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 Axmin-ster 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."
Chapter 5
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 oppor-tunity 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 frown-ing, 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?"