“And found it by now. I’m sure your father was cleverer than that.”
As they stepped into the hallway on the second floor, Frances’s emotions ratcheted up again. In so many ways the house felt abandoned, stale and chilly in spite of the gas heat. The warmth troubled her because it was a sign Uncle William had been usingherhome. Frequently.
For a second, Frances paused. She could almost hear the echoes of their childish laughter as they slid down the banisters or played tag in the backyard or gathered in the upstairs parlor on Christmas morning to open their presents.
It was as though she and her sisters had left their girlhoods here. They’d merely risen the morning after Father had died and never returned. Frances wouldn’t think about it. She couldn’t face her father’s room first, so she went into Doris’s.
“None of these look like they’d beyours,” Nick said from the hallway when they’d finished the last room on that floor. “I’ll bet there’s a bedroom in the turret.”
“Yes.”
He followed her more closely this time as they climbed the narrow stairs. Like the other rooms, the furniture had been covered with cloths.
“It’s like I barely left it,” Frances said, studying the contents, “and yet it seems ... like it was forever ago. I feel like a different person from the last time I slept in here.”
“Aren’t you?”
“I suppose I am.” She met his gaze for a moment. How much had she changed because of her friendship withhim?
“I need to tell you something,” he said, his expression serious.
“Not that again.” She spun toward the door.
“Frances,” he took her hand, “I’m going home.”
“Lilac City?” She faced him again, his somber expression filling her with dread. “Now?”
“When we get back.” Nick released her hand and shoved his in his pockets. “I should never have agreed to this fiasco.”
Frances winced. Calling their marriage a fiasco hurt more than she’d have expected. The finality of his words had started the too-familiar ache in the back of her throat, her nerves on edge as though from impending danger. Which was ridiculous She wasn’t in danger from Nick.
“You’ve helped me get my inheritance,” she said, keeping her words soft and even. “Is that a fiasco?”
“Well, I’m happy for you. At least one of us got our dream.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Come on, Frances, you’ve really been off your game this trip. You don’t really think Luke’s going to partner with me once our marriage is annulled, do you?” Nick brushed past her and went down the stairs.
She stared at his retreating back as it disappeared, and the significance of what he was saying struck her. He’d said he was going back home. He meant Texas. And it was all her fault.
Frances sank onto the sheet covering her bed. What a selfish brat she’d been. She’d been so focused on getting control ofherlife andherfortune, she’d never once considered what it would cost Nick once their marriage was annulled. Of course, Luke wouldn’t partner with him. And how could Nick face the guys on the ranch and the people in town?
She was about to win her fortune and independence, but it’d cost her the dearest friend she’d ever had.
18
Nick stood in the main floor hallway, trying not to think about Frances. The sooner they figured this out, the sooner he could leave.
He studied the paintings. There were none of Mrs. Lancaster. Frances had mentioned once that her father had ordered everything of her mother’s moved to the attic.Wasthere an attic? He compared his memory of the house’s exterior with the search they’d just done of the second story and France’s tower. If there were an attic, it wouldn’t be a traditional size. Could her father have stored something there? Surely William Lancaster would have searched it.
With a resigned growl, Nick turned back to the stairs. He’d only taken a step when voices came from the front walk. Had the others finished at the bank already and joined them? Unless they’d gotten a key to the house there, they wouldn’t be able to get in. He hurried up the hallway, thinking to open the door for them.
“No, Nick,” Frances hissed from the stairs, “it’s Uncle William, and he has some men with him.”
Shadows moved in front of the two curtained windows to the side of the front door. Nick scurried back to join her at the foot of the stairs.
“Out the back,” Frances whispered and tiptoed down the hallway.
