The Lady Who Saw Too Much. Thomasine Rappold

      Cover Copy

      Cursed with prophetic visions and desperate to atone for a death she could have prevented, Gianna York swears she will never again ignore the chance to save a life. When she is hired by Landen Elmsworth to serve as companion to his sister, Gia repeatedly sees the image of her employer’s lifeless corpse floating in Misty Lake. As subsequent visions reveal more details, Gia soon realizes her best chance to save this difficult man is by becoming his wife.

      At first, Landen Elmsworth believes the fetching Miss York might be right for a meaningless dalliance, but he grossly underestimates her capacity for cunning and soon finds himself bound until death to a woman he may never be able to trust. Yet in the dark of their bedroom they discover an undeniable passion—and a capacity to forge their own destiny . . .

      Visit us at www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Books by Thomasine Rappold

      The Sole Survivor Series

      The Lady Who Lived Again

      The Lady Who Saw Too Much

      Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

      The Lady Who Saw Too Much

      A Sole Survivor Novel

      Thomasine Rappold

      LYRICAL PRESS

      Kensington Publishing Corp.

      www.kensingtonbooks.com

      Copyright

      Lyrical Press books are published by

      Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018

      Copyright © 2016 by Thomasine Rappold

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      Lyrical Press and the L logo are trademarks of Kensington Publishing Corp.

      First Electronic Edition: June 2016

      eISBN-13: 978-1-61650-993-4

      eISBN-10 1-61650-993-7

      First Print Edition: June 2016

      ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-994-1

      ISBN-10: 1-61650-994-5

      Printed in the United States of America

      Dedication

      For John. Who would have thought…

      Acknowledgements

      Special thanks to my agent, Stefanie Lieberman, my editor, Paige Christian, and the entire team at Lyrical/Kensington for their gentle guidance and patience with a newbie.

      Thank you to my critique group, also known as the BFS, for saving me from the “fancy ferns in the forest” and so much more. You guys rock!

      Thanks also to the Capital Region Romance Writers for all the knowledge, encouragement, and friendship through the years.

      To my wonderful family, friends, and readers, for all your love and support, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

      Chapter 1

      Troy, New York 1884

      She was about to be tossed to the street. Gianna York folded her trembling hands on her lap, lifted her chin, and did her utmost to maintain her dignity.

      Prolonging the torture, Mrs. Amery tidied one of the tall stacks of papers covering the surface of the large desk between them. “I’m sorry, Gia, but my decision is final.” The woman’s usually stern voice softened beneath her crushing words. “You’ve done a fine job these past months, but in light of your recent disclosure, I simply cannot keep you on any longer.”

      Gia slumped in her seat. She’d expected the worst when she’d been summoned to Mrs. Amery’s office so early this morning, and that’s precisely what she’d been handed. She stared down at her lap as she fought to contain her dismay.

      “Our students are impressionable young women, as you well understand. The precarious situation in which you’ve placed yourself by fleeing your home as you did, leaves me with no other choice. And I’m afraid it leaves you with limited respectable options.”

      Bristling at the unnecessary reminder, Gia rued the moment of weakness during which she’d divulged this part of her past. Lesson learned. From here on out, she would lie. The thought made her angrier. Not at Mrs. Amery, who’d always treated her fairly, but at herself. It wasn’t weakness but pride that had prompted Gia’s confession. Her stubborn attempt to challenge society’s perception of what she’d done had failed miserably. If a woman as forward-thinking as Mrs. Amery couldn’t be swayed…“I understand,” Gia uttered.

      Mrs. Amery sighed. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, I know, but all is not lost. I may have a solution.”

      Gia glanced up, surprised.

      “I’ve learned recently of a position that might interest you. Of course it’s not as a teaching assistant, nor here at the school, but—”

      “Where?” Gia leaned forward.

      “Misty Lake.”

      “Misty Lake?”

      “A small town in the country a mere half-day’s ride from here. The position is for a companion to a young woman from an upstanding family who summers there. The poor girl suffers with a crippling shyness, and her family feels a companion might help alleviate her condition. Their trust in the Troy Female Seminary has brought them to me for a recommendation.” Mrs. Amery tilted her head. “I’ve told them only of your quality work here, nothing more,” she said sternly.

      “I appreciate that.”

      “I know it’s not ideal, but if you still refuse to consider returning to your family, I truly believe it’s your only recourse.”

      Gia stiffened at the mention of her family. Returning to Boston meant abiding by their conditions, and Gia knew all too well the terms of those conditions. Blind obedience. Total conformity. Mind-numbing medications to “restore her health” and “quiet the spells” from which she’d been afflicted since the accident but rendered her senseless in the process.

      No. She refused to go back to that life.

      Gia had survived the icy water for a reason. And while she’d never understand why she’d lived while her brothers hadn’t, she’d conceded, after much painful resistance, that all that ensued was a part of that reason. Gia had to accept this. Even if her parents couldn’t.