Before the Dawn (6 page)

“
Miss
Sejours. Helene never married.” He shrugged. “I'll ask her, but there's no guarantee she'll tell me the truth.”

“You don't trust her?”

“No.”

“Then why are we staying here?” Leah asked, struggling to keep her voice low so they wouldn't be overheard.

“Because this house and everything in it was left to Ryder and his grandmother. Why Helene is living here instead is beyond me, but I plan to find out.”

That gave Leah pause. “First the mine interests that Ryder said he never received and now this house?”

“Exactly. Can you think of a better place to get at the truth?”

“Given a few minutes' time, I probably could, but I'll follow your lead.”

He smiled. “Good. Once we get this lawsuit question out of the way, time here should be easier.”

Leah hoped he was right.

 

Dinner was a tense affair. Although Helene had seemingly nothing to say to Cecil, she kept viewing Leah as if she were an exhibit at a fair. At one point Helene remarked, “I never imagined Louis would marry a woman younger than
both
his sons.”

Leah sensed the barracuda beneath all that white powder. “To be truthful, I was surprised to find out he had sons. I only recently learned of Monty's family here.”

“Is that an English accent I hear?”

“A small one. My mother was British.”

“And your father?”

“American.”

“And did your parents approve of this marriage?”

Leah answered without hesitation. “My father died when
I was young, and Mother passed away last year, but yes, she would've approved.” Leah knew she was right. Monty's attempts to secure her future might have been unorthodox, but Leah sensed Reba was applauding his ingenuity from her spot up in heaven.

Helene's blue eyes were bright and sharp as a hawk. “How long will you be with us?”

“Once our business is completed, Cecil and I'll be in a better position to know.”

They were interrupted by the appearance of Mrs. France. “Mister Seth is here, ma'am.”

Helene's face brightened. “Ah, send him in and bring him a plate so he can join us.” As Mrs. France went off, Helene said to Leah, “Aren't you fortunate, you're going to meet Louis's son.”

When Seth walked into the room, he looked so much like Monty, Leah felt gooseflesh run up her arms. Helene said something else, but Leah heard nothing; she was too busy staring at the wavy black hair, the pale golden skin, and the familiar hawklike features. He was as urbane in his appearance as she imagined a high-toned Creole would be, and the thin moustache seemed to enhance his handsomeness. The frock coat he handed to Mrs. France appeared to be very costly, as did the brown suit he wore beneath. He had dark hazel eyes instead of Monty's midnight blue, but the shape and sparkle were the same.

Leah gathered herself and looked over at Cecil seated on the other side of the table. He, too, looked stunned.

Helene called affectionately, “Darling, there's someone here I believe you should meet.”

Leah noted that in his own golden way, Seth Montague was as handsome as his brother.

As he neared the table, his aunt said, “Seth, meet your father's last wife, Leah Montague. Leah, my nephew Seth Montague.”

If his aunt's surprising introduction caught him off guard, he hid it well. He bowed his head respectfully in Leah's direction, and said, “I'm sorry for your loss.”

After enduring his brother's rudeness, Leah was touched by his sentiment. “Thank you.”

Helene waved a hand toward Cecil. “And this is your father's business partner, Cecil Lee.”

Cecil stood, “Good evening, Seth. You were very young the last time I saw you.”

Seth grasped Cecil's hand in a solid greeting. “No more than seven or eight if I remember. Sorry we couldn't have met again under better circumstances.”

“So do I.” Cecil replied, still staring at the son who so resembled his late father.

“Did he pass peacefully?” Seth asked of Leah as he took a seat at the table.

She nodded gently. “Yes, in his sleep.”

“That's good to know. I've been in Carson City for the past few weeks. I didn't know you'd wired until I returned home today. I'd hoped to meet your train and help get you settled in, but I was too late.”

Leah said, “We appreciate the thought.”

Helene drawled, “Well, now that we've all gotten reacquainted, shall we finish our meal?”

Leah didn't care for the woman's sarcastic tone, but picked up her fork and resumed eating.

As the meal wound to a close, Cecil took a sip of water from his heavy glass goblet, then set it back down and said, “Leah was served with a summons when we arrived today. Either of you have any idea what it might be about?”

Both Seth and Helene stiffened noticeably. Leah watched them share a look, then Seth asked, “The summons didn't say?”

“No,” Leah responded. “I'm to appear at the courthouse tomorrow morning at nine. I'm assuming it has
something to do with Monty because he's the only tie I have here.”

Seth shrugged, “Then that could be anything. Louis didn't leave behind many friends.”

Cecil asked, “So, you've no idea?”

“I'm afraid not. Aunt Helene?”

“No, but as my nephew said, if it does have to do with Louis, it could be anything. He was not well liked, by anyone.”

“Yourself included?” Leah asked.

Helene took a moment to scan Leah's face. “You're not the mouse I assumed you to be, are you?”

“No, I'm not.”

“Good for you. Well the answer is yes, myself included. Louis killed my sister. I will hate him for the rest of my life.” Evidently finished with her dinner, Helene stood. “I'm sure Seth can answer any other questions you two might have. Excuse me.”

And she left the room.

Seth broke the silence that followed. “You'll have to forgive my aunt. She holds my father responsible for everything bad in her life.”

Leah replied, “No apology necessary. Her pain is her own. Who are we to judge?”

“Thanks,” he said.

Cecil stood. “Well, I hate being ambushed, so I'm going out to see if I can learn anything about this summons. Seth, it's nice to see you again. Leah, we'll speak when I return.”

She nodded.

Cecil's departure left her alone with Seth. “Please,” she told him, “if you have an appointment, you should go ahead. I'm fine here.”

“Trying to get rid of me?”

Leah smiled. “No, I just—”

“When I'm ready to go, I'll let you know.”

“Okay.” Leah noted how comfortable she felt in his presence.

“Now, tell me about yourself.”

“Well, I'm from a small village on the Massachusetts coast.”

“A seafaring woman.”

Leah's smile peeked out again. “Not really. I went to England once. My father did all the sailing. According to my mother, he'd been as far as China and Egypt. He died before my birth.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you. What about you? Have you ever sailed anywhere?”

“France once when I was twelve. Been all over the West though.”

“I hope to see some of the world after Cecil and I are done here.”

“I hope that wish comes true.”

After meeting Ryder, Leah hadn't expected Seth to be so easygoing or so nice. His hazel-eyed handsomeness made Leah wonder if there was a Mrs. Seth Montague.

“I met your brother on the train,” she confessed.

Seth showed only faint interest. “Did you. Wasn't on his best behavior, I'll bet.”

“You'd win,” Leah admitted. Ryder hadn't been very respectful, and she could still feel the chill from his penetrating dark eyes.

“The only good thing I can say about Ryder is that he's my
half
brother. Did Louis tell you about him?”

“No.” Leah didn't reveal the fact that she'd not known about either son until the night before Monty died. She didn't know if the revelation would bruise Seth's feelings.

“Well, there's no reason for you not to know about the
skeletons in the Montague closet. After my mother's death, my father had an unfortunate liaison with a half-breed, an African-Cheyenne woman. Ryder was the result. It's been rather, shall we say, awkward living in the same town with him.”

With those words, the golden Seth became brass in Leah's eyes. Because the sea had taken her own father's life before he could return and marry her mother, Leah had grown up hearing the same contemptuous sneering from the busybodies in her town about her own illegitimate birth.

Seth then added, “You'd be wise to avoid Ryder. He's trouble. Always has been.”

Leah stated the obvious, “The two of you don't get along, I take it.”

“No.”

His curt tone made Leah believe the brothers were at odds over more than just Ryder's out-of-wedlock birth but Seth changed the subject. “That's the oddest thing, that summons.”

“I agree. I'm also puzzled as to how someone would know Cecil and I were traveling here. I don't believe he wired anyone other than you and your brother.”

Seth replied, “That's no mystery. The telegraph operators aren't exactly sphinxes. They could've told anyone about those wires.”

Leah supposed he could be right. “Well, I certainly would like to know what it's concerning. I don't like being ambushed either.”

“Maybe Mr. Lee will find out something.”

“I hope so.”

Leah found herself genuinely liking Seth and told him so. “You're much more pleasant to be around than your brother.”

“
Half
brother.”

“Sorry, half brother.”

“I'll take that as a compliment though.”

“And well you should.”

“Unlike Ryder and my aunt, I live in the present, not the past.”

Leah saw a sharpness firm his jaw for a second, as if he were seeing something in his mind. A second later the brightness returned to his eyes. “If you think it's proper, I'd like to escort you around while you're here. Denver has quite a bit to offer.”

“I'd like that.” Even though Leah was supposed to be here as Monty's widow, she saw nothing wrong in spending time with Seth. He seemed nice enough, and she had promised Monty to plead his case with his sons.

He nodded. “Good. I'll stop in after the hearing tomorrow. I hope everything goes well.”

He stood and Leah followed suit, saying, “I do too.”

He pushed in his chair. “It's been a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Montague.”

“Please, call me Leah.”

“Well, it's been a pleasure, Leah.”

“A pleasure meeting you also.”

He was close enough for her to feel the heat of his body. Even though his intolerant words about his brother's birth hadn't reflected well, they hadn't diminished his attractiveness.

“Have a pleasant evening, Leah.”

“You do the same.”

He departed and Leah was left alone.

By ten that evening Cecil had not returned, and Leah began to worry.

She sought out Helene Sejours and found her going over accounts at the table in the dining room. At Leah's entrance she glanced up. Her blue eyes were filled with irritation. “Yes?”

“I'm starting to worry about Cecil. He's been gone for some time.”

Helene went back to her ledgers. “Frankly, I wouldn't put it past him to have run off and disappeared again. Remember, the last time he took off, it took him thirty years to return.”

Leah doubted that possibility and felt frustration rise in the face of the woman's manner. “I apologize for disturbing you.”

She headed to the door only to be stopped by Helen's voice. “Stay please. No need to run off in a huff. Sit so we can chat.”

Leah turned back. “To what end?”

Helene responded with a brittle smile. “You are a brave young woman, aren't you? Giving me tit for tat. Louis always did like his women saucy.”

Leah didn't know whether to leave or stay. She also had trouble gleaning Helene's true nature; one moment she was sarcastic and caustic, the next offering up compliments. Leah admittedly felt off-balance.

Helene gestured Leah to one of the upholstered chairs. Leah held the ice-blue eyes for a moment and in them she read power, ambition, and the knowledge that Helene would be a formidable enemy, should she choose that role. However, Leah had grown up with the most formidable woman she'd ever faced: her mother, Reba. And if Reba taught her one thing it was this: Never run. Stand and fight.

Buoyed by those thoughts, Leah sat.

“So,” Helene said, “how long were you and Louis married?”

Leah had no intentions of telling her the truth. It wasn't any of her business. “Not long enough.”

Helene let the vague reply roll off her back. “Clever too. How quaint, but I suppose you'd have to be to have gotten Louis to the altar. It is a legal marriage, isn't it?”

Inwardly, Leah chuckled bitterly at the veiled slap. “Do people generally wilt beneath your sharp tongue?”

“Generally yes. You're different, however.”

“Yes I am and yes, the marriage was legal.” Leah stood. She'd had enough.

Helene looked up at her. “Well, we've taken enough measure of each other for one night, don't you think?”

“I do.”

“Then get some rest. You'll probably need it in the morning.”

Again, Leah didn't know how to take Helene's words.

“And I wouldn't worry about Cecil. If he returns, he will. If he doesn't?” She shrugged her thin shoulders in the worn green dress as if it didn't matter. “Frankly, I'd worry more about your own well-being. Louis's women seem to meet unfortunate ends. Let's hope you're not next.”