Whirlwind Affair

by Jacquie D’Alessandro

  "I don't believe anyone knows the entire story except Robert, therefore it is up to him to tell you. I suggest you ask him." She squeezed Allie's hand tighter, and a troubled frown suddenly creased her forehead.

  Something in her expression prompted Allie to ask, "Is something amiss?"

  "I… I sense danger. Nothing specific, but I feel it." Her grip tightened further. "You must be careful, Allie. Promise me you won't go off alone. Promise me."

  Concerned about her friend's unmistakable agitation, Allie patted her shoulder. "I promise I won't wander off, Elizabeth. Please do not worry."

  "I've just checked on Lily," came the duke's deep voice from the doorway, "and she is still sleeping like an angel."

  Allie gently extracted her hand from Elizabeth 's embrace, then eased off the bed. "Thank you for your understanding and forgiveness," she whispered.

  Elizabeth looked at her with concern-filled eyes. "You have both. Always. And my love as well."

  " 'Tis far more than I deserve, but I shall gratefully accept."

  "You'll visit me tomorrow?"

  "If you're feeling up to it, of course."

  "And you'll remember your promise?"

  "Yes." Leaning down, she touched her lips to Elizabeth 's forehead. "Good night." She bid good evening to the duke, then quit the room, closing the door with a quiet click.

  Austin immediately strode across the room, grabbing up Elizabeth 's cold hands. Unease edged down his spine at her strained expression. "Something is wrong," he said. "Are you unwell?"

  "No, I'm fine," she quickly assured him.

  "But something is amiss." He peered at her face, and tensed. "You've had a vision."

  She nodded slowly. "Yes. When I touched Allie's hand." She squeezed his hands, then gave him a searching look. "You know about the danger she and Robert have faced."

  "Robert informed me, yes."

  "You deliberately kept it from me."

  "He only told me this afternoon, Elizabeth." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her fingertips. "And you were a bit occupied."

  "It's not over, Austin," she whispered. "I don't know how, but it's going to happen soon…"

  He sat on the edge of the bed and grasped her shoulders. "What's going to happen? What did you see?"

  She swallowed, her eyes stricken. "Death."

  His heart seemed to stall. When he'd first met her, he'd doubted her bewildering ability to "see" past and future events-but no more. Her gift had saved not only his life, but William's and Claudine's and Josette's as well. Austin well knew the frightening word she'd just spoken would come to pass unless steps were taken to stop the events she had seen.

  "Who is going to die?" he asked urgently.

  "I don't know… it wasn't clear. But I sensed death. Very strongly."

  "Did you tell Allie?"

  "I told her about my visions, yes. Told her I felt danger. Warned her to be careful." She briefly closed her eyes, then shook her head, clearly frightened and frustrated. "There is a menace approaching… Its exact nature I can't determine. But it's moving closer. And I do know this"-reaching out, she grasped his upper arms-"Austin, Allie is in grave danger. And Robert as well."

  *************

  Robert stood in the darkened drawing room, staring out the French windows. Clouds obscured the moon, and from the gusts of chill wind rattling the glass panes, he judged a storm most likely on its way. He swirled his brandy slowly in the snifter cupped in his hand, then tilted back his head and drained the potent liquor down his throat. The mantel clock chimed softly, proclaiming the hour. Two a.m. Way past time to retire, as everyone else had hours earlier. But sleep, he knew, would not come, and he could not bear the thought of lying in bed, aroused, thinking of her, lying in her own bed just two doors away. Best he stayed down here, at a safe distance. Closer to the brandy. In fact, another brandy sounded like a capital idea.

  As he poured himself another fingerful, Austin 's voice rose from the shadowed doorway. "I'll have one as well, as long as you're pouring."

  Robert bit back a sigh. Devil take it, there were over fifty bloody rooms in Bradford Hall. Why did Austin have to choose this room to haunt? There was only one person whose company he wanted, and Austin wasn't that person. Much as he loved his brother, he'd prefer to be alone with his thoughts. Wordlessly, he poured a second drink.

  "To Lily. And her mother," Austin said softly, raising his snifter.

  Feeling churlish for wishing his brother out of his own drawing room, Robert touched his glass to Austin 's, the chime of crystal tapping crystal echoing through the room. "To Lily and Elizabeth," he repeated. He tossed back his drink with one burning gulp, then returned to the window and stared out at the darkness. "A beautiful wife, a new daughter, a healthy son… you're a lucky man, Austin."

  "That I am." Robert heard him cross the room. Seconds later Austin joined him at the windows. "Lucky… and worried."

  Robert turned quickly toward him. " Elizabeth? Lily?"

  "No. You. And Mrs. Brown."

  "Has something happened I'm not aware of?"

  "Not exactly…"

  "I sense a 'but.' "

  "I'm afraid so. Elizabeth had one of her visions earlier. When she touched Mrs. Brown."

  The serious look in Austin 's eyes, combined with his grave tone, tightened Robert's every muscle. "What did she see?"

  Austin 's expression grew even more grim. "Death. And danger. Someone is going to die, Robert. She does not know who. But she knows that both you and Mrs. Brown are in danger."

  Robert froze. Allie in danger. Austin 's words reverberated through his mind. Someone is going to die…

  Before Robert could fashion a reply, Austin crossed to the sofa and picked up something, then returned to the windows. He held out his hand, revealing a pistol. "Keep this close to you. Do you carry a knife?"

  "Always."

  "Good. Do not go anywhere alone. If Elizabeth 'sees' anything else, I'll inform you immediately."

  Robert took the pistol, balancing the weight in his hand. Someone is going to die.

  Grim determination filled him. That someone is going to be you, you bastard, whoever you are.

  Clearing his throat, he looked at Austin. "I thank you for the warning. And the weapon. You have my word that no harm will come to Allie."

  Austin slowly raised his brows. "Allie?"

  There was no misinterpreting the question asked with that single word. Robert's gaze did not waver. "Yes. Allie. I trust you aren't going to voice any objections." It was a statement rather than a question.

  "No. No objections. I believe I, more than anyone, can understand the allure of a beautiful American. I'm just a bit surprised, as you haven't known her very long."

  "Indeed? And how long did you know Elizabeth before you knew?"

  A sheepish look crossed Austin 's face. "About a minute and a half. Of course, it took me several weeks to admit it to myself."

  Robert sighed dramatically. "I've always suspected you were slow-witted. I calculate it only took me forty-three seconds. But I only just admitted it to myself a few hours ago."

  "Still, I believe that is a new family record."

  "Yes. One that I'd prefer remain between us, at least until I've declared myself to the lady."

  "Understood. But you should know that Elizabeth will probably 'feel' your emotions. And I suspect Caroline will guess. Our sister can ferret out these emotional sort of things with unerring accuracy."

  "Noted." The mantel clock chimed the half hour. "If you'll excuse me, I'd best retire now. It's been a long day."

  They exchanged good nights, with Austin opting to remain for another brandy. Robert climbed the stairs. He had to keep Allie safe at any cost. And the best way to do that was to be exactly where she was.

  He headed for her bedchamber.

  Chapter 15

  Allie stood in the darkened corner of her bedchamber looking out the window. All she could see was darkness and her own pale reflection. She'd l
ain in the wide bed for hours, praying for sleep to release her from the maelstrom of thoughts whirling through her mind, but sleep had stubbornly refused to come. Instead, emotions and worries and fears marched through her head like a battalion of soldiers-Robert, the ring, Robert, the note, Robert, secrets, Robert, Elizabeth 's warning.

  Robert.

  She pressed her fingers to her temples and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to banish him, but he remained firmly embedded in her mind. She had not seen him since dinner-a rushed meal, as everyone wished to visit with Elizabeth and Lily. Of course, it had been impossible to speak to him in the dining room about what was uppermost in her mind. I think we should become lovers.

  And now, Elizabeth 's confirmation that he did indeed have secrets had her thoughts in further turmoil. What was he hiding? What had happened in his past? An almost morbid curiosity pulled at her. In spite of the fact that she shouldn't care, that it should not matter, she felt an inexplicable need, an overwhelming urge to know. What would happen if she, as Elizabeth suggested, simply asked him? Would he tell her? Or would he, as David had, lie? Or deny there was anything to tell? Don't be a fool. If he has not shared his secrets with his own family, why would he tell you? And why would you want him to?

  She opened her eyes, and her breath caught in her throat. In the window's reflection she saw her bedchamber door opening slowly inward. An icy ball of fear bounced through her, and she whirled around.

  And found herself staring at Robert quietly entering her bedchamber. She blinked twice, certain he was a figment of her overwrought imagination, but he was very real. And here.

  A wave of heat engulfed her, instantly melting her fear. From her shadowy corner, she watched him close, then lock, the door. He moved slowly, silently, toward the bed. She knew the exact instant he realized she did not lie beneath the rumpled bedclothes. He froze, then quickly scanned the room.

  "I'm here," she said, emerging from the deep shadows.

  Robert turned so quickly he swore he almost snapped his neck. There she stood, in the golden glow cast by the low-burning fire in the grate. Relief hit him so hard he felt an actual need to sit down. Instead, he strode across the room and grasped her by her upper arms.

  "Are you all right?" he asked in a tight voice.

  "I'm fine."

  "I was concerned." His voice sounded harsh and more than a little accusatory, even to his own ears.

  She raised her brows. "Then we are even. My heart nearly stopped when I saw my door opening in that furtive manner."

  "It wasn't furtive. It was cautious. I'm relieved you are all right. When I saw the empty bed I thought…" Whatever he'd been about to say evaporated from his mind as his gaze lowered. She wore a cream dressing gown that covered her in unadorned, prim cotton from just below her chin to her toes. A long row of buttons ran down the front, and he imagined an equally plain cotton night rail lay beneath.

  He'd never seen her garbed in anything other than black, and the effect was like a punch in the heart. She looked so achingly lovely, and for the first time since he'd met her, he did not feel that the shadow of another man stood between them.

  "What did you think?" she asked softly. "That some man had absconded with me?"

  He refocused his gaze on her face. Glossy strands of hair had worked free of her braid, lending her a sensually disheveled air. Lifting his hand, he brushed a single fingertip over the smudges marring the delicate pale skin under her eyes, marks that told him without words that she had not slept. Her pupils dilated at the whisper of a touch, and he instantly wondered what her reaction would be to a bolder, more intimate caress.

  "I feared some manner of disaster had befallen you, yes," he said. "Based on the events of our acquaintance thus far, you can hardly fault my concern."

  "I was not finding fault. Indeed, considering my conversation this evening with Elizabeth, I appreciate your vigilance on my behalf."

  His fingers drifted down her smooth cheek. She had no idea how vigilant he intended to be. "What did Elizabeth tell you?"

  "That she sensed danger. And that I should not venture off alone."

  "So you know about her… feelings?"

  "She told me this evening, yes. Told me she'd felt something about David… that was why she'd tried to persuade me not to marry him." A humorless laugh escaped her. "If only-" She shook her head, then stepped away from him. His hands fell to his sides, and he watched her walk across the room to stand in front of the fireplace. Sensing she needed to put some space between them, he forced himself to remain where he was.

  "I cannot change the past," she said. "All I can do is learn from my mistakes."

  "That is all any of us can do, Allie."

  She contemplated the burning log for several seconds, then turned back to him. "This ability of Elizabeth 's, it's extraordinary."

  "Indeed it is," he agreed. "Her 'feelings' saved Austin 's life. My brother William's and his family's lives as well. We are forever in her debt."

  There was no mistaking her surprise. "I did not know this. It is a story I would be interested in hearing."

  "Then I shall tell you. But not now. Now there are other things we need to discuss."

  He watched her go still. Then she lifted her chin a notch. "What other things?"

  "The fact that there is still danger facing you," he said, walking slowly toward her. Her eyes widened slightly at his deliberately measured approach, but she stood her ground. Good. He liked that she didn't back away. Liked the awareness tempered with caution flickering in her eyes. "There is also the fact that you do not need to worry about venturing off alone because I have no intention of being farther away from you than"-he halted when only two feet separated them-"this."

  Reaching out, he lightly clasped her wrists. Her pulse raced beneath his fingers, pleasing him. "Then there is the matter of finishing our conversation from the carriage."

  "Have you thought on the matter?" she asked.

  "I've thought of nothing else."

  "I see. And have you made a decision?" He had to admire her air of calm nonchalance, an effect spoiled only by the rapid quickening of her pulse.

  With his eyes steady on hers, he said, "Surely there can be no doubt in your mind that I want to make love to you."

  A flicker of what appeared to be relief flashed in her eyes. Yet when he said nothing further, simply stood and watched her, that relief turned to uncertainty. "Not a doubt exactly," she said, "yet I sense a 'but.' "

  "I assume you've considered that you could become pregnant." He forcibly pushed aside the incredible, heart-stopping image of her, large with his child.

  "Of course I considered it, but it is not a concern." She lowered her chin and stared at the floor. "I am… barren."

  Everything inside him tensed, and a mental No! screamed through his head. Fate would not be so cruel. Swallowing to moisten his suddenly dry throat, he asked, "What makes you believe that?"

  She raised her head and met his gaze. "I never conceived during my marriage."

  His muscles relaxed somewhat. "You were not married very long."

  "Eight months. Certainly long enough, especially considering how frequently we… tried."

  His teeth clenched at the thought of that thieving scoundrel touching her, and he was glad the bastard would never touch her again. No man will. Except me. "Perhaps the fault was your husband's."

  She shook her head. "No. The failure was mine. David was quite positive on the matter. So positive, in fact, that given what I now know about him, I would not be surprised if he'd fathered a child at some point." Bitterness compressed her lips. "Indeed, he might have fathered several. Lord knows I was not his first woman… or his last. Not being able to have children… it was difficult to accept, yet I had no choice but to do so."

  Her words cut deep. He wanted children. Lots of them. And Allie would be a wonderful mother.

  But what if she were truly barren?

  He looked into her eyes, and his heart turned over. Yes, children w
ere important. But she was essential. If she truly could not bear a child, then they would lavish their love on their nieces and nephews. And in the meanwhile, he'd pointed out the likelihood that her husband could have been at fault for her childless state. If the lady wasn't concerned about becoming pregnant, well, who was he to argue?

  The ramifications of that seared through his brain. If she were to become pregnant with his child… that would force her to stay with him. Marry him.

  Surely that thought should horrify his conscience, yet his inner voice remained silent, allowing him to rationalize that, while he would never want her to be forced into a marriage she did not want, there was not a doubt in his mind that given enough time, she would come to realize they belonged together. Certainly once they'd made love, she would know.

  "Was there anything else you wished to discuss?" she asked.

  Releasing her wrists, he entwined their fingers. "No. In fact, I believe I'm quite out of conversation."

  She stepped forward, erasing the distance between them. The tips of her breasts brushed his shirt, igniting him. "Then perhaps you'd like to kiss me."

  His gaze drifted down to her full lips, and he swelled against his breeches. "Yes, I would. For starters…"

  Bending his head, he captured her mouth in a kiss he'd meant to be tender. But the instant his lips touched hers, it blazed into something hot and demanding, then scorching when she disentangled her fingers from his and ran her palms up his chest and over his shoulders to tangle in his hair.

  Wrapping one arm around her waist, he hauled her tightly against him, while his free hand slid up her back, into her soft hair. They strained against each other, her breasts flattened against his chest, his erection cradled in the V of her thighs. Their tongues tangled in a desperate dance to taste more, delve deeper. The taste of her… sweet and spicy at the same time, her luscious honeysuckle scent, wrapped around him, invading his senses. He wanted, needed, more of her. Now.

  A small inner voice warned him to slow down, but his body was beyond obeying. He felt as if he'd spent months in the desert, deprived of water, and she was an oasis. A desperate need to touch her everywhere at once overwhelmed him, fueling the hunger pounding through him. His hands skimmed restlessly down her back, cupping her rounded buttocks, then wandered up her rib cage and forward, to fill his palms with her full breasts.