Page 24 of Her Scandalous Rake (The Worthington Legacy #8)

“I cannot believe she wouldn’t tell me,” Tristan whispered brokenly.

“There must be a reason.”

Tristan shrugged. “The time we were apart, we each held onto the love we had once shared even though we tried to hide it those years. And now, when we can finally be together, she is the one stopping it, all because of her maid.”

“Let’s not assume anything yet,” Nic said. “Because of what I heard Miss Tabitha and the other girl say, I believe Miss Tabitha is the killer. But I will continue to watch them both closely. Perhaps I’m wrong and Diana doesn’t know—”

“Then we must find out.” Tristan’s heart broke—a feeling he had never wanted to experience again. “From what I have observed between Diana and her maid, they are as close as sisters. If she is protecting Tabitha, I want to know now—not after I’m arrested.”

“But how can you find out? If she hasn’t said anything to you…” Nic threw up his hands and began to pace. “Does she not love you more than her maid?”

“I want to think that,” Tristan said in quiet tones as he stared blankly at the floor. “And I want to trust her. If I lose that trust, I cannot fully give her mine. And love without trust is no love at all.”

Hawthorne stopped in front of Tristan. “What will you do now?”

“I don’t know. I was actually going to join her at the cottage in a few days without anyone knowing I was there. But now…” He sighed heavily. “I will leave today. I cannot go on any longer without knowing the truth.”

Nic gave Tristan a quizzical glare. “Are you addled? Why would you go now? What if Miss Tabitha makes you her next victim? And what if the magistrate finds you with Diana? He would certainly believe you two are in this together.”

“Not if you go with me.” Tristan nodded as confidence built inside him. “You must go with me, mainly so nobody gets suspicious. I need to talk to Diana in person, or at least hear it for myself that Tabitha is the killer. We need hard evidence to present to the magistrate to clear my name from their suspects’ list.”

Pausing, he scratched his chin as thoughts rushed through his mind. Silence filled through the room for the next several minutes while memories flitted through Tristan’s head. All that he and Diana had been through, why did it have to end up like this? Why couldn’t love win out for once in his life?

“I fear the only thing for me to do is go to see her today,” Tristan said in defeat. “Even if it means discovering something I don’t wish to hear.”

Nic came closer and clasped his hand on Tristan’s shoulder. “Give me time to return home and change before we’re off.”

“Yes, but hurry. I’m exhausted with all this worry. I want the truth out in the open once and for all.”

Nodding, Nic turned and hurried out of the room. As Tristan watched Hawthorne leave, he prayed their plan would come about, and the real killer discovered. Tristan didn’t know what he was going to say to Diana or how he was going to act, but one thing was certain—he couldn’t trust her until she opened up to him about Tabitha. Until that happened, he couldn’t fully give her his heart, either.

*

Diana stared out the window at the passing landscape, not really paying attention to the land she knew was so beautiful. Due to the pain in her heart, it was impossible to gaze upon such loveliness and smile.

The carriage wheel hit a rut and jerked her on the seat. She scooted back and made herself comfortable again. Yet deep in her heart the rut of despair could not be filled.

Pain squeezed her chest as she recalled the exchange she’d overheard between Mr. Coggins and Martha early this morning as the two servants loaded the carriage for Diana’s departure.

After all these years of wondering why Ludlow’s servants hated her, she finally discovered the truth.

Blinking back the tears stinging her eyes, their voices echoed in her ears—like a terrifying screech that would always be branded in her memory. They hated Diana because she had never given Ludlow a child. Apparently, Ludlow’s father had a temper when he first married, but after Ludlow was born, the temper disappeared. The servants who knew Ludlow’s family were in hopes that this would happen with Ludlow, but when Diana couldn’t conceive, they blamed her. And ultimately, they blamed her for his death as well.

When she had realized she could not have a baby, a ray of satisfaction had glimmered in her heart. She didn’t love Ludlow, and hadn’t wanted his child. She didn’t want a child to have to experience some of the beatings she had done during their years of marriage. Unfortunately, his judgmental servants couldn’t see it that way.

Diana took a deep breath and slowly released it, hoping to calm her spirits. With any luck, Mr. Lusk would arrive at the manor while she was staying at the cottage. Then she would never have to return to the nightmare she’d endured for far too long.

Shouts from Mr. Coggins and the slowing of the carriage alerted her to her surroundings once again. Home at last. This cottage held such wonderful, tender memories of the times she spent with her grandmother. And now… Diana sighed and smiled. Now new memories would be made—happy and unforgettable.

When the carriage stopped, she opened the door and climbed down. Tabitha rushed out of the house and began issuing instructions to Mr. Coggins. Diana tried to ignore the suspicious glares from her disgruntled servant as he carried her trunks inside the house.

“Good day, Tabitha. I trust all is well with the place?”

Tabitha smiled brightly and nodded. “Everything is in order, my lady.”

“Splendid.”

Tabitha moved closer and touched Diana’s arm. “When will Lord Tristan be arriving?” she whispered.

“Our plans were for him to arrive in three days.”

“Sally and I have been cleaning a room and getting it ready for his stay.”

“How is Sally faring?”

“She gets better and better every day. You can hardly see the bruises on her face.”

Diana smiled and squeezed her friend’s hand. “I thank you for everything. I do believe my life is going to change for the better now.”

“Indeed it will.”

It took a few more minutes for Mr. Coggins to finish unloading all of Diana’s trunks, and Tabitha assisted as much as she could. By the disapproving glares from Mr. Coggins, Diana was vastly relieved she wouldn’t have to deal with him much longer.

As she stood just outside the front door watching the man’s departure, a cool wind blew against her. Gathering her cloak together, she glanced up at the sky. Dark clouds threatened overhead, hinting that rain would be coming soon. From the fierce rumbles in the air, she surmised today’s storm would be long and bring plenty of moisture to the land.

She entered the cottage, and immediately, her mind returned to the last time she was here with Tristan. Finally, happiness had found her. She just prayed it would stay.

The stairs creaked and within seconds, Sally hesitantly stepped into view. Diana nodded and motioned with her hand for Sally to come closer. “Mr. Coggins is gone now. You will be all right.”

Sally moved closer, her hands clutched against her middle. “I am very happy to see you again, my lady. Your presence here lightens my heart.”

“What a sweet thing to say.” Diana lifted Sally’s chin with her finger and studied her. “You are looking much healthier, I notice.”

“I feel much better.” Sally smiled. “Soon I will be ready to obtain employment elsewhere.”

Chuckling, Diana shook her head. “Let’s not rush it. For now, you are welcome to stay here and assist Tabitha.”

Diana removed her bonnet and gloves as she strode to the stairs. “But for now, I’m going to retire to my room to rest. I fear the journey—and the turmoil on my mind—have exhausted me greatly.”

“We shall prepare a mid-day meal while you rest,” Tabitha said cheerfully.

“I thank you. I don’t plan on resting for very long, so please wake me when the meal is ready.”

Just as she placed her foot on the first step, thunder boomed through the house, shaking the walls. Within seconds after that, rain pelted the roof, sounding more like rocks were striking the cottage. She groaned. Perhaps she wouldn’t get any rest at all.

Once she walked into her room, she realized the howling wind was in competition with the hard rain to see which one could be nosier. She threw her bonnet and gloves on the vanity before flopping down on her bed. A lamp had been lit, but the dark clouds made the room much darker than Diana had expected.

She stood and went to the lamp to adjust the lighting. As she turned back to the bed and removed her cloak, a tree from outside knocked against the side of the house. Thunder boomed in the air again, but this time it sounded like men’s voices, even Tristan.

Chuckling, Diana rationalized that because she wanted to see Tristan so badly, she could imagine him and actually hear his voice. These next three days were going to pass slowly, she just knew it. She couldn’t wait to be in his arms again, gazing lovingly into his dreamy eyes, and hearing his husky tone.

Another sound ricocheted through the air and she swung toward the door, listening closer. Tabitha’s voice was raised, but not with excitement, nor was it lifted in panic. It was more like she meant to warn…

Quickly, Diana rushed out of her room and to the top of the stairs. The voices were more precise now, and there were definitely visitors in the house. By the tingles running up and down her arms, she knew Tristan was here.

With her heart beating happily, she hurried down the stairs to greet the man she loved, but as soon as she rested her gaze on the people in the room, her feet skid to a halt. Lord Hawthorne? What is he doing here?

Both men were drenched from head to toe and shucking out of their soaked cloaks. Although they had removed their hats, each man’s hair was saturated to their head. The rain pelting against the cottage reminded her of the storm swirling around them.

Diana took a quick survey of who stood in the room, and her heart sank when she noticed Sally still here. The maid stood in the corner of the room, twirling a blonde lock of hair around her finger as she stared at the floor, appearing as if she wanted to crawl in a hole and hide. Tabitha stood next to her—cheeks bright with fury—as she’d been talking, but upon seeing Diana, the young woman’s chatting ceased.

Diana swung her attention back to Tristan. Although he smiled at her, his expression was faux. Distrust coated his gaze. Within a split second, her heart cried out as guilt swept over her like waves of despair.

She wasn’t foolish enough to believe he was here for their secret get-away holiday, especially since he’d brought Lord Hawthorne with him. So then why had Tristan come, and in the rain?

Deep down inside she knew. Tristan was here for answers and nothing less.

Silently, she prayed he would believe her and understand when she confessed the truth.