"You had no way of knowing, Austin."

"I should have trusted in you, known that you would never commit treason."

"You believed what I wanted you to believe. I could have confessed what was going on when we spoke, but I couldn't risk that someone might overhear, or question you. I would have said anything-anything-to protect Claudine and Josette, even if it meant pretending to my own brother that I was a traitor."

Austin looked over at Elizabeth. Yes, he could understand that depth of love.

"I'm sorry that I've had to allow you, Mother, Robert, and Caroline to mourn me this past year," William said in a quiet voice, "but until I took care of Gaspard I couldn't risk returning to the family. By killing him, you've set me free."

A shudder passed through Austin. "That bastard almost killed my wife. I would kill him again if I could."

"She is very brave, your wife. Have you been married long?"

"No. But she's changed my life." He looked at William and understanding flowed between them. "You understand."

"Perfectly. Claudine changed mine."

Silence fell for several seconds, then Austin said "The first night I met Elizabeth, she told me you were alive. I didn't believe her."

William frowned. "How could she possibly have known I was alive?"

Austin gazed at the cot by the fire, at the woman who held his heart and soul in her hands. He would not dishonor her and what she'd done for him and his family by hiding the gift of her visions… for that's exactly what they were. A gift. Returning his attention to William, he explained just how extraordinary his wife really was.

When he finished, William simply stared at him. "That's incredible."

Once again his gaze drifted to Elizabeth. "Yes, William. That's exactly what she is. Incredible."

And the moment she awoke, he would begin convincing her she was just that. And that she belonged with him.


i

Chapter 27


Elizabeth came awake slowly, gradually becoming aware of her surroundings. A dull, relentless ache throbbed in her shoulder, but it was a vast improvement over the inferno that she recalled burning there earlier. She breathed deeply and the savory aroma of something delicious cooking filled her nostrils. Her stomach instantly tightened with hunger.

She lifted her eyelids. Gentle shafts of sunlight lit the room, arcing over the beamed ceiling. Birdcalls twittered faintly in the distance.

"Elizabeth."

She slowly turned her head toward his voice, wincing at the pull on her shoulder. He sat next to where she lay, his elbows resting on his spread knees, his hands clasped between them.

Stubble shadowed his jaw, lending him the look of a dark angel. His hair was pushed haphazardly back from his forehead as if he'd raked his fingers through it a dozen times. He looked rumpled and tired yet incredibly strong and solid.

And so very worried. Hoping to erase the concern in his eyes, she forced a tiny smile to her lips. "Austin."

A breath whooshed from his lungs and he closed his eyes for a brief second. Reaching out a visibly shaking hand he gently touched her cheek. "How do you feel?"

She thought for a moment. "My shoulder hurts. I'm very thirsty, and whatever that delicious smell is has my stomach growling."

His tense features relaxed. "I'll get you something to eat and drink, then give you some laudanum for the pain." He stood and her gaze followed him around the room, watching him pour water from a metal pitcher into a thick cup.

Returning to her side, he very gently helped her sit partially up, stuffing several pillows behind her. Dear God it felt so good to have his hands on her, even if the touch was given solely for caregiving purposes.

Once she was settled he held the cup to her lips. She drained it three times before the dryness in her throat finally abated.

"More?" he asked.