Whirlwind Wedding

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.