He cleared his throat. “Forgive me for startling you, my sweet Diana. I hope you don’t mind that I’m taking a bath without asking permission.”
“I, um… Well, I had heated the water for whoever needed it,” she said over her shoulder, but didn’t look at him.
“So you are not put out with me for using it?”
She released an uneasy laugh. “Don’t be absurd. It was for you or Tabitha.”
He studied her stiff back still facing him. “Diana, why are you up so early? I thought I would have the house to myself for at least a few hours.”
“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m an early riser.”
He glanced over her body slower from the high neck dress with long sleeves, down to her boot crusted with mud. Mud? “Why were you outside?”
“I um…I had errands this morning, if you must know.”
“So early? That’s unheard of.”
Grumbling, she glanced over her shoulder and looked at him. This time her face flamed red before she quickly looked away. “Unheard of by whom, my lord? Men or women?”
“Both, actually.”
“Well, it’s obvious you have never lived in the country.”
“I have, but this isn’t a farm so I doubt you were out milking the cow.”
“No, this isn’t a farm.”
“So what were you doing?”
She grumbled louder and folded her arms. “It’s none of your business, Tristan. Now just let the matter rest.”
He arched an eyebrow. Although she was awake and had been doing errands, it was clear she wasn’t a morning person. “As you wish.”
“I do wish.”
“Diana, I need to ask…why didn’t you wake me last night so we could finish our talk?”
Her head spun around so fast when she turned and met his eyes, he thought it would roll her shoulders. “Actually, we had gone into your room to wake you, but you were having a bad dream. Tabitha gave you a little tea with some sleeping draught in it to help you calm down.”
“Pardon me?” He sat forward in the tub a little more. “You gave me a sleeping draught?”
She turned away from him again. “Only a little. Tabitha says it helps with restlessness.”
“Then I thank you for helping me to sleep better.”
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I shall leave now and let you finish your bath in private.”
“Before you go,” he said as she stepped toward the door. “Will you do me a favor?”
She took a quick peek over her shoulder again. Her face still flamed an adorable red.
“What?”
“Wash my back?”
“Augh!” She hissed and stormed out the door.
Laughing, he relaxed back in the tub again. It was rather fun to rile her, and especially see her cheeks bright with embarrassment. Spending the next few days with her would be quite enjoyable. Then again, that meddlesome maid was still here. Too bad he couldn’t figure a way to get her to leave. Being alone with Diana was something he desperately needed.
* * * *
Did you really see him naked?” Tabitha asked, her eyes wide with shock.
Diana shook her head as she stood in the kitchen an hour later, helping her maid make breakfast. Heat climbed up Diana’s face and she didn’t dare look at Tabitha. Tristan’s image—all wet and bare—was engraved in her mind and she feared she’d never be able to erase it. Every time she glanced at the tub, embarrassment flowed through her just the same as it had done when she first saw him this morning.
“Tabitha, he was in a hip tub, for heaven’s sake! I wasn’t even that close to it…and all I saw were his chest and arms—and his bent knees, of course.”
Tabitha laughed. “I cannot believe he thinks he lives her now.”
Sighing heavily, Diana set down her fork and finally met her maid’s stare. “What do you expect him to do? Stay tied up in the chair the whole time? Obviously, he couldn’t even stay in his room last night.”
“If we had it my way, I’d keep him tied up,” Tabitha grumbled.
“Tabitha, really!” Diana shook her head. “So what are we going to do with him? We can’t keep him here forever.”
“As unbelievable as it sounds,” Tabitha continued, leaning her hip against the cutting table, “I don’t think he wants to leave now.”
“Neither do I.”
“In fact—” Tabitha giggled, “I think he quite enjoys being here. I think he still has feelings for you.”
Diana’s face still burned with embarrassment. “If he does, then I pity the poor fool.”
“Do you want me to take him back home? I can wear the same clothes I wore when I kidnapped him, and people wouldn’t think anything differently when I drive into town.”
Diana placed her hand over Tabitha’s. “You should not be going into town at all. We don’t need Lord Elliot seeing you by accident. I shudder to think what he would do to you if he knew you were here with me now. At night is different since you could hide better and dress in men’s clothes, but day time…” She shook her head.
Tabitha frowned. “You are right, my lady. If I leave the house at all, it should be late at night when I can remain in the shadows.”
“Quite right. Until Lady Dashwood finds employment for you in London or farther away, the best place for you to hide is right here.”
“I thank you, Lady Hollingsworth. You have such a large heart for wanting to help me escape my nightmare.”
“Think nothing of it.” She smiled then returned to stirring the eggs in the pan over the stove.
“Did everything go smoothly last night?” Tabitha asked leaning closer to Diana as her voice lowered.
Diana took a quick peek toward the door, grateful it was closed. When she met Tabitha’s stare, she nodded. “Yes, thank the Lord. Sally was beaten severely and I fear it will take her several days or even weeks to heal. Her soul, however, might take longer.”
Tabitha blinked rapidly as tears filled her eyes. “I should have stayed there. I’m older and stronger than Sally. I could handle Lord Elliot much better.”
Diana clasp hands with her maid. “Don’t say such things. No woman should have to endure such beatings, and no woman—even you—could have fought off Lord Elliot.”
“What are you going to do, Lady Hollingsworth? Single-handedly rescue all the servants who are beaten by their masters and place them in other homes?”
“If I have to, yes.”
“But Lord Elliot and other men like him will always hire more servants.”
“Then perhaps the key is to get rid of those lords instead.”
Tabitha’s lips twitched before she laughed. “Oh, you are humorous and you have an evil mind. Is it bad of me to want to help you rid the world of men like Lord Elliot?”
Diana chuckled. “Not at all, so long as we don’t really act upon our feelings, mind you.”
“Of course not, my lady. Hanging is not something that sounds appealing at all.”
“I agree. But Tabitha, I don’t want to talk about this any further. Lord Tristan cannot know that Sally is here.”
Tabitha narrowed her eyes. “Do you think he’ll try to return her?”
“No. I just don’t want him knowing what we are doing.”
“He will not hear it from my lips.” Tabitha nodded.
Diana turned back to the pan on the stove, stirring the scrambled eggs occasionally. Her heart wrenched with sadness for Sally’s plight. The poor girl had been beaten terribly. One eye was swollen shut. Cuts and bruises from Lord Elliot’s fists had marred the girl’s face, making her unrecognizable.
Deep down inside, Diana knew she couldn’t free every girl from a life such as this, but it shouldn’t be for a lack of courage. While married to Ludlow, Diana had cried herself to sleep too many nights. The more she fought his vicious attacks, the harder he hit her. Finally, she’d lost all ability to resist. Thankfully, he tired of her quickly when she was that way, but it hadn’t lessened the pain any.
Just as breakfast was done cooking, Tristan sauntered into the kitchen, appearing more handsome than ever. It wasn’t the way he dressed that made him more attractive—since she hadn’t thought to bring him more clothes—but it was the way his eyes sparkled when he smiled at her. His blue orbs nearly melted her to a puddle on the floor.
“Good morning, Lord Tristan,” Tabitha greeted cheerfully.
Diana threw her maid a wary stare. Why was the girl acting in such a way…and flirty?
“It is a very good morning, Tabitha.” He switched his eyes to Diana. “Here, let me assist you with those.”
As he took the plates of food from her hands, his fingers brushed against hers. Heat coursed up her arms before spreading through the rest of her body. She didn’t dare yank away from his touch for fear she’d drop the plates and the food would spill on the floor.
Her heart fluttered when she followed him to the table and sat. He took the seat right beside her. Tabitha turned to leave the room, but Diana quickly said, “No, Tabitha. Stay and eat your meal with us.”
The maid’s gaze moved between Diana and Tristan in hesitation.
Tristan nodded. “Indeed, come sit and eat with us.”
Shock registered in Tabitha’s face, her eyes widening. “As you wish.” She fixed her plate then sat at the table.
“Tristan, I must say, you are remarkably chipper this morning,” Diana started the conversation.
“I am, actually.” His smile stretched. “This morning has been extremely pleasant thus far. Not very often does a lovely woman disturb my bath.” His eyebrows rose suggestively.
Fire exploded in Diana’s face. Why did he have to say it like that? “You know it was an accident—”
He held up his hand. “Nevertheless, I enjoyed it.”
She threw him a glare.
Silence spread through the room, giving Diana time to collect her thoughts. Since she’d seen him all tied up in the chair, she hadn’t been able to think of anything but their past. The moment she had heard Tristan fell over the cliff—and the rumors that circulated at the time—was when she’d stopped believing in love. Ludlow had married her a few days after the duel instead of the two weeks as she had been told, mainly because of the rumors. That was when the torture began. By that time, she had already realized there was no such thing as happy endings.
She still didn’t know what had broken her heart more—Tristan’s abandonment or Ludlow’s abuse.
“Diana, my dear,” Tristan said, pulling her out of forlorn thoughts. “Why the sudden frown? Are you not feeling well?”
She looked at him and attempted to smile. “I’m fine, I assure you.” She quickly took another bite of her eggs.
“What are your plans for this morning?” he asked.
She didn’t dare tell him she wanted to sleep since she’d been awake all night rescuing a beaten maid. “Nothing of consequence. Why do you inquire?”
“Because, I think we need to talk about our—”
From outside the thundering of horses’ hooves shook the ground, and they all looked toward the window. Within moments a woman’s shriek blasted from outside. Tabitha jumped up and ran to the kitchen door, pulling it open. The panicked voice of Lady Dashwood finally became recognizable as she called for Diana.
She moved away from the table and darted toward the door. Something was dreadfully wrong to have Claudia in such a dither.
“Oh good heavens, Diana,” Claudia began breathlessly. “I came as soon as I heard the shocking news.”
Diana clutched Claudia’s shaking hands. Her gut twisted and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear what her friend had to say. “W—what?”
“Lord Elliot Henson was found murdered last night!”
Chapter Ten
The statement boomed through the room like a canon blast. Tristan sprang do this feet, knocking over the chair he’d just been sitting on. His cousin—Elliot? No, it couldn’t be!
Gasps ricocheted off the walls. Tabitha slapped a hand over her mouth and Diana’s face lost all color. She’d swoon any moment, he just knew it.
Taking long strides, he hurried to her side and touched her elbow. “Diana, I think you need to sit.”
Staring at the wall, she shook her head. “I’ll be all right.”
“Lord Tristan is correct, dear,” Claudia said. “You don’t look well at all. Your face is white.”
“No…I’m fine, really I am. It’s such a shock to hear…” She took a deep breath. “Oh, dear.”
Tristan didn’t wait for Diana to ask for his help. He slipped an arm around her waist and led her back to the table. She followed without hesitation, leaning on him for support.
He switched his attention between the three ladies. Each one looked as desolate as the other. The news was devastating, and Tristan could hardly grasp the concept. He’d never approved of some of the things Elliot did in his life. The man was too wild.
Curiosity niggled at Tristan as he studied each of the ladies in the room, and he wondered how they all knew Elliot—enough to have the news of his demise affect them in such a way.
“Lady Dashwood,” he asked. “What exactly did you hear?”
“Oh, it was just awful,” she began as she took a seat next to Diana. “My cook had gone into town for supplies and heard the rumors. Apparently, Lord Elliot was found in the stable without a stitch of clothes with stab wounds all over his body.” She squeezed Diana’s trembling hand. “Just as you had found your husband.”
Tristan nodded. Clearly the person who had killed Hollingsworth had taken Elliot’s life as well. Another similarity between the two dead men where that they were both womanizers and loved to gamble.
“This cannot be good,” Diana whispered. “People already suspect me of killing Ludlow. Now they are going to believe I killed Lord Elliot.”
Inwardly, Tristan groaned. He’d almost forgotten that she was under suspicion for Hollingsworth’s death just as Tristan was. A nagging thought pounded in his head. Would they suspect him of Lord Elliot’s death as well? The only dealings he had with his cousin had been that they’d played cards on a few occasions. In fact, three nights ago, they’d had a futile argument during a game, but they were both drunk and hot tempered. Both of them were asked to leave the game. Tristan’s friend, Lord Hawthorne, was given the privilege of escorting Tristan home that night.
Tabitha’s grumble pulled him out of his thoughts. She stood, her hands bunched into fits, her lips tight in irritation. Her blue eyes blazed with fury.
“Well forgive me for not holding my tongue, but men like Lord Elliot don’t deserve to live.”
Both Lady Dashwood and Diana gasped. “Tabitha, really!” Diana scolded. “You should not speak ill of the dead.”
“I meant every word,” Tabitha countered. The hatred in her eyes made them even darker. “All that man ever did was drink, gamble, and beat his servants. The world is a better place with him gone.”
Although Tristan agreed with the maid, he couldn’t help but wonder how she knew this about his cousin. He narrowed his gaze on her. The only way she would have known that about the man was if she’d been a servant in his home. So if she was the man’s servant, what was she doing with Diana?
“Not to worry, my lady,” Tabitha said as she stood behind Diana and rested her hand on her shoulder. “I will tell the authorities you were here the whole night.” She glanced at Tristan. “He could even back up my story.”
“I thank you, Tabitha,” Diana said. “But neither of you know for certain that I was here all night since we all slept in different rooms.”
“Diana, there is no reason the magistrate will suspect you.” Lady Dashwood shook her head.
“Why can I not fully believe that?” Diana arched her eyebrow and glanced at Tabitha before moving her focus back to Claudia.
The other two women hung their head. Tristan found it strange that nobody answered Diana’s question or at least tried to convince her otherwise. For certain, somethi
ng was going on here that they didn’t want him to know about. Curiosity got the better of him, yet he didn’t dare voice his thoughts. He’d wait until he could get Diana alone and talk this out with her—and only her.
A small groan of despair came from Diana as she rubbed her forehead. “Let’s pray that I’m not a suspect. I fear I wouldn’t know how to talk my way out of this one.” She looked up at Lady Dashwood. “I’m grateful you came here to let me know.”
The lovely blonde woman nodded. “You were the first person I thought to tell when I heard the news.”
“Please, return to your house and please keep me informed on anything else in regards to Lord Elliot.”
“Indeed, I shall.”
Claudia met Tristan’s eyes and nodded. “Lord Tristan, it was a pleasure to see you again. I hope all is well with your family, and your mother.”
“The last time I checked they were doing splendidly.” But the last time he saw them was the day before the wedding. It surprised him that Diana’s friend didn’t question him about his disappearance yesterday morning at the church. Obviously, she had known what Tabitha and Diana were up to the whole time.
“I shall take my leave now.” Lady Dashwood stood. “I’ll pay you a visit tomorrow.”
Diana took a deep breath and met her friend’s eyes. “I look forward to it.”
Nothing was said after Claudia left. Tabitha cleared up the dishes and continued to clean the kitchen. Tristan stood. Diana’s gaze followed him.
“Diana, would you join me in the sitting room? I believe the sofa would be much more comfortable to sit on than these chairs.”
“You are correct.” She stood. “I suppose we can have that much needed talk about our past now.”
* * * *
Diana’s legs shook as she walked into the other room. Between the lack of sleep and the shocking news, her body—and emotions—were a mess right now. A headache throbbed, but she couldn’t let that stall her talk with Tristan.
The Sweetest Love (Sons of Worthington Series) Page 11