Secrets

by Jude Deveraux

  But the farmers’ market, with vendors from all over eastern Virginia, was still held in the exquisite Colonial Williamsburg. Cassie parked the MINI Cooper in the lot near the cemetery, walked to the booths, and browsed through stands selling herbs in pots, seafood caught that morning, and homemade jams. She purchased bags full of goods, making three trips to the car to put her purchases inside. Cassie believed in supporting local merchants and growers, so she bought as much as she could from people who grew their own.

  After she finished shopping, she drove back to Hamilton Hundred and put the food in the refrigerator.

  Through all her activities, her mind was only half on her tasks. She kept thinking about meeting Althea Fairmont and all that had been said. When she was away from the presence of the famous woman, Cassie could think more clearly. And the more she thought, the more confused she became. It seemed that Miss Fairmont knew an extraordinary amount about both her and Dana Craig. Had Althea really guessed, on the spur of the moment, that Dana wanted Elsbeth? Jeff had said that he owed a lot to Dana for taking care of Elsbeth after his wife died, but Cassie had never thought about how Dana must have felt when the child was taken away from her.

  And Cassie had been the one to take the child. Jeff had hired three other nannies before Cassie, but Thomas said they were all incompetent and lazy—which meant that Dana had Elsbeth most of the time during the week.

  It was when Cassie was hired that things changed. She paused as she pulled the scallops out of the bag. Who had hired the three nannies that were so incompetent? she wondered. Instantly, she knew without a doubt that it was the let-me-take-care-of-that-for-you Dana. Cassie could almost hear her asking Jeff to let her help him find a nanny. She could imagine Dana saying that she felt “responsible” for the bad nannies, so she’d make up for it by taking over little Elsbeth.

  But Cassie had foiled her. Cassie had nearly thrown herself at Jeff. But then, hadn’t she been throwing herself at him for years? Not that it had done any good, but she’d done it. She’d come to Williamsburg because she knew he was here. She got a job at Elsbeth’s nursery school because she knew that Jeff’s daughter went there. And she was the one who’d called Jeff several times to tell him that the nanny had screwed up yet again.

  It was Cassie who’d been there the day when Jeff arrived to pick up his daughter. It said on Elsbeth’s card that Dana Craig was to be called if there were any problems, but Cassie ignored that and called Jeff’s cell number. He’d arrived right away. But then, Cassie had made it sound like an emergency.

  She’d listened to him complain that this was the third nanny he would have to fire and he couldn’t understand why he couldn’t find competent child care. When he paused, Cassie said she’d love to have the job. She said that she never got to know the children in the nursery school and it was too much to take care of so many. She’d love to work with just one child. Jeff asked her when she could start.

  She gave a week’s notice to the school and moved into Jeff’s lovely house the day after.

  Did I mess up Dana’s plans? she wondered.

  More importantly, was Elsbeth the reason Dana was pushing to get Skylar and Jeff married? Skylar looked at Elsbeth as though she were an annoying insect that she wished would go away. Cassie was sure that Skylar would love to turn Elsbeth over to Dana.

  Cassie took a pot of basil out of its bag and went outside to plant it in the raised brick beds that Thomas had had made for the herb garden. She went to the little shed to get a hand shovel and, with her mind elsewhere, began to replace the basil that she’d cut down to the stems.

  Wasn’t it odd that Althea Fairmont had figured this out, but Cassie, who was involved in it, hadn’t? And wasn’t it strange that Althea had asked Cassie if she was after Jeff? She’d lived in his house for a year, and only in the first few weeks had people at the club made little innuendos about them. But they’d soon stopped. But here was Althea bringing it all up again. It was almost as though she knew things that other people didn’t.

  Or was being told some rather hurtful gossip, Cassie thought. Who in the world was her spy? Had she not been with Dana today, Cassie would have thought it was her. But Dana had been as surprised as she had been. So who in their tight little community was sitting down with Althea Fairmont and spreading what could be considered malicious gossip? Gossip that could cause a lot of problems if it was spread around. What if someone told Jeff that his nanny was “after him”? Cassie was sure he’d laugh about it, but he’d look at her differently.

  But then, what did it matter how Jeff looked at her, since Cassie was going to be thrown out of his house soon?

  Cassie had thought about going to a movie at the beautiful New Town cinema, but her head was racing so fast that instead she stayed in and baked six batches of cookies. She knew that Jeff loved her sesame seed and apricot bars, so she made a double batch of them. As she baked, a plan was forming in her head. If Althea knew so much about people, maybe she knew of a way to break up Skylar and Jeff. It was a low-down, devious plan, but Cassie couldn’t stand by and see Elsbeth have to put up with a mother like Skylar.

  Maybe if Cassie could get into Althea’s good graces, she could find out more about Skylar’s past. Maybe she could find out something she could tell Jeff that would change his mind about the woman he thought he was in love with.

  And at the very least, if she did accept a job from Althea, just as she said, Cassie would be right next door.

  Smiling, she took a sheet of cookies out of the oven and put another one in.

  4

  BY SIX THAT EVENING,Cassie had piles of cookies made, but no one to eat them. Thomas, Jeff, and Elsbeth still hadn’t returned from the boat, and she didn’t like to think what was going on. Maybe Thomas had taken Elsbeth so Jeff and Skylar could have a romantic dinner. But what about Dana’s husband? It was his boat. As to that, why had the man bought a big boat if his wife wasn’t, as Dana said, “good” on boats? Cassie smiled at the image of perfect Dana heaving over the side. Maybe her husband had bought a boat to get away from his wife.

  Cassie took a basket from the pile of them she had stored in the pantry, tied a ribbon around the handle, put a good linen napkin in the bottom, and filled it with cookies. She would take them over to Althea’s house as a thank-you gift for the tea she’d served them.

  She told herself she wasn’t sneaking, but she avoided the path to the beach. She’d seen the way the windows in the house showed any movement on that path. Instead, she made her way through the trees to the side of the Fairmont house.

  As she quietly walked toward the house, she thought how oddly secured it was. It almost looked like a fortress. It had a tall iron fence across the front, with a big iron gate that was opened by a security code box. The residents of Hamilton Hundred saw this from their side of the street and assumed the fence went all around the property. But it didn’t. It ended about two-thirds of the way down to the water, leaving the end of Althea’s property free for walking—and trespassing.

  Cassie slipped around the end of the fence and walked into the garden, staying hidden under the trees and between the plants.

  Most of the house was dark and she heard nothing. Her soft-soled shoes made no noise on the slate as she went to the door of the room where she and Dana had had tea.

  The curtains were still drawn, but she could see light in the room, and she could hear voices. For a moment she stopped, telling herself that she was spying on a woman who had been very nice to her. She should go back the way she’d come and never bother Miss Fairmont again.

  But even as she thought it, she couldn’t help looking at a gap in the curtains. She could see part of the room through the space. It was as pretty as she remembered, and for a moment she thought about asking Althea who had been her decorator. Maybe she could redo their living room. If Jeff would let her touch it, that is. If Jeff didn’t marry Skylar, that is. If Jeff—

  Cassie stopped thinking because into her view came Roger Craig, Dana’s lawye
r-husband. He had a drink in his hand, and he was laughing.

  Cassie stepped forward, moving closer to the glass. On the couch she could see two people. One was Althea with her perfectly coiffed head and the other looked to be her gardener-cum-bodyguard, the beautiful Brent Goodwin. The three of them were drinking cocktails and laughing.

  When Roger turned his head, Cassie quickly moved to the side. She hoped he hadn’t seen her.

  She wasted no time as she ran across the terrace, down the steps, then ran back toward Jeff’s house. She didn’t look back, so she didn’t know if anyone had opened the door or not.

  Roger! she thought as she ran all the way back as fast as she could. Perfect Dana’s perfect husband was the neighborhood spy. What’s more, he’d ratted his own wife out, telling an outsider that his wife desperately wanted little Elsbeth Ames for her own. Why? Because Dana was infertile? Had the rat fink told Althea that too?

  When Cassie reached Jeff’s house, she ran in through the back, into the mudroom, closed the door, then leaned against it to catch her breath. She could hear voices in the breakfast room. They were back. But then, she knew that, didn’t she? Ratty Roger must have run straight from the boat to report to Althea about what he’d heard that day. Every secret he’d gleaned from Jeff, Thomas, Elsbeth, and Skylar would be told to Althea Fairmont.

  And what would she do with those secrets? Cassie wondered. The woman kept to herself. She didn’t see anyone at Hamilton Hundred other than Roger. Her meeting with Cassie and Dana had been an accident. So what harm did it do that Roger Craig was blabbing everything to her? Maybe she was his client and maybe the way he got to handle her multimillions was to entertain her with the happenings about Hamilton Hundred.

  “I thought I heard someone,” Jeff said, looking at her from the doorway. “Why are you standing in the dark?” He flipped on the light switch, then stared at her. “Are you all right? You look out of breath.”

  “Jogging,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “I’ve decided to take it up. I need to lose about twenty pounds.”

  He smiled. “You don’t need to lose an ounce, and since when does a person go jogging while carrying a basket of cookies?”

  “Since Little Red Riding Hood ran through the forest.”

  Jeff chuckled. “In that case, I think you should look out for the Big Bad Wolf.” He took the basket from her hand and put it on the counter. “The house smells great, but I thought you were going to take the day off and have some fun.”

  “I did have fun. I like to bake.” She still wasn’t looking at him.

  “Hey,” he said softly, taking a step toward her. “What’s going on? You look upset. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she said, taking a deep breath and straightening her shoulders. “Have you guys had dinner?”

  “Nope. We decided to eat with you, so we bought about twenty different Chinese dishes. Dad couldn’t make up his mind so we got everything. Come and eat with us.”

  “Sure,” she said. “Just let me change first.”

  Jeff caught her wrist. “Cassie, you can tell me if something’s bothering you.”

  “Nothing,” she said. “I’m just not used to running, that’s all. You guys start without me. I may take a quick shower.”

  Jeff was frowning slightly and watching her. “We’ll wait. Hurry and join us.”

  “I’m sure Skylar—”

  “She’s not here,” he said quickly. “And she won’t be here tonight. I sent her off with Roger. They’re old friends, and since I came into the picture, they don’t get to see each other enough.”

  “Right,” Cassie said. “Roger and Skylar. And Roger’s boat.”

  Jeff frowned deeper, but before he could say anything else, Cassie ran up the stairs to her room. By the time she took a shower and pulled on clean clothes, she was calmer. What did it matter if someone told a famous star the gossip of a small, gated community? Didn’t they all sit around the pool and watch the kids swim while they told everything they knew about everyone else? Gossip was as common as SUVs in the community.

  But everything she knew and had been told had been harmless. No one was talking about Dana’s desire for a child, which was so strong that she’d spent years maneuvering a neighbor’s life so she could have his child. But Dana’s husband had told that to a stranger. And the stranger had thrown that knowledge in Dana’s face.

  When Cassie went downstairs, Jeff, Elsbeth, and Thomas were sitting at the table, waiting for her. Elsbeth and Thomas made a great show of digging in just as Cassie appeared. She got extra napkins from the kitchen, and when she returned, Jeff was looking at her intently.

  She smiled at him. “So tell me about every second of the day,” she said as she heaped her plate full of Chinese food. Immediately, Elsbeth started talking so fast that her grandfather could hardly get a word in.

  “Did Mr. Craig have a good time?” Cassie asked after ten minutes of Elsbeth’s chattering about the boat and the water and every shell she’d seen.

  “He caught two fish,” Elsbeth said. “And he cleaned them himself. But he had to clean Skylar’s fish for her. She’s a silly chicken and afraid of everything.”

  Cassie waited for Jeff to defend his girlfriend, but he said nothing. In fact, he’d been silent since they sat down.

  “But Mr. Craig wasn’t afraid?” Cassie asked. “He’s good on a boat? No seasickness?”

  Thomas looked at her. “What’s all this concern for Roger?”

  “I saw his wife on the beach today and she wasn’t very happy. She didn’t say so, but I think it hurt her that her husband went without her.”

  Jeff frowned. “But Dana throws up if she so much as steps onto a boat. I’ve seen it. Roger’s done everything to get her to go, but she refuses.”

  “Isn’t it interesting that a man would buy a boat when he knows that his wife can’t get on it? Sure does allow him lots of private time, doesn’t it?”

  “Are you implying that Roger is doing something he shouldn’t? Like having an affair?” Jeff asked, incredulous.

  “What’s an affair?” Elsbeth asked.

  “It’s something that your father has no idea how to conduct,” Thomas said. “Ellie, darling, how about if you and I go brush our teeth and get into our jammies?”

  “So Daddy and Cassie can talk in private?” Elsbeth whispered loudly.

  “Exactly.” Thomas took Elsbeth’s hand and led her out of the room.

  Cassie stood up and began clearing the table.

  “You want to tell me what’s made you so sulky?” Jeff asked as he closed the tops of the food containers.

  “I am not sulky.”

  “Right, and I don’t want a Maserati for my birthday. Okay, so you saw Dana today. I thought you didn’t like her.”

  “What gave you that idea?” Cassie snapped.

  “I don’t know. Maybe it’s the way you can’t say her name without sneering. Or maybe it’s the way you get upset whenever I suggest that you take Elsbeth to visit her. Dana has been a good friend to me. After Lillian—”

  “I know,” Cassie said. “Dana was a saint. She took over your daughter as though she were her very own. And I’ll bet she was the one who hired all your bad nannies.”

  Jeff gave a crooked smile. “Yeah, she did.”

  Cassie glared at him. “You knew what she was doing, didn’t you? You knew it but you let her hire one awful woman after another to look after your precious daughter.”

  “You make it sound criminal. Yes, I knew that Dana wanted Elsbeth to stay with her. She even told me so. Or at least she said she’d take care of my daughter until I…” He turned away and looked out the windows of the breakfast room. It was dark outside, and the windows had no curtains. When he turned back, his face was calmer.

  “Cassie, it may seem that I don’t know what’s going on, but I do. Roger and I have talked. I know that Dana is sick with worry that she’ll never have her own baby, but they’ve both had thorough medical exams and nothing is wrong. The
doctor thinks her fear is most, if not all, of the problem.”

  He took a breath. “After Lillian died I couldn’t think about anything. It was a year before I could function. I would have left Elsbeth with Dana full-time, but Roger asked me not to. He thought that when I did take my daughter back it would destroy Dana.” Jeff smiled. “But Dana had her own way of getting what she wanted. Yes, she hired those rotten nannies, and until you asked for the job, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I didn’t want to hurt Dana’s feelings by telling her that I’d hire my own nanny, but I was getting sick of dealing with those lazy girls she chose.”

  Cassie was behind the kitchen counter, looking at him. She wanted to tell him about Roger and Althea, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  “As for Roger and his boat,” Jeff said, “I got the idea that Dana loves getting rid of him for a day or two. Roger is pretty hyper, and I think Dana likes the peace and quiet.”

  “Peace and quiet won’t get her pregnant,” Cassie muttered, then caught herself. She looked up at Jeff and saw that he was holding in his laughter. “I mean—”

  “I know what you meant. I know how babies are made.”

  Cassie wanted to laugh in a sophisticated way, but instead her face turned red.

  “Are you over whatever was eating you?” he asked. “If you’re mad at Roger about something, I don’t think you should take it out on us.”