“No.”
She frowned. “So what’s happening?”
“Mr. Lewis has discovered other things about Mr. Cutler which he will investigate. Until my solicitor has solid facts, there’s nothing we can do.”
“What did Mr. Lewis learn?”
Trey shook his head as he caressed her cheek. “It’s very upsetting information and I don’t dare tell you only because we don’t know if it’s the truth yet.”
She scowled. “Trey. You cannot tell me this and leave me hanging.”
“You wanted to know, my sweet, so I told you.”
“But you did not tell me everything.”
He pulled away from her, turned and ran his fingers through his hair as he paced the floor. “Judith, I just cannot. It’s killing me inside, but it will be worse if the information I give you is false.”
Anger built inside of her, making her want to scream. She understood his reasoning, but it upset her when he didn’t want to be truthful with her. “Please, just tell me,” she pleaded.
He stopped in front of her and cupped her face. His blue eyes were dulled with worry as he shook his head. “This is the time you need to trust me. Trust that I know what I’m doing.”
Trust him?Of course she trusted him. Didn’t she? Then why was her chest aching with doubts? She didn’t know what possible information Mr. Lewis could have gathered on Alex, but why did Trey not love her enough to be honest?
Trust runs two ways, and he wasn’t proving he trusted her.
Tears stung her eyes. “I trust you,” she whispered.
He took her in his arms again and kissed her neck before burying his face against her skin. Tingles ran through her, but the pain and doubt in her heart stopped desire from entering her body.
“Believe me, my sweet. In due time I will tell you. It’s just too soon to do so now.”
A tear slipped free and ran down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away before Trey noticed.
He lifted his head and kissed her mouth again, but she broke the contact and pulled away. “I’m tired. I’m going to lie down while you finish your meeting with Dominic.”
“All right. I will come wake you when we are done.”
She nodded, turned and walked out of the room, hurrying down the hallway toward the side door. As she stepped outside, tears streamed down her cheeks. Marriage would be difficult between them at first, especially since they both needed to learn how to trust each other.
Trey had always thought he was right. She thought she was the one who had all the answers. They’d definitely have a lot of compromising to do. It hurt to think he wouldn’t tell her about Alex.
In the horizon, the sun began its descent, turning the sky a maroon tint. Billowy clouds hung thick, threatening a rainstorm in the near future, and the cool wind had picked up since earlier today, guaranteeing the storm would be coming soon.
She walked past the flower gardens and into the gazebo. This was the perfect spot to sit, relax and think. Especially now.
Tilting back her head, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Were her emotions on her sleeves due to her exhausted state? Perhaps. Of course her pending marriage took a lot out of her, also. If only they could marry quickly and get it over with. But the dowager wanted it to be a grand occasion.
Judith chuckled. Had Isabelle forgotten about the scandal created at her party two nights ago? Then again, it didn’t matter. The older woman had always wanted Judith and Trey to marry, so why not make it a big event?
Bushes rustled behind the gazebo. It couldn’t be the wind, because the sound was too forceful. Had a small animal been caught in the branches?
Investigating, she hurried out and cautiously walked toward the bushes, crouching the closer she came. She strained to hearany sounds of distress from a kitten, but only the howling of the wind pierced the air.
As she stood, the rustling came again, but from another direction. When she turned to look, the blur of a person dressed in dark clothes came toward her, holding up a blanket. Before she had time to scream, the covering was tossed over her as a rope tied it to her body. Her arms were imprisoned against her sides.
“Let me go this instant!”
The suddenness of it all caught her off guard and she stumbled. She braced herself to hit the ground, but sturdy arms wrapped around her, keeping her from going down.
