The Lady Who Saw Too Much (22 page)

“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.

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.

Questioning the man’s integrity with no proof of wrongdoing other than his wife’s hysteria as the basis was risky, but the risk would be worth it to Landen if he could convince Gia her fears about the man were unfounded. Until he heard back with any news on Whithers, Landen would postpone his plans to invest in the man’s venture.

A part of him felt like a fool for acting on Gia’s suspicions, but reassuring her of Whithers’ innocence might be the only way to put her mind at ease and end this madness once and for all.

He had no idea how to help her, and for the first time, he found himself in his father’s shoes. Landen had always resented the man for the way he’d denied his mother’s illness. For pretending it didn’t exist. Even after her most public tantrums, his father continued to sweep her erratic behavior under the rug. He’d tried in vain to protect her, to fight the truth of her condition and the scandal that came with it. But in the end he could not protect her from herself.

Now that Landen was married, he could better understand his father’s reasoning. Landen had been young and ignorant to the matters between a man and a woman. The intimacies shared within the haven of marriage, in the dark of the night, created powerful bonds. The need to protect and defend one’s bedmate was just as strong.

Landen pushed thoughts of his past from his head and tried to concentrate on helping Gia. Gia had invested everything in her delusions. Christ, she’d married him because of them. She’d sacrificed her future to save a stranger. If her actions weren’t so inconceivable, he might deem them commendable. Courageous.

Running a hand through his hair, he thought about that moment he’d received the scarf. For that one brief moment, he’d been frightened by the shocking coincidence. Paralyzed by the possibility Gia might be right. She’d been so damn convincing. What would happen to Alice and Alex if something were to happen to him? What would happen to Gia?

He had to keep his head and be logical. Life was full of strange coincidences. Gia was bright with a keen sense of intuition, nothing more. The trauma she’d endured had skewed her perception of reality. She’d shaped a few striking coincidences into some fantastical design and created an oracle. There had to be some way to make her realize this.

He thought about her parents. Perhaps contacting them might help. Surely, they had to be worried about their daughter. And yet they’d made no effort to find her. After the way they’d treated her, he couldn’t blame her for running away and not wanting to see them again. They’d pushed her into a drug-induced stupor, then held her there to smother her illness. The mere thought of their abuse roused a white-hot anger inside him.

Landen just wanted things to go back to the way they were before his meeting with Charlotte. Before he was faced with the truth about Gia’s deception, and before she told him about this delusive ability she claimed to possess. But now he knew, and now he had to deal with his marriage to a woman who believed she saw visions of the future. A woman who had upended his life and changed everything. A woman he still desired more than any before her.

He took a deep breath as he walked toward the assembly situated in the shade beneath the cluster of oaks. Gia sat in one of the several wicker chairs that had been relocated from the sunroom to the lawn for the occasion. During these outside gatherings, Alice usually took shelter inside the gazebo down by the water, but to his surprise, she’d joined Gia on the lawn. Kit lounged on a nearby chaise, entertaining the group of Alex’s friends that surrounded him. After a boisterous bout of laughter, Kit rose and headed toward the mallets.

Gia pursed her lips beneath the brim of her bonnet as Landen approached. After everything she’d done, she had the audacity to be angry with him. She’d fed him a steady diet of lies from the moment they’d met, and yet she played the one who’d been wronged. He bristled at how bothered he was by her rebuff. These past nights lying in bed next to her had been torture, and he’d tossed and turned in frustration for more hours than he’d slept. Perhaps he could harness some of his pent-up energy for the game. God knew he’d need it if he were to give Alex a decent match.

He took a seat next to Gia, cursing the intoxicating scent of her.

“Anyone care for a game of croquet?” Kit asked from the lawn. “Alice and I are teaming up for a game.”

Landen blinked.

“Alice, you’re playing?” Gia asked, clearly as surprised as he was.

“No, I am not.” Alice crossed her arms.

“Have it your way, Fair Alice,” Kit called. “But be prepared. I intend to hound you all day until you relent.” He waved Alice toward him. “You’ve already watered your flowers, so come play. I need a pretty partner to help distract the competition.”

Alice blushed.

Landen frowned. “If she doesn’t wish to play—”

“All right,” Alice said. She shot to her feet. “I will play.”

Landen and Gia gaped at each other.

“But Denny and Gia must play as well,” Alice said as she breezed past them.

Landen glanced to Gia, and she shrugged her assent.

“All right,” Landen said as he rose. He held his arm for Gia, and they walked across the lawn.

The game progressed, and Landen couldn’t help noticing Kit’s flirtations with Alice. Whether Alice noticed or not, he couldn’t say.

“He’s just being friendly,” Gia said, as if reading his thoughts. “To help put her at ease.”

Kit had his hand on the small of Alice’s back as he instructed her on the proper way to hold the mallet. Landen stiffened as Kit worked his charms on his sister. Alice had been playing croquet since she was in pinafores; she scarcely needed lessons.

“Besides, Alice has eyes for someone else,” Gia said.

“Yes, I know. The gardener.”

“He happens to be a very nice young man,” she huffed. “And he seems quite fond of your sister.”

Landen scowled.

“Well, he does,” Gia affirmed against his cynicism.

“So, why isn’t he here? Everyone else is,” Landen muttered.

“Alice told me he’s working at the Westcott Estate. He’ll be here later.”

“Wonderful.” He jutted his chin toward Alex and Sissy. “At least my brother’s choice in companionship has improved,” he said. “Until he gets bored.”

Gia frowned. “Your brother is in love.”

“With Kit?” He smiled.

She frowned at his quip but couldn’t hold back a smile. God, how he’d missed that smile. The taste of those lips.

“He is in love with Sissy, and you know it.” She took her turn at the mallet and missed by a mile. “And Sissy loves Alex. That’s more important than other people’s opinions.”

“Especially mine.” He bent to hit his ball, and it rolled, smacking the others from their positions.

Alice made a fine shot, and she jumped up and down. “We win!”

Gia laughed. Landen laughed too.

“That was a fine shot, Alice,” Landen said. Despite his irritation at losing to Kit, Landen conceded defeat with a bow. “But we shall like a rematch.”

“Yes, a rematch,” Gia chimed in.

“What do you say, Kit?” Alice asked, twirling her mallet victoriously.

Her confident stance took Landen by surprise. This summer had sprouted a budding rose more beautiful than any blooming in the garden she tended, and his heart swelled with warmth.

Kit laughed. “I could not deny you if I wanted to, Fair Alice.”

“Good Lord,” Landen muttered.

“She’s enjoying herself, Landen. She’s coming out of her shell. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

It seemed like a lifetime ago that he’d hired Gia to be Alice’s companion. Something in Gia’s eyes said she felt this way too.

He turned to watch his little sister, looking so happy, so beautiful, so much like a woman. “Yes, I suppose it is.”

* * * *

“All right, no more stalling,” Alex called to Landen. “Let’s play badminton.” He smiled, twirling the racket in his hand as Landen approached the net. “Are you ready to play?”

“I’m ready.” Landen grabbed a racket, then ducked beneath the net. The sun shined in his eyes, but not enough to inhibit his vision. Alex served, and the match commenced. The game was fierce, the sun hot, and as usual, Landen was losing.

Alex taunted Landen with every shot he scored. Alex’s friends cheered and applauded, growing rowdier by the competition between the brothers and the bets they’d placed on the outcome.

Alex jumped high, hitting a shot Landen was certain he’d miss. “You’re looking weary, old man.” Alex laughed, hamming it up for his friends.

Landen raced to the birdie coming over the net and swung hard.

There was no returning the shot that hit Alex square in the face.

“Ugh!” Alex bent forward, clasping his nose.

“Alex!” Sissy rushed toward Alex, and the others followed.

“Are you all right?” Landen asked.

Alex raised his head slowly. “You tell me.” He flashed opened his palms. Blood trickled from his nose.

Landen’s stomach lurched. Alex covered his nose, but it was too late. Landen froze, staring at the spatters of blood staining Alex’s white shirt. Everything swam before Landen’s eyes. His weight shifted beneath him. The racket slipped from his hand. He stood alone, wobbling on his feet amid the blurred commotion on the other side of the net.

His thoughts spun through the droning buzz in his ears, the weightlessness in his limbs. Alex was the injured party, but in a few short seconds, Landen would swoon like a woman in front of them all.

“Landen.”

The sound of Gia’s voice was a beacon through the din.

“Landen, look at me.” She tugged at his arm.

He blinked hard against the lure of nothingness pulling him under.

“Landen.” She grasped his shoulders, alarmed, but her voice remained calm. “Take a deep breath.”

He inhaled a long breath, and she nodded, urging him on. “Good. Now focus on me. On me.” Her eyes held his, and he steadied as her face came more clearly into view. “Keep breathing.”

He felt himself moving as she slowly led him to a chair. He plopped down in relief.

He glanced up toward Alex, who was being ushered to the patio.

“Alex will be fine,” Gia reassured him. “You just focus on breathing.”

The buzz in Landen’s ears faded with every breath he took, every word Gia spoke. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. He felt the soft caress of Gia’s hand, rubbing his back.

“Are you feeling better?” she asked.

He nodded, but he couldn’t yet speak.

“Good.” She kept rubbing his back, up and down, soft and steady.

The lightheadedness dissipated, as did his blurred vision, but he didn’t move.

Gia’s touch felt so good. So soothing. Conflicting emotions battled inside him. He couldn’t trust her, and yet in this moment there was no one he trusted more. No one who knew him as well as she did. No one else who saw him for who he truly was.

Sitting back in the chair, he turned to face her. Her small smile of relief washed over him, drowning him in a flood of emotion. She blinked against the sunlight, gazing intently at him. It took every ounce of strength he possessed not to pull her into his arms and kiss the hell out of her.