The Lady Who Lived Again

by Thomasine Rappold

  Jace’s father had spoken of people who called themselves healers—cases where ailments were cured by the mere touch of a hand. Jace had dismissed these occurrences as hoaxes, coincidence, or the sheer will of the patients themselves. Mind over matter.

  The human brain was a powerful organ laden with thoughts and ideas—and untapped potential.

  Maddie had accomplished the extraordinary. Could her talent have derived from the trauma of the accident? Was it possible the pain of losing her friends and her survivor’s guilt could have created an internal force of emotions that manifested in something tangible—physical?

  He shook his head. Not that it mattered. He could still barely believe it. It all seemed like a dream. Recalling his ugly reaction felt more like a nightmare.

  He’d been confused and afraid of what Maddie had done, and in his addled state, he’d taken his shock out on her. He cringed, hating that he’d hurt her.

  He’d accused her of betraying him, but how could he blame her for keeping her secret from him? She’d known that he—most of all—would recoil from her ability. She knew her gift was an affront to everything in which he believed. He was her only friend, and she’d feared his reaction.

  And he’d brought that fear to life. No wonder she hadn’t trusted him. The crushing weight in his chest was made heavier by his shame.

  She’d healed his patients, but in all honesty, could he truly fault her for that? She was not one to stand idle while people suffered. Would he prefer that she had? Jace was certain her intention had not been to deceive him. He had forced her into an impossible position by insisting that she work at his office on that day he’d first kissed her. He’d known then she was special. He almost laughed at the understatement.

  Jace thought of his father as he tried to make sense of this astounding thing Maddie had done. He suddenly grasped that it was not for him to explain what he did not understand. Nor was it his responsibility to tear everything apart, wasting his life, in fruitless attempts to make sense of it all.

  As his father had.

  Maddie once told Jace that he was only human. A man. A good man. The words had brought him such consolation that day. The mere memory of her tender regard warmed him still.

  Surely, she hated him now. The bitter chill of the present hit him like a gust of wind. Matthew could have killed Maddie today. The thought filled him with a fear that rocked him to his core.

  All his life Jace had feared romantic love because it was illogical, an irrational response to physical desire. Maddie had taught him that fear was a damn poor excuse for not getting on with things. Suddenly, it was all crystal clear. Maddie’s remarkable ability to heal would not destroy him.

  Losing her would.

  * * * *

  The commanding knock on her bedroom door told Maddie it was Jace before he spoke a word.

  “Open up, Maddie,” he ordered.

  So much for her hope to avoid him. She inhaled an angry breath. Armed to the teeth, she flung open the door. “What do you want?”

  He brushed past her into the room. “Explain something to me.”

  “I can’t explain it,” she shot back. “If I could I—”

  He moved closer. “Explain to me how a sham engagement became something I want to make real?”

  The honest expression on his handsome face stunned her. She softened, her eyes welling with tears. “What—”

  “Marry me, Madeline.”

  The words lifted her from the depths of her gloom, but she resisted his rescue. Jace acted on reason—and reason alone. She tilted her head, plummeting quickly. “Because you wish to study me like a rat?”

  “Because I love you, goddamn it!”

  She shook her head in disbelief.

  He grasped her shoulders and held her before him. “I don’t know how you did it,” he said. “And I don’t care.”

  “You don’t?”

  He shrugged. “All right, so I’m slightly intrigued,” he said with a smile.

  She smiled, too.

  “But all I truly care about is you. I love you, Maddie. For the woman you are. Not the woman you were before the accident or the woman you’re trying so hard to become—but for who you are now.”

  She stared up at him, speechless.

  “You sacrificed everything. You saved the pastor at the expense of exposing your secret and reclaiming your life. That took true courage.”

  She shook her head. “I never gave that a thought,” she said honestly. “My only thoughts were of you.” She touched her head to his chest. “I sacrificed you.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “You once told me that until I realized that logic and science don’t define everything in this life, I’d never truly live.”

  She drew back, gazing into his eyes.

  “I am finally ready to live.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “And I want to live my life with you.”

  She trembled on the verge of a dream. “I love you, Jace Merrick,” she said, hugging him tight.

  He kissed her hard.

  “What about Pastor Hogle?” she asked, breathless.

  “I don’t believe he’ll tell anyone what occurred in that room. But it no longer matters. We are leaving Misty Lake as soon as I’m packed.”

  “But what about your practice?”

  “I can practice anywhere. What I can’t do is risk your safety again. I won’t.”

  She smiled, loving him more.

  “No one will hurt you again. That includes me,” he said. A shadow of sadness crossed his face. “I never meant those ugly things I said to you, Maddie. You have an ability. A gift for healing.”

  “As do you,” she said. “And I’m sorry—”

  “You don’t need my forgiveness. Or anyone else’s, don’t you see? The accident wasn’t your fault. The only forgiveness you’ve ever needed was your own.”

  He kissed her forehead, and she nodded against the press of his lips.

  “I’ve a theory that perhaps that’s where this power comes from. Your guilt manifested into something—”

  “Jace.” She shook her head, laughing through her tears. “You’re not trying to analyze it already, are you?”

  He smiled. “No. We’ve a lifetime for that.” He kissed her again. “My sweet Maddie,” he uttered against her ear. “My sweet, remarkable Maddie.”

  She hugged him for all she was worth.

  “The Hogles and I are departing soon. We’re taking the pastor home, but I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”

  “May I join you?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “While I’d like nothing more, I must take the pastor in the wagon.”

  She considered this for barely a moment. She’d almost lost the man she loved. Her fear of riding in a wagon again was nothing compared to that. She straightened her spine, feeling ready for anything.

  “Save a place for me, darling.” She flashed him a smile. “I’m not afraid anymore.”

  Epilogue

  One Month Later

  Maddie and Jace enjoyed a glorious honeymoon in Saratoga Springs. Although their wedding had been a simple one compared to Amelia’s, the intimate ceremony overlooking Misty Lake had been special just the same.

  Maddie sat on a bench in one of the beautiful gardens of Congress Park, resting her leg and waiting for Jace. He’d gone to fetch lemonade from a vendor cart they’d strolled past earlier, and she wondered now what was keeping him.

  Gazing out at the colorful flower beds, she recalled the events that had transpired in Misty Lake. Pastor Hogle had recovered completely, and as Jace had predicted, the man’s only mention of Maddie in the aftermath was that she had helped Jace in saving his life.

  The simple statement was enough.

  Doctor Reed was currently filling in for Jace during their extended honeymoon. Jace had left it to Maddie to decide whether to return to Misty Lake. While she was leaning against going back, she’d yet to make up her m
ind. But wherever she and Jace landed, they’d work together in his office, especially while treating people suffering with trauma.

  Jace had read the journal she’d written after the accident and felt certain the method she’d used to overcome the after-effects of her trauma would help ease the suffering of others. Maddie was eager to help him refine the technique. She also was eager to find others like herself, people with strange and remarkable abilities that could not be explained. Together, she and Jace would work on that, too.

  She straightened on the bench at the sight of Jace in the distance. Her heart beat faster each time she looked at him. He rounded a tall row of hedges, and she noticed the small child walking beside him. She waited curiously as they approached.

  “This is Annabel,” Jace said.

  Maddie glanced at the slight child, who could not have been more than seven years old. Her cheekbones protruded beneath her pale skin, and dark circles rimmed her hollow eyes. Her blond hair was so thin Maddie could see patches of scalp around the large pink bow perched on her head.

  Maddie swallowed her sorrow, forcing a smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Annabel,” she said. “And I must say that’s a lovely dress you’re wearing.”

  Annabel bowed her head, looking lost inside tiers of pink ruffles and lace.

  Jace patted the girl’s bony shoulder. “Annabel and her family are in Saratoga for the healing effects of the springs,” he said. “Her mother was kind enough to allow her to walk with us for a bit.”

  “That was kind of her, indeed,” Maddie said in honest praise of the woman who spared some of her precious time with this child. She glanced back to the girl, who stood shyly at Jace’s side. “I hear there’s a fountain beyond those trees over there.”

  Annabel glanced over her shoulder to where Maddie pointed.

  “And I understand it’s a magic fountain.”

  The girl’s dim eyes brightened as Maddie continued. “The story is that if you toss a coin into the enchanted water, your wish will come true.” Maddie leaned close. “Would you like to give it a try?”

  The girl nodded, her excited grin filling her ashen face with light.

  Maddie reached into her reticule and fished out a penny. “Now, your wish must be very special if you want the magic to work,” she cautioned as she placed the coin into Annabel’s frail hand.

  Annabel nodded again. “Thank you, miss,” she whispered, clutching it tight. “I think I know a good one.”

  Maddie glanced up at Jace, and he gave her a nod.

  She stood, her heart swelling with love. “I have a good one, too,” Maddie promised as she peeled off her gloves. “Why don’t you take my hand, sweetheart?” she asked the girl with a smile. “And we’ll go make our wishes together.”

  Meet the Author

  A three-time RWA Golden Heart nominee, Thomasine Rappold writes historical romance and historical romance with paranormal elements. She lives with her husband in a small town in upstate New York that inspired her current series. When she’s not spinning tales of passion and angst, she enjoys spending time with her family, fishing on one of the nearby lakes, and basking on the beach in Cape Cod. Thomasine is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Capital Region Romance Writers. Readers can find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter: @ThomRappold.

  Keep reading for a special sneak peek of the next book in the Sole Survivor series:

  THE LADY WHO SAW TOO MUCH

  Cursed with prophetic visions and desperate to atone for a death she could have prevented, Gianna York swears she will never again ignore the chance to save a life. When she is hired by autocratic Landen Elmsworth to serve as companion to his sister, Gia repeatedly sees the image of her employer’s lifeless corpse floating in Misty Lake. As subsequent visions reveal more details—including the possibility of foul play—Gia soon realizes her best chance to protect this difficult man is by becoming his wife.

  A Lyrical e-book on sale June 2016.

  Learn more about Thomasine at http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/author.aspx/31713

  Chapter 1

  Troy, New York 1884

  She was about to be tossed to the street. Gianna York folded her trembling hands on her lap, lifted her chin, and did her utmost to maintain her dignity.

  Prolonging the torture, Mrs. Amery tidied one of the tall stacks of papers covering the surface of the large desk between them. “I’m sorry, Gia, but my decision is final.” The woman’s usually stern voice softened beneath her crushing words. “You’ve done a fine job these past months, but in light of your recent disclosure, I simply cannot keep you on any longer.”

  Gia slumped in her seat. She’d expected the worst when she’d been summoned to Mrs. Amery’s office so early this morning, and that’s precisely what she’d been handed. She stared down at her lap as she fought to contain her dismay.

  “Our students are impressionable young women, as you well understand. The precarious situation in which you’ve placed yourself by fleeing your home as you did, leaves me with no other choice. And I’m afraid it leaves you with limited respectable options.”

  Bristling at the unnecessary reminder, Gia rued the moment of weakness during which she’d divulged this part of her past. Lesson learned. From here on out, she would lie. The thought made her angrier. Not at Mrs. Amery, who’d always treated her fairly, but at herself. It wasn’t weakness but pride that had prompted Gia’s confession. Her stubborn attempt to challenge society’s perception of what she’d done had failed miserably. If a woman as forward-thinking as Mrs. Amery couldn’t be swayed… “I understand,” Gia uttered.

  Mrs. Amery sighed. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, I know, but all is not lost. I may have a solution.”

  Gia glanced up, surprised.

  “I’ve learned recently of a position that might interest you. Of course it’s not as a teaching assistant nor here at the school, but—”

  “Where?” Gia leaned forward.

  “Misty Lake.”

  “Misty Lake?”

  “A small town in the country a mere half-day’s ride from here. The position is for a companion to a young woman from an upstanding family who summers there. The poor girl suffers with a crippling shyness, and her family feels a companion might help alleviate her condition. Their trust in the Troy Female Seminary has brought them to me for a recommendation.” Mrs. Amery tilted her head. “I’ve told them only of your quality work here, nothing more,” she said sternly.

  “I appreciate that.”

  “I know it’s not ideal, but if you still refuse to consider returning to your family, I truly believe it’s your only recourse.”

  Gia stiffened at the mention of her family. Returning to Boston meant abiding by their conditions, and Gia knew all too well the terms of those conditions. Blind obedience. Total conformity. Mind-numbing medications to “restore her health” and “quiet the spells” from which she’d been afflicted since the accident, but rendered her senseless in the process.

  No. She refused to go back to that life.

  Gia had survived the icy water for a reason. And while she’d never understand why she’d lived while her brothers hadn’t, she’d conceded, after much painful resistance, that all that ensued was a part of that reason. Gia had to accept this. Even if her parents couldn’t.

  Gia straightened in her chair. She could be a companion. She could be whatever was required of a companion, so long as it paid sufficiently.

  “And it pays quite well,” Mrs. Amery added as if reading Gia’s thoughts. “The position must be filled immediately, so if you decide to accept, you must depart at once.”

  “I’ll do it,” Gia said.

  “Very well then.” Mrs. Amery reached into the desk drawer. “The Elmsworths are expecting you tomorrow.” She handed Gia an envelope. “All the information is there. Along with travel expenses.”

  Gia stood, feeling better. A quiet summer in the country would not be so bad. While she’d m
iss the girls here at the school, she was fortunate she’d have a roof over her head. Beggars couldn’t be choosers. “I’d better start packing.”

  Mrs. Amery nodded. “I’m due at an appointment upstairs.” She plucked up a file as she rounded the desk. With a sympathetic smile, she patted Gia’s arm. “Good luck to you, my dear.” She hurried from the room, deserting Gia to the fate contained inside the envelope in her hand.

  Blowing out a long breath, Gia opened the envelope. Fingering through the contents, she bypassed several crisp bills before slipping out a gold-embossed card. The fine parchment bespoke wealth and status, as did the bold print. With her thumb, Gia traced the raised letters of the ornate script. Landen J. Elmsworth.

  A chill of foreboding crept up her spine. The print shifted, fading slowly from focus before her blurry eyes. Her heart pounded. With a fortifying breath, she braced herself against the inevitable—and all that came with it. Fear and dread gave way to total helplessness as the vision emerged like a slow wave of nausea.

  Closing her eyes, she sank to the chair. She clutched the parchment in her palm, the buzz in her ears growing louder, drawing her in. Brisk air filled her lungs. Gooseflesh formed on her skin. The smell of pine loomed amid tall trees and shadows. Entranced by the sound of babbling water, she waited as a picture took shape in the darkness.

  A man lay at the bottom of a rocky creek, face down in the shallow water. His long black coat clung to his lifeless body. The crimson scarf around his neck drifted like a thick stream of blood on the mild current.

  And then as insidiously as it had appeared, the vision was gone. Gia opened her eyes. Panting, she unfurled her trembling fist, then stared down at the crumpled card. She hadn’t experienced a vision so vivid in months. Nor one so ominous. Especially of someone she’d yet to meet.