Diana felt her heart sink down to the floor. She had hoped that he would give her more time, to find a way to heal the friction between himself and Elijah.
“As you wish, Father.”
“Whenever you’re mad at me, you call me Father,” he pointed out. “Whenever you’re pleased, you call me Papa.” He laughed, looking at her lovingly.
“I don’t do it intentionally,” she told him honestly.
“It’s what you’ve always done,” he commented, placing a hand on her cheek. “Wrapped me around your little finger, ever since you were a small child.”
They both smiled at each other.
“I think you should let me find my own husband,” she said, her heart beating fast. She wanted him to relent—to let Elijah apologize, and then have the two gentlemen start over.
Her father squinted at her, adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose. He beamed at her, his love for her glowing in his eyes.
“When I return, we will talk. I think we can both come to an agreement of sorts.”
“Of course.” She beamed, suddenly hopeful. Perhaps, she could convince him that there was only one gentleman for her. Luckily, she had a few days to think it through. And to talk to Elijah. She felt hope, bubbling up inside of her.
“Take care of your sister,” he said, then turned toward the carriage.
“Yes, Papa.”
Diana watched as he climbed into the carriage. She heard the sounds of Aunt Clarabelle’s shoes, clicking as she walked down the front steps of Lutterhall Manor.
Beside her, Aunt Clarabelle sighed. “I presume you’ll be sneaking off to go and see Lord Cambolton?”
“What makes you say that?” Diana glanced toward her in shock.
“I have eyes everywhere, my dear,” she said, her tone all-suffering. “I know what you’ve been up to. I hope you haven’t done anything…irrevocable.”
Diana looked at her aunt, who raised her eyebrow. She had underestimated her. Aunt Clarabelle was formidable, indeed.
“Are you going to stop me?” she asked, turning her eyes toward her father’s carriage, which was now making its way down the drive.
“Heavens, no. I rather like Lord Cambolton.” Aunt Clarabelle smiled at her, then turned with a laugh and went back inside. Diana was surprised.
“Why haven’t you told my father?” she asked, following her. After all, he had brought her there to prevent Diana from doing exactly what she had been.
“I want to see how the two of you endeavor to convince him to allow you to marry. Believe it or not, my dear, but I am very fond of romances.”
Diana stared at her aunt’s retreating form in disbelief. Here, she had thought that Aunt Clarabelle had hated her. It seemed that Diana had never given her reason to be interested.
After all, Eleonora was always the spirited one.
Chapter 30
After his very long night, Elijah slept in. He treated himself to a large, late breakfast. As soon as the clock struck noon, he left the house, striding toward the edge of the woods to wait for Diana’s arrival.
He had the letters in his pocket, just over his heart. He had so much to tell her. He’d been up almost all night, and now knew much, but not all. She finally appeared, Mary riding beside her. He waved to both of them. Then, helped Diana down from the sidesaddle.
Hand in hand, they walked toward the millhouse, entering. As soon as the door was closed behind them, she was in his arms, and they kissed.
“Well?” he asked, tucking her curl back tenderly. He cherished every part of her, even the spray of freckles over the bridge of her nose.
“She remembered him,” she confirmed. “She didn’t remember the night in question, however.”
“Do you think she will?”
“I think she needs time,” she said. “The last time the memory of the cottage returned to her in a dream, so I think she’s trying to forget.” She swallowed. “Last night, I told her of his death. She was absolutely heartbroken, so I didn’t want to ask too many questions.”
“I found her letters to my father,” he said, unable to hide it any longer.
“You did?” She gripped his hands in hers. He had known that she would be eager to hear this.
“I don’t know what happened, to make them begin meeting in secret,” he said. “But they met about two years ago, at a ball held by Lord Forstall.” The gentleman in question had been out of the countryside, however, had returned recently. He had tendered an invitation to Elijah, who planned to go and visit him soon. “What’s more, Sarah knew everything. She would deliver the letters between them, and she knew when your sister was sneaking out.”
“And now, she’s missing,” Diana murmured. She looked horrified.
“She’s the one who knew the most, she’s suddenly gone missing. I think she does know who the murderer is, or at least suspects something.”
“I don’t think so. I don’t think she could have set this up…”
“She’s the only one who had all of the information. She was the only one who knew that they were going to be at the cottage that night.”
“She loves my sister. She wouldn’t betray her.”
“It’s someone who has been hiding in plain sight.” His hunch was that Sarah had done something, but Diana seemed resolute.
She shook her head. “It can’t be.”
He sighed. “Another thing—the constable is going to want to talk to your father.”
She nodded. “I expected as much. There’s really no getting around it. Perhaps, he saw something or someone.”
“He might find out about us.”
“We’ve agreed to talk about my future when he returns from London,” she told him. “I’m going to explain to him how I feel about you. I think he’s finally ready to listen.”
He smiled, though he wasn’t as sure as she was. But he didn’t know Lord Lutterhall as well as she did. He only knew his anger, which, to be honest, was a little understandable.
“I don’t know that it’s safe for us to meet,” he said, telling her the one thing that was just like tearing out his own heart. “I especially don’t want you going through the woods, not even accompanied by Mary.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t be without you.”
He held her to him, keeping his eyes on hers. “I wouldn’t be able to bear it if anything happened to you. We have to be smart.”
“I was thinking about that last night,” she murmured softly.
“Once you’ve spoken to your father, maybe then, we’ll be able to meet without it being such a secret.”
Or, we’ll elope, and it won’t be a secret at all.
He wanted nothing more than to go that very moment. To take her away from there that very day.
We’re both needed here. To help find the murderer.
She nodded, her eyes sad. He held her tightly. He didn’t want to not see her, but he couldn’t promise her safety in the woods. The killer could be anywhere. They shouldn’t be taking risks. It would be far worse to lose her forever.
* * *
Diana looked into his green eyes. Reaching up, she brushed his dark blond hair back from where it tumbled over his forehead. He closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. She moved her hand to his cheek, rubbing her thumb over his bottom lip. He smiled. She watched him, her eyes open so she could remember this moment, while they were apart.
Elijah grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her toward him and into his arms. She allowed herself to be captured, loving the way that his one hand pressed into the small of her back. Her body pressed up against his. She was soft, while he was hard—his muscles were flat, built up from hunting and riding.
He leaned in, kissing her, her lips parting to admit his tongue. The moment was bittersweet. This would be the last time that they saw each other, for a while. She savored the moment, as he lifted her up and onto the wooden table. His hands slipped up and into her skirts. Her kiss became fevered, hungry.
If wanti
ng someone like this is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
His hand ran up the outside of her thigh. Her leg lifted as she wrapped it around his hip. Diana leaned back, opening her legs, so he could touch her. Butterflies rioted in her stomach as his fingers caressed her. She moaned, softly as her muscles began to contract, fluttering like gentle wings. She held onto him as tightly as she could, with her legs, with her arms. Her hips bucked a little, and her back arched.
He nuzzled her, just beneath her ear, against her neck. He kissed her on the cheek, then wrapped his arms around her. She leaned against him. Her pulse was loud in her ears.
When she opened her eyes, he was looking down at her. His gaze was soft, yet sultry. It made her heart race. She felt torn in two. The two gentlemen in her life opposed each other. Right at that moment, she wanted to give in to Elijah.
If we’re already married, then Papa will have no choice but to accept it.
“I don’t want to leave you,” she whispered, wondering if perhaps she should stay—elope with him immediately. She doubted her original thought. Perhaps, it would be better.
“We need to make your father come around,” he replied, sadly. “I want nothing to stand in our way.”
“I want that, too.” She smiled up at him. Elijah was perfect to her, in every way. Instead of telling her that she could stay, he was supporting her desire to remain on good terms with her father. He knew how important it was to her.
“Come,” he said. “You should return home.”
She nodded, letting him help her down onto her feet. He took her by the hand, and they left the millhouse. As they walked, she couldn’t help but look back, once more.
That is the place where we are so happy.
She missed it, missed Elijah already. They hadn’t yet said goodbye, but there was an ache in her chest as she clasped his hand.
* * *
Diana sat in the armchair in her room. She had a book open in her lap, but she found herself staring out the window. From there, she could see the flowers in the garden.
She watched as a breeze blew through the trees, causing the branches to sway. A flock of birds rose into the air lazily. They made loops through the trees.
She was thinking of Elijah. The softness of his lips as he trailed kisses along her neck. The way that he would place his hand on the small of her back, pulling her in close to him. How his eyes softened when she told him that she loved him.
She considered running out of the house. She could go that moment, ride as fast as she could. She would go right to Cambolton House. She imagined telling him that she was ready. She would marry him. He would beam at her, then kiss her.
And then he’ll take me to the church in Warwickshire, and then we’ll be married. Just us.
They would go to the little inn, there in the town, where they could finally be together. She would give herself to him. She considered what that would be like. His hands on her skin, his lips.
“My Lady, are you going to see Lord Cambolton today?” Mary asked, jolting her from her thoughts. Diana could feel herself blushing, and she held her hand to her warm cheek.
“No, Mary. I need you to tell the groom that it won’t be necessary. It’s not safe. There’s a murderer about. We can’t be travelling the woods alone.”
“I see, My Lady. Do you want me to bring him a letter?” Mary offered. Diana turned toward her. She was in the process of folding some of Diana’s petticoats.
“Certainly not! I wouldn’t risk your safety!” She stared at her maid, surprised at the idea. She wouldn’t risk anyone’s safety.
“That’s kind of you, My Lady, but I’m just a maid. No one’s going to want much to do with me.”
Diana frowned. “You matter to me, Mary,” she stated with feeling. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Mary blushed and looked away. Diana smiled at her. She had come to depend on and care for her new lady’s maid. She had never cared for any of her other maids. She and Mary were bonded.
Eleonora entered the bed chamber then, without knocking. She was dressed simply, in a light blue muslin. Her short hair was brushed neatly, tucked behind her ears. She looked almost like her old self, except for the tell-tale scar.
Diana’s heart rose as she noted her sister’s bereft expression. “What’s the matter, dear?”
Eleonora sat down in the other chair. She slumped back into it, almost sprawling. She sighed heavily. Diana noted the dark circles, pressed up underneath her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept at all the night before.
“I can’t remember,” she said, shaking her head. She reached into the pocket, taking out the miniature. “I keep trying. I can remember him, and the cottage. I can remember meeting him, but…” She tilted her head to the side, tears filling her eyes. “There are gaps in my memory,” she said. “Where it’s all just black.”
Diana frowned. “When?”
“Here and there,” Eleonora mused. “I don’t understand. Why did I never bring him here?” She looked at Diana. “Why did you never meet him?”
Diana nodded. “That’s a very good point.” She hadn’t thought of that. She had certainly known of him, but she had only seen the late Lord Cambolton in passing. She was sure that he’d been at parties, when she was a child. But she couldn’t recall him being around Lutterhall Manor recently.
“If he really was so important to me, then why did all of the people that I love not know him?” Eleonora’s eyes were on the miniature. Her brows were knit together.
Diana looked over at Mary, who was nodding thoughtfully. Lord Cambolton had been a gentleman. Why did he not court her sister as he ought to have?
“That’s really smart, My Lady,” Mary said, wrinkling her nose. “I didn’t even think of that.”
Eleonora beamed. “I haven’t heard someone call me that in quite some time.” She stood, taking Mary’s hands in hers. “Thank you, Mary.”
Diana smiled, her heart warmed. Eleonora had always been praised for her intellect. She wished that she herself had realized that her sister felt that way.
I don’t know what Eleonora needs. I don’t know how to help her. I can only guess.
* * *
Elijah rode to see the constable the next day. He was nervous about Lord Lutterhall finding out about himself and Diana, but he knew her thoughts on the matter. She believed that he would allow them to marry.
Either that, or he would be livid, and forbid her from seeing Elijah ever again. It would merely force the issue. They would end up together, or it would end things between them forever.
The constable opened the front door when Elijah knocked. “Lord Cambolton! Come in, come in.”
“Thank you.” Elijah took his hat off, tucking it beneath his arm as he stepped inside. The little house was very quiet. “It’s very quiet.”
“That’s because all the little ones are down for their naps,” he said with a laugh. “I believe that my wife has water for tea on, if you’d like some,” he offered.
“That would be lovely, thank you.” Elijah followed the constable to the kitchen, where his young wife was putting on the tea. They both sat down at the kitchen table. Elijah spoke briefly with the constable’s wife, while she poured the water into the pot, setting it to steep on the table. Once she had bustled off, into the depths of the house, the constable looked at him, expectantly.
“I presume that you’re here because you’ve been able to confirm the link,” he said, clearly eager to hear how Elijah had fared.
Elijah took the stack of letters from his pocket. He set them on the table. “These are a series of letters from Lady Eleonora to my father,” he said. “They span from October of 1810 to about eight months ago.”
The constable frowned, picking up the top letter and opening it. He perused the contents, nodding to himself. “This is quite the find,” he said, impressed.
“Furthermore, Lady Eleonora was able to identify my father from a miniature,” Elijah went on. “She remembers the cottage where my father w
as found, and can describe it in detail. I don’t know if or what she knows of the night in question, but it seems that they were there together.”
“Then I can open my investigation again,” the constable said thoughtfully. “I’ll have to question Lord Lutterhall, of course.”
“If you could, perhaps, leave out the fact that I got my information from Lady Diana…”
The constable sat back, staring at Elijah in surprise. “I can,” he mused. “Although, he will be rather curious to know the source. Please tell me that you’re not meeting a lady in secret. No one should be travelling through those woods without proper protection.”
Sinfully Bound To The Enigmatic Viscount (Steamy Historical Regency Romance) Page 21