Deception (42 page)

“I did. Luckily, I wasn’t seriously hurt.”

“Well, you won’t have to worry about these stairs. You’ll be sleeping downstairs tonight.” Elvie gave her a wink. “If you get to sleep at all.”

“I have to get my flowers,” Connor said at the bottom of the stairs.

“Hurry, Connor. Clay’s about to have a fit.”

“I’ll be right there. Wait on the porch.”

Connor hurried across the hallway and into the kitchen. Even the caterers had gone outside to watch the ceremony. Connor opened the refrigerator, but the flowers weren’t there. All of the shelves were crammed with delicacies for the reception. There wasn’t room for a single blossom.

There was no place in the food-jammed kitchen for any flowers. Tapping lightly at Willene’s door, Connor pushed it open. The room was large and neatly ordered, dominated by an antique bed topped with a beautiful quilt. Her bridal bouquet was centered on the bed. Connor walked in to get it, her curiosity getting the better of her as she looked around.

Willene’s room contained none of the elegance of the rest of the house. Although the furniture was nice, there was no scrollwork or brocade. Instead, there was a comfortable solidness captured perfectly by the old rocking chair in front of the hearth. The hardwood floor was covered with hand-woven rugs. Even the wallpaper was old-fashioned. Picking up her bouquet, Connor sighed. Willene knew who she was.

A piece of paper fluttered out of her grasp, landing on the quilt. Connor noticed that one edge was jagged, as if it had been torn. She turned it over. The black-and-white image of a young woman, auburn hair piled on top of her head, gazed up at her. The woman, hardly more than a girl, was smiling, her red lips soft with youth and happiness. She was beautiful, and obviously very happy. A man’s hand rested on her shoulder, but it was the only evidence that someone else had shared that moment with the young woman. Whoever the man was, he’d been torn out of the picture.

“Oh, my.” Connor spoke the words softly. “Willene.” She examined the picture more closely. Was it possible that the young woman in the torn photo was Willene?

“So you found your flowers, did you?”

Connor looked up to find Willene standing in the doorway. “I did.” She held the torn photograph. “Is this you?”

“Indeed. You’d hardly believe it to look at me now. But there was a time when I was a comely girl with dreams of my own.”

“And you were going to marry the man …”

“I intended to. But he never intended to marry me.” Willene walked forward and took the picture. “But it’s not the kind of thought for you to have on your wedding day, Connor. People are getting anxious. Mr. Clay is about to pace a ditch waiting for you.”

“Who was the man?” Connor asked.

“Someone I loved.” Willene took her elbow. “No sad stories today, Connor. Now, out you go.” She gave her a little push toward the door. “Go on.”

At the kitchen, Sally grabbed her arm. “Hurry up, Connor. Mr. Clay’s about to have a conniption.”

Elvie waited at the front door, her anxiety turning into a smile as she saw Connor coming down the hall.

Connor stepped onto the porch, her eyes adjusting to the bright sunlight outside after the dimness of the house. Without faltering, she walked down the steps and around the house to the gardens. As soon as the musicians saw her, there was a pause, and then the Wedding March began. All heads swiveled to watch her, and Connor walked forward to the altar where Clay waited. Only his smile drew her forward. For Connor, there was no music, no sound, no sensation—only Clay. Right or wrong, she’d made her decision.

“You look a little shell-shocked, Connor, darlin’.” Harlan pressed a glass of champagne into her hand. “Now that you’re my sister-in-law, you’d better learn to drink. It’ll help to ease the pain of being married to Clay.”

“You never give up, do you?” Connor sipped the champagne. The wedding ceremony had passed in a blur. One of the most important moments of her life, and she’d been in a trance of some kind. The only thing she could remember was Clay’s blue eyes.

“Clay tried to clean my clock for me and told me if I wasn’t nice to you he was going to make me so. So how are you going to take to life in Washington? It can be a real fishtank.”

“It couldn’t possibly be worse than this town. The only clear benefit I can see is that you won’t be there.” Connor sipped her champagne and let her gaze drift over the crowd. Harlan was a wart, but at this particular moment she couldn’t give him her full attention. As soon as there was a lull in the introductions Clay was making, she wanted to slip out of the crowd and walk in the orchard. She caught a glimpse of Renata and Danny. They were standing at the edge of the tent, staring into the woods.

“Excuse me, Harlan. You can torment me another time just as well, I’m sure.” She walked toward the children.

“Danny, Renata.” She called their names as she approached. “Thanks for helping so much today.”

“Daddy said he’d spank us,” Renata said. She didn’t bother to look at Connor.

“What are you watching?” Connor asked.

“There’s someone in the orchard,” Danny answered.

Connor felt her heart begin to pound. “If it’s your friend, why don’t you invite her over for some champagne and cake?”

“She wouldn’t come.” Renata finally looked at Connor. She smiled slowly. “I tried to warn you. She tried to tell you. Bad things are going to happen to you at Oaklawn.” Renata darted between two older women and disappeared into the interior of the tent.

“She shouldn’t have done that,” Danny said. He looked at the toe of his shoe. “I’m glad you married Daddy, Connor. I hope nothing happens to you.”

“Who was in the orchard?”

Danny looked toward the pecan trees again, then back at Connor. “I couldn’t tell. He was hiding.”

“He?”

“I think it was a guy. Anyway, whoever it was was wearing pants and a jacket.”

“You’re certain it wasn’t your friend from the woods?”

“She always wears dresses. She says that where she’s from, women don’t wear pants like you do.”

“Have you seen her lately?”

Danny shook his head. “No. Renata’s afraid she’s gone away. After what happened in the garden room and all.”

Connor heard the hubbub of the crowd. She was conscious of people looking at her, watching her talk with Danny. She knelt down, drawing him closer so that she could whisper. “What did happen, Danny? Do you know?”

“Renata went down to meet Hilla, and she … fell into the pool. I’ve got to go.”

Connor had to restrain herself from reaching out and grasping Danny’s shoulders. Instead, she watched him rush to Renata’s side. The two of them disappeared behind a heavy woman in a pink suit. All around her there was the buzz of conversation, the clink of glasses and laughter. For one brief moment, Connor was free. She found Clay, just at the edge of the tent, talking with four men. Whatever they were talking about had them enthralled. Connor knew she wouldn’t have another chance before nightfall. Easing backward, she slipped around the tent and ducked behind the first pecan tree. Working quickly from tree to tree, she moved across the orchard.

She made it to the edge of the woods without anyone seeing her. When she’d seen the figure of the woman in black from her bedroom window, she’d counted fifteen trees from the south side of the orchard. Connor walked until she was in position. The grass was dead beneath her feet, and it was covered with brown pecan leaves. Connor walked slowly, using her feet to push the leaves aside. The woman had dropped a rose. It had been a challenge, like a glove dropped deliberately for a duel. Connor wanted that rose.

In the distance she could hear the music and chatter of her wedding reception. There was the loud bark of male laughter, followed by several feminine laughs. Step by slow step, Connor worked through the leaves.

When she saw the rose, she almost didn’t believe it was there. The petals were bruised and blackened where the woman had stepped on it. Proof at last that she’d seen someone. She bent to pick it up. As her fingers closed around the stem, she heard something behind her.

“Connor!”

The thorn bit deeply into her thumb as she whirled around to confront Richard Brian. “Richard!”

“I didn’t mean to scare you. I said I wasn’t coming, but then I couldn’t stay away. I think you made a big mistake, but I couldn’t let your wedding pass without being here to wish you a happy future.”

“You’ve been out here, in the orchard?”

“The entire time. I heard the vows, and I guess I have to accept the fact that you and Clay are man and wife.” He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. “Best wishes, Connor, and forgive me for being such a bore about the wedding.”

Connor let him hug her. She clutched the flower with her injured hand and tried to calm the rapid beating of her heart. He’d never know how he’d frightened her.

“Come up to the tent for some champagne,” she managed, as soon as he released her. “Clay will be glad to see you. He was beginning to think I didn’t have any friends. And I have someone I want you to meet. She’s a horse trainer.”

“The maid of honor in the green dress?”

“That’s her. Elvie Adams.”

“I didn’t think I’d seen her before. I guess it was too short notice for the California gang to make it. And your father didn’t make it back from Australia, did he?”

“I don’t even know if he got the message.” Connor shrugged, determined not to show Richard any of her worries. She’d called him in a dead panic, gotten him all worked up about her safety, and then turned around and married the man she claimed to be afraid of. No, from now on, she wouldn’t involve Richard in her personal problems.

Richard took her arm. “What are you doing out in the orchard? Your guests are all in the yard.”

“I needed some time alone. I came …”

“Out to find part of your bouquet? A bit the worse for wear, isn’t it?” He fingered the rose.

“I must have stepped on it.”

“Connor, you’re incredibly beautiful today. Always beautiful, but exceptional today. That dress is perfect, and I can see Clay’s taste in the necklace and rings. The good thing about Clay’s jewelry selections is that he always manages to pick designs that only increase in value.”

“Richard,” Connor interrupted him, “did you see anyone else in the orchard?”

“Nary a soul. I was here by myself, listening to the ceremony and kicking myself once again for letting you get away from me.”

With Richard’s hand on her arm, they walked back to the reception.

“Connor!” Clay called, motioning them over to a group of men and women. “Richard! Thank goodness you decided to attend. Connor was afraid you were upset with her hasty decision to marry.”

“And I was,” Richard said, smiling. “As a confirmed bachelor, I’m always disturbed when someone decides to enter the baleful ties of matrimony.”

While they were talking, Connor signaled Elvie over. She made the introductions and then watched, amused, as the two fell into immediate conversation. Richard would be a fun person for her new friend to know.

“Connor, I want to introduce you to some friends.” Clay took her elbow and led her away. Connor winked at Elvie as she departed. The amiable chatter continued as Clay introduced Connor to several lawyers and their wives.

“Have you given any thought to the way you’re going to redecorate Oaklawn?” Amanda Frost asked. “You’ve been living here for months. You must have a million ideas about how you’re going to change the place.”

Connor looked helplessly at Clay. He rolled his eyes. “Well, actually, I’ve been thinking more about the barn,” Connor said, smiling. Her remark had the desired reaction—shock.

Amanda shot a glance at a tall brunette. “You should talk with Carol, then. She’s just started a very small, exclusive decorating business. Not really a business, just consultation. Our husbands don’t really care for us to work, but we like to have some creative outlets. Carol has a way with fabrics and old houses, and she works with Midgie Denton, who helped Talla with some of her renovations. Why, the only room in that house, if you’ll excuse me for saying so, Clay, with any personality, was that room Tallulah refurbished.”

“She did a little more than refurbish it,” Clay said evenly. “It was a sewing room. Now it looks like it belongs in a hacienda in the Southwest.”

“Men just hate change,” Amanda said, resting her hand lightly on Clay’s arm. “Connor, honey, why don’t you take us in the house? I’m sure Carol would like to see what kind of potential it has.”

“Today is Connor’s wedding day,” Clay said as he clamped his hand over Amanda’s. “Perhaps another time.”

“No better time for Connor to start spending all that money you make,” Amanda said, sliding her hand out from under his. “What about it, Connor?”

Connor gave Clay a lopsided smile. “I don’t mind.” She turned to Amanda and the tall brunette. “I want to tell you, though, that I hadn’t considered changing Oaklawn at all. Maybe it’s because I’m not from the South, but I find the house charming. The furniture is beautiful, and so old.”

“Oh, after a year or two, you’ll want a change.” Amanda took Connor’s hand and pulled her toward the front of the house. “We don’t want to stand around and talk to these stuffy old men, anyway. Legal rulings, precedents, judicial opinions.” She wrinkled her nose at Clay and her husband. “Such tedious subjects!”

Her bright laughter mingled with the men’s as she led Connor and Carol around the corner of the house.

Connor watched with amusement at the vague distaste Carol displayed as she walked around the first floor of the house. Not even the library drew a smile of approval. Connor skipped the master bedroom, but opened the door to the garden room at Amanda’s urging.

“This is the room I was talking about,” Amanda said excitedly. “Tallulah was always a bit eccentric—forgive me, Connor, but I know you never knew her. Anyway, these mirrors! I always figured she paraded up and down in front of them nude. She was just wild about her body. She dieted all the time. And took those speed pills whenever she gained a pound.”

Connor fell behind the two women. This was exactly some of the talk she’d hoped to hear when she’d agreed to show the house. Amanda Frost was a bottomless pit of juicy morsels. And if the past was going to be used as a weapon against her or Clay, she intended to know what ammunition was being fired at them.