Elizabeth awoke to the softness of a summer breeze blowing a rosy dawn in glorious streaks across the gray night sky, and to the knowledge that she—Elizabeth Shannon Frazier Randolph—was in love with her husband. She couldn’t say how she knew, or when it had happened, but the knowledge of it was like a song inside her.
Elizabeth climbed from her bed, wrapped the beautiful white dressing gown around her and went to the window. Standing by the casement, with her arms clasped tightly across her chest as if she could physically hold on to this tender new emotion that had permeated her entire being, she deliberately shut out the doubts, the dark thoughts that were clamoring for her attention, and thought only of the beauty that filled her as she watched the dawn break. For this little while—for this tiny space of time—she was determined to listen only to the song her heart was singing. To think only of the incredible, beautiful, wonderful truth of love.
A soft tap, followed by the opening of her bedroom door ended her reverie.
“Mornin’, mum.”
“Good morning, Trudy.”
Elizabeth continued to stare out the window, trying her best to ignore the familiar sounds of her maid’s daily morning routine, but the harsh intrusion of reality defeated her. She sighed and turned from the window. She couldn’t possibly face Justin the way she was feeling.
“I will not be going down to breakfast this morning, Trudy.” Elizabeth smiled when the maid stopped bustling about and gave her a questioning look—it must be that odd, languorous tone in her voice. “And my bath can wait. Right now, I’d like to be alone. I’ll ring when I’m ready for you.” The question in Trudy’s eyes sprang into full-blown curiosity at this sudden departure from their customary morning routine. Elizabeth turned her back and looked out the window.
“Yes, mum. I’ll wait for your ring.”
Elizabeth’s shoulders slumped as the door closed behind her maid. Tears welled into her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She lifted her hand and wiped them away. So this despair was the other side of love’s joy. She drew a deep breath, squared her shoulders and lifted her head to stare up at the ever brightening sky. Even if she must hide her feelings…even if Justin did not return them…at least she now knew that love was real. It had to be. Nothing else could possibly make you so happy to feel so miserable.
Elizabeth laughed aloud at the incongruity of the thought. She looked up at the beautiful dawn sky through shimmering tears and whispered the words to the only one she could tell. “I’m in love, dear God. I’m in love with Justin!”
Joy coursed through her at the sheer magnitude of the miracle that had taken place in her heart. She laughed, threw her arms wide and whirled. The lovely white dressing gown billowed out around her. “I’m in love with my husba—”
The connecting door to the groom’s dressing room opened. Elizabeth halted in midspin. Justin! Her dressing gown fluttered down to rest against her slender form.
“You didn’t answer my knock, madam. Are you all right? I thought I heard—”
Owen! Elizabeth sagged with relief. “I’m fine.” She turned toward the door.
“Very good. Forgive me, madam—I didn’t mean to intrude.” The elderly butler backed quickly out the door and closed it behind him.
The breath whooshed from Elizabeth’s lungs. That was close! A fit of trembling seized her. She plopped down onto the edge of the bed. What if it had been Justin? Elizabeth bit her lip to stop a sudden rush of tears and stared at the closed door. She could not speak of her love for Justin even here in her own rooms. The bitter knowledge took the luster from the morning.
She rose on her still-trembling legs, walked over to the bell pull and gave it a sharp, frustrated yank to summon Trudy. She could not afford to indulge herself. This day must be as any other. She straightened her shoulders, lifted her head high and turned toward her dressing room as Trudy returned.
“No, no, no, little one!” Elizabeth gently freed Sarah’s hair from Mary’s tiny fist. “You mustn’t hurt your sister. Here, you play with this.” She picked up a wooden horse and held it out to Mary. The baby grasped it in her chubby little hands and promptly began to suck loudly on its ear.
“What a greedy little thing you are, Mary!” Elizabeth laughed and hugged the baby tightly for a moment, then settled her comfortably on her lap while she reached out to brush back the lock of hair dangling in front of Sarah’s tear-filled eyes. “I’m sorry, Sarah.” She smiled down at the toddler who had a wary gaze fastened on her baby sister. “Mary didn’t mean to hurt you. She only wanted your pretty new hair ribbon. Are you all right?”
Sarah nodded and rubbed her head.
Elizabeth looked down into the round, brown eyes swimming with unshed tears and, careful of the baby on her lap, leaned forward to drop a kiss on top of the toddler’s head. “You’re a brave little girl. Shall we continue?” She was rewarded with a happy smile. She leaned back in the chair and resumed the gentle rocking that had been interrupted by the small crisis. “Turn the page.”
Sarah settled herself on her little chair and reached out to carefully turn the page of the book that lay on the table in front of her. She looked up at Elizabeth.
“That’s a kitten.” Elizabeth glanced down at Mary’s drooping eyelids and lowered her voice. “Isn’t he cute, Sarah? Kittens are very soft and playful. They say meow, meow. Look.” She reached down and tapped lightly on the picture. “He’s chasing a butterfly. Isn’t it pretty?”
Sarah nodded and studied the picture.
“Where is the kitten?”
Sarah pointed.
“Very good.” Elizabeth smoothed the gown of the sleeping baby. “And where is the butterfly?”
Again, Sarah pointed.
“Yes. That’s the butterfly.” Elizabeth smiled as Sarah beamed up at her. “Shall we see what’s on the next page?”
The toddler nodded, turned the page and looked expectantly at Elizabeth.
“Oh, Sarah, look—it’s a puppy!”
The little girl stared down at the picture.
“Puppies are soft and playful, too, just like the kitten. And puppies are very loving. They give you kisses with their rough little tongues, and wag their tails. They jump around when they’re happy and—” Elizabeth stopped and stared down at the picture with the glimmer of an idea forming in her mind. Surely a puppy would be good for Sarah. She could just imagine them playing together. But, would Justin agree? She looked up at an impatient tug on her skirt. Sarah pointed at the book.
“All right—I’m sorry.” Elizabeth laughed softly. “Now let me see…what more can I— Oh, yes. Puppies say arf! arf! And you can teach them tricks. They can even learn to catch a ball.”
Sarah clapped her small hands together, went to the shelves along the wall and took down a ball. She brought it back and held it out to Elizabeth.
“Yes. That’s a ball.” Elizabeth smiled at the toddler. “Would you like to play with it?”
Sarah nodded.
“Very well.” Elizabeth removed the wooden horse from Mary’s relaxed hand and placed it on the table. “Let me put Mary down for her nap and then we will roll the ball.” She shifted the baby to her shoulder, got carefully to her feet, then paused at the sound of footsteps in the hall.
The door opened and Justin entered.
All the force of her newfound love rushed upon Elizabeth. Her heart fluttered. Her knees went weak. For one frightful moment she was afraid she would drop the baby. She stood trembling, afraid to move, certain her legs would give way should she try. She looked away, avoiding Justin’s gaze until she could compose herself.
“So, I have found you.” Justin walked toward her. “I missed you at breakfast.”
Elizabeth moistened her dry lips. “I’m sorry. I found myself with little appetite. I should have sent word.”
Justin frowned. “Are you taking ill?”
“No, I’m fine.” Goodness! Was that her voice. Elizabeth smoothed the baby’s gown as an excuse not to have to look at Justin. “Was there something you needed?” She flushed at the rudeness of the abrupt question.
“As a matter of fact there is. I need some advice about a certain matter and thought perhaps you might help me.”
She glanced up at him. Her breath caught as their gazes met. She looked away again. “I shall be glad to render whatever assistance I am capable of, of course. But first, if you will excuse me, I was about to put Mary down for her nap.” Elizabeth sent a short prayer that she wouldn’t collapse into a graceless heap on the floor winging toward Heaven, and started for the baby’s room.
“I’ll wait.” Justin’s brow furrowed in thought as he called the words after Elizabeth. She was acting strangely. Was she angry with him for his lapse last evening? Self-disgust filled him. He never should have indulged his desire to touch her, to kiss her hand. He would have to do better. But how? So often he found himself unprepared for the force of the emotions she roused in him. Even his dislike of the greed that had led her to marry him was insufficient to quell his growing love for her. How was he to find the strength to abide by his word? He scowled and turned away from the sight of Elizabeth carrying the baby off to bed and almost stumbled over Sarah.
“Well, good morning.” He stared down at the silent child wondering what to do or say next. She was such a timid little thing—always wary and fearful. How had Elizabeth penetrated that barrier of distrust and fear the toddler lived in? For that matter, how had she penetrated his own? The thought was disquieting. So was the child. He leaned down and retrieved the ball he had unwittingly knocked from her small hands.
“Do you like to play ball, Sarah?”
She nodded politely.
“And do you know how to catch?”
She stared up at him in steady, silent regard, and Justin was suddenly, uncomfortably aware that she knew he didn’t really care—that he was only filling the unnatural silence with words. The tails of her pink hair ribbon fluttered as she shook her head.
“Well, we must remedy that.” He squatted down in front of her. “Go stand over there—in front of the shelves.” He pointed his finger to indicate the spot.
Sarah stared at him for a moment, then obediently turned and walked to the place he had indicated.
“Fine. Now…hold out your hands like this.” He nodded with satisfaction as Sarah dutifully imitated him.
“Good. Now…here it comes!”
Justin tossed the ball gently into Sarah’s outstretched arms.
The toddler’s eyes widened in surprise. Her hands, instinctively, closed around the ball as it rolled down into them. She clasped it tightly and hugged it to her narrow little chest.
“Excellent!” Justin felt an unusual tightening in his chest as she smiled shyly at him. “Let’s try it again. Throw the ball to me.”
Sarah looked from Justin’s face to his outstretched hands. Her eyes narrowed in concentration, the tip of her tongue came peeking out of the corner of her mouth, and she drew back her arm and let the ball fly.
“Splendid!” Justin shot to his feet and stretched out his arm to catch the wildly thrown ball. “Now it’s your turn to catch it again. Arms together!”
Sarah immediately stretched her arms out in front as she had been shown. She locked her gaze on his face.
“No, no. Don’t look at me, Sarah—you must watch the ball.”
The little girl immediately shifted her gaze to the ball in Justin’s hands.
“Good girl.” Justin smiled at her intense look of concentration. “Are you ready?”
Sarah nodded. She never lifted her gaze from the ball.
“Very well. Here it comes.”
Again, Justin tossed the ball gently into Sarah’s small outstretched arms. The toddler squealed with delight and hopped up and down in excitement. Her eyes were shining. Justin chuckled, enjoying her pleasure.
“All right, then—” He clapped his hands together in front of him. “Toss it here.”
Sarah drew back her arm as far as it would go and threw the ball with all her might.
“Whoops!” Justin lunged to the side and stretched his arm out to catch the ball that headed wide to his left. His shinbone met the low child’s table with a sharp crack. “Ugh!” He grabbed for his leg. The ball flew by and landed with a crash against the candlestick sitting on the chest beside the connecting door to the children’s bedroom.
“Sarah!” Elizabeth rushed into the room. “Sarah, sweetheart, are you—?”
“Sarah’s fine.”
Elizabeth stopped and stared at Justin who was hopping up and down on one foot while rubbing his shin. “What happened?”
Justin winced as he put his weight on the wounded leg. “Sarah and I were playing catch and I missed.” He straightened and gave Elizabeth a sheepish smile. “I barked my shin on the table.”
“I see.” Elizabeth crossed over to him. “Are you hurt?”
“No. It’s nothing really. But thank you for your concern.” Justin glanced over at Sarah who was pressed back against the shelves staring up at him. There was naked fear in her eyes. Shame twisted his stomach.
“Well, Sarah, that was quite a throw.” He grinned down at her. “But I think from now on we had better play outside—it’s safer.” He picked up the ball that had rolled to a stop at his feet and held it out to her. “Would you like to play catch again tomorrow?”
For a long moment she stared at him. The fear left her eyes. She gave him a timid smile, nodded, and ran over to take the ball from him.
“Good. I shall look forward to it.” Justin gave her a reassuring smile, then turned back to Elizabeth. “Are you ready?”
“Ready?” Elizabeth struggled to keep the swell of love and admiration she felt for Justin at his treatment of the child from showing on her face. “Ready for what?”
“To give me your advice. My sister, Laina, will be celebrating a birthday soon and I thought you might help me select a gift for her.”
“Oh. Yes, of course. I’m certain I could offer some suggestions.” Elizabeth moved over to the chest and set the candlestick aright with trembling fingers.
Justin followed. “That would be helpful. But I had hoped you would come into town with me—to help me choose.”
His deep voice came over her shoulder. An excited little shiver skittered down Elizabeth’s spine. He was so close. She had only to turn and—
“Will you come?”
Her romantic daydream disappeared in a rush of apprehension. Leave Randolph Court on a weekday? She stopped fussing with the candlestick and folded her shaking hands in front of her while her mind searched for an acceptable reason to refuse. She could think of none. Reluctantly, she nodded.
“Good. I’ve ordered the chaise brought round.”
It was a beautiful day. The bright, summer sun beamed down upon them as they drove down the cobblestone street in the smart, stone-colored rig. The golden rays glinted off the chaise’s polished brass lamps, highlighted its green and black striping, and made dappled patterns on the rich, black leather upholstery as they rolled along under the leafy cover of overhanging branches. The heat made Elizabeth grateful for the shade and the gentle, cooling breeze that carried the sumptuous fragrance of lavish summer blooms on its breath.
She took a long, appreciative sniff, but not even the myriad pleasures of the gorgeous summer day could allay her trepidation. She was quite sure her parents had no dealings in this city, but she was uncertain about Reginald Burton-Smythe. Though several months had passed since her escape, her fear of discovery had not lessened. If anything it had grown. She was no longer concerned only with her own personal safety. Now, the thought of being separated from Justin and the children terrified her as well.
Elizabeth reached up and tucked the curl that was tickling her cheek as it fluttered in the breeze behind her ear and scanned the people on the street for a tall, thin, dark-haired man dressed in black. Reginald always wore black.
Justin stared at the spot just behind Elizabeth’s ear where a golden curl now nestled, exhaled a long, slow breath, and forced his gaze back to the road ahead. Bringing her along had probably been a mistake—but he would do it again. He wanted to be alone with her. More and more of late he found himself inventing excuses to be in the same room with her—reasons to be close to her. He lifted his lips in a rueful smile. A rather exquisite form of self-torture judging by the havoc sitting beside her was raising with his emotions.
“Justin?”
His stomach muscles jerked taut. Every nerve in his body tingled with awareness as Elizabeth shifted her position on the seat beside him. Her arm brushed against his as she moved and heat raced along his arm, communicated itself to every part of his body. He tightened his hands on the reins and clenched his jaw. This woman would be his downfall if he was not careful! He arranged his features in the cool mask that hid his true feelings and turned to look at her. “Yes?”
“I was thinking about the gift for your sister. Though it’s difficult to choose because I know only the little you have told me about her—and what I have gleaned from reading your grandmother’s notations in the family Bible. I thought perhaps, an objet d’art?”
Justin nodded and looked back at the street—her mouth was far too enticing. “An excellent suggestion, Elizabeth. You have thought of the very thing—and I know where to find it, at Caleb’s shop.” He flexed his powerful wrists, the movement rippled along the reins and the black gelding stepped forward smartly.
The bell over the shop door tinkled merrily. Caleb frowned and lifted his head. “Ne’er fails.” He muttered the words under his breath, put down his cutting tool, wiped his hands on a rag he tossed onto his workbench, and rose laboriously to his feet. His movements were hampered by the wooden leg he had never quite become accustomed to wearing.
Pain stabbed through the stump of his leg when it took his weight. Caleb mumbled an oath, grabbed up the crutch he had carved from a large tree branch and shoved it under his arm. It was at moments like these he wished he could get his hands around the throat of the pirate whose ball had struck his lower leg forcing the ship’s doctor to amputate the shattered remains. It angered him still that the black-hearted, cowardly blighter was out of his reach on the ocean floor—that is if a shark hadn’t eaten him. Caleb twisted his lips into a smile of grim satisfaction at the thought. He thumped his way across the room and shoved aside the curtain covering the connecting doorway.
“Eh! Mr. Randolph, sir!” Caleb’s glad words exploded into the silence of the small room like the boom of a cannon.
Elizabeth gasped. She spun toward the voice, gave a squeak of shock at sight of the red-bearded giant descending on them and grabbed for Justin’s arm.
Caleb stopped. The heavy thud of his uneven tread upon the bare floorboards faded away into silence. He swept his gaze from Elizabeth to Justin and nodded his massive head. “I heard you’d taken a new bride.” His voice echoed from the walls of the shop. He glanced at Elizabeth. “I beg your pardon if I gave you a fright. I didn’t see you standin’ there in your man’s shadow.” His brows knit in a frown. “You’ve no need to be alarmed—I’d never harm you.”
“I—I’m the one to beg pardon, Mr….”
“Caleb—if you please.”
The words reverberated through the room. Elizabeth’s hand tightened on Justin’s arm. He grinned at the giant. “I forgot to warn Elizabeth of your great size, Caleb. And of that foghorn you call a voice.”
The big man nodded. “It’s a fearsome thing to some.”
Justin looked down at Elizabeth. “I’m sorry you were frightened. I’m so accustomed to Caleb I’d forgotten how overwhelming an experience it can be seeing him for the first time.”
“I must admit he gave me a fright—but I’m quite recovered.” She gave Justin a shaky smile.
“Your hand is still trembling.”
Elizabeth looked down in surprise at her hand clinging possessively to Justin’s arm. Her cheeks warmed. She lifted the betraying hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“Leave it.” He caught and imprisoned her hand in his, giving her no choice. “It’s right that it should be there.”
Elizabeth could think of no appropriate response. In truth, she could think of nothing at all. She was aware only of the soft warm glow spreading through her at Justin’s touch. She looked down at the hand that encased hers in its strong, steady warmth and felt a sudden, intense desire to press her cheek against it. It was right that her hand should be there joined with his. Not as he had meant it—not simply because she was lawfully wed to him—but because she loved him. If only— No! Elizabeth put the dreamy thought from her mind. There was no if only. There was merely the truth: Justin did not love her. He still loved his true wife. She, herself, was only a convenience.
Elizabeth pretended interest in the items in the glass-topped display case beside her as she struggled to get her traitorous emotions under control. She must do nothing to cause Justin to suspect the truth. Should he ever guess she loved him— She shuddered inwardly at the thought of his scorn. He had made his position on the subject of their relationship abundantly clear. Her only recourse was to take refuge in a cool, distant politeness. She must treat him in a gracious but formal fashion, ignoring the strange sensations he brought to life within her. It was the only sensible solution to her problem. She settled that thought firmly in her mind and turned her attention back to the men’s conversation.
“…the horse you were working on a few weeks ago?”
“Aye. It’s finished.”
Caleb thumped his way behind the display case, took an object from a small cupboard that hung on the wall and held it out to Justin.
“Give it to Elizabeth.” Justin freed her hand.
Elizabeth stared down at the object Caleb placed on her palm. It was a small, alabaster statue of a horse with a delicate vine of small jade leaves and tiny coral flowers twined around its neck. “It’s beautiful!”
Elizabeth looked from the delicate statue to the huge man towering over her. “You made this?” She could not keep the astonishment out of her voice.
“Aye.” Caleb nodded his massive head.
“But it’s so delicate, and you’re so big! I don’t see how—Oh! I’m sorry! That was terribly rude of me. Please—” She stopped and gaped up at Caleb. A sound not unlike the far-off rumblings of thunder was rolling from the giant’s deep chest. She put the horse on top of the display case and inched backward.
Justin grinned. “Unbelievable, isn’t it?” He clasped his hands behind his back and leaned forward until his lips were on a level with Elizabeth’s ear. “The first time I heard him laugh I ran for cover.”
“You never!” Elizabeth smiled.
“Oh, but I did. I dived under the nearest lifeboat. We were at sea and I was sure a storm was coming.”
Elizabeth laughed in spite of her embarrassment. “Surely you do not expect me to believe such an outrageous tale?”
Justin shook his head. “No, I don’t expect you to believe the tale, Elizabeth. I simply wanted to see your beautiful smile.”
The words took her breath. Elizabeth gazed up into Justin’s eyes and all of her fine resolve melted away in the warmth of the smoky blue flames flickering in their depths.