Deception (41 page)

On the bed was her dress, a tea-length satin shift with lace sleeves and hem. The seamstress at the Bayshore Boutique had created it just for her. She had only to slip it over her head and call for Sally and her one attendant, Elvie Adams, to come and put the finishing touches on her hair. She’d chosen to let it hang loose in curls, beneath a short veil.

The wedding was hastily put together, but Clay’s friends and associates would never know. And it was only in the absence of her friends that she would be able to tell. None of them had had time to make the journey from California. It had been impossible for them to cancel shows and obligations on such short notice. If Elvie had not accepted her invitation with such a rush of honest pleasure, Connor wouldn’t have had a single person to stand with her. Connor walked to the bed and fingered the elegant lace of her dress.

Richard had refused to come home for the wedding. He’d begged her to wait, to think it through, not to be rushed into anything. In a different set of circumstances, that might have been the right path to take. But Clay needed a wife. Ugly rumors were building about their relationship. Aside from the potential damage of the photographs, Renata had told tales to the Bienvilles, who’d called to question Clay about what was going on at Oaklawn. An opportunity for revenge had presented itself in the guise of concern for the granddaughter they had all but disowned, Clay said. Talk from the Bienvilles could be extremely damaging to his political future, and they had hinted at a custody battle. As Clay had pointed out, a public commitment of their love for each other, a legal bond, would put that issue to rest. And the sooner the better.

Connor picked up the dress and slid it over her head. She’d insisted on an outdoor ceremony. Willene had squawked mightily. Only Sally had seen the romantic beauty of the stark pecan orchard. She’d taken Connor’s side, pointing out that January was normally a month of bright sun and pleasant temperatures, or at least, nothing that long-sleeved dresses wouldn’t remedy. Connor had not bothered to tell her the truth—that the house was too oppressive. The ornate mirrors reflected images of the past, not the future. If there was to be a wedding at Oaklawn, it had to be outside, in the January sun. Outside, where no secret eyes, hidden in dark shadows of the old house, could watch.

Connor picked up the hot curlers and began the process of rolling her hair. The ceremony was due to begin in half an hour. She didn’t have time to sit alone in her room and smother herself with morbid thoughts—silly jitters. This was her wedding day. She was marrying the man she loved, and if nothing else was certain, her love for Clay was real and deep. She had to believe that together they would work through their problems. Once she was Mrs. Clay Sumner, she would have the authority to ferret out the intruder in her home, be she human, or … ghost.

Connor deliberately turned her thoughts to Australia. After the election she would visit her father. And she was, of course, free to invite any of her friends to Oaklawn for a visit, long or short, at any time. Clay had been very receptive to the idea of hiring Elvie as soon as they had enough horses to warrant a second trainer. The days until the November election would pass rapidly. Clay would be away much of the time, but she had plenty to keep her busy with her future—with the horses. Everything she’d ever wanted was within reach.

There was a soft knock at her door. “Connor, can we help?”

“Elvie, come in.” Connor composed her face with a smile. All brides had certain apprehensions. Marriage was a serious step to take. Her fears were normal, and like all brides, she had to hide her concerns and show only her joy.

“Oh, the dress is beautiful,” Elvie whispered. “Sally and I came to do your hair. We’re going to have to hurry. The men are down in the library, having a little bourbon, I think. I caught a peek of Mr. Sumner. He’s so handsome.” She squeezed Connor’s arm. “Clarissa Barnes didn’t believe it when I told her I was going to be your wedding attendant. Oh, Connor, it was worth a milion dollars to see the look on her face.”

“I’m sure she’s horrified that Clay is marrying his hired hand.”

“Such things simply aren’t done here in Mobile.” Elvie laughed. “Sally went to get us all a little nip, too. We can’t let the men have all the iron nerves today.”

“Good idea.” Connor took a seat in front of the vanity and let Sally quickly roll the remainder of the curlers into her thick auburn hair.

“You’re going to be the most beautiful bride in the world.”

Connor laughed, infected by her new friend’s enthusiasm. “That’s exactly what I need to hear.”

“Mrs. Welford has your bouquet downstairs. The roses are beautiful, Connor. They’re the reddest I’ve ever seen.”

Connor caught Sally’s eye in the mirror. “Red?”

“Yes, ruby red. With those white things. Mrs. Welford said they were …” She stopped. “Is something wrong?”

“I ordered coral roses. With calla lilies.”

Elvie reset a loose curler. “Well, the red ones are magnificent. And they even smell good. Listen, I know Sally is wangling to catch the bouquet when you toss it, but I can stand a little boost in the romance department, too.”

Connor forced a smile. “Of all the people I wouldn’t want to encourage, it’s Sally. Her choice of men is immature, and dangerous.”

“Jeff.” Elvie sighed. “She’s been talking about him all morning, and I must admit, from what I’ve seen, he’s a hounddog who thinks he’s a wolf. He asked me if I wanted a private tour of the barn.”

“Quite the operator.” Connor opened the top drawer of the vanity and withdrew the jewelry case Clay had given her. She opened it and heard Elvie’s gasp of appreciation. The opera-length strand of pearls, interwoven with a thin gold chain of diamonds, was one of the most exquisite pieces of jewelry Connor had ever seen. When she clasped it behind her head, it was the perfect accessory for the plain dress she’d chosen.

“Your wedding gift?” Elvie asked, her voice envious.

“Yes.”

“And that hunk of diamond for an engagement ring?”

“Clay is generous,” Connor said. She held out her hands. The diamond solitare looked enormous on her left hand. The emerald and opal ring he’d given her for Christmas was on her right. With her nails carefully manicured and polished, her hands looked as if they belonged to someone else. At that thought she dropped them into her lap.

“What’s wrong?” Elvie asked.

“Bridal jitters.” Connor shifted on the seat. “Let’s take those curlers out and get on with this.” To take the sting out of her words, she smiled up at Elvie. “I haven’t even told you how beautiful you look. I think green was the right choice.”

“My favorite color, anyway,” Elvie said, smiling. ‘Thanks for asking me to do this, Connor. I know we haven’t had a lot of time to become friends, but you’re very special to me.”

“I look at you as a true friend, one I could count on if I ever needed help.” Connor felt the tears threaten. Elvie, with her green eyes and dark hair, was lovely in the forest-green velvet dress.

Another tap on the door gave notice that Sally had arrived, complete with a decanter of bourbon and crystal glasses. “The musicians are playing on the front porch. It’s beautiful.” Sally kicked the door shut behind her with her foot.

“To the new bride,” Elvie said, pouring a round and holding up her glass. “To a long and happy future.”

They drank, giggling as they poured another round.

“My veil.” Connor felt a shock of horror. “Willene was working on it. She said it was too plain and she wanted to add something.”

“I’ll go down to Mrs. Welford and get it,” Elvie volunteered. “If she gets her hands on Sally, she’ll put her to work.”

“And she’s running that kitchen like a slave master,” Sally said, bursting into laughter. “Those caterers came in thinking they were going to run the show. Willene’s had them standing on their heads.”

“I’d do whatever she said rather than argue with her,” Elvie agreed. “I’ll be right back.”

Sally finished brushing out Connor’s hair. “You’re really beautiful, you know. I’d hardly know you as the horsewoman who came here.”

Connor shook her head. “I’m the same person.”

“You are and you aren’t,” Sally said, putting the brush on the vanity. “You look like you stepped out of a magazine.”

“Isn’t that what every bride should look like?” Connor smiled in the mirror at Sally.

Sally answered with a grin. “Just as long as you’re the same Connor underneath. Willene said you’d change. That marrying Clay would make you different. She said it would change everything here, and she was about to cry.”

“I hope not,” Connor said. “Of course I’ll change. Everybody does. But I hope I don’t become … hardened.”

The door burst open, and Elvie held up the bridal veil. “Here it is, the crowning touch.” She walked up and put it on Connor’s head, adjusting the layers until they hung perfectly.

“We’re ready.” Sally said.

“I can’t believe this.” Connor stood up. “You two go ahead. I want just a moment alone.”

“The guests are going out to take their seats,” Elvie warned her. “Clay was pacing the library floor.”

“At least my groom is here. What about the children?”

“They’re dressed and ready,” Sally said quickly. “Mr. Clay saw to that.”

“And Renata? Is she going to attend?”

“She may be standing, but she’ll be here,” Sally said.

“I wish it could be different for her. I wish she could be happy for her father and me.”

“In time,” Sally said. “Now, hurry down. We’ll wait for you by the front door after we shoo everyone else out. Not more than five minutes.”

Connor nodded. When the door closed behind the two women, she walked into the sitting room. The huge mirror over the fireplace gave her back her image. The dress was beautiful, a perfect compliment to her tall, slim figure. The necklace glittered against the pale candlelight satin. Damn! She’d forgotten the flowers!

Before she went down, she walked to her bedroom window for one peek at the guests. She didn’t know any of them. There were a few she’d met. And Harlan, of course. Looking as if he’d swallowed a dose of vinegar, he was showing guests to their seats.

Renata had refused to participate in the wedding, but she was seated in the front row, beside Danny. Willene was already seated, too, in the back row, so that she could move easily to the kitchen to make sure the caterers were doing their job.

In all, there were at least a hundred people there, all important in one way or another to Clay. In a matter of minutes, they would all be important to her future, too.

She was about to step away from the window when a movement at edge of the woods caught her eye. The motion was too quick to distinguish, but Connor was certain someone had darted back into the underbrush.

Connor stared at the woods, willing the person to come out again. How many times had she stood at that same window and searched the orchard for someone? How many times would she have to do it in the future? The thought was chilling.

What if there was no one there? Thoughts she’d held at bay for days swept over her like the wind through the orchard. What if there was something about Oaklawn that allowed the past to interfere with the present? Maybe not even ghosts, but a lingering corruption. Who was out in the orchard, watching the preparations for her wedding?

As if in answer to her call, a figure stepped out of the dense foliage into the clear. Long auburn curls hung on her shoulders. The black satin dress was a perfect duplicate of Connor’s wedding dress. The short black veil hid the woman’s features. She lifted a single red rose, pointed it directly at Connor, then dropped it to the ground and crushed it beneath her heel before she turned and ran back into the woods.

Stunned, Connor gripped the windowsill. She grabbed the wooden frame and pushed the heavy window open. The music of the string quartet filtered in to her, mingled with the laughter and conversation of her guests. Connor saw Jeff at the edge of the crowd. She leaned farther out the window, ready to call his name, to tell him to chase the woman who’d disappeared into the woods. The woman who wore her wedding dress in black.

“Connor!” Elvie’s shocked voice stopped her just as Elvie’s hands grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back in the window. “What are you doing?”

Connor reached for the windowsill again, but Elvie pulled her away.

“What’s wrong?”

“She’s out there,” Connor said. “I saw her.” The significance of the dress had not been lost. “She means to kill me, Elvie.”

“I’ll get Clay.” Elvie’s face was white.

“No!” Connor grabbed her shoulders and held tight. “Don’t tell anyone. No one ever believes me when I tell them, anyway.”

“Good lord, Connor, what’s going on?” Elvie looked as if she were going to cry. “You’re acting crazy.”

Connor dropped her hands to her side. “I am, aren’t I?” Elvie was clearly terrified—not of the woman in the woods, but of her. Elvie, her only friend in a strange city, was afraid that she was losing her mind. Connor turned from the window and walked to the vanity, composing her face in the mirror. “I guess my imagination got away from me.” She turned around and faced Elvie. “I thought I saw someone from … my past, in the woods. I’m sorry I frightened you.”

“What the hell is going on with you? I know you well enough to know you aren’t some silly hysterical girl. Who was out in that orchard?”

“I thought it was one of Clay’s old girlfriends. I was trying to get a better look.” She forced a smile and shrugged. “I’m feeling a little insecure, I guess.”

Elvie’s smile was slow, a mixture of doubt and relief. “You scared the shit out of me, Connor. For a minute there, I thought you were trying to crawl out that window.”

“No.” Connor smiled. “I was trying to get a better look. You know how you sometimes catch something out of the corner of your eye. I saw her, but I couldn’t get a clear view.”

“And was it a woman from his past?”

“No, it was nothing at all.” Connor walked to the window and shut it. She gave the woods a quick look. There was no sign of anyone. “Nothing at all,” she said. “Let’s go downstairs.”

As they started down the long stairway, Elvie touched Connor’s shoulder. “Sally says she’s afraid of these stairs. She said you fell here one night.”