Page 14 of An Earl Most Inconvenient (Regency Mishaps #2)
CHAPTER 14
D iana followed the Earl down the hall, with Lord Banbury trailing behind them.
She could not deny to herself that her heart had skipped a beat when he had said that he would be joining her team, although she felt almost ashamed to admit it.
And yet, that simple statement had caused such a flutter of emotions in her, which had become all the more torrid when he had told her that he wanted her approval.
It was all about Grace, of course it was. The recognition made her stomach twist, but even through she knew she was being ridiculous. What else had she been expecting?
They stood in the hallway together and Diana prepared to open the first envelope.
“Let us hope that Lord Banbury remains upright long enough to contribute,” Tristan whispered to her and she felt a tiny thrill at the conspiratorial note in his voice.
She scanned the first clue, her mind racing. “We must head to the rose garden,” she declared, her voice steady. “The clue speaks of petals and thorns. It must be referring to the prized roses that have been cultivated there, over generations. Your grandmother was telling me all about them last night.”
“I will lead the way,” Tristan said, and together, with Lord Banbury still following in their wake, they made their way toward the garden.
As they walked, the chatter of the other teams faded into the background, replaced by the sound of their footsteps and the gentle rustle of leaves.
“I was intrigued to note how well you got on with my grandmother last night,” Tristan remarked as they traversed the lawn, heading towards the rose garden. “She can be something of a tough nut to crack, but you managed it admirably.”
Diana could not help but smile. “At the beginning of the game, I thought that the cards were not going to be the only challenge facing me, and I confess that I was right. But in the end I think I won her over.”
“Indeed you did,” Tristan agreed. “This morning after breakfast she told me at great length what a remarkable young woman she thought you were. You did well.”
“I am sure I do not deserve such praise,” she replied.
Tristan shook his head. “I do not agree with you on that.”
She could see what he was trying to do, and she was determined not to fall for it. “I have told you before, My Lord,” she said, trying to muster a sense of firmness in her voice. “Flattery will get you nowhere with me.”
Upon arriving at the rose garden, they were greeted by a riot of color and fragrance. The blooms were in full glory, each one a testament to the horticultural prowess of generations of the earl’s family. “This is a very impressive garden,” Diana observed.
The earl shrugged. “I suppose it is,” he replied. “My grandmother takes much more of an interest in it than I ever have, I must confess. I am not good at keeping plants alive.”
Diana thought for a moment, then seized the opportunity. “My sister is very interested in gardening,” she remarked. Perhaps if she demonstrated the Tristan that he and Grace had very few interests in common, then he would realize that a marriage between them would never work.
“And is she good at keeping things alive?” Tristan said, with a wry smile.
Diana paused for a moment, then chuckled. “I confess that in fact, she has tried many times to encourage her houseplants to thrive, but eventually, they all die. I have suggested to her that she might have more luck with another hobby, but she will not listen to me.”
“But you are a gifted gardener?” Tristan asked.
“I would not go so far as to say gifted,” Diana replied. “But I have had more success than my sister in keeping things alive.”
Tristan looked around the garden. “We must find the next clue. See if you can spot anything unusual,” he said.
Lord Banbury ambled over to them, swaying slightly. “I am sure there was some story about a rose that bloomed only once every hundred years,” he said, then wandered off again and went to sit down on a nearby bench.
Tristan raised an eyebrow. “That was a surprising moment of clarity that I was not expecting,” he observed. “But perhaps he is right. I do believe that my grandmother has told that same story, more than once, and the rose is said to bring fortune to whoever sees its first flower in the springtime.”
“How poetic,” Diana said dryly. “Perhaps the clue is near to that particular bush. Would you recognize it?”
“Well, I would hazard a guess that it might be that bush over there, the only one that does not have any blooms?”
There was a glint in Tristan’s eye as he spoke and Diana could not help but enjoy the moment, as they walked together across the rose garden and saw a stack of enveloped neatly piled up underneath the rose bush, which did truly stand out from all the others due to its notable lack of flowers.
She looked a little more closely, though, and spotted, deep within the leaves of the bush, the tiniest bud, that was just beginning to bloom.
“Look!” she said excitedly, before remembering the situation she was in, and who she was with. She took a breath, and tried to calm herself down.
Tristan, at her side, let out a gasp. “You know what this means, Lady Diana?”
She shook her head. “It is just a fairy tale,” she said dismissively.
“No, it is not,” Tristan said firmly. “It is true, my grandmother swears to it. You will have good fortune, whether you believe it or not.”
She shrugged. “You are talking nonsense as usual, My Lord. We should concentrate on the next clue, before the other teams catch up with us.”
“You are right, as always, My Lady,” Tristan said smoothly, handing her an envelope.
“It says, “In the hall of portraits, where history sleeps, seek the one whose gaze forever keeps,” Diana said. “I have no idea what that could mean.”
Tristan frowned and thought for a moment. “I am not sure either. Let us walk back to the house together and to the portrait gallery, and see if we can make sense of it when we get there.”
Diana glanced towards the bench, where Lord Banbury sat, his head lolled to one side and his eyes closed. The man was clearly fast asleep, his indulgences of the morning finally catching up with him.
“What shall we do about him?” she asked.
“I think we had better leave him where he is, don’t you?”
“I agree, My Lord,” Diana replied. “Is he always like this?”
“Sadly so,” Tristan said. “I think that perhaps I should not have invited him after all, but he can do no harm asleep out here.” They fell into step together and headed back towards the house.
The sun was high in the sky now, casting a warm glow over the sprawling gardens of the estate. Birds chirped merrily, their songs mingling with the laughter of guests enjoying the treasure hunt. Diana felt herself beginning to relax. Now there was an opportunity to try to find out more about the earl, and she felt ready to seize it.
“Someone mentioned to me your travels on the continent, My Lord,” she ventured. “Have you visited many different countries?”
Tristan turned to her, a spark of interest igniting in his eyes. “Ah, my dear Lady Diana, that is a question I relish! I have seen the sun rise over the pyramids of Egypt, felt the cool breeze of the Mediterranean Sea, and wandered through the cobblestone streets of Paris, where every corner reveals a hidden gem. And I have been lucky enough to be able to indulge in my fondness for painting, too, in many of these beautiful places.
Diana leaned in, her curiosity piqued. “It sounds enchanting. I have always wanted to see the world beyond our little corner of England,” she confessed, her voice tinged with a wistful note.
“Then you must! There is so much to experience. The world is vast and beautiful, and I am sure that you would thrive in it,” Tristan encouraged, his gaze intense yet sincere.
“It is much easier for a gentleman, though,” Diana said. “A young lady cannot travel alone. Or it would be a most singular choice, in any case.”
“And what about your sister, does she have dreams of traveling?”
Diana tried not to feel a pang of disappointment that Tristan had brought the conversation back to Grace, but then she reminded herself of the reality of the situation.
She pondered for a moment. The truth was that Grace was a homebody, and she could not imagine that she would want to venture very far from home. But she was interested in history and art, and no doubt there would be much common ground between her and the earl, if they were to discuss such matters.
“My sister has not had much opportunity to travel,” Diana replied. “But she is very interested in the world and all its wonders. You should tell her all about your travels, when you have the chance. And I am sure that she would love to see some of your paintings.
Tristan nodded, looking at her a little strangely. “I will, and also you, if you would like to listen. It is a shame that you have not been able to see the world much, up until now.”
Her heart quickened a little at his words, and the way he was looking at her. “As I said, it is not a simple thing for a young lady, and perhaps for me even more so. Our mother died, you know, three years ago. And since then, I have had the responsibility of Grace to care for, and my father to support with managing the estate.” She paused and bit her lip. “People may tease me for being a spinster, but the truth of it is that I have not put much of my energies into finding a match for myself. I have had to be a mother to my sister instead.” She stopped, feeling a little surprised at how the words had run away with her. She did not want to show too much emotion in front of the earl, and she sensed that her feelings were in danger of bubbling forth.
“Your sister is very fortunate to have you, Lady Diana,” Tristan said softly. “But I hope that you do not have to forsake your own hopes and dreams for too much longer. Life is too short for all that, you know.”
She shrugged, trying to swallow down her emotions. “I think that my dreams of traveling the world will have to wait a while,” she said softly. “Come, now, My Lord, we are getting distracted from the task in hand. Let us hurry to the portrait gallery. We do not want the others getting there before us.”
“You are quite right as always,” Tristan replied. “Let us make haste.”
Upon entering the hall of portraits, the atmosphere shifted. The grand paintings lining the walls seemed to watch them, each figure frozen in time, their stories waiting to be discovered. “Which portrait should we look for?” Diana asked, her voice filled with awe.
“There must be another clue somewhere, Tristan said, his tone focused as he approached a particularly striking painting of a lady in a flowing gown, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “What about her? She seems like she could have secrets.”
Diana smiled at his playful banter, but her attention was drawn to a different portrait—one of a stern-looking gentleman, his gaze fixed intently upon the viewer. “What about him?” she suggested, pointing.
Tristan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Very well. Let’s investigate.”
As they drew closer, Diana noticed a piece of paper tucked behind the frame of the portrait. She leaned in, brushing her fingers over the frame. “Here!” she exclaimed, her pulse quickening. “There’s something written here.”
With bated breath, they gathered around as she unfolded the note and read it aloud: “To find the next treasure, one must look where the sun sets and the shadows dance.”
“A riddle,” Diana said, her eyes wide with wonder. “Where the sun sets…it must mean in a westerly direction?”
“It must mean the west garden!” Tristan said, smiling at her. “We must hurry.”
They dashed back outside, turning in a different direction this time.
“I can see now why you suggested that this was an activity only for the younger guests,” Diana said, panting slightly as they walked quickly across the lawn. “I think that the dowager and her friends would have had trouble keeping up.”
“I must say, lady Diana, that it is a pleasure to see you more relaxed,” Tristan observed. “I am glad that you are enjoying the treasure hunt so much.”
Diana bristled. “I do not know what you mean. I am always relaxed.” She knew, as she said it, that it was a lie, but she could not admit it to him.
“All I mean is that you do not have to be so perfect all the time,” he said. “Not with me, at least.”
They had fallen into a rhythm, walking along together, but Diana felt her shoulders tense a little at his words. “I do not try to be perfect all the time!”
He laughed. “You know that is not true.”
She sighed. “I suppose it might be true,” she conceded. “But I do not think you understand how it is, to be a young lady in society. We are expected to be perfect, all the time. No one praises us for showing our true selves, only for concealing our feelings and being polite, and going along with what everyone else wants.”
“You are right,” he replied. “I do not understand it. We have much more freedom, as gentlemen. I am sorry that you have had so much pressure on you throughout your life.”
“Well, it is nothing,” she said, trying to sound dismissive. There was something about him, she thought. How did he always manage to get her to speak to openly to him? It was most infuriating, really, when she was trying to get to know him better. And his true character was as opaque to her as it had always been.
“There is a certain charm in imperfection,” Tristan said. “Perhaps you should embrace it.”
“And perhaps you should concentrate on the treasure hunt,” Diana retorted.
Tristan chuckled. “We are at the west garden now,” he declared, as they entered a small, enclosed area surrounded by a tall hedge. “I wonder what we shall find there?”
As they continued deeper into the garden, the path narrowed, leading them into a maze crafted from meticulously trimmed hedges.
“Oh!” Diana said. “A maze! Do you think it is quite appropriate for us to be here alone?”
“Lady Diana, it is precisely the purpose of the maze, to allow for such inappropriateness,” he said softly, drawing a little closer to her. “But do not worry. There are plenty of other people around. There is nothing improper about it.”
“Well, I hope that we do not get lost,” Diana said, feeling a little anxious as they entered the maze. “Are you sure that the answer to the clue will be within the maze?”
“If I know Haxby at all, then I am sure that the clue will be hidden in here somewhere,” Tristan replied. “There was something in the clue about shadows, yes?”
Diana nodded.
“Then it will be hidden in some dark corner, I expect,” Tristan said, lowering his voice a little. “Haxby is a naughty old dog, really. I’m sure he’s convinced we’ll all get lost in the maze, and then he won’t have to trouble himself with luncheon.”
Diana giggled. She could not help but enjoy Tristan’s banter, even though she disapproved of him in so many ways. They reached a junction in the maze, and Diana paused, unsure which way to go.
“I do hope you have not lost your way already, Lady Diana.”
“Hardly,” she replied, her confidence returning. “I merely wish to demonstrate my superior sense of direction.”
“Ah, I see! A bold claim, indeed!” He stepped forward, his gaze fixed on her. “But as we’ve established, you are not the flawless lady you claim to be.”
Diana’s heart raced at the teasing glint in his eyes. “And what would you know of it, sir?” she retorted, her voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in her stomach.
“More than you might think,” he replied, his tone shifting to something more earnest. “I was thinking about you and Alistair earlier, when I was watching you chatting with him. I am glad that you did not end up married to him.”
Diana raised an eyebrow. “You are very forthright in giving your opinions about other people’s lives,” she said.
“Well, I am an earl, after all,” Tristan replied. “I expect people to listen to me.”
“I can not tell if you are in earnest,” Diana said, looking at him. “But why would you think that it was better that I did not marry Alistair?”
“Oh, so you do care what I think after all?” Tristan said, chuckling.
Diana frowned. “I would not go so far as to say that I care,” she said, trying to keep her tone light, but not really knowing, in earnest, exactly what it was that she was feeling in that moment. “But I would like to know why, all the same.” As she waited for his response, she felt her heart beginning to beat a little bit faster in her chest. It was almost infuriating, she thought, the way that this man could make her feel, with what seemed like scarcely any effort at all.
“Well, I will not deny you your wish,” Tristan said. “The truth is that I think you deserve better.”
Diana’s breath hitched at his unexpected compliment. “Thank you,” she murmured, a blush creeping into her cheeks. She felt a warmth spread through her, a combination of gratitude and something she dared not name.
However, as she absorbed his words, she momentarily lost her focus on the path ahead. The roots of a nearby tree snagged her foot, and she stumbled. Her arms flailed as she tried to regain her balance. For a fraction of a second, she thought how ridiculous she must look. Just as she convinced herself that she was going to fall, strong hands caught her, steadying her against a solid chest.
“Careful there,” Tristan said softly. His breath brushed against her hair, against her skin. Their faces were mere inches apart, and in that suspended moment, the world around them faded. She could feel the pressure of his hands on her waist as he held her steady. The easy banter of just a few moments before had evaporated, with something more intense taking its place. Diana knew she should pull away from him, but somehow, she felt immobilized. And yet, she could not speak.
Diana’s heart raced, her mind flooded with thoughts and emotions. She expected him to break the tension with an infuriating quip, as he often did, but instead, he simply coughed a little awkwardly. Then he helped her to right herself and stepped back just enough to allow her space.
“Are you alright?” he asked gently. She looked at him and saw that his brow was furrowed with concern.
“Yes, I am fine,” she replied. Her voice was barely louder than a whisper. As she regained her composure, she caught his gaze. For a fleeting moment, as they looked into each other’s eyes, it felt as if something had shifted. The world felt entirely different.
Tristan resumed walking, but to her surprise, he did not release her hand. Instead, he held it gently. Their fingers remained intertwined, and the warmth of his touch sent shivers down her spine.
She knew, though, that she should not let him continue to hold her hand. Someone could see them, even within the depths of the maze.
“Tristan,” she said softly, tugging slightly at his hand, trying to release his grip.
He turned and held her gaze, but did not release her hand. “No one can see. Let us just have these few moments.”
She tried to say no, to force herself to pull away from him, but she found that she could not. Instead, she let him lead her deeper into the maze, still holding her hand, as if he would never let go.