Nic grumbled under his breath. Tabitha was more intelligent than he gave her credit for. But of course she was smart. Who else could have killed two lords without leaving a trace of evidence?
“Forgive me for upsetting you, my lovely. I fear I’ve been doing that quite a lot lately, and it’s not my intention.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Then tell me, Lord Hawthorne, what exactly is your intention?”
“Just to get to know you better.” He set his empty glass on the table next to him.
“Why?”
“Because you intrigue me. Is that not enough reason?”
“No.” She placed her glass on the small table beside the sofa before turning to look at him again. “Gentlemen like yourself have no business wanting to get to know female servants so personally. There is only one reason masters want to chum with us, and it’s only for seduction. As I told you before, I will not allow that to happen.”
“And as I told you before,” he moved closer, sliding his arm along the back of the sofa until it touched her shoulder, “that is not my purpose. In fact, I’m getting quite annoyed that seduction is all you can think about.”
“Me?” She gasped. “I assure you, that is not what I’m thinking about at all.”
“Yet, every time we have talked, our conversations always end on this subject. Tell me why that is, especially if you never think about it as you proclaim.”
“Once again, my lord, you are putting words into my mouth.”
He dropped his focus to her lips and wished she would stop bringing his attention to that most tempting feature on her face. “Actually, I think you are trying to put ideas into my head, my lovely.”
“I am not.”
He met her heated gaze. “No? Then why are you talking to me like this? I never once mentioned seduction, and already in our short conversation, you have brought it up a few times.”
“Lord Hawthorne, not only do I wish we could cease this most improper topic, I can assure you seduction is the last thing on my mind.”
He narrowed his gaze on her and tilted his head slightly as he studied her. “You know, Miss Tabitha I believe you.”
Her eyes widened. “You do?”
“Indeed, I think I have been mistaken about you. Now I can clearly see that seduction is not what you want at all. It’s obvious that you are too frigid to be the kind of woman who is passionate.” He nodded. “Now I see why no man has claimed you for his own yet.”
She inhaled sharply and her whole body went stiff. “What?” she shrieked. “You cannot be serious.”
“Oh, I’m indeed very serious. Everything is beginning to make sense.” He gave a light laugh as he stood and walked to the liquor tray, tempted to pour himself another drink, but refrained for the moment. “You are the first woman I have come across who didn’t enjoy my attention. Now I know why.”
“That is not why!” She jumped to her feet and stormed toward him.
He held up his hands in surrender. “No need to get upset. It’s all right to admit that you are not interested in men.”
“For the love of—” She muttered something under her breath incoherently. “You are the most infuriating man I’ve ever met, and you are very wrong. I am indeed interested in men.”
“Actually, you’re not.” He grinned.
Tabitha stomped her foot. “I am!”
“Forgive me for not believing, but you have shown nothing of the sort, my lovely.”
Her face turned so red he thought it would explode. She grumbled again.
He’d give anything to know her thoughts right now. Taunting her this way was quite enjoyable, and yet…it was as if he wanted to goad her into doing something that only happened in his imagination.
Shame on him because he’d never had to sink to this level with a woman before. If teasing her and seeing the fire in her eyes wasn’t so stimulating…
“You insufferable…jackanapes! If you weren’t so thick-skulled, you’d see…” She gnashed her teeth. “Augh!”
He wanted to laugh, but he worried she’d catch on to his game. “Miss Tabitha, there is no need for name-calling. I promise I shall not speak a word to anyone about this discovery.”
Stepping closer, she clutched his shoulders. “If I didn’t hate you so much, I’d…I’d…”
“You would what, my lovely?” he said almost in a whisper, hoping she’d do what he wanted her to do.
Her gaze pierced his before it wandered over his face, coming to rest on his mouth. Dryness gathered in his throat, and he didn’t dare move, especially when her angry expression slowly disappeared and was replaced with one he never imagined he would see on her.
Before he knew what was happening, she rose on tip-toes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Stunned at first, he didn’t know how to react, but within seconds, her body pressed more closely against his and he slid his palms around her back to bring her closer. He molded his lips to hers until they softened. At that moment, she relaxed and he had to tighten her in his embrace to keep her up.
Just as he’d imagined, her lips were soft and her kiss so gentle. Tilting his head, he deepened the kiss as his heartbeat knocked out a maddening rhythm in his chest. A heavy sigh tumbled from her throat, and she held onto him and met his urgent kisses.
Never in his life had he felt so alive and his heart raced so fast from just kissing a woman, yet he didn’t want to stop to ponder these foreign feelings. Instead, he wanted to pick her up, carry her back to the sofa, and make them a little more comfortable as they continued kissing.
He broke the kiss to do what he’d just been planning, but when her hooded eyes met his, he practically melted from her smoldering gaze. Passion was evident in her sapphire orbs, and for the life of him, he couldn’t stop staring. He’d once called her eyes amazing just to get her ire, and now he realized he’d been correct to label them such a word.
“Forgive me, my lovely,” he said in a deep, soft voice, “because I was wrong about you. Very wrong.”
A slow smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and for the first time, stars gleamed in her eyes. Her gaze dropped to his mouth again and she moved forward to kiss him once more, but just as her lips touched his, Lady Hollingsworth screamed get out immediately from the other room, followed by the loud bang of a door slamming. Both noises echoed through the house, shaking the walls.
Tabitha jumped back. Her face turning pale as her eyes widened. Her chest rose and fell quickly, and Nic was certain his breathing was just as ragged.
“I must go see to Lady Hollingsworth,” she muttered in a tone entirely too sensual and unrecognizable.
“Indeed, you should,” he said, although he really wanted her back in his arms.
Tabitha stood, having a staring war with him for a few earth-quaking moments. Before too long she blinked, turned, and left the room.
Sighing heavily, he pushed his fingers through his hair. Something was definitely wrong with him. He knew Tabitha was the one who killed Hollingsworth and Lord Elliot, yet at this moment, Nic had wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any woman. No other woman had made him so breathless and confused at the same time. And none intrigued him as much. Yet, she would be arrested soon and placed in prison.
And possibly hanged.
And there wasn’t anything he could do to stop it…even though he was halfway tempted to try.
Chapter Nineteen
Tristan stared at the door for the longest time, praying it would miraculously open and Diana would rush back into the room and ask for forgiveness. She would tell him how much she loved him—much more than the devotion she had toward her maid—and that she would assist him in any way she could to put Tabitha in prison where the murderous woman belonged.
But his prayer went unheard. The longer he watched the door waiting for Diana to return, the more his heart ripped apart piece by piece and became heavy with sadness. Clearly, Diana did not love him as much as he had wanted her to…as much as he loved her.
; Tears burned his eyes, but he refused to shed them. Anger was the emotion governing him as it forced him to march across the floor in haste, yank open the door, and leave. His wide strides ate up the floor as he hurried to the stairs and took two at a time on his way to the bedroom.
Inside the room he paced like a caged animal. Bunching his hands at his side, his thoughts tumbled with confusion and betrayal. This was the second time in his life he had allowed this woman to upset him so…enough he almost couldn’t bear the pain. His chest weighed heavily with despondency and he scarcely could breathe.
He found himself at the window staring out into the night’s storm, but he didn’t know how he got there. Nevertheless, he didn’t want to move. His mind didn’t want to think and his body stood stiff as a board. He wished his heart could remain as still and unaffected as the rest of him.
The bedroom door opened and strong footsteps walked in. Tristan didn’t need to look behind him to see who it was.
“Worthington, what in the blazes just happened?”
It took Tristan a few moments to gather enough strength to talk. He didn’t want his voice to choke and prove his vulnerability right now. “My hopes and dreams have been shattered, Hawthorne…that’s what happened. Diana doesn’t love me enough to turn her maid over to the magistrate. And because I wouldn’t change my mind, Diana yelled at me to leave…tonight.”
Nic groaned and moved closer. “She cannot be thinking clearly. We would catch our deaths riding in this storm.”
“I know.”
“Did you tell her that?”
“No. There was hardly time.” Tristan leaned his forehead against the glass. “Once she ordered us out of this house, she rushed out of the room and slammed the door.”
“Then I shall go speak with her, because sending us out into this storm in highly improper and not cordial at all.”
“We will stay in the stable with our horses. I’ve spent many of nights in the stable, and I’m still alive to talk about it.” He glanced over his shoulder at Nic who stood with stiff legs and his arms folded across his chest as he scowled. “We will take some blankets to keep warm.”
“I still cannot believe Lady Hollingsworth would even think of sending two gentlemen, such as ourselves, out—”
“Hawthorne, we shall be fine, I assure you.”
Nic grumbled. “Tabitha must have some kind of hold over Lady Hollingsworth’s mind to have a lady act in such a way.”
“I know not, and right now, I care not.” Tristan walked to the chair where his coat hung and shrugged into it. “Come, Hawthorne. It is time we take our leave.”
“Did you say everything to Diana that you had had wanted?”
“Yes, I believe so.” He paused, trying to think of more to say since it seemed a struggle to do that now. “I thank you for keeping Tabitha occupied. I’m quite certain that was an unbearable task.”
“Uh…indeed it was.” Nic dropped his gaze as he slipped his arms into his coat.
Tristan grabbed the woolen blanket that he’d been wrapped in earlier while he dried. “This should be enough to keep us warm. Grab yourself a blanket, Hawthorne then let us leave this cottage for good.” He turned toward the door. “I, for one, cannot wait to get back to speak to the magistrate about our suspect. I’m certain Sir Felix is intelligent enough to know when to make an arrest.”
“I truly hope so.” Nic took his blanket and folded it before heading toward the door.
Tristan nodded to his friend. “Hawthorne, I thank you for all you have done. You are truly a good friend. You have always been the one person my family has been able to count on for anything.”
Nic smiled. “I appreciate your kind words. I have always felt part of your family—almost like one of your brothers.”
Tristan took a deep breath and opened the door. The corridor was empty. Even the house seemed abnormally quiet. “Let us take our leave now and never look back. We did what we came here to do.” Unfortunately, saying goodbye to his love for Diana wasn’t part of that plan.
* * * *
Tears streamed down Diana’s face as she rocked back and forth on her bed, clutching a pillow to her chest. Tristan’s accusations rang through her head and were permanently branded in her memory. Never would she forget the look on his face or his accusing words.
It had taken her a few moments after Tristan had blurted out his most disturbing thoughts before she found the courage to pick up her shattered heart and tell him to leave. Immediately.
He’d tried to talk some sense into her by grasping her arms and pulling her against his chest. He even had the nerve to kiss her, but she fought him and in the end, he withdrew. She was relieved to know he was the kind of man who didn’t use force—not like Ludlow had.
As she had marched toward the door, his final words echoed in her ears. Diana, know this now…I will not rest until Tabitha is in prison. That is the only way we can be together.
Squeezing her eyes closed, Diana sobbed harder. Why had he hinted they would be together? Hadn’t he realized he had threatened to have an innocent woman arrested for a crime she didn’t commit? Diana and Tristan definitely could never be together now that he had broken the trust between them.
Fast footsteps coming up the corridor made Diana look toward the door. Tabitha opened the bedroom door and hurried inside. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were wide.
“My lady, what happened?” She ran to the bed and wrapped her arms around Diana.
More sobs escaped her throat as she buried her head against Tabitha’s shoulder. Tremors shook her body, and she couldn’t control them. Her world was falling apart. Again. And once again, Tristan was the center of her turmoil.
Was loving him worth this much agony?
“Oh, Tabitha,” she said in a shaky voice, “the worst thing has happened. I cannot trust Tristan any longer, and he definitely does not deserve my love.”
Tabitha’s gentle hand stroked Diana’s head. “Tell me what happened.”
It took her a few minutes to collect her strength to pull away, and when she did, she looked into her friend’s worried eyes. “Lord Tristan and Lord Hawthorne think you killed my husband and Lord Elliot.” She sniffed. “When I defended you and told him there was no possible way you could have done the deed, Tristan wouldn’t believe me. Can you believe he would do such a thing?” She wiped the moisture from underneath her eyes, but the tears kept falling in buckets. “I thought he loved me. I thought we would be happy together…forever.”
“Is that why you ordered him to leave immediately?”
“You heard that?”
Tabitha blinked and nodded. “I think everyone in the house heard, my lady.”
“When I couldn’t sway Tristan from thinking you were the one responsible for killing those despicable blackguards, I ordered him and Lord Hawthorne out of the house. I know the storm is still going full force around us, but right now I don’t care. I don’t want to see his untrusting face or hear his uncaring voice again.”
Tears collected in Tabitha’s eyes and her frown grew deeper. “Both of them thought I had killed those men?”
“Yes.”
“But w—why?” Tabitha’s voice broke.
“They had overheard us talking in the kitchen before dinner, and they thought the worst.”
Tabitha bit her bottom lip as a tear slid down her cheek. “How could he think that I…um, I mean how could they think such a thing?”
“That’s what hurts so badly. I don’t know how they could believe that. And what makes things worse, I cannot change Tristan’s mind. He’s a determined man.”
“I thank you for trying to defend me,” Tabitha said in a choked voice.
“Of course I defended you. Tabitha, I know you did not do the crime. Unfortunately, Tristan feels having you arrested and locked in prison is the only way for him and me to finally be together.” Closing her eyes, she shook her head. “But I cannot possibly love a man who doesn’t trust my word.”
“How
can you not love him, my lady? He’s been in your heart for years.”
Diane wiped her eyes again and met her maid’s gaze. “I’m going to have to bury my feelings for him. It’s impossible for me to make it through life this miserable.”
Tabitha was silent for the longest time as more tears fell down her face. She swallowed hard and nodded. “I do understand, but I shall make it so you don’t have to be unhappy. I shall make it so that you and Lord Tristan are happy together as it should be.”
“What do you mean?”
Taking a deep breath, Tabitha straightened and lifted her chin. “I will turn myself in for killing Lord Hollingsworth and Lord Elliot.”
Chapter Twenty
After Tabitha had said the words, ice-cold fear sliced through her. The magistrate would certainly take her word, arrest her and lock her away in the Newgate prison without a second thought. Or perhaps Sir Felix would decide prison was too good for her and have her hanged instead. It wouldn’t matter if Lord Hollingsworth and Lord Elliot were vile, scoundrels who had deserved to die. Because they were gentlemen, that quality alone would protect them in England’s eyes.
Diana gasped and clutched Tabitha’s hands. “What are you saying?” She shook her head. “No! I will not allow you to do such a thing. You are innocent!”
Another tear slid from Tabitha’s eye as she studied the panic etched on her friend’s face. “I might not have stabbed them, my lady, but in my heart and mind I have killed those men—as well as others like them.”
“That is not the same and you know it.” Diana’s lips trembled as if she tried to hold back a sob. “If you turn yourself in, the real killer goes free to murder others, and that is not justice at all!”
“But my lady, how else will you and Lord Tristan ever be together? It’s like you said...until I’m arrested, you and Lord Tristan cannot show your love in public. Nobody can know or they will accuse you of the murders.”
The Sweetest Love (Sons of Worthington Series) Page 21