Secrets and Lies

Nineteen

Nicole sat waiting in the grand sitting room for Mr. Nickerson and his companion to arrive. She twisted a handkerchief in her white-gloved hands and bounced her legs in anticipation. Every time a couple strolled through the front door of the hotel, she stopped her jittering and watched them closely. The clerk at the front desk was instructed to tell anyone who came in for her that she was in the lobby waiting area. Since she'd been out here, three couples had come inside, but none of them asked for her. She didn't know what Ashton's friends looked like. Not really. Her uncle had pointed them out to her during General Babcock's masked ball, but because they were wearing masks, she never saw their faces. She knew Glynn wasn't very tall, but he had wide shoulders, and Steve was tall and slender.

Once the couple turned and walked away, Nicole continued to bounce her legs. She would be tempted to bite her nails, but thankfully, her gloves prevented her from doing that.

"I declare, Miss Bastian," Mrs. Phelps said, "I don't believe I've ever seen you this out of sorts before." She tapped Nicole's leg. "What has gotten you in such a dither?"

Nicole wished she knew that answer, but ever since she crawled out of bed this morning, she'd had a bad feeling...a feeling that something wasn't right. Could her feeling be that something wasn't going to turn out as planned? That idea was a fate worse than death—especially if she got caught.

"I wish I knew," she muttered. "I just don't feel good about this."

"You should rest assure that everything will go well tonight, because your brother will be there sneaking around. All you have to do is keep everyone in the dining area for an hour, which will be easy since all of you will be eating."

"Indeed, it does sound like a well-executed plan, but..." She shook her head. "I just can't get rid of this knot in my stomach and the sinking feeling that something isn't right."

"What's not right?"

"I don't know. I can't put my finger on it." But deep down inside, she knew the precise moment she started having a sick feeling about everything. Last night when the Secret Agents had met together to go over their findings, Mrs. Phelps informed them about what Mrs. Merriweather had said. Her father informed them that he had gotten the same story from one of the local policemen when he'd questioned them about the train robbery suspects.

She hadn't been able to sleep well last night. When she had fallen asleep, she dreamed about Ashton—about falling in love with him only to have her heart ripped from her chest when the policemen arrested him and hauled him to prison.

Nicole heard her name being called, and she swung her gaze toward the front desk. A man and a woman stood at the front counter. The clerk pointed in Nicole's direction and the other two turned their eyes to her.

Her heartbeat quickened. This was Glynn Nickerson. His square-shaped body and receding hairline gave him away. It was now time to start performing.

She tapped Angela on the knee. "They are here."

Nicole stood and took a deep breath, mentally reminding herself that tonight wasn't any different from when she'd searched through General Babcock's study to find the journal. Then again, she wouldn't be the one sneaking around the house tonight. It was up to her to make sure everyone stayed in the dining room for a good hour.

The middle aged man's smile widened the closer she came to him and his female companion. He didn't resemble anyone she remembered from the masked ball, but it wasn't Mr. Nickerson who made her nervous, either. It was the woman beside him. Confusion creased the woman's narrowed gaze as she switched her focus between Nicole and Angela. Nicole had learned by now to trust her first instincts, and right now they were telling her to be leery of this lady. For a moment Nicole wondered if she felt that way because this whole situation bothered her, or if there really was something to be worried about.

"You must be Miss Bastian," Mr. Nickerson greeted in a cheerful voice.

"Yes, I'm Miss Bastian. Are you Mr. Nickerson?"

"That's correct." He nodded. "And let me introduce you to my friend, Mrs. Browning." He motioned toward the other woman.

Nicole smiled as sweetly as she could. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

The tightness around Mrs. Browning's smile relaxed a bit. "Indeed, it is a pleasure to meet the woman who has captured Ashton Lee's attention." She elbowed Glynn. "Isn't it?"

Chuckling, he nodded. "It certainly is."

Nicole motioned toward Angela. "And let me introduce you to my companion, Mrs. Phelps."

Nickerson bowed slightly in greeting, but it was Mrs. Browning's reaction that caused Nicole to wonder. The woman's eyes widened as if she somehow recognized Angela or her name. Surely Mrs. Browning would say something if she had known Angela...yet, as the seconds ticked by, neither woman acknowledged the other.

"Shall we be off?" Mr. Nickerson asked.

"What time should I expect Miss Bastian to return?"

Nicole glanced at Angela and crinkled her forehead. It was odd that Angela's voice was so snippy with Mr. Nickerson.

"No later than eleven," Nickerson answered decidedly.

"Thank you. I shall be down here waiting." Angela met Nicole's gaze. "Enjoy yourself tonight. I'll see you at eleven and not a minute later."

Nicole gave her friend a nod before following Nickerson and Browning out to their carriage. He assisted the other woman inside the vehicle before helping Nicole. She sat across from Mrs. Browning. Once Nickerson climbed inside and the carriage jerked into action, Nicole breathed a little slower, trying to regulate the quick beat of her heart.

"So tell me, Miss Bastian," Glynn began, "how long have you lived in New York?"

They wouldn't possibly understand that although she was born here, she was raised wherever her father's assignment took him and his family. "It's been about six months now."

"Ashton mentioned he met you at the General's ball a month ago. Might I ask what you were doing in Staten Island?"

Nicole explained about visiting her aunt and uncle, hoping she related the same story she'd told Ashton.

"Oh, my." Mrs. Browning giggled. "Cinderella? That is just adorable. So tell me," she leaned forward and raised an eyebrow. "Do you think of him as your Prince Charming?"

The comment took Nicole completely unaware and she couldn't stop the blush of embarrassment flooding her face. Mr. Nickerson and Mrs. Browning must have noticed because they laughed.

"Well, I can't deny that during the ball—before I learned his identity—I thought of him as my charming prince."

"So you don't think of him that way any longer?" Mrs. Browning asked, still wearing a smirk.

Nicole couldn't stop her smile from widening. "Perhaps from time to time, I do."

For the next little while of their ride, neither Glynn nor Mrs. Browning asked Nicole anything personal, for which she was relieved. However, both of them looked at her in a curious way as if they suspected her of something. She hoped not, but then she reasoned that because she'd been on edge all evening, that was why she felt this way.

When the carriage came to a stop in front of a large residence, Nicole's jaw dropped. Ashton's house took her breath away. Such splendor and grandness etched in each brick, each column, and every window. The yard was superbly manicured as well.

As she walked with Glynn and Mrs. Browning up to the front door, Nicole couldn't take her eyes off the house. Deep down in her gut, a knot formed and tightened with every step she took. Doubt sneaked over her and made her seriously wonder about Ashton's wealth. He hadn't been a partner in the railroad for very long. Could he have really made so much money to afford a grand place such as this?

A well-dressed butler opened the door for them and took their cloaks before pointing toward a large room off to Nicole's left. As they entered, she was disappointed that she hadn't seen Ashton yet. Instead, another man and woman were sitting together on the sofa. When the man noticed them, he quickly stood. By the white strands of hair threading through his blonde sideburns and beard, she guessed him to be middle aged like Glynn Nickerson.

"Larson," Glynn began, motioning his hand to Nicole, "let me introduce you to Miss Bastian." Glynn's gaze swung to meet hers. "Miss Bastian, this is Mr. Larson and his wife."

Nicole greeted both with a hearty handshake. Glynn and Mrs. Browning gave a nod to Mr. Larson and his wife, and Nicole soon realized they were all on more casual terms and first name basis.

Seconds later, strong footsteps came down the hallway, and she turned to watch the door, hoping it would be Ashton. When he strode in, her heart did a silly flip. Each time she laid eyes on this man, he became more handsome. Tonight he was breathtaking wearing a dark gray suit jacket and white silk shirt with a midnight blue vest.

His gaze skipped quickly over the others in the room and landed on her, staying there as he sauntered toward her. The closer he came, the faster her heart beat. He reached her and lifted her hand to his mouth. She couldn't stop watching the way his lips moved across the back of her fingers.

"Miss Bastian, welcome to my humble home. Your presence makes these dreary walls brighter."

His words, along with his hypnotic stare, were melting her. His mind must not be functioning either, because there was no way his walls were dreary—and his home was for certain far from being humble.

"Mr. Ashton, I fear you are exaggerating."

He straightened, but still kept hold of her hand. His smile widened. "Not at all, my dear. Seeing your beauty makes everything brighter in my world."

She could get lost in his eyes, and right now, she had no wish to find her way out. Being under his scrutiny suited her just fine. However, if she didn't do something to break this incredible contact, she feared she'd swoon in his arms at any moment. Either that, or she'd make the first move to kiss him.

"Actually, Ashton," she lowered her voice, "you are the one who makes the world brighter."

She didn't think it possible for his hazel eyes to turn a darker green, but sure enough, they were heady with desire right now. It was all she could do not to press up against him and let him hold her in passion's embrace.

It took all of her control to yank her gaze away from his and glance at the others. They were far enough away from Nicole and Ashton as not to hear their conversation. Mr. Larson's wife and Mrs. Browning stood near the window chatting, and Glynn and Steve were over in the far corner, whispering. Both of them aimed accusing glares toward Nicole. Unease ran through her. What had she possibly done to cause them doubt?

Ashton seemed to have snapped out of his haze as well. He straightened and turned to his other guests. "Thank you all for coming this evening."

Glynn and Steve broke apart as the women joined them. All four walked closer to Ashton and Nicole. The glares from Ashton's partners disturbed her, yet in the back of her mind she tried to convince herself that they had nothing to be curious about. They didn't know she was an agent. Perhaps they looked at her in such a way was because she had captured the interest of their co-partner. Yes, that must be it!

Ashton greeted the others and brought them into a conversation, yet it didn't distract from the way his eyes keep meeting hers, or the tender way he smiled at her.

Soon enough, the meal was announced, and Ashton took her hand and escorted her in to the dining room. He sat her next to him at the end of the table. As she ate, she wasn't paying attention to the meal as much as she concentrated on Ashton, and especially the two other men in the room. She couldn't shake the feeling of trepidation warning her that something was not right. Although the feeling brought a bitter taste to her mouth, she continued to eat the food placed in front of her.

Keep them in the dining room for at least one hour, Angela's voice echoed in Nicole's head. Snapping out of her dazed state, Nicole remembered that her brother was here—somewhere in Ashton's house.

Her palms moistened and her heartbeat hammered irregularly. Just one more thing to be nervous about. Yet, it made no sense to why she was nervous this time when she'd never acted this way before. Many times she had to distract their suspects so that her brother or father could sneak around. Really, this time wasn't that different from the other times. Then again...it was. She had allowed herself to become attracted to the suspect, and dare she admit, she even loved him?

No, she dared not admit it and wouldn't until this case was solved.

"Mr. Lee," she began after a moment of silence, "I haven't told you yet what a lovely home you have."

He smiled wide and straightened his shoulders. "Thank you, Miss Bastian."

"I must admit, I have never met a bachelor as yourself who lives in such a large residence."

The others around the table chuckled, which pulled her attention away from Ashton. She wanted to throw them a scowl for interrupting, but refrained.

"Oh, Miss Bastian," Mrs. Browning said, "I can't believe this is your first bachelor's residence that you have been invited to."

Nicole hesitated before replying. If she wasn't mistaken, the other woman's comment almost sounded like an insult. Was Mrs. Browning implying that Nicole wasn't innocent? "Oh, I assure you," Nicole quickly said, "this is the first."

The two other women exchanged glances, and even the men rolled their eyes. She wanted to slap them—all of them. How dare they treat her this way!

"Thank you," Ashton said, tapping Nicole's hand softly. "I actually lived in a townhouse for the longest time, and only purchased this home a few months ago when I came into some money."

Red flags rose in Nicole's mind. Came into money... That could be taken a few ways, and one of them wasn't good at all. Did he come into money by robbing the train? She couldn't shake the feeling. It seemed the more information she obtained from him, the guiltier he appeared.