Once Upon A Diamond (A sweet Regency Historical Romance)

by Teresa McCarthy

  But he was too noble to let her go, and she loved him too much – too much to let him bear the burden of having a wife he couldn’t love. “Well, then, I’ll have to return to America as your wife - in name only of course.”

  He let out a string of curses that made Kate cringe. “You stubborn, obstinate, pig-headed woman.” He stomped toward the door. “Have it your way then. Give up. Leave. But tell me one thing.”

  “What?” Burning tears filled her throat. He was angry now. Wasn’t that what she wanted?

  “Tell me you don’t love me one more time, and then I’ll believe you. Can you do that, Kate? Can you honestly say you don’t love me? If you can, I’ll leave and never come back.”

  She shifted in her chair. Perhaps in time, Tristan would truly come to love her, but she couldn’t risk the consequences if it never came to be. He deserved better.

  “I–Don’t–Love–You.” There, she’d said it. Her heart ripped in two.

  “Tristan?” Her stomach turned when the sound of retreating footsteps answered back.

  After a minute, she heard nothing but the eerie whistle of the wind against the windowpane. “Tristan?” Her throat ached with defeat. Pressing her lips together, she rose from her chair and fell onto her bed with a sob. He was gone. Gone forever.

  “Oh, Tristan,” she murmured against her pillow. “I do love you, dearest, dearest, Tristan. So very much. I just want you to be free.” Tears streaked her face and she gulped huge sobs of grief. “I do love you…I do."

  Standing a foot from the threshold of Kate’s bedchambers, Tristan secretly continued his watch from the hall, his gaze never leaving his wife. Minutes passed as the lump grew in his throat.

  At that moment, he loved his wife more than he could ever think a man could love a woman. His mother’s death and the lady’s confession had been a shock. He mourned the loss of the woman he had never really known. But as for his wife, he would never let her go.

  Soon, Kate’s whimpers were barely audible, but he heard them all the same.

  “Kate?”

  Her head shot up, and she instantly wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I thought you had gone.”

  “I know. That’s something you still haven’t figured out about me, sweetheart.”

  In three swift strides he was at her side. “I’ll never leave you. You can talk all you like, but I’ll never let you go again.”

  She continued to erase the tears on her face with the back of her hand. “But you said you would leave and never come back.”

  “I said that if you could honestly say you didn’t love me I would. You’re not only stubborn; you’re a stubborn little liar. Like the time you took Devin’s favorite horse and knocked me down. You lied to me then, but I learned. You see, I’ll never leave you, Kate. No matter what you say or do.”

  He knelt down beside her and held her face in his hands. Her cheeks were wet with tears and her nose was red from crying.

  “Do you hear what I’m saying, wife? Wherever you go, I shall go. Wherever you live, I shall live. If you move to the farthest corner of the earth, I shall be with you.”

  He pushed back a stray tendril of her cornsilk hair. “I’ll never let you go. Sight or no sight.”

  She sniffed. “Never?”

  He rested his cheek against hers. A lonely tear dripped down his cheek mingling with hers. “Never, wife. You are my life, sweetheart. And I love you. I will love you forever. God gave me another chance with you, and I will never let you go again.”

  “You love me? You’re not just saying that?”

  “I love you.” He brought her hands to his lips. “With every breath of my life.”

  She lifted her head and sniffed back another sob. “I’ve never h–heard anything so wonderful in all my life.”

  He slid beside her, slanting his mouth over hers. “I care not if you’re blind.” He kissed one damp eyelid.

  Kate blinked back her tears and tried to speak. “But–”

  “I care not if you’re fat.” He kissed the other eyelid.

  “Tristan.”

  “I care not if you’re deaf.” He kissed her ears.

  “Tristan!”

  His head shot up, his green eyes glazed over with love. “Yes?”

  “I can see.”

  “I know,” he said calmly.

  “Y–you know?” she squeaked.

  His lips twitched. “I stood in the hall yesterday when you poured your own tea. You did it without feeling the rim of the cup.”

  “You purposely led me on,” she said, half-disgusted.

  “Thunderation, woman.” His chest rumbled with laughter. “Led you on?”

  He grabbed her by the waist. She laughed, falling against his chest. “I would follow you anywhere, sweetheart. Anywhere at all, because I love you. Do you understand now?”

  She nodded, her eyes stinging with happy tears. “Y-yes.”

  “And Matthew’s not the only poet. I know a little Shakespeare, too.”

  “Shakespeare?”

  His eyes twinkled. “My dear, bonnie Kate. ‘My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep, the more I give thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.’"

  She curled her hands around his neck and let out a strangled sob. “That was beautiful.”

  “Now,” he whispered, his hands moving gently down the slope of her back, “about this so-called marriage. What do you think about our long awaited honeymoon?”

  Kate sniffed, and before she could answer, he sprung to his feet and crossed the room.

  “What are you doing?” she asked hesitantly.

  Spinning around, he sent her a devilish smile. “A little privacy is in order.”

  He pulled out a ring of keys and locked the door. “Forgot to tell you, the honeymoon starts now. In fact, we have the entire house to ourselves. Your father left for the duke’s. We can tell everyone about your sight later.”

  He cleared his throat. “Much later. In fact, I’ve even given the servants the day and night off, all except Perkins.”

  “You did not?” she replied with a laugh. A deep feeling of peace swept through her.

  He loved her!

  “I certainly did. Whether you could see or not, I was going to persuade you not to leave,” he raised his eyebrows in a suggestive manner, “one way or the other.”

  His loving gaze said more than words ever could. Indeed, she had fared much better than anyone on Matthew’s list. She had married for love. And now, she would never be lonely and she would never be sorry. She watched in anticipation as her husband stalked toward her.

  “I love you.” His velvety voice sent a ripple of pure joy through her.

  “I love you, too.”

  Her admission was a scant whisper, but her husband’s gaze answered back with an emerald fire, possessing her, engulfing her. When his lips claimed hers, the kiss was tender and passionate, making her feel more precious than anything he had ever touched, even the diamond.

  “Let me love you, sweetheart. I need you so much.”

  Her heart screamed with happiness. He loved her. He wanted her. He needed her.

  He lifted a lock of her hair and caressed it between his fingers. “You are so very beautiful. You’re mine tonight. And after tonight, you’ll always be mine. My wife. My love. My life. My perfect diamond.”

  He traced his fingertip across her lips. “Hmmm, perhaps you do have a few stubborn flaws. But unlike diamonds, they can be worked out over a short period of time.”

  She arched a smiling, blond brow. “Stubborn flaws?”

  He peeled off his jacket and threw his neckcloth onto a chair.

  “Yes, and I think we can start working on that stubborn streak right now. We’ll have children.” He climbed in alongside her. “With blessings from above, we’ll have many children. And love them forever.”

  He nuzzled the hollow of her neck, sending a shiver through her. Abruptly, he pulled his lips from her skin, tilting his head up to meet her gaze. “That is
, if you want to?”

  Kate’s entire being swelled with love. “Want to? Of course, I want children. I want a pack of little feet to fill this house. I want laughter and love to bounce off the walls. I want to grow old with you. Share the good times and the bad.” She bit back a sob and spread her hands over his chest. “Oh, Tristan, can things ever get better than this?”

  Her husband gave her a smile as old as time. He dropped a large hand to the groove of her lower back, drawing her close to him. The blood drummed in her ears. “Better than this?” he asked in a hoarse whisper. “Hell’s bells, sweetheart, we haven’t even begun.”

  He slanted his lips upon hers in a hungry kiss between husband and wife, a kiss that told her he loved her forever. She felt the beat of his heart against her palms. He smelled of soap and sandalwood. The scent permeated her senses.

  Her soul began to sing. Her nerves began to tingle. Her heart began to pound.

  She almost wept from the happiness welling inside her. As time passed, she offered all she had to Tristan. She heard nothing but the intoxicating whispers of his heart as he declared his love for her. The air simmered while the room began to spin, dragging her into a consuming, but beautiful abyss of tenderness so deep she found herself unable to speak.

  In those precious moments, they joined their bodies, minds, and souls in a love that radiated more priceless facets than any gem on earth could ever have contained.

  Kate knew their love had awakened something deep inside her that no one could ever take away, a small piece of heaven. She felt safe. She felt secure. But most of all, she felt loved. This is how God wanted it to be. The thumping of their hearts beat as one in a spirit-filled passion more precious than the purest of diamonds. Finally, they were husband and wife.

  Later that night, as Tristan sat in bed and watched his wife sleep, he shifted his gaze toward the storm brewing beyond the mansion walls. Rain pelted the window as thunder rumbled through the midnight sky. It was strange, he smiled. The ancient Romans thought diamonds were tears from the gods. The ancient Greeks thought diamonds were splinters falling from the stars.

  He flashed a gentle smile toward his wife. But he knew what diamonds were. The rough diamond he’d found that night at the inn had miraculously become a diamond of the first water. No amount of coin could buy what lay in his arms or his heart.

  He thanked God for Kate’s life. He was truly home.

  A loud thump jolted him from his reverie.

  Hell and spitfire! He slapped a hand across his eyes. He had totally forgotten about Mr. Divine in the adjoining room. He peeked through his fingers to see that not only had the parrot decided to invade his chambers, a barking Handsome had seized upon the opportunity as well. The beast was chasing the crazy bird as if he were the English fighting the French at Waterloo.

  “Pompous windbag,” the parrot chimed as its feathers pumped violently in the air. “It’s divine, simply divine.”

  Another bark.

  Tristan’s lips fell into a deep scowl. He heard Kate’s giggle and dropped his hand in surrender. “Home indeed.”

  “Enjoying married life?" Kate asked, smiling.

  He raised an amused brow as he rolled his wife into his arms and kissed her. “You have to–Oomph!–ask?” The dog landed on his back, and he tried to catch his breath. “Married life, me dear Kate? Why, it’s divine,” his voice rose in pitch, “simply divine.”

  Kate laughed, throwing her pillow at him and scooting away.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” His arm shot out, crushing her body against his.

  Handsome barked. The parrot squawked. Kate squealed, and Tristan groaned as he kissed his wife long and hard.

  When he pulled back, he gazed into two tearful eyes. His heart ached with happiness.

  “It’s divine,” he growled softly. “Simply divine.” He buried his face in her golden hair and sighed. “I love you, wife. My life, my love, my everything.”

  “And I love you. Forever.”

  A bolt of lightning sliced across the sky. For a split second, their faces were lit: two people in love - a love as pure and brilliant as the most dazzling diamond.

  Tristan smiled. His quest was finished. And another one had just begun…

  Epilogue

  One Year Later - Lancewood Hall

  Kate leaned against the door of the nursery and smiled at the conversation circling around her daughter’s cradle. Her father, brother, and Tristan were hovering over three-month-old Mary like mother wolves to their cub.

  “Tiny nose like Kate,” Robert said proudly, trying to catch a glimpse of the baby’s face from every angle as she lay sleeping.

  “I wouldn’t say that,” Matthew said, walking around to the other side of the cradle, his intense blue gaze attached to the babe. “Our little Mary’s nose is turned up just slightly.”

  He drew out the word just and Tristan’s head jerked up. “What do you mean? She’s perfect.”

  Matthew laughed. “Of course, she’s perfect. Beautiful, in fact.”

  Tristan’s expression softened and he dropped his gaze back to his daughter. “Beautiful? She’s gorgeous. Look at those perfect little hands. And that head of curly blond hair is magnificent.”

  “Magnificent,” Robert said with a grand smile. “Reminds me of Kate when she was a babe. Mary will grow up to be just like her.”

  The three men continued to study the baby in silence.

  Suddenly, Matthew frowned and stared at his father. “What do you mean grow up to be just like her?”

  Robert puffed out his chest. “Our little Mary will grow up to be the spitting image of her mother, mark my word.”

  Tristan’s eyes narrowed as he studied his daughter. “Never thought of it that way. Yes, I can see it now. She should grow up to look just like Kate.”

  “No, no. Not just in looks,” Matthew said, peering at the baby. “It’s that nose, I tell you. Has that stubborn tilt like Kate’s, but a little more. Confound it. You’re going to have trouble with this one, Tristan. She’s going to be able to twist you around her finger like a piece of twine.”

  The baby began to cry and Tristan scooped Mary into his arms. “Nothing wrong with a father doting on his daughter.”

  The baby, dressed in soft pink, instantly stopped fussing.

  Robert rubbed a hand across his jaw, watching Tristan hold the babe as he rocked her in place. “Hmmm, never thought about it.”

  Tristan halted and patted the baby’s bottom as he took in Robert’s frown. “What?”

  “The boys, Tristan. They’ll be coming from miles around to court our little Mary here. A fine kettle of fish that will be if she’s anything like Kate.”

  Tristan’s face paled as he stared at Mary. “Boys?”

  “Hell’s teeth.” Matthew groaned and threw his hands to his face, sinking into the nearest chair. “Not boys! Men!”

  “Keep your cursing for the clubs, Uncle Matthew,” Tristan hissed, pressing Mary against his chest and placing a hand protectively over the baby’s ear.

  Matthew turned red. “Sorry.”

  Tristan tucked the baby into the cradle and stood back, frowning. “Devil take it. We have to have a plan.”

  Matthew and Robert nodded grimly. “A plan,” they said in unison.

  “But any plan will be hard to carry out if we’re in America and Mary’s over here,” Matthew said, his expression sour.

  “Well, then, you’ll have to spend more time here,” Tristan said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  Robert stared at the baby and pursed his lips in thought. “No doubt, we will. Mary will need us. My business gives me the luxury of traveling at a moment’s notice. We can take turns keeping an eye on her. Have a male family member at the manor at all times.”

  It took a bit of doing, but Kate swallowed her laugh and entered the room. “And how is our little Mary doing?”

  A host of fatherly grunts stabbed the air.

  Kate’s gaze narrowed on the gentlemen, then shifted to
the baby. “Is she ill?” she asked calmly.

  “No,” Tristan snapped.

  “Then what’s the matter?” Kate suppressed another smile.

  Tristan clenched his hands. “She’s–”

  “A girl,” Robert said solemnly.

  “Yes.” Matthew gave Kate an accusing look. “A girl.”

  Kate leaned over the cradle and smiled, her finger caressing her daughter’s cheeks. “Ah, yes. A proper English miss must have her Season. Balls, soirees, operas, rides in the park–”

  “Rides in the park?” Tristan cried, pulling Kate from the baby’s side. “No man will be riding in the park with my little Mary, is that clear?”

  Kate kissed Tristan on the lips and laughed. “Ah, I see. We know what happens in the park, but it’s inevitable, my dear. Our little Mary will fall in love with someone just like her Papa.”

  “What happens in the park?” Matthew asked with a grin.

  “Never mind,” Tristan scowled. “However, I’ve already decided that Edward is in on guard duty, along with Devin and the duke.”

  The baby yawned and all heads turned her way.

  “She is indeed a beautiful child,” Robert whispered.

  Tristan let out a groan of despair when the baby’s innocent green eyes stared up at him. Kate smiled at the exchange and picked up the baby, cuddling Mary close to her breast.

  Tristan cleared his throat. “How, uh, long until she has her first Season?”

  Kate ignored his question. There was only so much a new father could take. “Oh, Tristan, look, I think she recognizes your voice.”

  Tristan stepped forward and kissed the baby’s forehead. “Why shouldn’t she?” He made a cooing sound. “I am her Papa after all.”

  Matthew shook his head. “Look at that. Mary already has him twisted around each of her pretty little toes.”

  A bark sounded in the hall, and all heads lifted as Handsome bounded into the nursery with the parrot riding on his back.

  Perkins burst into the room to retrieve the animals and stumbled over Matthew who let out a curse, catching the old butler before the man fell flat on his face.

  The baby wailed.