He stood and grabbed her shoulders. Turning her around, he gathered her into a tight embrace, burying his face in her hair. "Caroline, darling, this is no jest." He pushed her chin up with his fingers until her teary gaze met his. "I bloodied Blankenship's nose because he dared to touch you. The thought of you with him, or any man for that matter, is completely impossible. I simply cannot allow it. I want you too much for myself."
His solemn eyes regarded her steadily. "I love you, Caroline. I want you to be my wife. Say you'll marry me."
She stared up into his handsome, serious face. If he hadn't been holding on to her, she would have slithered into a boneless heap at his feet. "I'll marry you," she said softly.
"Thank God." He bent his head to kiss her lips, but she pulled back.
"Ummm, Miles?"
He kissed her neck instead. "Yes?"
"Now that you've asked for my hand and I've accepted you won't change your mind will you?"
"Never," he vowed against her neck. He suddenly stilled then raised his head and looked at her, a frown forming between his brows. "Why do you ask?"
She chewed on her lower lip. "Well…"
"Well what?"
She drew a deep breath, then blurted "Charles Blankenship never kissed me."
Miles stared at her for long moment. "He never kissed you?"
She shook her head. "No." "You mean you-"
"Made it up. To make you jealous." She stared up at him, waiting for his reaction. Please, God, don't make me sorry I told him the truth. I just don't want a lie between us.
He frowned. "It worked."
"It did? You were jealous?"
"I wanted to kill the bastard. Now I suppose I shall let him live-provided he never comes near you again."
"After that bloody nose you gave him, I'm sure he never will." She rested her palms against his chest. "Are you angry?"
He pulled her against him and cupped her face between his hands. "Angry? Hardly. You've accepted my proposal. Now, if you'd cease chattering long enough for me to kiss you, I'd be a very happy man indeed."
"I won't say another word."
"Excellent. But before you stop talking, you could tell me you love me."
"I love you," she whispered, rising up on tiptoes and pressing herself against him.
A groan rumbled in his throat. "I hope you don't want a long engagement."
Heaving a blissful sigh, Caroline wound her arms around his neck. "Not at all. In case you haven't noticed whirlwind weddings run in the family."
Chapter 29
Elizabeth stared at the child. She tried to draw a breath into her lungs, but the room was bereft of air. The girl's dark hair, her gray eyes, her age registered in Elizabeth's mind with an instant click of recognition.
This was the child from her vision.
Realization slammed into her with such force she felt light-headed. Claudine was the child's mother, which meant William… William was her father. Not Austin.
The child in danger was this child. Josette. Not my child. And she'd saved her from the danger. Austin's words in the vision… his desolation, they were because hed thought he d lost me.
William and Claudine walked in and smiled at Elizabeth. Tugging lightly on the child's hand, they approached Elizabeth. "We're so happy you are awake," William said. "There is so much to talk about, but most important, we must thank you for saving our daughter Josette's life."
In a daze, Elizabeth held out her hand. Josette shyly placed her small palm on Elizabeth's. Joy instantly suffused Elizabeth. Nothing but joy radiated from this child. No danger. No death. The threat was over. The relief sweeping through her left her faint.
Austin knelt beside the bed. "Elizabeth, are you all right? You look pale."
She tore her gaze from the little girl and stared at him. With an effort, she dragged a ragged breath into her lungs and moistened her dust dry lips. Reaching out, she grasped his hands. "Austin. Josette… she is the child I saw in my vision."
For several heartbeats he simply stared at her. In a low voice he asked, "You mean the child you saw dying-"
"Was Josette. But she didn't die. We saved her. And it was William s child. Not ours." Tears pooled in her eyes, spilling over to wet her cheeks. "Not ours."
"Not ours?" he repeated, his eyes dazed. But then he frowned and lowered his voice further. "Do you mean that Josette is in danger?"
"No. The danger is over. Josette is fine."
"She's fine. And there's no danger to our child?"
"None."
He briefly squeezed his eyes shut, then brought their joined hands to his lips. "My God, Elizabeth." He swallowed audibly. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
"It means we're free. Free to love and bear our children without that horrible fear hanging over us."
"Elizabeth…" Leaning forward, he kissed her with aching tenderness.
She squeezed his hand and images flooded her mind. She tried to push them away, desperate not to see anything bad, anything that might ruin this moment. But the picture that formed in her mind stole the breath from her lungs.
With crystal clarity she saw herself and Austin, standing close together in a field of wildflowers, their eyes filled with loving promise. He held his hand out to her. I love you, Elizabeth.
The image faded leaving a well of warmth and bemused wonder in its wake.
He leaned back and studied her face. "What did you see?"
"You and me… it was a vision of love. And happiness."
"Happiness."
"Yes." A joyous smile rose from her heart. "It is an American word that means 'heavenly bliss.'"
He brought their clasped hands to his lips. "It is also an English word that means 'you and I loving each other for the rest of our lives.'"
She looked into his eyes and immediately knew he was right.
Epilogue
Austin paced the length of the drawing room, raking his fingers through his hair. The doctor had been with Elizabeth for over an hour. How the hell long did it take to remove the dressing on her shoulder and determine if she was fully recovered? They'd been home for a month. Surely that was enough time for her injury to have completely healed.
Laughter distracted his thoughts and he walked to the opened window. His entire family, minus Caroline and Miles who were honeymooning in Brighton, sat around the round table on the terrace. His mother was beaming at William, who bounced a squealing Josette on his knee. Claudine and Lady Penbroke were engaged in an animated discussion, and Robert was occupied removing the end of Lady Penbroke's boa from his teacup. Under the table, Gadzooks and his cohorts frolicked with the small white puppy Austin had recently purchased. He'd had to search nearly all of England to find a dog that looked exactly like the sketch of Patch Elizabeth had drawn, but he'd finally succeeded.
Elizabeth had laughed and cried at the same time when he'd placed the squirming furry bundle in her arms. The delight shining from her eyes had touched him… in that place deep inside him only she could reach.
A knock sounded on the door.
Turning from the window, he called, "Come in."
Elizabeth entered.
He reached her in two strides. "Are you all right?"
She smiled. "The doctor said I am fine."
A relieved breath whooshed from his lungs. "Thank God." He drew her into his arms and kissed her brow. Leaning back, he noticed she held a letter. "Is that from Caroline?"
"No. It's from my friend in America. Alberta."'
"The young woman you warned not to marry?"
"Yes. Unfortunately my premonitions proved correct." She looked at him through sad eyes. "David was unfaithful to her. He was killed in a duel by his lover's husband."