Unwelcome heat crept up Austin's neck. "The carriage ride clearly addled your brain."

"Or," Miles continued as if he hadn't spoken, "you ruined the girl." He paused then nodded. "I see. Couldn't keep your hands off her, eh?"

"She saved my life."

Miles stilled. "Excuse me?"

Austin brought him up to date on the events of the past several days. When he finished Miles shook his head.

"Good God Austin. You're lucky to be in one piece." Reaching across the desk, Miles clasped his shoulder. "We all owe Miss Matthews a debt of gratitude."

"I certainly do."

A devilish gleam sparkled in Miles's eyes. "I'll wager you're thankful it wasn't a Digby daughter who found you injured."

A shudder passed through him. "God yes."

"Which makes me wonder… how did Miss Matthews manage to find you?"

Before Austin could think up a plausible explanation for something that had no plausible explanation, Miles held out his hands. "Never mind. Clearly you'd planned an assignation. I do not need the details."

"Er, good." He cleared his throat. "Now tell me, what did you find out about Miss Matthews?"

Miles settled himself in the comfortable wing chair next to Austin's desk. Extracting a small leather notebook from his pocket, he consulted his notes. "My inquiries confirmed that she arrived in London on January third of this year aboard The Starseeker. As luck would have it, The Starseeker was in port for repairs and I spoke to her captain, Harold Beacham.

"According to Captain Beacham, Miss Matthews was a delightful passenger. She never complained even when they encountered rough seas. Along with her companion, she often joined him on deck in the evenings to view the stars. She was very knowledgeable about astronomy, and he enjoyed her company."

He shot Austin a wink. "I believe he entertained some romantic notions toward your fiancée."

Austin's jaw tightened but he ignored the teasing jab. "Did he know if this was her first trip to England?"

"She told him it was. He said that while she looked forward to arriving in England there was a definite sadness about her. He assumed it was because she missed her home, but she never spoke of it." He flipped several pages in his notebook. "I also tracked down Mrs. Loretta Thomkins, the traveling companion."

Austin sat up straighter. "What did she say?"

Miles looked toward the ceiling. "What didn't she say? Hang it, the woman never stopped chattering from the moment she clapped her eyes on me." He tugged on his ear-lobes. "Good thing these are attached or she would have talked them off. I know more about that woman than anyone would ever care to know."

"And I'm certain you'll only share the pertinent details with me."

A deflated expression crossed Miles's face. "As you wish, but damned if I like it that I'm the only one who has to know her life history." Heaving a dramatic sigh, he consulted his book. "According to Mrs. Thomkins, Miss Matthews-whom she referred to as 'that dear, sweet child'-moved in with distant relations on her father's side named Longren after her father's death."

"Was she without funds?"

"Not destitute, but hardly wealthy. She was heartbroken after her father's sudden death. Miss Matthews told Mrs. Thomkins she hated living alone, so she sold the small house she'd shared with her father and moved in with her relatives. Apparently everything went along swimmingly until about nine months ago. That's when Miss Matthews packed her things and left."

"What happened?"

"Mrs. Thomkins didn't know for certain, but she suspected a falling-out with the relatives as Miss Matthews never spoke of them and she changed the subject whenever Mrs. Thomkins brought them up. Whatever the reason, it greatly saddened Miss Matthews and made her determined and in Mrs. Thomkin's opinion, desperate to leave America."

"Desperate?"

"Desperate to leave with no intention of returning." Miles shrugged. "Mrs. Thomkins was nothing if not dramatic. She also said that 'that dear, sweet child' was like a lost soul for the first few weeks of their voyage and that her heart went out to her." He snapped his notebook shut and slipped it into his waistcoat pocket. "That was as far as I'd proceeded with my inquiries before you summoned me back here."

Austin pondered the information with surprise. What had made Elizabeth leave America so abruptly with no intention to return? Clearly there was more behind her trip to England than a simple visit with her aunt. Had there been a falling-out with her relatives? It seemed odd that she'd never mentioned them, but perhaps the memory was too painful to speak of-a concept he could well understand.

"Thank you, Miles. I appreciate your help."

"You're welcome. Will you require any further assistance?"

"I don't believe so. Why don't you stay on at Bradford Hall for a few days after the wedding? Robert has returned from the Continent, and Mother loves having you underfoot. Caroline also."

An odd expression flashed across Miles's face and Austin thought he was going to refuse the invitation. But Miles inclined his head. "I'd enjoy the visit. Thank you. And now you must satisfy my curiosity. I'm confused about all the secrecy surrounding your request for information. Miss Matthews isn't wealthy by any stretch, but you're certainly not in need of an heiress. And even though she's American, she is still an earl's niece. If you were harboring tender feelings toward her, you could have told me. Naturally I'd have understood your desire to discreetly investigate a potential bride."

Austin's brows collapsed into a frown. He was about to tell Miles that his inquiries had nothing to do with feelings, tender or otherwise, but it was simpler not to correct his assumptions. It certainly prevented him from making explanations he had no desire to make.

"Sorry about the secrecy," he said casually, "but you know how I'd have been hounded had anyone gotten wind of my plans. Thank you for your discreet help."

"Glad I could be of service." A devilish grin lit Miles's face. "Doubly glad I didn't find out anything horrifying about your intended."

"As am I, although I suppose it would be a moot point. It is my duty to marry her."

Miles rose. With an amused smile playing around the corners of his mouth, he said "Duty. Yes, I'm sure that's all there is to it."

Chapter 11

The wedding took place in the drawing room.