“I had to,” she replied in a pleading voice. “Don’t you see?”
“No, I do not. Please enlighten me,” Diana demanded.
“Lord Tristan was telling things to the magistrate that were false. That’s why Tabitha was arrested. And he’s getting too close to the truth. I will not allow this man to damage all of the good I’ve been trying to do by helping girls like Tabitha and Sally escape their hellish nightmares. Men like Lord Tristan are thorns in my side, and do you know what I do with thorns? I remove them!”
“Oh, Claudia.” Diana’s heart wrenched. “You cannot be serious. Are you the one who killed Ludlow…and Lord Elliot?”
Claudia straightened, standing her ground as she lifted her knife again. “I did, and I would gladly do it again. England is much better without monsters that enjoy tormenting women like us.”
“Like you?” Tristan asked. “Pray tell, Lady Dashwood, how do you fit in to all of this?”
“I lived with a father who beat me, only to marry a man who was worse. After I killed my husband, I vowed to find all the lowlife men who were like my husband, and do away with them.”
A few tears leaked from Diana’s eyes. Her poor, misguided friend. What had caused Lady Dashwood to go mad like this?
Diana glanced at Tristan. His gaze met hers and he pulled her tighter against his side. Comfort washed over her, yet she knew he was losing too much blood, and he wouldn’t be strong if they couldn’t convince Claudia to stop this insanity.
She looked back at her friend. “Claudia, please put the knife down. Killing Tristan will not help cleanse the world of ruthless men, because he is nothing like your husband or Ludlow. Tristan is a kind and loving and gentle man…unlike any I’ve met before.”
Claudia stepped closer and into the moon’s light. Her scowl was deep, and frightening. “Diana step away so I can do what I came here to do.”
Diana moved in front of Tristan. He tried to pull her away, but his grip wasn’t as strong. Definitely, he was losing his strength fast.
“If you still intend on killing him then you shall have to kill me first. I refuse to move!”
“Diana,” Claudia said in a harsh voice, “I beg you, move away from Lord Tristan.”
Diana lifted her chin stubbornly. “I will not.” She studied her friend closely and although Lady Dashwood was determined, her bottom lip quivered.
“It will sadden me greatly to kill you.”
“Then don’t, Claudia. Just leave us be.”
“You know I cannot. Especially now. If I don’t kill Tristan, he will have me put in prison. And if I leave you alive, you will hate me.” Lady Dashwood shook her head. “Both of you must die!”
Just as Claudia lunged toward them, Tristan pushed Diana to the ground and stumbled in front of her. He captured Lady Dashwood’s wrist and struggled with the lady to make her drop the weapon. Diana could tell Tristan was losing his strength, but he tried his hardest to fight Claudia.
Diana’s vision blurred from her tears, and she swiped the liquid away as she stood. Claudia and Tristan had moved farther away as each one fought for control. But just as Diana feared, Tristan’s weakened body crumbled to the ground. Victory shone on Claudia’s face as she raised the knife toward Tristan.
“No!” Diana screamed, and could have sworn someone else had screamed with her.
From out of nowhere, the sound of a pistol boomed through the air. Seconds later, Claudia cried out as the knife dropped from her hand. She fell to the ground, clutching her bloody hand.
Diana swung toward where the sound of the pistol had come from as Tabitha ran closer, holding the still smoking weapon.
“Tabitha?” Diana gasped. “What are you doing here?”
Tabitha peeked down at Claudia lying on the ground and kicked the knife away from the woman, and then turned her focus on Diana. “Is that the only thing you can think of to say at this moment?” She arched an eyebrow.
Diana wanted to laugh…wanted to cry…wanted to run to Tabitha and hug her. But before she did all that, there was one thing more important to do.
She hurried to Tristan. He was very weak but still alert. She fell to the ground beside him and lifted his head to place on her lap. She grasped the end of her petticoat and ripped a long piece off the garment. “Give me your arm, Tristan.”
Without waiting for him to fully raise it, she carefully wrapped the strip of her cloth around the wound tightly.
More footsteps padded on the dewy grass followed by wheezing of air flow coming from a man. Diana looked up and met the wide-eye stare of Sir Felix, the magistrate.
“It’s about time you showed up,” Tabitha snapped. She pointed to Lady Dashwood who appeared to have passed out. “There is your killer.”
“Yes…I know,” Sir Felix huffed.
Diana shook her head. “How…how…when did you release Tabitha?” She looked to the maid. “What is going on?”
“Not too long ago, I received a visitor,” the magistrate began. “Sally—a former servant of Lord Elliot’s—came to see me, begging for Tabitha’s release. Sally had witnessed Lady Dashwood killing Lord Elliot, but feared to tell anyone because the young girl thought she would be the next to die.” He took a deep breath, his large chest lifting and falling slowly. He knelt beside Claudia and slapped wrist irons on her arms to keep her from doing any more harm. Letting out a slow breath, he turned his attention to Tristan. “Worthington? Are you all right?”
“He has been stabbed,” Diana answered for Tristan. “He will need medical help immediately.”
“I shall fetch a doctor,” Tabitha said before taking a step to run.
“Tabitha, don’t go yet,” Tristan said weakly.
The maid slowly turned back as her gaze fell on Tristan. “Why?”
“Sir Felix, will you please go fetch a doctor for me?” Tristan asked. “Now that Lady Dashwood has wrist irons on, I don’t think she’ll be going very far.”
“Yes, my lord. I’ll hurry.” He stood and rushed up the hill toward the house.
“Tabitha,” Tristan continued, grimacing as he held his hand tighter. “I want to know why you saved me when I was the one who accused you of murder last night.”
“Because…because I knew Diana loved you with all of her heart and you two deserve to be together.”
Tristan shook his head. “It’s more than that. Tell me, Tabitha. What made you change your mind about me when I know you have always loathed me?”
Diana watched as different emotions flittered across Tabitha’s face. Tears filled her eyes and she bit her bottom lip. Diana also wanted to know why her maid had saved Tristan’s life. “Please Tabitha, tell me. Tell Tristan. I have known for a while now that something has been bothering you, and I think it’s time to let us know so we can help you.”
A tear slipped from Tabitha’s eyes and her expression changed to relief. Diana held her breath…anticipating Tabitha’s confession.
* * * *
Tristan waited for the maid to speak. His arm hurt terribly, and he had lost a lot of blood already. He really should not worry about Tabitha and seek medical help as soon as possible, but something in his heart told him to hear her out.
“Please, Tabitha,” he said. “I would like to know. You have done a very heroic thing by saving my life. Will you not think of me as a friend now?”
Indecision played on her expression for the longest time, and he wondered if she would say anything at all. Finally, she took a deep breath. She remained standing as she stared down into Tristan’s eyes.
“For many years,” she began, “I thought of you and your brothers as irresponsible men who didn’t have a care in the world. I wanted to believe all three of you were carefree, foolish men with no sense of decorum. In my mind, you were all worthless creatures who slithered along the ground and it wasn’t worth my time to even spit upon you.”
Shocked, Tristan’s eyes widened. What on earth could have made her feel that way toward his family? “Go on,” he urged, won
dering if he even wanted to hear more.
“But then I got to know you a little and I realized you were not as I had expected. I heard stories about your brothers, but they were different as well.”
Shaking his head, he still couldn’t understand. “But why, Tabitha? What have I ever done to make you think that I was such a terrible person?”
“Because growing up, I’d heard how much you and your brothers were just like your father. Forgive me of speaking ill of the dead, my lord, but your father was the scum of the earth, and since his sons were supposed to be just like him…” She shrugged. “Naturally, my first instinct was to hate you.”
“Tabitha,” Diana inquired, “why would you even care about the Worthington brothers, and more importantly, their father?”
“Did you know my father?” Tristan asked warily.
Hesitantly, Tabitha nodded. “When I was a little girl, he visited my mother quite frequently.”
Tristan groaned as sadness filled his heart. He figured he knew her story already, but he decided not to say anything, and to let her continue.
“My mother was extremely naïve, and she believed the old duke when he told her he would leave his wife and marry my mother.” Tabitha rolled her eyes. “Even as a girl I knew he would never leave a wife of good-breeding to marry a servant. Regardless, my mother continued to wait for the time she and the duke could be together. He would bring me trinkets and try to win my love and acceptance. At first, I wanted to since I had no father. Thankfully, within a few years I learned the truth.” A tear slipped down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away.
“What truth?” Tristan asked.
“That the Duke of Kensington…was my f—father.”
Stunned, Tristan lay still not believing what his ears had heard. She couldn’t possibly have said what he thought she said…that she was his sister? Beside him Diana gasped as her hand flew to her mouth. Her shocked gesture confirmed everything. He hadn’t imagined the words coming from Tabitha.
“M—my sister? You…you are my s—sister?”
“Yes.”
Tabitha pushed her fingers through her dark brown hair, pulling it off her face. Tristan could now see her facial features…eyes that resembled Trey’s…a mouth that reminded him of Trevor’s. And he couldn’t forget her stubbornness that was too much like his.
“I have a sister,” he muttered to himself, still not quite believing. Yet looking at her now, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that she indeed was relation.
“I have a sister,” he exclaimed and struggled to sit up. Diana helped him until he was steady to stay aright by himself. He held out his good hand toward Tabitha. “I finally have a sister!”
A sob tore from Tabitha’s throat as she fell to her knees and grasped his hand. He pulled her in for a hug and she wrapped her arms tight around his shoulders, burying her face into his neck. Hot tears dampened his skin, but he didn’t care. Emotion clogged in his throat and he didn’t dare say anything without his voice cracking.
Diana sat back as she let brother and sister share a tender moment. He smiled at her and gave her a wink. Tears streamed down her face and she covered her mouth with her hands, but he could see her happiness through the twinkle in her eyes.
Tabitha pulled back and wiped the tears off her face. “For years I hated you and your brothers because you were living the life I would never have. I knew the old duke wouldn’t tell his family about his illegitimate daughter, and I really didn’t want to claim the Worthingtons as family, either.”
He cupped her face. “Can I share a little secret with you? I had a difficult time claiming my father, as well.”
Tabitha hiccupped a laugh.
“However, I shall be very proud to tell all of England that you are my sister.”
Tabitha shook her head as color left her face. “Oh no, my lord. I don’t want you to do that. I wouldn’t be able to handle the ridicule.”
“We shall talk about this later.” He smiled through the pain in his arm that made his limb turn numb. “But right now, if the two of you will help me into the house, I would love to lie down as I wait for a doctor.”
“Oh, heavens.” Tabitha stood and dried her face. “I shall go help the magistrate fetch the doctor—”
“No.” Tristan quickly grabbed her hand. “Stay. I would like my sister to assist Diana.”
As Tristan struggled to stand with an arm around each woman, he felt complete for the first time in his life. On his right he held the woman who would always be in his heart, and soon to be his wife, and on his left, he held the one thing he’d wanted when he was a young boy… A younger sister.
Epilogue
Two days later, Tristan was finally able to move around. He didn’t like feeling weak—both mentally and physically—and he was very happy when he found the strength to dress himself and leave his bedroom.
Since the night he was stabbed, his beautiful Diana had been coming to the house every day, caring for him. More so than the good doctor, thank heavens. Indeed she was an angel. His very own angel.
When he walked into the dining room and saw his two brothers sitting at the table, Tristan paused at the door. His brothers wore expressions that Tristan didn’t like. They didn’t appear gloomy, but more confused or frustrated.
“Good day,” Tristan greeted and he walked in and took his seat at the table.
The other two nodded greetings.
“I must say, Trey, I’m surprised that Hawthorne isn’t with you. In fact, I haven’t seen him since after we left Diana’s cottage.”
Trey shrugged. “Nic was called away suddenly. Something to do with his family in New Castle. I don’t know when he’ll return.”
“I shall have to write him a letter, then.” Tristan smiled.
“How are you faring today my dear brother?” Trevor asked.
“So much better than before.” Tristan’s smile dropped as he eyed his brothers warily. “Why do you ask? Are you both going to tell me something I don’t want to hear?”
“Why would you say that?” Trey wondered.
“Because of your expressions.”
The oldest brother and youngest brother traded glances with each other before looking back at Tristan.
“Actually,” Trevor began, “Trey and I have been discussing something very serious.”
Leaning back in his chair, Tristan folded his arms across his chest. “Something I’m not going to approve of?”
“Well,” Trevor scratched his chin, “the subject matter is a very delicate one. I think you will have a different opinion from mine and Trey’s.”
Tristan shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
“Our sister.” Trevor sighed heavily. “Since you told us about Tabitha the other day, Trey and I have been thinking about her constantly. We are very happy to discover we have a sister, but we think we should keep the secret from our mother.”
“What?” Tristan sat forward in his chair. “Pray tell, why wouldn’t you want our mother to know? She knew what kind of man our father was. Do you really believe she doesn’t suspect there is one illegitimate child—or more—running around England somewhere? Do you really think our mother is that naïve?”
Trey shrugged. “She’s had so much scandal and heartbreak in her lifetime. I think keeping Tabitha’s secret is necessary for Mother’s health as well as her state of mind.”
“And,” Trevor added, “since Tabitha doesn’t want everyone to know who she really is, I think it would be all right to keep the family secret from our mother.”
Tristan scowled as he stared at his older brother for a few moments then turned his glare at Trey. Blast it all, Tristan really hated when they were right and he wasn’t. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to keep their sister a secret after all. Of course sooner or later Tabitha might want people to know how she’s related to the Worthington family, but until then…
He nodded. “Fine. We will keep it from Mother—and the rest of society—but if and when Tabitha w
ants people to know…”
“Yes, we will tell Mother when that time comes,” Trevor agreed.
“Have you thought over that other matter I asked you about the other day?” Tristan asked.
“What other matter?”
Tristan rolled his eyes. Sometimes he felt his older brother never listened to him. “I don’t want Tabitha to live the life of a servant any longer. I would like to set her up in a cottage somewhere away from the ton and give her an allowance so she can live her life as she sees fit.”
Once again Trevor and Trey traded glanced with each other before returning their focus to Tristan.
“Agreed,” the brothers said in unison and smiled.
“Splendid.” Tristan grinned. “Now, I’m hungry.” He pushed away from the table and moved to ring the servant to bring in his breakfast.
The rest of the morning passed in relaxation. His brothers left and Tristan had a nice visit with his mother. Tristan tried to read a book, but he couldn’t concentrate. His mind kept wandering to the woman he loved more than life itself.
“I must see Diana,” he muttered in frustration as he closed the book and stood. He took a step toward the door, but his mind halted him from going any further. He wasn’t sure where she was staying. Was she still at her own home even though Mr. Lusk had now assumed the title of Viscount, or had she returned to the cottage? Tristan knew she wasn’t at Lady Dashwood’s any longer. The woman was locked away in Newgate prison, and her servants were looking for other employment.
Groaning, he sat back down again and flipped open his book. He had to believe Diana would come today after all she had been to see him every day since the stabbing.
Memories of what happened that awful—yet wonderful—night flashed through his mind. He couldn’t believe Diana would risk her life to save his. It thrilled him beyond words to know she loved him that much. He would risk his life to save hers without a doubt, and pleased him to know she loved him just the same.
The door to the sitting room opened and the butler stepped inside. “Lord Tristan, Lady Hollingsworth is here to see you.”
His heart cheered and excitement shot through him. Grinning, he nodded to the butler. “Splendid! Please show her in, Bentley.”
The Sweetest Love (Sons of Worthington Series) Page 26