Secrets and Lies

Thirteen

The rhythm of the train gradually slowed. From out the window, the train station grew closer and closer.

"Well, that was a wasted trip," Gordon grumbled.

Nicole swung her head to look at him. "I agree."

"I pray Father and the others had better luck with their endeavors today."

"Me, too." She nodded. "Umm...what were the others doing? I remember what Father was going to do, but I don't recall hearing what Banks, Cartwright, and Phelps were assigned to do."

Gordon rolled his eyes. "I swear, dear sister, but I think your head has been in the clouds lately. You are forgetting a lot of things lately, and I find you lollygagging quite a bit."

She huffed. "Lollygag? You think I lollygag?"

"Yes, you do. Sometimes I have to say your name three times before you notice I'm even talking." He arched an eyebrow. "And, if I'm not mistaken—and I rarely am—you are acting as if you're smitten." He grinned. "Are you? Has my sister finally found her a man to occupy her thoughts night and day?"

Nicole couldn't stop the heat from climbing up her face, even if she really tried to stop it. Her brother had guessed correctly, but she for certain didn't want to let him know the truth. Gasping loudly, she tapped him on the arm. "That's utter nonsense! I fear, dear brother, your instincts are getting worse. In fact, I'm now worried about you."

His mouth stretched wider as humor laced his gaze. "The woman doth protest too much, I think."

"You are ridiculous." She shook her head, trying to act as if his words didn't bother her. The problem was, they bothered her too much because he was right. And he knew it, even though she tried denying it.

"Who is he?" Gordon continued, leaning closer as he lowered his voice. "Have I met him? Do you think Father will approve?"

"Oh, really, Gordon." Nicole bumped him with her elbow, hoping to move him further away. "You can't be more wrong."

"Right—you mean. I can't be more right."

Folding her arms, she moved her head away from her brother to scan the railcar once more. The man who'd been watching her earlier, had his stare on her again, but this time his expression appeared harsher. Tense. Why did he look at her with such anger?

The beat of her heart thumped in a different rhythm as fear grew inside her. The man really didn't appear to be mean. So then why did he make her feel as though he was upset at something she'd done?

Perhaps she should approach him and ask him why he'd been watching her with such malice. Then again, she didn't want her brother to turn into the overprotective guardian she'd always loathed. And for sure, she didn't want to cause a scene.

The train finally came to a complete stop, and immediately, the passengers rose from their seats to collect their things and leave. All except for the strange man.

Nicole followed her brother out of the railcar, and as they stepped onto the ground, she glanced behind her. Just as she'd expected, the man was following her back a little ways, going at a slower pace. Unease twisted in her stomach as she focused ahead of her while her mind scrambled with what she could do or say to make him explain why he acted this way.

Gordon walked her to the carriage that waited for them, but she put her hand on his arm just as he tried to help her up into the vehicle.

"I forgot something in the train," she said in a rush. "I'll be right back." Before hearing his answer, she turned and hurried toward the train.

The man stood with his back against the wall of the train, his arms down at his sides. In one of his hands, he clutched a newspaper. When he noticed her coming toward him, he quickly lifted the newspaper up and pretended to read. He certainly wasn't any good at this cat-and-mouse game.

As she approached him, she finally realized his clothes didn't quite fit his frame very well. They hung on him as if they were three sizes larger. He didn't tear his gaze away from the newspaper, until she was right next to him. She grasped the rail and placed her foot on the first step, and then turned and met his stare.

"I need to talk to you. Now. Come inside with me," she said before climbing the other two steps and moving inside the empty railcar.

She stopped just inside the door of the car and waited for him, breathing a sigh of relief when she noticed him out of the closest window, turning and coming in. As soon as he walked inside, he removed his hat. Immediately, she recognized his tousled hair, and the dreamy hazel eyes that had filled her dreams every night.

She hitched a breath. "Oh good Heavens, it's you. Ashton!" She grasped his hands. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be in Staten Island."

The sensual smile she was used to seeing from him didn't grace his face this time. As he studied her, he tilted his head slightly, appearing almost upset. "What I've gathered, Miss Bastian from last we had talked, you are supposed to be in Staten Island as well."

It finally hit her that he didn't look excited to see her at all—and he didn't call her by her given name. Oh, dear... She must explain why she was here and on the train, yet she couldn't tell him the truth. Not yet. As much as it hurt her to lie to him again, she must, in order to protect her brother, father, and the rest of the agents.

"Well, the last time we talked, I was in Staten Island. However, my father has returned from an extended visit out of state, and so I went to see him and my brother, Gordon." She motioned toward the window to where her brother still waited for her. "That's who I was with on the train."

Slowly, the worried lines on his face smoothed out, yet his eyes still held a hint of distrust when he scanned the length of her body. Oh-no! She'd forgotten about her dress. What excuse could she give him for dressing like this—and traveling to Hartford?

"I didn't recognize you at first." His voice held no emotion. "I'm not used to seeing you dressed in such a way."

She released a light laugh. "I could say the same about you." She reached over and touched his mustache. "I'm sure it didn't take you a week to grow this bush over your lips and those long, furry caterpillars by your ears."

His lips twitched as if holding back a smile. He shrugged. "I have a good excuse for my disguise. What's your excuse?"

Nicole's body trembled and she folded her hands against her middle. Heartache gathered in her chest and left her throat dry. She'd hurt him, and she had to fix it now! But how? As her mind scrambled to think up an excuse, she smiled the best she could under her duress. "Well, I'm ashamed to say my excuse probably isn't as good as yours." She shook her head. "My brother and I dress like this when we ride the train, but I fear telling you might make you think differently about me."

Confusion deepened the lines in his expression. "Why?"

"Because when we wear our regular clothes, people think we are wealthy, and well...they pester us for money." She forced a frown as she tried to appear emotional. "I hope you don't think poorly of me, but we can't keep giving them money. I feel bad for their dire situations, I really do, but my brother and I just don't have that kind of money to keep giving them." Hesitantly, she touched Ashton's sleeve. "You do understand, don't you?"

Gradually, his expression eased and the lines in his forehead and around his mouth disappeared. It only took a couple of seconds later before she saw that familiar twinkle in his eyes again. Her heart softened and she sighed a relieved breath.

"Forgive me, Nicole. I fear it is I who has judged poorly. Of course, I understand." He took hold of her hand. "And I'm truly sorry for thinking you had lied to me." He took a peek out the window before returning his attention to her. "So that is your brother? I thought he was one of your beaus."

She couldn't stop the laugh escaping her throat that sounded too much like a bark. "Ashton, don't be ridiculous. I don't have any beaus. The man is my older brother, Gordon."

"Do you have any other family besides a brother and father?"

"No."

"Well, it doesn't matter." He smiled fully. "I would like to meet them one day—just not right now. I'll wait until I'm back in my regular clothes, looking like my normal self."

"I agree...so what is your excuse for being in disguise?"

He glanced out the window again, before meeting her stare. "I'd tell you, but I see your brother is getting anxious. You'd better return." He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "Come see me at my office tomorrow. It's that large red-bricked building by the train station." He pointed west of them.

"I will." A different rhythm beat in her chest, and she wanted to laugh with giddiness. She squeezed his hand. "Thank you for understanding."

"And thank you for being so forgiving to my jealous rage."

As she hurried out of the railcar, she couldn't feel her feet touching the ground. He was jealous! Finally, a man liked her enough to be jealous of other men. She never thought that would happen to her, but now that it had, she'd cherish the feeling for as long as she lived.

Gordon waited outside the carriage, and as she neared, he ran his gaze up and down her frame. Confusion darkened his expression.

"What did you leave in the railcar that was so important?" he asked.

She slid her fingers into the sleeve at her wrist and pulled out a handkerchief. "I'd dropped this."

He arched a questionable eyebrow. "And you just had to return to the train for it when I know you have at least twenty more back at home."

She flipped the handkerchief in the air as she strutted past him with her chin held high. "I swear, Gordon, you will never understand women. Handkerchiefs are like shoes...we can't just own one pair."

Gordon assisted her in the carriage and sat beside her. She turned her head to look back at the train, hoping to see Ashton watching her. Although it saddened her that she couldn't see him, she felt that he indeed, had his eyes on her.

The fluttering in her belly and lightness to her heart made her smile, yet she didn't dare let her brother see. He had already guessed she was smitten, but she couldn't tell him anything about her friendship with Ashton. Not yet.