The Lady Who Saw Too Much (24 page)

Opening the portfolio on top, she scanned the contents inside. Landen would be furious at the invasion to his privacy, and she hastened her search. Like a thief, she ransacked past the risks to the pay dirt beneath. And there it was—Whithers’ name listed on a document regarding a business investment or some such matter. A jolt of excitement shot through her. Grasping the page in both hands, she took a deep breath, clearing her mind. She closed her eyes.

The feeling hit quickly, and she swelled with relief. Welcoming the familiar hum in her ears, she released herself to the consuming sensations, the dark embrace of the future and its unmerciful truth. Her heart pounded. The buzz in her ears grew louder. Clouds of darkness parted to the picture forming behind her closed eyes.

Whithers stood here, in this room, arguing with Landen. Their mouths moved with angry words she could not hear, but she felt every one. Their rage bit like teeth through her skin. With a violent swipe of his hand, Whithers cleared the desk’s surface. A blizzard of papers flew through the air, and then the vision was gone.

Gia clutched at the desk for support. Her knuckles were white against the paper still trapped in her grasp. Her legs trembled. She took several deep breaths to combat the crushing wave of exhaustion.

“What are you doing in here?”

Gia spun around, leaning back on the desk for support. Landen stood in the doorway, arms crossed, feet planted, impatiently awaiting an answer.

She fought to collect herself, fought for her voice. “I didn’t expect you would be back so soon.”

“Obviously.” His arms fell to his sides as he walked into the room. “I passed the others on their way to the cove,” he said. “Is this why you didn’t go with them? So you could spend the morning snooping through my study?”

“A good part of the reason, yes.”

He blinked at her honest response. “And here I thought nothing you could say could surprise me.” He pointed to the paper she held. “What do you have there?”

She lifted the page. “You must be careful, Landen. Mr. Whithers—”

“Is not your concern.” To her surprise, Landen didn’t seem angry. He merely shook his head, then eased the paper from her grip. “I will take care of Mr. Whithers.” He tossed the page to the desk. “I made some inquiries in Troy,” he said. “To find out more about him.”

“You did?” Her voice rose with the joyous lift to her spirit.

“Yes. I wish to put an end to this matter, and I will do my best to make that happen.” He tilted his head, his words soft yet stern. “If there is any chance to set things right between us, you must do the same. You’ve lost much in your life. I understand that. But you are safe—I am safe,” he added before she could object. “You must try and get past this fear.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, his touch as gentle as the look in his eyes. “Can you do that for me?”

She stared into his handsome face, knowing she would promise him anything if it meant he would look at her like this. She nodded, too moved by his tender regard to speak.

“Good.” He smiled, touching his forehead to hers. “Very good.” He released her. “What do you say we go for a ride?”

She blinked. “Really?”

“You can borrow Alice’s horse,” he said. “We can take the long way to the cove before meeting up with the others at the picnic. Since you’ve agreed to leave the spying to me, you have the spare time.”

She smiled, so pleased by his invitation to join him on his morning ritual she was tempted to kiss him, right there where he stood. “All right.”

After changing for the ride, Gia found Landen in the stable, saddling Alice’s horse. Gia watched as he moved, bending to tie the cinch. His broad back and firm shoulders strained beneath his shirt as he worked. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to touch him. Kiss him.

The pull of her attraction affected her like the onset of a vision, but in a good way. Her body felt feeble against the potent impact of her desire. Her pulse quickened. Her blood stirred with the restless need that consumed her whenever she looked at him, thought of him, dreamt of him.

“Are you ready?”

The question drew her from her reverie, and she nodded as she came down to earth.

“It’s been years since I’ve been on a horse,” she said.

“Velvet will take good care of you.” He patted the horse. “Won’t you, girl?”

Gia smiled at his affection for the horse. For whatever reason, Landen smiled too. All at once he looked so young and carefree. She basked in this lighthearted side of him as he led Velvet from the stable.

After helping her mount, they were on their way. The ride was lovely. The sun shone overhead as they rode side by side through the nearby field. Gia hadn’t realized how much she missed riding, and she picked up the pace, smiling against the wind as they trotted along.

“Let’s stop over there.” Landen pointed to a tall tree atop a hill in the distance.

He hopped from his horse, then helped her dismount. She slid from the horse and into his arms and the heady scent of him. Soap and wind, and the heated flesh of a virile man. The feel of his hands on her waist rippled through her. A drift of tingles branched from her core. He led her to a large boulder beneath the tree. They sat on the flat rock in the peaceful seclusion overlooking the glistening lake in the distance.

“This is my favorite spot in Misty Lake,” Landen said.

“It’s lovely.” She gazed at the mountains in the distance. The beautiful view seemed hauntingly familiar, but she was too consumed by the happiness of the current moment to reflect on the strange feeling.

“I will miss the country and the long summer days,” he said. “Some people have already headed back to the city.”

Clara had mentioned yesterday that Charlotte and Maude had left Misty Lake early. The relief Gia had felt at their departure now turned to despair. Was Landen missing Charlotte already? Had that been the purpose of his early morning trip to Troy?

“Like us, several people you’ve met here this summer reside in the city, so we’ll reunite there,” he said.

“Several people?” she asked. “Like who, for instance?”

He shrugged. “The Martins live across from us on Pawling Avenue. And the Downeys live just next door.”

She couldn’t help herself. “And Charlotte?” she asked. “Is her home in close proximity as well?”

He frowned. “She lives a few blocks away.”

How convenient.
She bristled, straightening her spine against her aching dismay.

As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I have not been unfaithful to you, Gia.”

Her heart stilled. She took in the words, the firm look in his eyes, and hope spread through her veins.

“Truly?”

He nodded. “Since our very first kiss, there’s been no one but you.”

Her spirit soared on a gust of delight. The endearments he offered in bed were inspired by his lust. But these words… She’d never heard anything sweeter.

He was hers… She smiled, blinking back tears.

“I never thanked you for coming to my rescue yesterday,” he said, changing the subject.

“You still haven’t.” She bumped her shoulder to his, and he smiled at her teasing.

“There’s no need to thank me,” she said.

“You saved me from making a fool of myself in front of my brother. Thanks are well justified.” He shook his head. “Alex would have enjoyed seeing me swoon, though.”

She smiled at the truth in his words. “I know.” She tilted her head. “What happened between the two of you?”

He shrugged. “If only I knew. When we were younger, we got on so well. He used to look up to me, if you can believe it. All that changed after my father and step-mother died.”

“But you took care of him and Alice.”

“Yes. And he despises me for it.” He shook his head. “He fights me on everything.”

“Such as?”

“Such as everything. We fought for months before he finally agreed to go to school in Syracuse.”

“Which school did he wish to attend?”

He narrowed his eyes, considering this.

“You didn’t ask him?”

“There was no need. I knew Syracuse would be best for him.”

She pinned him with a recriminating look she could not contain.

“I know what you’re thinking, but my father entrusted me to take care of his children.”

“An enormous responsibility for someone who was as young as you were.”

He looked at her as though no one had ever acknowledged the fact before now. A part of her ached for him and the thankless task set upon him. The other part of her felt pride for his efforts. Alex and Alice were a handful. Gia had never been responsible for anyone but herself, and she now understood more clearly why Landen tended to be so controlling with his siblings.

“Aunt Clara offered guidance as well,” he said.

“Oh, I’ve no doubt about that.” She smiled. “But you’ve done a fine job with them, Landen. I’m sure your father would be proud.”

“You didn’t know my father,” he said, turning to face her. “Expressing pride in his children was not his strongest suit.” He shrugged. “But I appreciate your sentiment.” He averted his eyes, staring out at the view.

“The point is you are doing your best. Alex is a grown man and will do what he’s going to do.”

“Yes, and all to spite me.” He shook his head. “Good God, I sound like Aunt Clara,” he said with a grin.

Gia laughed.

“But it’s true. I can’t even talk to him anymore,” Landen said. “I merely asked him about Sissy’s family, and he all but took my head off.” He sighed. “Alex is planning to marry this woman. I have every right to know about her family’s financial standing.”

“That may be a sore subject,” she uttered.

“What do you mean?”

For a moment, she gauged answering. While she didn’t want to break Sissy’s confidence, the deep concern on Landen’s face convinced her that she was doing the right thing. Besides, Sissy had probably told Alex by now. “Sissy’s family has no money. Her father lost everything.”

Landen’s eyes widened.

“How do you know this?” he asked.

“Sissy told me. Kit has been helping them stay afloat with his inheritance.”

“And I suppose Kit also arranged the meeting between Alex and Sissy?”

“Yes.”

Landen nodded, looking more reflective than angry. “Does Alex know?”

She shook her head. “He didn’t. But I advised Sissy to tell him at once.”

He stared at her for a long moment before he gave her a nod. “Sound advice.”

“Trust is everything.” She fiddled with her hands on her lap. “I have learned just how important trust is between people. And how difficult it is to earn back once it’s lost.”

She glanced up, fearing his reaction. But instead of the skeptical frown she’d expected, his expression remained thoughtful and serene. He was, no doubt, too concerned for his brother to focus on Gia’s admission, but she needed no acknowledgement. She’d needed only to say it, to let him know she was sorry for her hurtful deceptions. Despite the necessity of her actions.

“Sissy promised to tell Alex,” she reassured him. “She’s a good girl. I believe she truly loves him.”

“And what if she doesn’t? Am I to sit back and let him make a mistake?”

“What is the alternative? Demanding he break off their relationship will only push him further away.”

He ran his hand through his hair, considering this. His shoulders slumped with the weight of his dilemma.

“Alex is happy. And Alice is too. Be there for them if they need you, but trust them enough to let them live their own lives.”

He turned to face her. “And if I can’t do that?”

“Trust should run both ways, Landen. If you refuse to accept this, you will lose them.”

* * * *

After seeing Aunt Clara off to Saratoga the next morning, Landen looked forward to enjoying some more private time with Gia. He’d considered asking her along on the ride, but he hadn’t the heart to wake her. The memory of her sleeping so soundly, her glimmering hair surrounding her lovely face, made him hard with arousal. Even the heated discussion he’d had with Aunt Clara on the way to the stage depot hadn’t tempered his present lust for his wife. He quickened his pace up the stairs.

He stepped into their room to find Gia reading in the window seat. Her hair hung in loose waves down her shoulders. She still wore her nightclothes. His pulse jolted.

“Did Aunt Clara depart as scheduled?” Gia asked.

“Thankfully, yes.”

Gia smiled.

“I saw Kit fishing down at the lake,” Landen said. “Is Alex fishing as well?”

“No.” Gia glanced down at the book on her lap. “He and Sissy took Alice into town.”

“To see the gardener?” He tossed his coat to a chair. “Let’s hope she continues her newfound enthusiasm for socializing once we return to the city,” he muttered.

Gia pursed her lips at his sarcasm. “Alice will miss Ben.”

“Alice will get over it.”

“Despite your obvious reservations, you must admit her fondness for Ben has helped her come out of her shell.”

“Yes,” he said. “But seeing her these past weeks mooning over that boy makes me want to push her back into it.”

Gia smiled. “You’re her big brother, that’s natural. But if you spent some time with the young man, you might feel differently about him. He’s really very sweet.”

“Sweet or not, she could have a variety of suitors in the city. She needn’t settle on the first one that comes along.” He shook his head. “Nor the first one Aunt Clara finds charming.”

“Aunt Clara?”

He sank to the bed. The conversation with Clara in the carriage had sapped his patience, but he’d held his ground. He wanted to do right by Alice, and his aunt’s plans for his sister did not feel right. “She enlightened me with her latest brilliant idea.”

“What brilliant idea?”

“She wants to match Alice with Kit.”

“No!”

He flinched at her reaction and the stricken look on her face. His heart sank like a rock. The last thing he wanted was to have Kit as a brother-in-law. The man was too old, too worldly for Alice, and he’d told Clara as much. Landen had had every intention of telling Gia the same—until now.

“I mean, he’s not right for her,” Gia said to cover her outburst. “Besides, Alice cares for Ben far too much to consider Kit.”