Free The Lady Who Saw Too Much by Thomasine Rappold Page A

detested her. Why on earth was she bothering to save the insufferable man’s life? Why on earth did she care?
    Perhaps, she’d turn out to be the culprit responsible for his floating in the creek. The horrible thought shamed her, but she could not stop herself. The man vexed her beyond reason.
    The damn smirk on his lips told her this was the reaction from her that he sought. To unnerve her with his endless reminders of the intimacies she was now expected to share with him. Resenting his attempt to exert some husbandly power over her, she refused to give him the satisfaction of playing into his hand.
    Inhaling a quick breath, she met his smile with one of her own. Placing a firm hand on his arm, she rose to her toes. “I look forward to it,” she whispered into his ear before she strode away.
    She glanced over her shoulder, enjoying his stunned expression as he watched after her. Somehow, that expression was worth lowering herself to his level. She hated to admit it, but rattling him was also great fun.
    Once inside the house, she felt differently. Liar, wanton, manipulator. She had no idea who she was anymore. Her thoughts meandered to her parents. How shocked they would be if they knew she was married. More likely, they were well past caring. She had no doubt they were relieved to be rid of her. They’d proven this by not coming after her.
    Gia shook away thoughts of the past. She should have held her tongue about Charlotte. Had the man any honorable feelings toward his former lover, he wouldn’t have kissed Gia the way he had in the first place. But nothing about Landen Elmsworth seemed honorable at the moment.
    Gia turned toward the sound of giggling girls huddled in the foyer just outside the room. She listened for the sound of Alice’s voice, hoping she might be among them. To her chagrin, she heard something else.
    “Alice Elmsworth is pretty enough, but she possesses the personality of a mouse,” one of the girls said. “I don’t think she’s uttered a word all day.”
    “There’s nothing unnatural about that,” another girl replied. “Since mice can’t speak.”
    They all laughed, and Gia’s temper rose to new heights. Had Alice happened upon this conversation, she’d be destroyed. Tears of anger burned Gia’s eyes. Alice was a sweet person, who would never hurt anyone. She deserved understanding for her social anxiety, not ridicule.
    Gia charged into the foyer, hands on hips. “Or perhaps Alice has the good sense not to waste words on spiteful girls who have no manners,” she snapped. “Alice might be shy, but she’s also smart and generous, and kind. Any one of you would be lucky to call her a friend.”
    The girls cringed, shamed by the reprimand. Their eyes widened like startled deer as they stared over Gia’s shoulders before bolting from the room. Gia turned to watch them scurry away, and saw Landen in the doorway.
    She blinked back the remnants of her shaky emotions, lacking the stamina to deal with him now. “Excuse me,” she said, attempting to pass.
    He caught her arm.
    She froze, her heart still pounding in anger at the girls. If he said anything to rile her in her current state, she was certain she’d box his ears. She glanced up at him, ready to pounce, but the empathy on his face told her he’d overheard the exchange.
    “Well done.”
    Gratitude shined in his eyes, and she couldn’t look away.
    “It’s time to cut the cake!” Clara called to them.
    Gia blinked and started away. Landen caught up to her, and together, they made their way through the crowded room to the cake table. With Clara’s enthusiastic guidance, Gia cut the first piece of cake.
    “Now pack this away,” Clara told Florence. “It’s to be enjoyed on their fifth anniversary.”
    Everyone applauded. Five years… If only Gia could share their optimism. Presently, she couldn’t see past the next five days—could see nothing past her ominous visions of Landen and Clara.
    The thought prompted Gia to