Landen blinked.
“She was thrown from her horse and broke her neck.”
He stared, speechless.
“After that, my parents called in the doctor. He prescribed laudanum for my delusions. For months I lived in a stupor. The more laudanum I took, the more I craved. That’s when I knew I had to stop. But once I refused the tonics, my parents began concealing it in my food. So I stopped eating and drinking. I got so sick I feared I might die. Instead of accepting my ability, my parents threatened to have me committed to the asylum.” She gazed into his eyes. “That’s when I left.”
“You ran away?”
“It’s not truly running if no one is chasing you.” She swiped the tears from her eyes. She had to get through this. “The sale of my jewelry was enough to get me to Troy. I found employment at the Female Seminary. I let down my guard and told Mrs. Amery about leaving home. She released me from my position but took pity on me, I suppose, because she gave me your card.”
He stared.
“And that’s when it happened. That’s when I had the vision of you. I had to come here, Landen. I couldn’t stand idly by and let someone else die.”
He shook his head, looking lost. “I can’t believe this, Gia. I won’t.”
“You must.” She knelt beside him, grasping his hand. “Your life is in danger, Landen. Please trust me on this. If not for yourself, for your family.”
* * * *
Landen felt sick as he sat there, absorbing her words. She desperately believed what she was saying. He thought of the medal she’d given him. For protection. The scope of her fear for him was overwhelming. He longed to sweep her into his arms and reassure her that all would be well, but he couldn’t move. She was asking too much of him, asking him to believe her. Trust her.
“You must stay clear of Mr. Whithers,” she said as she stood.
He blinked. “What has Whithers to do with this?”
“I believe he’s the man who wants to kill you.”
With a shake of his head, his senses returned. Anger chased off his tender emotions. Anger that he was being forced into this nightmare, anger at her accusations against Whithers, a man she barely knew. That she was now involving his business associates—that her illness or whatever the hell it was—might affect the reputation he’d worked so hard to earn, was beyond acceptable. He shot to his feet. “This is ridiculous.”
“It’s not.”
“Gia,” he said as calmly as he could manage. “You have been through a lot. Anyone who’d survived what you had would have trouble discerning fiction from reality. But you’re safe now. I can help you.”
“Help me?” She glared at him. “I came here to help you.”
He held up his hand. “Please stop. Let me help you.”
“You can help by helping me prove I am right about Whithers.”
“I will not do that.”
“Then I will do it without you. I will go see Mr. Whithers tomorrow and—”
“You will do no such thing!” He pointed his finger. “You will cease this nonsense immediately. You will stay away from Whithers, and you will stay out of my business!”
Anger flashed in her eyes. “Do you honestly still believe I am addled?”
His mother’s antics ran like a sequence of dreams through his memory. The humiliation his father had suffered at the hands of her illness. Her suicide.
“I don’t know what the hell to believe. But I will not allow you to destroy this family’s reputation.”
She stared at him, gritting her teeth.
“Do you understand what I’m telling you?”
She opened her mouth to protest, but the furious look on his face must have warned her against challenging him any further.
“Do you?” he repeated.
She glared at him, stiffening her spine. “I understand perfectly. You’d rather believe I am mad than consider the alternative.” She shook her head in disgust. “Just like them.”
Chapter 22
Gia sat alone on the patio, admiring Alice’s beautiful garden. The sweet scent of roses and lilacs filled the fresh morning air, but even the serenity of her surroundings did little to ease her troubled mind.
She was a fool for thinking Landen might believe her. What had she hoped? That he might take her into his arms and reassure her that everything would be fine? That he might help her stop Whithers—help her save his life so they could go on to live happily ever after?
She was so furious at Landen for refusing to even consider she might not be addled, but she was angrier at herself for hoping he’d do so. Angry at having to hide her strange ability from the world. Angry she had to live every moment never knowing when a vision might strike.
But at least I’m alive. Small punishment, she supposed, for what she’d done to her brothers. Her guilt was consuming. Was this curse the tradeoff for surviving?
But then she thought about Georgie Toomey and how she’d saved the missing boy’s life. Perhaps her ability was not a curse after all. If she could save Landen as she’d saved Georgie, she would deem it a gift.
To her relief, Landen had burned the scarf last night after Alex and his guests had left. Gia knew Landen had destroyed the scarf merely to placate her, but at least the damn thing was gone. She could only hope the absence of the scarf would change things.
She hadn’t had another vision since the one of Mr. Whithers over a week ago. She wondered if the diminished occurrences meant anything. She glanced at the trees in the distance. Tinges of orange and red mingled with the green leaves, an insistent reminder of summer’s looming demise.
She had to find out more about Mr. Whithers. Landen would be no help in exposing the man’s nefarious intentions, so it was up to Gia to do so. But how could she find out more about the man without actually visiting him?
She could search Landen’s office…. He was out on his morning ride, and this was as good a time as any. She hurried into the house and headed for Landen’s office.
“Good morning.”
Gia started, turning to find Kit in the hallway behind her. His warm smile stilled her heart for a beat.
She tensed at the unwelcome response and tried to sound nonchalant. “Good morning.” She gave a nervous pat to her hair. “Are you all settled in?”
“The last trunk has been delivered to Sissy’s room.” He fanned his face. “Tall staircases are a challenge,” he said. “Alex mentioned a patio. Would you mind showing me the way?”
Gia glanced toward Landen’s office. “Of course,” she said, abandoning her mission in lieu of helping the man get some much-needed fresh air. “It’s right this way.” She led Kit down the back hall and through the sunroom. They stepped out to the patio, and Kit plopped onto one of the wooden benches.
“Ah,” he said, enjoying the breeze. “I haven’t the stamina for traveling with Sissy.”
Gia laughed.
“By the time my dear cousin is finished unpacking, it will be time to pack up and go.” He smiled. “She brought more gowns than she could ever wear during our visit, but you females like to be prepared.”
“Yes, we do,” she agreed in a playful tone.
He gazed around. “Pretty flowers.”
She followed his gaze to the blooming rose bushes surrounding the patio. “Alice is passionate about gardening.”
“Her talent for it shows. I must compliment her on her work when she’s finished helping Sissy unpack. Of course, that task may detain her until Sunday.”
Gia smiled. Kit had a way of putting people at ease.
“So, where is your husband this fine morning? I didn’t see him inside.”
“He went riding.”
“Alone?”
“Yes,” she uttered, staring out at the lake.
“You don’t ride, then?” he asked.
“I do. I mean, I know how.” She sighed, embarrassed by her stammering attempt to evade the fact that her husband never aske
d her along on his morning rides.
Kit’s blue eyes dimmed as they settled on the cane between his knees. “Riding is a fine sport. And one I miss very much.”
With a nod, she acknowledged his loss, feeling sorry for him.
“I was quite skilled at riding. Even won a race or two,” he said proudly.
“Really?”
“Oh, yes.” He leaned forward on the cane. “I thrilled in the competition. The speed. But I was young.” He slumped back on the bench. “And too arrogant to consider my horse might ever lose its footing.” He tapped the cane to his bad leg. “Crushed my knee to pulp.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “Such is life. But we do what we must to overcome.”
The words struck a chord. Kit had lost a lot too. But unlike Gia, he was not bitter or blue. He was quite the opposite, and she admired his fortitude. She liked him. The realization came with a spike of fear. Was Kit the man in her dream? She tried to deflect the disturbing thought but was soon struck by another. Had she altered her own fate by falling in love with Landen?
* * * *
Later that weekend Gia sat with Sissy, watching Alex and Kit playing croquet. After spending the morning readying the yard for the guests he’d invited, Alex insisted he and Kit take a break from their preparations with a quick competition.
Alice was busy tending to her garden, and Landen had been holed up in his study since he’d returned from his morning ride. Gia bristled at the thought his ride might have led to another visit with Charlotte.
She turned her attention to the game. Alex laughed with Kit in the good-natured humor he engaged with everyone else, except Landen. The cruel comment he’d made about Landen being jilted on the eve of his wedding still rang in her ears.
Gia couldn’t shake the feeling that Alex enjoyed humiliating Landen. And she couldn’t help wondering why. Alice had told Gia that Alex had a heart of pure gold. After spending only four days in his company, Gia’s assessment of the man differed. While he was charming and Gia liked him well enough, something tarnished Alex’s goodness when it came to his brother, something ugly and mean.
Sissy clapped, cheering Alex on as he positioned himself with the mallet. Gia smiled at the excitement on Sissy’s face. Gia liked this girl. Alice did too. Even Aunt Clara could find no fault with Sissy, and that was saying something. Like Alice, Sissy was charming and sweet. But Sissy was flirtatious and confident as well. Her big blue eyes sparkled with the promise of life, and the lovely sound of her laughter was honest and warm. Alex adored her.
The way he looked at Sissy, with such admiration in his eyes, filled Gia with sorrow for her own situation. Gia couldn’t imagine Alex ever looking at Sissy the way Landen looked at Gia now. Of course, Sissy would never do anything to deserve such contempt.
Gia sighed. On the night Landen had received the red scarf and refused to believe her warning, she’d been relieved he’d made no move toward her in bed. Although she was still angry and hurt, two more nights had passed and still he’d made no advances. Now the fear he might never touch her again frightened her to the core.
Kit hit an excellent shot, and Sissy clapped, prompting Gia to join. In mock humility, he bowed his appreciation of their applause, looking quite dapper in his white pants and shirt. He bent to place his cane on the ground before swinging the mallet again.
“Kit told me about his riding accident,” Gia said.
“He did?”
Sissy’s stunned expression made Gia feel as though she’d said something wrong.
“I’m sorry,” Sissy said. “I didn’t mean to sound so surprised. It’s just that he’s never even spoken of the accident to me. He’s barely spoken of it to the family since it happened.”
Gia sighed at the hurt in Sissy’s eyes. “Perhaps he felt more comfortable discussing it with someone who doesn’t know and love him as you do. To spare you from worrying.”
Sissy shrugged. “Perhaps. But I still worry for him, just the same.”
“He seems to be getting on quite well,” Gia said.
“Yes, he’s always been strong. Even as a boy. After his mother’s abandonment, Kit cared for his father as though he were the adult.” Sissy shook her head. “But the accident… It happened years ago, but it’s not the injury to his leg that worries me.”
Gia tilted her head. “What do you mean?”
“Kit was on his way to see his fiancée when the accident happened. By the time he’d recovered, she’d married someone else.”
Gia winced. “Oh, poor Kit.”
Sissy nodded. “His heart was as badly broken as his leg.”
Kit’s remark to Clara about his sweetheart not loving him played through Gia’s head. The man had lost even more than Gia had thought.
“If something ever happened to Alex, I would wait for him forever to get well,” Sissy said.
Gia nodded. “In sickness and in health,” she uttered as her marriage vows echoed through her ears.
“That’s what love means,” Sissy said. “To me, anyway.”
Gia could see that Sissy truly loved Alex. A part of her envied the purity of their love. No pretenses, no secrets, no lies.
“I hope Alex agrees,” Sissy said.
Sissy usually beamed when she spoke Alex’s name, and her sudden coyness made Gia curious. Sissy turned to the lawn, gazing at Alex with something other than adoration in her eyes. Something other than concern for Kit.
“Is something wrong?” Gia asked.
“May I confide in you, Gianna?”
The pleading in Sissy’s eyes as she clasped Gia’s hand was impossible to resist.
“We will be sisters one day, and I feel I can trust you,” Sissy said.
“Yes, of course.”
“Sometimes love comes in the strangest of ways. Sometimes it comes in mischievous ways. Less honorable ways.”
Gia squared her shoulders against the fear Sissy had discovered the truth behind her marriage to Landen.
“Kit introduced me to Alex to secure my future,” Sissy said.
Gia narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“My father made some very bad business investments. He lost everything we had, except our house. Kit had received a hefty inheritance from his late father, and he’s been helping us stay afloat.” She lowered her voice as though someone might hear her. “Kit thought Alex would make a good husband.”
“I see.”
Sissy let go of Gia’s hand, her cheeks flushing with shame. “Kit wrote me one day out of the blue, telling me about Alex, and how he thought we’d make a nice match. He arranged to bring Alex along when he finally came to visit. Kit sent me the funds to buy some new gowns. He thought it best we keep my family’s financial situation to ourselves. Alex listens to Kit’s advice. When Kit suggested we might make a good match, Alex agreed.”
“But you love Alex.”
She nodded. “More than I’d ever imagined.” She shrugged. “But I can’t help feeling as though I’ve done something wrong.” She fiddled with her hands. “Do you think I should tell him?”
“Yes, I do.”
Sissy blinked at Gia’s quick response.
“When it comes to love, trust is everything.” Gia swallowed back the pain of her own disheartening failures.
Sissy considered this.
“Alex will appreciate your honesty,” Gia said. “You don’t want a future that starts on a lie. It will follow and haunt you forever.”
Sissy nodded. “You’re right of course. I will be honest with Alex and tell him the truth. I love him. And if he loves me, he will forgive me.”
Gia smiled at Sissy’s optimism and trust in their love.
“Kit only wants what is best for me,” she said. “Alex will understand that. Besides, he’d forgive Kit of anything,” she added.
Gia didn’t doubt this for a moment. It was obvious Alex was impressed by Kit, and Gia suspected this bothered Landen.
She also knew Landen would not be pleased by the motivation behind Kit’s matchmaking.
Landen loved his siblings and was more like a father than a brother to them. Perhaps that was where Alex’s resentment toward Landen came in. Landen could be domineering when it came to his family’s welfare, and this couldn’t be easy for Alex, a second son, trying to come into his own.
“Kit brought Alex and me together. I only hope I can someday repay the favor. He’d make a good husband, but because of his lameness, I fear he finds himself lacking.”
Gia could sympathize. She and Kit had more in common than she’d realized. Perhaps Kit truly was the man she’d dreamed of marrying.
She stiffened against the foolish thought. It no longer mattered. She was married to Landen now. She loved Landen.
And because she loved him, she had to save him. A selfish reason, perhaps, but it was true. She had to save him, not to spare Alice and the rest of his family from the heartache of losing him, not even to spare Landen, but to spare herself.
She was daring to hope for a real future with him—a future without this threat looming over them. She had to live with her visions for the rest of her life—if only she could share that life with Landen, she would happily do so.
Someday he might love her, and all the pain she’d endured would be worth it. And then, perhaps, she would trust him enough to tell him the rest of her secret.
Chapter 23
Landen headed outside, wishing he hadn’t agreed to the badminton match he knew he would lose to his brother. Alex had invited several of his friends to the house, no doubt to witness his victory over his older brother, and they all gathered down on the lawn. Many families from the city spent the season in Misty Lake, and Landen recognized several of the people in the distance as those who returned year after year. To his relief, the group was currently engaged in a croquet tournament.
He stood on the patio, procrastinating with his thoughts and his reluctance to face Gia. He’d spent hours reviewing Whithers’ investment proposal, and although the man’s business reputation seemed solid, Landen had felt compelled to delve deeper into the man’s history by making a few discreet inquires in town.
The Lady Who Saw Too Much Page 17
