Journey's End (Gilded Promises)

by Renee Ryan

  The music stopped, and she slowly stepped out of his arms. Again, an echo of the smile that had dazzled him the last time they’d met slipped across her lips. “That is precisely how I planned it, Mr. Montgomery.”

  She was admitting to being a fraud? Right here, in the middle of the Griffins’ ballroom? Surely Jackson had misunderstood her. “Is it, now? Explain yourself.”

  Her smile widened. The expression was far less innocent than before but just as beguiling. “Come, now, you can’t expect me to reveal all my secrets. A woman must be allowed a certain level of mystery.”

  He frowned.

  “Oh, bother. You Americans are so suspicious.” She released a long-suffering sigh. “My cousin is Patricia Harding of Boston, Massachusetts. She recently married one of your own, a Mr. Malcolm Green.”

  “I’m aware of the match.” He’d attended the wedding two months ago, with nearly five hundred other New Yorkers and just as many Bostonians. The blessed event had been one of the most talked about of the year and had been covered by every New York and Boston newspaper.

  How convenient that Caroline Harding would show up after the wedding, claiming to be related to the bride, a woman from Boston, not New York, who happened to be out of the country on her honeymoon.

  Jackson leaned toward her.

  He immediately drew back, shocked at his own behavior. Caroline Harding could be in New York for any number of reasons, some innocent, some not at all.

  Jackson had worked too hard to allow himself to make an error in judgment. He was close to putting the past behind him. Yet there he stood, in the middle of a ballroom, in front of all of New York society, wanting to uncover every one of this woman’s secrets. For all the wrong reasons.

  Swallowing hard, he offered his arm to Caroline.

  They left the dance floor in silence, neither attempting to speak again. Jackson was a man ruled by his mind, not his flesh.

  Before meeting Caroline Harding, he’d never understood how his father could abandon his responsibilities, his family, for a woman who wasn’t his wife. In his self-righteous anger, Jackson had always scorned Edward Montgomery’s actions, had always thought himself better than the man who’d sired him.

  Now, with Caroline’s hand resting lightly on his arm and his heartbeat drumming in his ears, Jackson wondered if he carried more of his father’s blood in his veins than he wanted to admit.

  No. Jackson was better than his father. This strange, unwanted attraction to Caroline was a momentary lapse, the proverbial cold feet. No other explanation made sense.

  No other explanation would be allowed to make sense.

  Unsure where he was leading her, Caroline let Jackson Montgomery escort her away from the crowded dance floor at a surprisingly fast pace. Just as well they were finished dancing. She was in no mood to concentrate on the complicated steps of the waltz while also matching wits with the man.

  Her current opponent was no overdressed, overfed, oversoft wealthy gentleman she could outthink. Caroline wasn’t afraid of him. Except, well, yes, she was a little afraid of him.

  Knowing when to retreat was essential to survival. She started to pull away and make some excuse to leave the party. Montgomery caught her midstep and tugged her back to his side. His scowl told her he’d been thinking during the silence that had fallen between them.

  Coming up with conclusions better not pursued.

  “Let’s find your new friend, shall we?”

  New friend? Oh, right, Elizabeth. He meant Elizabeth. He was testing her. Under the circumstances, she had two choices: retreat or continue as though nothing were amiss.

  Her gaze cut back to Montgomery’s face. His closed expression told her this was not a man easily fooled with clever stories or inane words. That left her one choice.

  Go on the offensive. “I noticed the way you looked at my friend Elizabeth. Am I to assume you are courting her?”

  Eyes so blue they appeared silver in the muted light locked with hers. “That is not an appropriate question to ask of a gentleman you just met.”

  Ah, she’d hit her mark. “Perhaps not. But I find that I like Elizabeth and only wish to ensure her”—Caroline paused as if searching for the proper word—“happiness.”

  Montgomery’s grip on her arm tightened. “Why do you care about Elizabeth’s happiness? You have only just met her.”

  “True.” Caroline dragged her gaze free of his and put a shrug in her voice. “But she has left a favorable impression.”

  Not what she’d expected to feel for a woman she hadn’t known existed before two weeks ago. Not just any woman. Her cousin. Her . . . family.

  A tug of unexpected yearning pulled at Caroline’s heart, making her wish for things she could never have. Security, a home, a future free of fear and uncertainty. The air grew heavy around her, suffocating her ability to draw in a decent breath. She fanned her fingers near her face, trying desperately to look bored.

  “Elizabeth has that effect on people,” Montgomery said at last. “Everyone she meets likes her immediately.”

  “A fine quality, indeed.” Realizing how hard it was going to be to hurt the girl—her cousin—even indirectly, Caroline forced out her words in a steady voice. “She is, I think, a very special woman.”

  “Yes, she is.” Montgomery dropped an unmistakable warning in his voice that left no doubt as to where his loyalty lay.

  Refusing to make a mistake now that she’d come this far, Caroline held her ground without hesitation.

  Tonight was only one small step in her long-range plan.

  Relax, Caroline. Stay focused.

  She carefully released the air in her lungs.

  “Ah, there you two are.” Lucian Griffin stepped in front of them, forcing them to halt. “We were beginning to wonder where you’d disappeared to.”

  Taking in her surroundings, Caroline realized Montgomery had led her far away from the dance floor and had directed her toward a more private spot. How had she not noticed the route he’d taken?

  In a slow, careful move, Montgomery released his hold on her arm. “Thank you for the dance, Miss Harding. It was a pleasure to get to know you better.”

  A pleasure? Now he became all politeness and impeccable manners, when only moments before he’d oh so subtly warned her away from Elizabeth.

  Jackson Montgomery was proving a master at artifice, equal to her own skill. Did he play cards? If so, Caroline didn’t fancy a go at facing him across a table. He would be ruthless.

  Of course she, too, could be ruthless when it came to executing a plan.

  “You are quite welcome, Mr. Montgomery,” she said with equal politeness. “I hope we may repeat the experience in the near future.”

  “Indeed.” Bending at the waist, he took her hand, hesitated a fraction longer than necessary, then pressed his lips to her knuckles. Even through the gloves she could feel the firm pressure of his mouth. A shiver worked its way up her spine.

  Why could she not remember that this man was a part of the enemy camp, a business associate and friend of the St. James family, and perhaps even the future husband of her cousin?

  The thought left her feeling hollow inside.

  “Caroline.” Elizabeth’s voice broke through her chaotic thoughts. “My grandfather is throwing a dinner party at our home tomorrow evening. Would you care to join us? I’ve already asked Luke”—she tossed the man a shy smile—“and he has graciously accepted the invitation.”

  This was it. The moment she’d been waiting for all night, the sole purpose of instigating a friendship with Elizabeth St. James. Where was Caroline’s joy? Her sense of relief?

  She’d come here for this very reason. Yet all she could think about was the man beside her, the way his impossible-to-ignore presence made her lean instinctively in his direction.

  “Tomorrow evening?” She scrunched her brows together in a slight frown. “This is awfully short notice.”

  “Please say yes, Caroline. Now that Luke has agreed to join us
we are in need of one more to even out the numbers.”

  “Elizabeth, my dear, perhaps your friend has other plans for tomorrow night and doesn’t wish to break them to join us.”

  Oh, Montgomery was a smooth one. He’d spoken with such casualness, but Caroline had caught the challenge in his eyes, the kind that told her to keep her wits about her or suffer the consequences.

  Why must she keep reminding herself of that?

  “Yes, Elizabeth, I would like nothing better than to attend your dinner party tomorrow evening.”

  “Oh.” Elizabeth clapped her hands together. “Oh, how lovely.”

  The other woman’s joy was so genuine, so infectious, that Caroline almost recanted her agreement. For a perilous moment she found herself reconsidering everything.

  She could walk away right now, this very night, and never look back. She could return to England before anyone was hurt. When she’d planned her initial strategy all those months ago, she’d thought only of the man who’d abandoned his own daughter and, subsequently, Caroline as well.

  She hadn’t expected to contend with other family members, hadn’t expected to discover she had a cousin nearly her own age.

  What had seemed so simple back in London had become far too complicated to sort out in the middle of an overcrowded party.

  Caroline needed time to rethink her plan. As if on cue, a tall grandfather clock chimed the hour. Midnight already. A perfectly acceptable time to leave a party of this sort.

  Unfortunately, Caroline couldn’t leave yet, not without drawing unnecessary attention to herself. Her problem was solved when they were joined by two young women. This was Caroline’s opportunity to make her escape.

  She eased away with as little fanfare as possible. She could feel all eyes watching her retreat. No surprise there. In open defiance, she lifted her head a fraction higher and carried on as though she belonged in this world.

  If all went according to plan, the pretense wasn’t even a lie. Or at least, not a complete lie.

  Jackson watched Caroline Harding pick her way through the crowded room, her agile gait reminding him of the woman he’d first seen on Orchard Street. As she ascended the staircase, an odd jolt of longing sent his pulse racing. He shook himself free of the sensation.

  He knew nothing about the woman other than the few facts she’d deigned to reveal. She was a mix of contradictions. Bold yet innocent. Wary yet clever. Jackson found himself intrigued. Dangerous territory.

  Filled with doubt, he watched her a moment longer. There was an edge to her dark beauty, a sharpness that warmed his blood.

  His reaction was not entirely proper. He nursed the suspicion growing in his heart, relishing the fact that he would have another opportunity tomorrow evening to uncover the source of her allure. That left him an entire day to do a bit of digging. He would begin the process tonight.

  Only once Caroline had disappeared into the crimson drawing room did he remember Elizabeth’s presence. He turned his attention to her, and for a moment, he simply watched his future bride converse with Luke.

  Perhaps it would be for the best to wait to begin his courtship. He needed to finish his business with Warren Griffin. And it wouldn’t hurt to discover just what Caroline Harding was up to now that she’d befriended Elizabeth.

  “Elizabeth, I’m afraid I must leave you in Luke’s capable care.” He took her hand and again wondered where the spark had gone. Had it been there before? Yes, of course. He was simply battling a case of cold feet. “I will see you tomorrow evening at your grandfather’s home.”

  Gently pulling her hand free, Elizabeth gave him her trademark serene smile. “I look forward to it.”

  Frowning slightly at the lack of emotion in her voice, Jackson turned to Luke. “And you, my friend, what do you say to luncheon at the Harvard Club?”

  “I say it’s about time you made the offer.”

  After agreeing upon an hour to meet, Jackson went in search of Luke’s father. He found the older gentleman in the billiard room.

  “Ah, Jackson, there you are.” Griffin set down his cue stick. “I was just about to come find you.”

  “I was hoping that might be the case.”

  “Yes, yes.” He motioned for the other man to continue the game without him. “Come along, then.”

  Side by side, they navigated a labyrinth of hallways only to end up where Jackson had begun the evening—in Warren Griffin’s private study.

  Once the door was shut and they were settled in their respective chairs, Jackson pulled out the bank draft he’d brought with him.

  “This is the last of the payments I owe you.” He handed over the piece of paper and waited for Griffin to glance at the amount.

  “You know how I feel about this.” The older man shook his head, sighed. “I never expected reimbursement. The money I gave your father was a gift.”

  They’d had this same conversation every time Jackson made a payment on his father’s behalf. “He should never have taken the money from you in the first place.”

  Griffin cocked a brow. “He had his reasons.”

  “Dishonorable ones.”

  “Not entirely. And despite what you may think, your father never coerced the money out of me. I willingly gave him what he asked for.”

  Jackson frowned. “Even knowing he would use it to leave town instead of face the consequences of his actions?”

  “Again, all I am willing to tell you is that he had his reasons for what he did.”

  Of course he did. Jackson swallowed back a disgusted hiss. “Then he should have stuck around and explained himself.”

  But Jackson knew that would never have happened. Even if he’d wanted the chance to ask for forgiveness, he couldn’t have done so. Edward Montgomery had been banished from every home in New York. Not because he’d left America without a backward glance, but because he’d taken his wife’s sister with him.

  The resulting scandal had been unprecedented. At the time, Jackson had been in his final days at Harvard. It had taken him years to restore his family’s name to the point where all the best families of New York once again accepted someone with the last name Montgomery into their homes.

  As if reading his thoughts, Warren Griffin cleared his throat. “Your father isn’t evil, Jackson.”

  “Perhaps not. But he’s certainly selfish.” And weak.

  Edward Montgomery had never once thought about the devastation he’d left behind. Or the embittered wife who hated all men as a result of her husband’s betrayal.

  “You are a good man, Jackson.” Griffin placed the bank note in the top drawer of his desk. “You have borne more than your share of the burdens for your family and have done so admirably.”

  Jackson said nothing. His father had left him no other choice than to bear the consequences of his actions. “I appreciate your support, Warren, more than you can know. By opening your home to me, to my family, you taught others in town to do the same.”

  “You will always be welcome here, Jackson. Not only are you Luke’s friend, but you are an honorable man. It is a great joy to include you in our circle of friends.”

  Jackson shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Did he deserve such praise? Was he honorable? Had he ever truly been tested? An image of Caroline Harding flashed before him.

  Was she a temptation put before him to test his resolve, to see what he was made of?

  God is faithful. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear.

  Jackson had to believe that was true. He had to trust that he was nothing like his father.

  “Jackson, my boy, I have said this to you before, but it bears repeating. If you ever find yourself in trouble or in need, do not hesitate to come to me for assistance.”

  “Thank you, Warren. I will keep that in mind.”

  Jackson rose, said a final farewell, and then left the room without another word. He had no plans of taking the man up on his offer. Because no matter what challenge Caroline Harding presented in the
coming days, he would not give in to her charms. He would keep his honor intact, remembering what he would lose if he faltered even for a moment.

  Halfway down the hall, the earlier sense of foreboding returned. The sensation grew more distinct with each step he took. Jackson couldn’t help but wonder if he was already in over his head.

  Chapter Eight

  Caroline woke the next day with a ruthless headache. Her dreams had been plagued with dark, watery images she hadn’t been able to bring into focus. More exhausted now than when she’d first laid her head on the pillow, she allowed awareness to drift into her mind by degrees. Better that than remember the details of the previous evening.

  And the man who’d played a starring role in her dreams: Jackson Montgomery, her cousin’s future husband, her grandfather’s business partner.

  Caroline’s own personal nemesis.

  She winced but kept her eyes firmly shut.

  After a moment, she became aware of the first threads of sunlight filtering through the large plate glass window of her hotel suite, beckoning her to start her day.

  Sighing, Caroline peeled open one eye, then the next, then promptly shut both when her gaze landed on the ornate red and gold canopy above her head. How could people live with such decadence when so many others barely scratched out an existence? Not that Caroline didn’t enjoy the luxurious room—she’d be a hypocrite to pretend otherwise—but it was the principle of the matter that raised her hackles.

  Most of her life she’d hustled for food, always worrying about where she’d find her next meal. Now she had to pretend she came from a world of luxury where her most pressing problem was what to wear that day.

  She stretched out her limbs, gave a little sigh of pleasure as the fine linen slid across her torso. The sound startled her eyes open. What was wrong with her? This was not her, this lazy, idle creature. Infiltrating her grandfather’s world was already taking a toll on her spirit.

  Living among the wealthy, even for a week, carried unexpected challenges. One in particular came to mind.

  Jackson Montgomery.