Page 19 of An Earl Most Inconvenient (Regency Mishaps #2)

CHAPTER 19

“ T ristan, I think that you are going to have to do something about your bad mood,” Alistair said. He took a sip of coffee and looked at Tristan across the breakfast table. “You are the host of this party and if your grandmother and I are both noticing your ill temper, you can be sure that the other guests will also take note soon. And then people will start to speculate about what is the matter with you, and I am sure that you do not want to invite gossip.”

Tristan huffed. “I am not in a bad mood!” he insisted. “I do not know why everyone keeps saying so.”

Alistair laughed. “Well, it is obvious. You are taciturn and scowling and you would not even smile when Lady Bretherton played the pianoforte so beautifully last night.”

“Perhaps you are right,” Tristan sighed. “Her playing was delightful, but it did nothing to shift my ill humor. I know that I need to do something different today, at any rate. Things cannot carry on as they are.”

He glanced around the room, which was still almost empty. The hour was early, and most of the guests had not yet made an appearance. He thought of Diana momentarily, wondering when she would come downstairs. He hoped that she was feeling better from whatever it was that had ailed her. He had noticed, amongst all the hubbub of the previous evening, that she had retired rather early, despite her evident enjoyment of Lord Anthony’s company. He was not sure quite what to make of that. The man had kissed her hand before she walked away, and the memory of it stirred something in his chest as he thought of it. He blinked, then forced himself to shake the thoughts of her away. Why was she the first thing that popped into his head, the moment he allowed himself to relax his mind? It was almost like some kind of reflex that he could not control.

He looked out of the window. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the gardens. “I think it will be a fine morning for a walk,” he declared, getting to his feet and crossing the room to the dresser, and helping himself to a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. “I shall ask Lady Grace to accompany me.”

Alistair nodded, eyeing Tristan curiously. “Your thoughts are still focused in that direction, then?”

Tristan noted a hint of doubt in his voice, and he wondered what discussions had taken place between Alistair and his wife in private, on the subject of his matrimonial intentions.

“Indeed,” he said simply. He was not in the right frame of mind to discuss it any further, even with his close friend. He sat down at the table and focused his attention on his breakfast, resolving on his plan for the day as he ate.

A little while later, when a few more of the guests had arrived and were beginning their breakfast, the door swung open and Lady Grace entered, followed by Lady Diana. She took her seat at the table next to Tristan.

“Good morning, My Lord,” she greeted him pleasantly.

Tristan smiled, but could not help but notice that sense of distance from her that he had noticed previously. She did not hold his gaze as she spoke to him, in the way that she once had; instead, she looked away almost immediately. He wondered if she was no longer interested in him as a potential suitor. He realized that if he was to stick to his plan, there was no time to lose in making things certain. It was possible that there were other gentlemen who were thinking of making her an offer, and he did not want to miss his chance.

“Lady Grace, you look very pretty today,” he said smoothly.

She giggled. “It is far too early in the morning for flattery, My Lord!” She helped herself to some coffee, then asked, “And pray, what do you have planned for us this morning? I am not sure that anyone could cope with the excitement of another treasure hunt!”

“Well,” he replied thoughtfully, looking out of the window as if the idea had just occurred to him, “I thought that since the morning is so fine, you and I might venture out for a walk, if you are not bored already of the gardens?”

She raised an eyebrow and lowered her voice. “Just you and I? Not the other guests?”

“Perhaps if we slip away after breakfast, then no one will notice,” he said conspiratorially. He watched for her reaction, and was pleased to notice a shy smile crossing her face. Maybe all was not lost, after all.

“Very well, My Lord. I agree with your plan,” she said softly. “And of course I am not bored with the gardens. The flowers are so beautiful, they cannot fail to cheer me up.”

“In that case, I will consider it a firm arrangement,” Tristan said. Then, for fear of arousing suspicion amongst the others, not least Lady Diana, he turned his attention to Alistair and began to chat with him about the latest news of the morning.

Once their meal was finished, Tristan turned to Grace. “I will meet you at the side door in a few minutes,” he whispered.

Grace nodded, a slight flush creeping up her cheeks.

Tristan rose from the table, addressing the rest of his guests. “I have some urgent matters to attend to this morning,” he declared. “I trust that you will all find something to amuse yourselves until luncheon. I shall see you all later.” With that, he left the room, and headed down the corridor towards the door that led towards the gardens, to wait for Grace.

He wondered, as he waited, if he should propose to her this morning. Maybe he should seize the moment, while they were out in the garden alone together? The thought filled him with trepidation, although he was not sure why. He did not think that she would refuse him. And once they were engaged, he could put this nonsense about Lady Diana out of his mind once and for all. But he had not yet spoken to their father, not formally, and he knew that he had to do things properly. He would bide his time, he resolved, and ensure that everything was handled correctly.

Before long, he heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. He felt sure, though, as he listened, that the footsteps belonged to more than one pair of feet. Grace was clearly not alone.

Sure enough, Lady Grace appeared, shortly followed by Lady Diana, who had a blue shawl wrapped around her shoulders. He let out a sigh, a surge of mixed emotions coursing through him. Of course, she would not let her sister go outside with him without a chaperone. Lady Diana would have been watching her sister closely, and would have realized that something was afoot. He had been a fool to think that he would get away with his scheming, when her sharp-eyed sister was around. And yet, the sight of her stirred feelings in him that were not quite straightforward.

He had not been expecting to see anyone else, though, and when Lord Anthony Stoke appeared, following in Diana’s wake.

“Oh, Lord Anthony,” he said icily. “You are joining us for our walk?”

Lord Anthony nodded, a jovial smile on his face. “It is such a lovely morning, and I thought that there could be nothing finer than a walk around the garden, and in such good company, too!” He glanced at Diana as he spoke these final words, and Tristan could not help but notice her returning his smile. He felt his irritation begin to simmer even more.

“How delightful,” he said through gritted teeth.

“I could not have allowed you to go outside alone with my sister,” Lady Diana said, looking at him sternly. “Which you very well know.”

Tristan pushed open the door and stepped outside. “Of course,” he said quietly. He had half expected Diana to follow them – he knew that he should not have tried to manufacture this situation of being alone with Grace. Had he in fact hoped for it, that Diana would join them? He pushed the thought away, and stared at Lord Anthony. He had not been expecting to have a whole entourage with him, either way; it was not what he had imagined at all. He could not help but feel extremely annoyed about the whole situation. The last thing that he wanted to have to deal with was the grinning Lord Anthony! He was not sure how he was going to tolerate the man for a few minutes, let alone for the duration of the walk.

As they made their way down the garden path, Tristan resolved to focus his attention on Grace. That was what he had planned all along, after all.

“So tell me, Lady Grace, have you enjoyed the house party so far?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how bland they sounded. But no matter how hard he tried, he could not think of anything more interesting to say.

“Of course, My Lord,” Lady Grace replied politely. “I do hope there will be a chance for some dancing before we leave, though.”

He smiled. She really was rather sweet; he could not ignore it. “Of course,” he replied. “And I will look forward to claiming the first dance of the evening with you, when the time comes.” She wanted to dance, like all young ladies of her type, and he would ensure that she had the chance to do so.

“That will be lovely!” Grace said, smiling.

Tristan was about to reply, when Diana’s laughter, coming from behind them, broke his concentration. She was walking with Lord Anthony, a little way behind them, and Tristan could not help but turn to look at them. The man was handsome, he had to admit, but he could not understand what it was that Diana was finding so amusing. Lord Anthony seemed to draw her attention effortlessly, even though Tristan himself had never really considered him to be particularly interesting. He wondered for a moment why he had even invited the man to the party.

He turned away, and forced his attention back to Grace, even though he was struggling to think of what to say next, and she herself was doing little to move the conversation along.

“What plans do you have for the remainder of the season?” he asked her.

She paused before replying. “It rather depends, My Lord,” she said, and he that perhaps she was being a little coy, and referring to whether or not she was likely to become engaged. But as she continued, he realized that was not what she meant at all.

“My sister does not like to be much in society, as you know,” she said. “So I suspect that once we have returned home, we will live quietly for a while.”

Tristan nodded absently; no matter how hard he tried to focus on Grace, his mind kept drifting. He had not heard her voice for a while – not heard that tinkling laugh that was distracting him beyond measure. Had she and Lord Anthony wandered off alone? He did not want to look back again to see if they were still walking behind; he sensed that Grace was aware of how distracted he was, and he did not want her to suspect the reason behind it. But if Diana had ventured off alone with Lord Anthony, was she even safe? His mind raced with thoughts as he walked along next to Grace, entirely unable to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the gardens due to the turmoil in his mind.

Finally, he could bear it no longer. He turned his head to look behind him, only to see Diana and Anthony walking close together, sharing smiles and whispers. His heart dropped each time he noticed the way Diana’s eyes sparkled when she spoke to him. Each and every glance they exchanged felt like a dagger to his heart. He felt a simmering frustration building within him, even as they made their way through the tranquil gardens, flowers blooming on either side of the path.

“Isn’t it simply lovely in the gardens?” Grace remarked, her voice breaking through his reverie.

“Quite,” he replied absently, his gaze still locked on Diana, who was now leaning closer to Anthony, her laughter bright and carefree. “Perhaps a little too lovely,” he muttered under his breath.

“My Lord?” Grace’s voice held a note of concern. “Are you quite well?”

“Of course,” he replied, forcing a smile. He had not realized how much his irritation was showing. He resolved to try harder to conceal his feelings. “Forgive me, I was a little distracted. I was just admiring the flowers.” He knew that he sounded ridiculous, but he could not think of anything else to say. He felt irritated, even now, as he looked back again at Diana and Anthony. She had made him worry about her, and all the while, she looked as if she did not have a care in the world.

Diana caught his eye and raised an eyebrow. The tension in Tristan’s chest tightened as he watched her. He could feel the heat of jealousy clawing at him, and the longer they walked, the more he struggled to contain it.

“Shall we sit for a moment?” Lord Anthony suggested, gesturing toward a nearby bench shaded by an old oak tree.

Tristan’s heart sank further. “Perhaps we should continue walking,” he interjected, his tone sharper than intended. All he wanted now was for this experience to be over, and to never have to set eyes on Lord Anthony again, and here was the man proposing to elongate the experience by taking a rest.

“Tristan, it is a lovely day,” Lady Grace said, her voice gently reproachful. “We can rest for a moment. It will not delay us. I did not think we were in a hurry this morning? There is nothing else planned for the guests, is there?”

“You are right, there is nothing planned. We can rest if you wish,” he replied tersely. He felt unwilling to relent, but he did not wish to seem churlish. He could hardly refuse the ladies the chance of a rest, if they needed it. But as they settled onto the bench, his frustration reached a boiling point. He needed to speak with Diana alone, but he had no idea how he was going to manage it, not with Lady Grace and Lord Anthony making up the other half of the party. But he had to get away for a moment, to clear his head and to try to quiet the thoughts swirling around in his mind.

“Excuse me,” he announced abruptly, rising from the bench. He strode away, leaving the others watching him curiously. He knew that it would appear strange to be walking away like this, but he had to find a moment of solitude to gather his thoughts. If he did not, he thought that his head might burst with the pressure of it all.

After a few moments, he found a secluded spot behind a hedge. He made sure that he was hidden from view, then took a few deep breaths to steady himself. Finally, he felt that he was beginning to regain his composure, and he was about to turn and rejoin the others, when he heard footsteps approaching. It was Diana, and he could not quite name the emotions he felt as she came near.

“Lord Silvermere?” she said softly, a concerned expression on her face. “What is the matter? Why have you gone off on your own?”

He turned to face her, irritation bubbling just beneath the surface. “I need you to give me some space,” he said, his voice strained despite his attempts to keep his tone steady. Somehow, he wanted her to leave him alone, but he also wanted her to stay near, at the same time.

“Space? What on earth do you mean?” she replied. She crossed her arms defensively and glared at him. “You seem to be angry with me, but I cannot see that I have done anything to deserve it?”

“Nothing?” he retorted, frustration spilling over. “How can you say that?”

Diana looked at him, blinking in surprise. “I do not know what you mean, My Lord!”

“How can I focus on anything else, when you are laughing and joking with him all the time?” Tristan demanded. He felt the words pouring from his mouth like a fountain, before he had even thought through what he was going to say. He was losing control, but he did not know how to stop it.

He saw the look of shock on his face, and knew that he could not take back what he had said. She would know, now, that he was jealous, and she would think him pathetic, no doubt.

Diana’s eyes widened in disbelief, her expression shifting from confusion to anger. “You cannot be serious! I am merely enjoying a conversation with a pleasant gentleman. You have spent time with my sister; what right do you have to claim that I owe you my attention? You are being childish and selfish.”

“Do you not see how easily you are swayed?” he snapped, taking a step closer. “Lord Anthony has come out of nowhere and now he is the only person you are paying any attention to. Do you not realize what it is that he wants from you? Or do you think that everyone is as innocent and blameless as you are?”

“I do not know what you are talking about,” she said, turning away from him. “This conversation is ridiculous. I will take no further part in it.”

“You are impossible!” Tristan exploded. “I can bear it no longer!”

Diana whirled around to face him. “I do not know what it is that you want from me, My Lord,” she said, staring at him. “I have given you time with Grace. I thought that was what you wanted?”

“I cannot bear it! How am I supposed to concentrate on anything else, when you are smiling and giggling with that odious man?” Tristan demanded.

“You say I am impossible, but you are ridiculous,” Diana said hotly. “You cannot expect me to change my behavior to suit your whims. I think that even you do not know what you want, what you expect, from anyone!”

“I expect nothing from you, but I cannot bear to hear you lying to me!” Tristan said. He knew that his voice was raised, and that he was at risk of being overheard by the others, who would no doubt already be curious as to what was going on behind the hedge, but in the heat of the moment, he found that he did not care.

“I am not lying” Diana cried. “I will not stand for this any longer, My Lord.”

“He is not even funny!” Tristan retorted. He knew that she was right, and that he was being ridiculous. But try as he might, he could not seem to take control of his feelings.

Her expression shifted from shock to anger, and he could see the hurt in her eyes. “I have done nothing wrong,” she said quietly, “and yet you treat me as if I am your enemy. I do not understand, but I will suffer it no longer. I will not tolerate it.”

She turned and walked away, back towards where the others were presumably still waiting. He had no idea how she would explain her absence and he was not sure that he cared; it did not matter, in that moment, what anyone else thought. The only opinion that he cared about was hers, and it seemed that she hated him, and there was nothing he could do to change her mind.

Tristan fought the urge to chase after her, to grab her hand, to say – well, he did not even know what he wanted to say to her. He forced himself to take a deep breath, to try and regain control of himself. This situation could not go on, he resolved. He must do something, and quickly, before everything began to spiral out of control.