Endless Fear (11 page)

“
Try me.”

Oh, how she would love an in-house ally. Too bad his uncertainty stood between them like a brick wall. Besides, how did she know Spencer wasn’t the enemy? The notion turned her stomach, but she couldn’t risk trusting anyone at this point. “I guess I panicked and did a stupid thing,” she lied.

“
You’re right.” Spencer sighed. “I do find that hard to believe.”

“
Well, that’s what happened,” she insisted.
Lies, and more lies.
Knowing this one was necessary did little to ease her distress. “Excuse me. I’m going to my room.”

Spencer stared after her, frowning so hard it hurt. He felt certain she was lying. The question was—why? Learning the truth suddenly became a major priority.

* * * *

Two more days passed without threat or incident. April decided her tormentor had gotten the message. She wouldn’t be chased from Calendar House. However, her memory seemed loathe to return, and she began to despair of ever getting it back.

Thank goodness for the impending party, she thought, walking from her bedroom toward the foyer staircase. The family was so busy with preparations they had stopped watching her like hawks after a field mouse.

As she strode past the double doors leading into the west wing, a muffled creak aborted her progress. A shaft of light reached into the hallway, and she realized the doors stood ajar. Curious, she edged forward and slipped through the opening. Before her were three broad stairs leading up into a long, wide hallway with an oval-shaped, stained glass window at its farthest end.

Gray light slithered down the hall, shadowed, unfriendly, and eerie. Blinking in the dimness, April searched for a light switch, but the bulb in the cobweb-riddled fixture overhead must have long ago burned out or been removed. Cold enveloped her, but she barely noticed as her eyes adjusted to the dull light.

The air tasted musty. Dust had deadened the winey hue of the carpet, but its density remained intact. And that wasn’t all. No one had redecorated this section of the house. Even the velvet-striped wallpaper endured. April felt as though she’d stepped into the past.

To the left were ornate glass doors set into each end of the corridor. They led into the ballroom. Footsteps resounded from inside.

Keeping in mind her experience in the garage, April proceeded with caution into the vast room. Here the light flooded, wondrously brilliant, through the leaded windows gracing one entire wall. Spotting the intruder, April smiled. Déjà vu crept over her. Vanessa was twirling across the floor as though in the arms of some imaginary partner, something she herself had often done as a teenager.

Spotting her, Vanessa froze, then laughed. “Thank goodness it’s you. I didn’t know if I was supposed to be in here, but I couldn’t stand not exploring.” The look on her face was that of a naughty child caught on some forbidden adventure. But her artless smile spoke volumes. If she had been included in the family’s suspicions about April’s “suicide attempt” she wouldn’t be this affable.

Relieved, April joined her at the windows. Below was Haro Strait, churning, white capped. Above, as if in some endless relay race, clouds plunged across the sky in rapid succession. A brewing storm. Weather and nature held their attention, and for a long moment neither woman spoke.

Vanessa broke the silence. “This view takes my breath. I wish we could have our party here.” She sighed. “But I don’t suppose there’d be any place else to put all this furniture.”

“
Furniture?”

She pointed to the far end of the room. “Over there…under Lily’s portrait.”

April whirled in that direction. The first thing that snagged her gaze was a life-sized portrait of her mother, depicting her role as Mary Queen of Scots. The actress’ favorite part. It dominated the wall much as Lily had dominated everything in her restricted kingdom.

“
Imagine the parties they had here…”

April had no problem there. Just gazing at her mother’s picture dredged up the memories. But these were not the things she wanted to remember. Stifling the sudden shaft of pain, she forced her gaze to the sheet-draped objects beneath the picture. They took up a fair portion of hardwood floor. Before she could move, Vanessa had crossed the room and started tossing the covers aside with an eager expression on her face.

“
Isn’t this stuff great?”

Unaware she’d moved, April found herself standing next to all the antique oak tables and overstuffed sofas and chairs of her childhood days.

“
It would look so good in this house,” Vanessa gushed. “Why do you suppose Cynthia has it stored up here?” Almost as soon as the question left her mouth, a look of dawning entered her green eyes. “Oh, I’ll bet it was Lily’s, wasn’t it?”

Absently fingering a white chintz sofa arm, April nodded. “I assumed this had all been sold when they redecorated.”
Why hadn’t it?

“
Ha!” Vanessa grimaced. “Whoever Cynthia hired to redecorate should be stripped of their license.” She plonked onto a sofa and curled her legs beneath her, appearing thoroughly at home. “Even if I had been wife number two, I would’ve kept this. It suits the house better and it’s still like new.”

April agreed that the furniture was too good to be stored away. And even Vanessa seemed to take for granted her future mother-in-law’s reason for redecorating had been jealousy of Lily. But it couldn’t have been easy to step into Lily Cordell’s shoes. After twelve years, her presence lingered in Calendar House like a guest who refused to accept all hints to leave.

“
I’m surprised you didn’t want to be an actress, too.” Vanessa’s statement seemed to come from nowhere. “Not that the work you do isn’t wonderful.”

The sudden switch of topic bewildered April. She couldn’t imagine anything wonderful about serving food in a college cafeteria. “The work…?”

“
Yes, missionary stuff. Although I have to confess, you look nothing like my idea of a woman missionary. I mean, where’s the long straight hair, the makeup free face, the chaste clothing?”

April felt her cheeks flame. Lying to Spence had been necessary.
This
lie was both senseless and easily exposed. Not to mention, it made her blood boil. Couldn’t the family see what an injustice they were doing to both Vanessa and her? It would be so simple to set the record straight. April was sorely tempted. But if Vanessa called off the wedding because Thane had lied to her, she knew she would feel responsible.

Resigned to furthering the lie, she plopped to the sofa on the opposite end as Vanessa. Dust spiraled upward. “Missionaries, like everyone else, come in all kinds of packages. I’ve seen the type you’re referring to, but I’m not one of them.”
That was as close to the truth as she dare get
.

Vanessa caught a strand of her pale hair between her fingers and twisted it absently. “May I ask you something about Spence?”

This was a subject April did not want to think about, much less discuss. But refusing might draw unwelcome speculation. “Okay.”

“
I’ve tried to fix him up with a couple of my girlfriends, and every time has been disastrous.”

Secretly the knowledge pleased April, but she struggled not to show it.

“
He’s such a catch; I couldn’t figure out the problem.” Vanessa grinned slyly. “But I think I have now.”

April’s heart grabbed and flexed. Her cheeks heated uncomfortably. “And what is that?”

“
It’s you.”

Dust danced about the room as wildly as her pulse. “Me?” She shook her head adamantly.

Vanessa nodded hers. “Do you know he watches you when you aren’t looking, and that his eyes light up whenever you’re near? Has he always had a thing for you, or is this something new?”

Or was it my mother Spencer had the “thing” for? The old sorrow came over April. “Until two weeks ago, I hadn’t even seen Spencer for twelve years.”

“
That’s no answer.” Vanessa’s angels hair came dangerously close to catching in her open mouth. “Deny it all you want, but I can see he makes you light up, too.”

The joyous thought of Spencer loving her all these years was more than her heart could hold. But it wasn’t true. And hoping so was surefire agony. “I think the stars in your eyes are feeding you imagination.”

“
Noooo.”

Uncomfortable, and out of answers, April lurched from the sofa and crossed to the windowed wall. Clouds were now jammed together as tight as her confused emotions. Vanessa was too observant for her liking. But maybe that was good.

She turned from the window and peered at the woman still nestled on the couch. Had she noticed someone watching her in some odd or evil way? She needed to ask without explaining her motives.
Step carefully,
she warned herself, opting for a general approach. “Well, what do you think about this family you’re taking on?”

Vanessa pushed her head against the sofa and shifted her feet to the floor. “Your father is great.” Her tone held a note of caution. She studied her entwined fingers a moment, then glanced up. “I’m not sure what to make of Cynthia. I haven’t said anything to Thane, but I’ve noticed she’s not particularly kind to you. I mean she’s been extremely nice to me, almost too nice. Know what I mean?”

April nodded. Good, Vanessa hadn’t missed the sugarcoated innuendos. As quickly as it had budded, her satisfaction wilted. Would a tormentor be so obvious?

“
Normally, I never trust someone who gushes over me like she does. But gripes, she is Thane’s mother. What can I do?”

As April started to reply, a voice overrode hers.

“
Goodness, what are y’all doin’ in here?”

Chapter Seven

Cynthia’s gaze flicked from the portrait to the furniture and across both women. “Did y’all hear me?” What are you two doin’ in here?”

April opened her mouth to answer. Lightning flashed near the windows at her back, extinguishing her reply, and illuminating the ballroom with psychedelic clarity.

As if in slow motion, Vanessa heaved to her feet and faced the woman whose integrity she had been questioning.

The light faded. Cold embraced April. How long
had
Cynthia been there? How much
had
she overheard? Vanessa’s scarlet cheeks said
she
thought Thane’s mother had gotten an earful.

“
I’m afraid it’s my fault.” Vanessa flinched as thunder claps resounded, but diplomacy was second nature to her. Her voice was level, smooth. “I wanted to see this section of the house. I hope you don’t mind?”

“
Of course not, sugah.” Cynthia twiddled with her gold cross. “I saw the doors ajar and heard voices. Naturally, I was curious.”

Raindrops plinked against the windows.

“
Vanessa and I were getting to know each other better,” April offered.

Cynthia paled. “T-That’s nice.”

She’s worried I’ll tell Vanessa about my illness,
April realized.
Or that I already
have.
Obviously Cynthia hadn’t eavesdropped on Vanessa and her for long. The knowledge was small comfort.

Cynthia appeared to recover her composure fast enough, but her smile looked forced. Indeed, it eluded her eyes. “I wonder if y’all would fetch a few items from the attic. Things for the party.”

“
We’d be glad to.” At this point April would have gladly done anything to escape this tension-filled chamber.

Cynthia withdrew a slip of paper from her pocket and extended it to Vanessa. “Here’s the list Helga made out. Just bring everything to the kitchen. I’m sure most of it will need washin’.”

As April and Vanessa strode toward the attic, Vanessa whispered, “I nearly died. My heart is still thumping too hard. Do you suppose Thane’s mother heard those awful things I was saying about her?”

“
Naw.” April didn’t believe a word of her assurance to Vanessa, but she knew the woman needed to hear it. Cynthia had overheard. How much, was the question. “I don’t think she would’ve called you 'sugah’ if she had.”

* * * *

Wind soughed across the attic rooftop, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Then a shattering trumpet of raindrops landed like pellets against the weathered shakes, as though Mother Nature were orchestrating a bizarre symphony with Calendar House as the drum section.