The Lady Who Saw Too Much. Thomasine Rappold
the mirror. Tired eyes stared back at her. She sighed, feeling as wretched as she looked. She’d allow herself this final evening to ferment in her predicament, but come morning, she’d pull herself from the mire of self-pity and get on with things.
Had she even the slightest doubt in her prophetic ability, her first order of business tomorrow would be fleeing this place and the man she dreaded facing again. It wasn’t too late. She could still run, still save herself from this marriage. But then Landen would die. As Prudence had died when Gia had taken the coward’s way out.
Besides, she had nowhere else to go. As Clara had said, this was Gia’s family now. And unbeknownst to them all, they needed Gia to keep it intact.
The distinctive sound of Landen’s heavy footsteps in the hall gave her a start. It was well past ten o’clock—he wouldn’t possibly consider disturbing her at this hour.
The solid rap on the door proved otherwise. She sprang to her feet. Primping at her hair in a desperate attempt to better her disheveled appearance, she walked to the door.
“You’re back,” she uttered as he strode past her.
He turned to face her, his gaze trailing up and down the length of her.
She shifted her weight to shore her weak knees against his inspection and her blasted attraction to the rude man.
“My aunt was not exaggerating.” His lips gnarled with disgust. “You look like a dishrag.”
Gia lowered her eyes.
“I wish to speak with you,” he said.
“I’m sure you do.”
“My aunt is concerned about you.”
“There’s no need for concern.”
“My sentiment exactly,” he said. “But just in case you’re having second thoughts about the scheme you’ve hatched, let me remind you that there’s more than your reputation at stake.”
“I don’t care about my reputation.”
“I care about mine,” he said. “And Alice’s. Not that you give a damn about the girl you were hired to help.”
“I do care,” she shot back. “I care immensely.”
Tilting his head, he eyed her skeptically. “Your acting skills are remarkable,” he said. “If I didn’t know better, I might almost believe you.” His tone sharpened. “But unlike my aunt, I don’t trust a word that comes from your scheming lips.”
“I never intended for this to happen.”
His jaw tensed at her pathetic defense. His narrowed eyes were devoid of emotion, empty and dark as a bottomless pit. She stared into her future and the endless eternity that would be their marriage until he spoke again. “Be that as it may, you’ve proved yourself to be a convincing liar, and now we will both pay the price for your deceit.”
“I wished only to stay for the summer.”
“Why?” he demanded.
For a moment, she was tempted to tell him the truth and be done with him. Life on the streets seemed a better alternative to life with this man. But the desperation in his plea and the trace of vulnerability behind the anger on his handsome face fortified her determination to protect him and finish what she’d started.
Gia had vowed when she came here to do what she must—to go where her visions led her—she’d not retreat now. She’d survived thirty paralyzing minutes in the freezing water beneath the ice; she could survive an unhappy marriage to Landen Elmsworth and whatever retribution he’d inflict upon her for what she’d done. She didn’t have to like him to save him, but she couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t try.
He frowned at her silence, glancing toward the untouched supper tray on the small table by the window. “Have something to eat. Starving yourself will gain you no sympathy.”
“I’m not seeking sympathy.” She lifted her chin against the slight tremble in her voice.
“Perhaps not, but you’re after something.” He stepped toward her.
Her pulse skittered at his nearness and the carnal heat in his eyes.
“You’ve reaped more than you bargained for, Gia,” he said, moving closer. “Because you’ve made your bed, and now you will sleep in it.” She recoiled, turning away, as he leaned close to her ear. “With me.”
Chapter 6
Gia kept to herself as much as possible over the next few days. Alice was barely speaking to her, and Landen was avoiding her completely. The only one who seemed able to tolerate her presence was Clara, whose sole focus was on getting her nephew properly married as soon as possible.
Dressing quickly, she donned the new dress that had been delivered this morning. She and Alice had been fitted for their dresses for the garden party days ago, and they’d arrived in the nick of time. Though the sapphire gown felt a tad loose, the color suited her nicely. She fluffed at the skirts, hoping no one would notice her slight weight loss.
Her appetite was returning slowly, and she was doing her best to stay well nourished. Shards of memory pierced her mind, jagged pieces of her shattered life back home. After Gia had refused the powders and tonics prescribed to alleviate her “hallucinations,” her parents had stooped to concealing medication in her food.
Her favorite breakfast of scrambled eggs and hot chocolate became her daily dose of opiates. By the time she’d realized their treachery, she was spiraling down a tunnel of nothingness. Each day she’d fallen deeper and cared less. But somewhere during her drug-induced descent, she’d salvaged a thread of volition. She’d clung to that thread, all but starving herself as she’d wormed from the foggy depths of her shame and her parents’ betrayal until she was lucid enough to formulate a plan of escape.
To this day she seldom ate more than a biscuit for breakfast, and the thought of consuming scrambled eggs or hot chocolate fairly caused her to gag. She gulped back the bitter pain of her past. She couldn’t afford such distractions. Today was too important. She took a long breath, primping stiffly at her hair.
Clara would announce the engagement this afternoon at the garden party. Gia intended to use the opportunity to learn all she could about each and every guest in attendance. The affair would give her the chance to finally observe Landen in public. Being cooped up in the house with only the family was getting Gia nowhere in her effort to save his life. With any luck, today she’d glean some shred of insight during Landen’s interactions with the people of Misty Lake that might aid her in discerning who might want to hurt him.
The small gathering that they’d originally planned to ease Alice into society had turned into something else, and Gia’s sorrow for her part in pushing Alice to the wayside was palpable. She had to smooth things over with Alice. The girl would be a bramble of nerves at having to attend the party and in need of reassurance.
After finding Alice’s room empty, Gia sought her out in the next likely place. Small tables had been arranged on the garden patio, each covered in crisp white linen and adorned with a sprouting vase of lily of the valley. Clay pots of all sizes displayed lush ferns and other greenery. Alice sat on a bench in the corner, claiming the spot she, no doubt, intended to occupy for the duration of the afternoon.
“May I join you, Alice?”
The girl shrugged in reply.
“The garden looks lovely,” Gia said.
Alice sat in stiff silence, as Gia took a seat next to her.
Gia sat for several moments, contemplating what to say. “I can only imagine what you must think of me.”
Alice turned to face her. “No. You cannot.”
Gia sighed. “No, perhaps not.” Alice was not making this easy, but Gia couldn’t blame her. “I never meant for this to happen.