that most of the gentlemen ignore her, but I believe I may have fixed that."

He stilled. "What do you mean?"

Caroline waved her hand in a breezy manner. "I simply shared a few fashion ideas with her, then sent my abigail to her this evening to style her hair." Her blue eyes sparkled with sudden interest. "Why do you ask about Elizabeth?"

"Just curious. I observed you with her today, playing with the kittens."

He smiled at her. "It was good to hear you laughing."

"I cannot recall the last time I enjoyed myself so much. I believe Elizabeth and I will be the best of friends. Have you had the chance to speak with her?"

He arranged his features into a bland mask. "Yes."

"And what did you think of her?"

"I thought she was . . ." His words drifted off as he caught sight of her entering the drawing room.
Exquisite.

Surely
this
ravishing creature wasn't the same woman whom the gentlemen of the
ton
ignored. How could any man who saw her not want her? Dressed in a simple gown of ivory silk, a long, unadorned fluid column of alabaster, she rendered most of the other women in the room overdressed and garish in comparison.

Her auburn tresses were caught up in an elegant topknot. A single thick curl cascaded over her shoulder, ending just below her waist, an enticing streak of shimmering color against a pale background. He'd had no idea her hair was so long, and he wondered what she would look like with it unbound falling down her back.
Exquisite.

She hesitated in the doorway, her eyes anxiously searching the guests until they lit on Caroline. A smile warmed her golden brown eyes, a look that he noticed faltered when she caught sight of him standing next to Caroline.

"Doesn't she look marvelous!" Caroline enthused. "I
knew
with the correct dress and coiffure she'd be stunning. Why, I've transformed her into a swan!" Caroline glanced at him, then whispered "Stop frowning, Austin. I told Elizabeth to meet me here by the fireplace and you'll frighten her away."

"I'm not frowning."

Caroline sent him an arch look. "Your countenance resembles a thundercloud. Shall I fetch you a mirror?"

He forced his facial muscles to relax. "No."

"That's better. You never finished telling me your impression of Elizabeth."

Austin watched her making her way across the room, pausing to chat with her aunt. His hands clenched when he noticed that every damn man in the room was watching her as well. She glanced in his direction and their eyes met for several heartbeats before she raised her chin a notch, then turned away.

Warmth crept up his neck at her obvious dismissal. With his gaze still fixed upon her, he said "Miss Matthews struck me as unusual, no doubt because of her colonial upbringing."

"Unusual?" Caroline repeated softly. "Yes, I suppose that would explain it."

"Explain what?"

"Why you haven't been able to take your eyes off her since she appeared in the doorway."

He snapped his head around and encountered Caroline's amused blue gaze. Leveling his best frigid glare on her, he said "I beg your pardon?"

Reaching up, she gently patted his cheek. "Austin, darling. You know that icy stare doesn't scare me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I'll join Elizabeth and Lady Penbroke,"

She sauntered off, and Austin tossed back his champagne in a single gulp. His gaze again settled on Miss Matthews as she greeted Caroline with an inviting smile curving her lips, and he wondered how it would feel to have her greet
him
in such a warm manner. The very thought sent a tingle through him, thoroughly annoying him.

Caroline's words echoed in his mind.
You haven't been able to take your eyes
off her since she appeared in the doorway.
Couldn't take his eyes off her?

Ridiculous! Of course he could. And he would. As soon as she turned away and he could no longer see her smile. Or her mouth. Or that fascinating single curl flowing down her dress.

Until then, he needed to watch her, to observe her, to find out all he could about her.

For investigative purposes only, of course.

*

At dinner, Elizabeth sat between her aunt and Lord Digby. To her surprise, Lord Digby conversed with her at length, engaging her in conversation about American farming techniques. She knew next to nothing about the subject, but listened politely, nodding encouragingly, while she enjoyed the sumptuous ten-course meal and dodged her aunt's peacock feathers.

While Lord Digby waxed poetic about sheep-shearing procedures, her attention wandered to the head of the table where the duke sat.

Resplendent in black evening wear, he all but took her breath away, a fact that irritated her to no end. She did
not
want to find that pigheaded man attractive.

He chatted easily with the guests seated around him, but she noticed that he rarely smiled, a fact that pushed her irritation aside and tugged at her heart.

A troubled soul lurked beneath his polished exterior, but he hid it well. If she hadn't touched him, she would have seen only what he presented. She wouldn't have known his sadness or loneliness or guilt. Or sensed the danger threatening him.