The Lady Who Saw Too Much (27 page)

He turned to face her. His expression conveyed more than anger. More than accusation and blame. Bitter regret surfaced in his eyes. “Be that as it may, it was you who ruined my life. You used every trick in the book to seduce me—in and out of bed.” His nostrils flared. “You made me marry you. You made me care for you only to destroy me in return.”

“That’s not true!”

“I’ve lost everything because of you! My freedom, my brother, and now my sister! You’re like a toxin, poisoning everything you touch!” He gnarled his lips in disgust. “No wonder your parents wanted you gone.”

The piercing words cut through her, and she winced against the depth of her pain.

He averted his eyes, but it was too late. She’d seen his true feelings. Felt his utter disdain. Her heart splintered to pieces. She stood amid the ringing silence, unable to speak, unable to move.

He turned away from her, finished saddling his horse, and then tore away.

* * * *

Gia slumped to a hay bale, trembling. It was over. The finality of it all echoed through her empty soul like the memory of that first shovel-full of dirt dropping over her brothers’ caskets—that unforgettable sound that scraped through the shock and denial to the dreadful realization that things would never be the same.

Another man, perhaps, might succeed in forgiving her lies, but not Landen. He’d been hurt and betrayed by the women he’d loved; he’d not allow himself to risk trusting another again. Or, then again, maybe he might have—on a woman who was worth it.

A woman like Charlotte…

But Gia had forced an end to that affair and that prospect for his happiness. The ponderous thought sunk her lower. The desire for a dose of laudanum had never felt so strong. The desperate urge to escape her inadequacies, to vanish into the sweet numbness slithered like a snake through the maze of her troubled mind.

Hating herself for her weakness, she cried into her hands, bleeding her misery, her guilt, her failures. She’d saved Landen from Whithers but at what cost? Landen lived for his family, and without them, he would shrivel away. As she would shrivel away without him….

The ache in her chest spread outward. She could barely breathe through the press of sorrow crushing her lungs. She’d given him her heart and her soul, and now she had nothing.

With an angry breath, she staved off her self-pity. She’d survived the icy water and the opiates—even her parents’ rejection. If she had to, she could survive Landen’s hatred as well. She straightened, wiping her eyes. Despite her stark grief, she could never regret all she’d done to save him. Because as long as she lived, she would love him. And she could not let him go.

A vision of a stranger had brought her to Misty Lake. Her promise to Pru had kept her here. She’d fulfilled her objective, and in the process, she’d fallen in love. She’d forged a new life—a home and a family. She lifted her chin. And she would fight like hell for all of it.

She had to find Alice. If only she had the note. Jumping to her feet, she collected her wits. She raced back to the garden.

Alice’s watering can sat on the stone bench on the patio. Gia grabbed the thing, clutching it between her trembling hands. Her ability was at her control, and she commanded it forth with more confidence than ever before. The vision struck quickly. Alice huddled on the ground. Below her terror-filled eyes, her mouth was gagged. Her hands were tied to the wide base of a tree. The gnarled tree.

Alice hadn’t eloped. She’d been kidnapped.

And Landen was riding into a trap.

Gia bit back a sob. Exposing Whithers had changed nothing. More likely, her actions had prompted it all. The instinct to open her eyes and escape the scene in her mind was strong, but she had to be stronger. For Alice and Landen. Trembling with the fear the pair would be killed as she watched, she plowed through her terror, regaining her focus.

The steady hum in her ears droned through her head. Alice whimpered and squirmed near the pair of booted feet next to her. Gia forged deeper into the morbid scene. The buzz in her head grew louder as the picture expanded toward Alice’s captor. And then Gia saw him. Her shocked gasp caught in her throat. She flashed open her eyes, heart pounding. The man standing over Alice’s cowering form at his feet was not Whithers.

It was Alex.

* * * *

Gia sank to the bench, panting for air. A shiver took hold of her and wouldn’t let go. She hugged her arms to her body as the vision registered. Alex had kidnapped his own sister. And he was going to kill his brother.

Disbelief muddled her thoughts. How could Alex do this to the people who loved him? Why? Her thoughts whirled in a dozen directions. She fought to stay calm, to figure out what to do.

She had to get to the creek. She had no weapon, no horse, no plan. She knew only that she had to stop Alex from this madness. She dropped the watering can, then hurried into the house to the kitchen.

“Florence!”

Florence froze, dishrag in hand.

“Run to town and get help. And bring back the doctor.” Gia paused to catch her breath. “If I’m not back when you return, have them search the woods along the creek.”

The woman’s startled eyes narrowed in question. “What’s wrong?”

“Florence, please, just do as I ask. There’s no time to explain. You must hurry.”

With a nod of alarm, Florence moved into action.

Relieved, Gia rushed from the kitchen. She tore up the stairs to their room. Landen kept a pistol in his bureau. She pulled open the drawer and snatched up the gun. The very sight of it, the weight of it in her hand, added to the sick churning in her stomach. She swallowed hard, shoved the thing into her skirt pocket, and then raced from the room.

She hurried down the stairs, breathless as she ran out the back door.

“Gianna!”

Gia froze. A chill of fear shot through her veins. She turned to face Alex, ready to run for her life.

“I just saw Florence,” he said. “What’s happening? What’s wrong?”

Clutching the gun in her pocket, she took a step back. “Where is Landen?” she croaked through the lump in her throat.

He narrowed his eyes. “I was about to ask you the same question.”

She shook her head, gazing into the handsome face of the man Landen and Alice loved so dearly. “Why are you doing this to them?” Her voice broke on thoughts of the painful betrayal.

“What are you talking about? What’s the matter with you?”

She eyed him warily, backing farther away. He looked so genuinely baffled by her questions she couldn’t think straight.

“What the hell is going on?” he said. “Where’s Kit?”

She blinked. “Kit?”

“He was heading this way.”

“Kit?” she repeated.

“He never left town. Henry Whalen saw him this morning. On horseback.”

Gia stiffened against her surprise. “I do not believe you.”

“I didn’t believe Henry either when he told me. I was sure he must be mistaken. I can’t believe Kit let Sissy travel alone.” His face tightened with anger. “But it was Kit.”

“How do you know?” she asked skeptically.

“Kit was wearing the scarf Sissy made him.”

Gia’s stomach dropped to her feet. Blood rushed from her head. “Sissy made Kit a scarf?”

Alex nodded. “A red one,” he said. “Like the one she made Landen.”

Landen pulled back on the reins, slowing his pace. Up ahead, a rider-less horse meandered in the weeds at the side of the road. Landen squinted, honing in on the sight. Alice’s horse.

He jumped from his horse and rushed toward Velvet, scanning the area for Alice.

“Good morning.”

Landen spun around. He saw the red scarf first, and his every instinct screamed danger. “Kit.” His pulse lurched. “What are you doing here? Where is Alice?”

“Come with me, and I’ll show you,” Kit said.

“What the hell is going on?” Landen charged toward him, balling his fists.

“I wouldn’t.” Kit flashed open his coat.

Landen halted at the sight of the gun tucked into Kit’s waistband.

“You’ll come peacefully,” Kit said.

The bastard had Alice. Landen’s heart thundered. “The hell I will.” He started toward Kit again.

Kit drew the gun and aimed it. “Perhaps I should clarify.” He spoke in that melodious tone Landen had come to despise. “If you hope to ever see your sister again, you will come peacefully.” He tilted his head. “Of course, you can try to overpower me. Perhaps even kill me.” He shrugged. “But as you’re considering those options, consider this as well. Fair Alice will be dead before you ever find her.”

Landen inhaled through clenched teeth. “Why are you doing this? What the hell do you want?”

“Revenge.”

“Revenge?” Landen scoffed. “For tossing you out for kissing my wife?”

Kit frowned, shaking his head. “For defiling my fiancée.”

Landen winced in disbelief. “Gia was your fiancée?”

“Not her, you fool. Isobel.”

Landen blinked. “Isobel?” He shook his head in confusion. “You knew Isobel?”

“I was going to marry her. And you knew it.”

Landen shifted his weight against the force of this news. The faceless man of his past, the man he had wronged so long ago was Kit Richardson. The inconceivable twist of fate that had forced them together stifled his breath.

“I knew no such thing,” Landen said. “I knew there was another man, but I never—”

“You never cared!” Kit’s outburst echoed through the trees. “You never gave a thought to the man she was promised to. The man you made look like a fool. You just took what you wanted.”

Landen stared, lost for words. He had no defense. It was true. “That was a lifetime ago,” he said. “And in case you’ve forgotten, Isobel left me as well.”

“That changes nothing,” Kit shot back. His sneering mouth curved into a smile. “Though I must admit your being jilted did bring me some pleasure.” His smile faded. “But not nearly enough to make me forget. I can never forget.” A shadow of pain crossed his face. “I live with the reminder every day of my life.” He tapped the gun to his leg. “Because of you, I’m a cripple.”

Landen shook his head, trying hard to comprehend.

“After I received the news that Isobel was marrying you, I took off after her.” Kit steadied the audible quake in his tone. “I never made it.”

And suddenly Landen understood. Gia had told him that Kit’s accident occurred while on the way to see his fiancée. The gravity of this revelation struck hard.

Landen swallowed. “We were young. Isobel—”

“Was replaceable. My leg was not!” He took a long breath, reclaiming his calm. “I’ve waited years, but you’ll soon pay for what you cost me.” He smiled, awaiting Landen’s reaction. “Thanks to your brother.”

Landen swallowed, feeling sick. “Alex knows who you are?” he choked out.

“Your brother knows nothing. That self-absorbed brat hasn’t a clue. Fortune smiled upon me when I happened to sit next to him at a card game. My plan took root that night, but I bided my time. Ten months confined to a bed taught me patience.” Despite the contempt in Kit’s words, his expression remained unnervingly civil. “I introduced Alex to Sissy.” He shrugged. “Her family needs money—two birds with one stone.” He puffed his chest proudly. “I even managed to get her chaperone ill so I could come here myself.”

“This is lunacy. You’re insane.”

“And it will be my insane pleasure to rid the world of one more man like you. Men who lure foolish women away from the men they belong to. Selfish bastards who leave broken husbands and motherless children in their wake.”

Landen’s blood turned to ice. Each word made it clear that Kit’s deep-seeded hatred was born of much more than what Landen had done. But there was no doubt the unstable man intended to make Landen pay for it all.

“Get on your horse.”

Landen watched in surprise as Kit moved to mount Velvet. Hefting himself into the stirrup, he fumbled with his cane as he attempted to lift his lame leg over the horse. After two failed attempts, he finally managed the feat.

Despite everything, Landen couldn’t help pitying the man.

As though sensing this, Kit straightened his frame in the saddle, lifting his chin to reclaim his pride. He pointed the gun, looking angrier than before.

“Get on your horse,” Kit ground out.

Having no other choice, Landen complied.

“Now move,” Kit ordered. “That way,” he said, with a nudge of his head.

Landen turned the horse off the road. They rode into the woods, along a trail Landen hadn’t known existed. His mind searched for a way to unarm the man. Did he really have Alice? Landen knew that he did. Just as he knew Kit meant to kill him today.

Just as Gia had foreseen.

Landen’s heart clenched with regret. She’d been right all along. Somehow, some way, she’d known this would happen. Her visions weren’t a symptom of illness or lies; they were real. Gia was not insane. She was gifted.

As unbelievable as it was, he believed it. Despite the hell of his current circumstances, a sense of relief filled his lungs. Everything Gia had done—all the lies—were to save him.

And he’d broken her heart.

He cringed against the memory of his final words to her. Why couldn’t he have believed her? Trusted her? Gia had tried so desperately to help him—to gain his forgiveness. But now it was too late.

They reached the creek, and the path grew steeper. Kit remained silent behind him as they trudged the treacherous terrain. With each footfall of the horse, Landen feared he’d be shot in the back. The urge to dismount and make a run for it grew more tempting. But then he thought about Alice….

The narrow ledge above the creek widened into a small plateau surrounded by tall pines and a half-dead gnarled tree. And then Landen saw her.

“Alice!”

Landen jumped from his horse.

“Hold it right there,” Kit ordered. He slid down from Velvet, stumbling to his feet.

Landen froze, heart pounding at the sight of his sister huddled on the ground. Tied to the tree, she look terrified. Tears poured from her eyes.

“Fair Alice is a brave one,” Kit said. “Only agreeing to write that letter after I threatened her family. I never wanted to hurt her. She wasn’t part of the plan. Seducing Gianna was.” His face twisted in disgust. “But then you had to have a faithful wife. You don’t deserve a faithful wife.” He shook his head. “I had to adjust my plans accordingly after she told you about the kiss.” He smiled. “But I must admit, it was worth it. She tasted so sweet.”