Page 25 of Her Scandalous Rake (The Worthington Legacy #8)

T aking a deep breath, Tristan prayed for courage… courage to hold strong and demand to know the truth from Diana. He also needed the courage to keep his heart from melting every time he looked into her fascinating green eyes. Her lovely orbs had always had an enchanting effect on him that made him lose his mind several times since he’d first met her. How could one woman have this kind of control over his senses? If he discovered she was withholding the truth from him, his heart and mind wouldn’t be able to take it.

A shiver ran through him that had nothing to do with the coldness seeping into his drenched limbs.

“Lord Tristan. Lord Hawthorne. What a surprise it is to see you here.” Diana stepped toward them to take their cloaks. Tabitha rushed to help assist.

Tristan peeled his cloak off his shoulders and handed it to Diana while Nic did the same, giving his to the maid. Tristan moved his attention from beautiful Diana, past Tabitha and to the corner of the room.

A girl, slightly younger than Tabitha, stood still, acting as if she was afraid to move and appearing as if she wished she were a part of the wall. This must be the maid Nic had mentioned. Her pale face and downcast gaze let him know she did not want to be seen, and appeared to be frightened, like a mouse caught in a trap.

“Please come over here by the fire to warm yourselves,” Diana encouraged. “Today’s storm was certainly fierce and so very unexpected.”

He followed her to the fireplace, watching her reaction closely. It was obvious by her wide eyes and over-exuberant greeting that she tried to turn an uncomfortable situation into a good one. She also fidgeted too much, which meant she was nervous… more nervous than she should be, in his opinion.

He switched his focus to Tabitha. The young woman acted the same way around Nic, except she didn’t try to talk to him. Hawthorne, however, trained his suspicious gaze on her directly.

“Lady Hollingsworth,” Tristan began and he rubbed his palms up and down his arms, trying to circulate warmth back in his body, “forgive us for this surprise visit, but it was most urgent that I speak with you. Regretfully, Lord Hawthorne and I had no idea we would be caught in the rainstorm, so I hope we have not burdened you in any way.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Diana brushed her hand in the air. “You are always welcome here, Lord Tristan.” She glanced behind Tristan at Dominic. “And you as well, Lord Hawthorne.”

“You are very kind, Lady Hollingsworth.”

“I fear,” Diana continued, “that I don’t have any extra clothes for the two of you to change into while we dry your wet ones.”

“Actually,” Tabitha hastily cut in, “your grandmother was a large lady if I recall, Lady Hollingsworth.” She ran her gaze slowly over Nic, and Tristan was surprised to see disgust instead of interest when she looked at his friend. “So I’m certain if Lord Hawthorne wouldn’t mind wearing a nightgown—”

“I appreciate your concern,” Nic quickly replied, “but I would rather catch pneumonia than be seen wearing a lady’s nightgown, or any gown, for that matter.”

Tabitha glared at Nic, looking as if fire would shoot out of her eyes any moment. Tristan bit his lip to hold back a laugh. This was the first time he’d ever seen a woman not fall all over herself trying to impress Lord Hawthorne. This definitely couldn’t be good for Nic’s ego.

“Be that as it may,” Tristan said, hoping not to encourage Tabitha and Nic into starting a heated argument, “I think standing by the fire will dry us quickly enough.”

“Are you certain?” Diana asked in a tender voice. “I could find some woolen blankets and you two could wrap yourself in those while your clothes are drying.”

He smiled softly at her. It was hard not to. “I suppose we could do that.”

“Come,” she said, turning toward the stairs, “you and Lord Hawthorne can use the guest bedroom to change. Tabitha?” She glanced at the maid. “Will you find me two blankets, and Sally will you get started on our meal? I’m certain the men are extremely hungry after their long excursion.”

“As you wish, my lady.” The women chimed together then moved out of the room, heading in different directions.

“Gentlemen?” Diana aimed her attention on Tristan. “If you will follow me, I shall show you to the chamber.”

As Diana led the way, Nic nudged Tristan with his elbow then motioned his head toward the door Sally had exited and mouthed the words, that’s her. Tristan nodded, but didn’t say anything to his friend. Instead, he wanted answers from Diana first.

Marching ahead of him, he wondered what her big hurry was. He grasped her elbow in a loose hold, slowing her down a bit. She looked over her shoulder at him. “Diana, who is the new girl? She wasn’t here before.”

Her eyes widened and her attention jumped between him and Nic. “Her name is Sally. I thought she could help out Tabitha for a while.”

“How very thoughtful of you.” He really didn’t know what else to say. Getting serious about a conversation at this point in the evening was useless. If he said something to upset her, she’d send him away, and in this downpour that wasn’t such a good idea. It was best to prolong their much needed conversation until sunset. Diana wouldn’t send him out of the house then. She was too much a lady to do that.

She led them into the bedroom before moving to the fireplace to lay some logs on. Taking fast steps, he hurried to her and grabbed the piece of wood out of her hand.

“Allow me to make my own fire,” he told her. “It’s the least I can do for showing up unannounced.”

Her stare delved deep into his eyes before slowly moving over his face. “Tristan, why are you here? What was the great urgency to speak with me?” Her voice was low.

He shook his head. “Not now. There will be plenty of time for us to talk once I’m out of these wet clothes.”

The shuffling of feet pulled his focus from Diana toward the doorway as Tabitha entered. She handed a blanket to Nic—almost shoved it at him, actually—then nicely handed Tristan a blanket.

“Thank you,” he told the maid.

“I shall leave you to change now,” Diana spoke calmly. “Just place your wet clothes outside the door and Tabitha and Sally will hang them above the fire to dry.”

As Tabitha walked past Nic, she turned up her nose at him. Hawthorne gripped her arm, stopping her and piercing her with his hard stare. “I better not see burns in my clothes caused by your careless hand.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Indeed, my lord, I had not thought of such a thing, but now…”

“ Tabitha ,” Diana warned. “I assure you, Lord Hawthorne, your clothes will not be burned.”

When the ladies left and the door was closed behind them, Tristan breathed a ragged sigh. Although wet and weary, the worst of the evening was yet to come.

“By Jove, my good man,” Nic said with a sudden cheerful voice, “I believe you put on a splendid performance.”

Gritting his teeth, Tristan glared at his friend as he started to remove his neck cloth. Traveling to the cottage had been a long journey, and his friend’s humor had grated on his nerves for the last time today. “Oh really? What gave it away? My sarcastic tone? The hard set of my jaw as I gnashed my teeth? Or was it the distrust that I’m sure Diana saw in my eyes?”

Nic tilted his head and gave Tristan a quizzical stare. “Honestly, was that called for?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m referring to your vicious attitude.”

Blowing out a frustrated breath, Tristan finished removing the neck cloth and shrugged out of his waistcoat. “My apologies, my friend. I’m in a sour mood, and I should not be vexed with you. After all, if you had not overheard the two maids, I would still have my head in the clouds feeling an abundance of lover’s bliss.”

Nic scowled. “Are you saying I should have held my tongue?” He shook his head as he yanked off his waist jacket. “Forgive me for thinking that kind of news was important. All that was going through my mind was imagining the trouble you would get in if the truth wasn’t discovered soon. I did not want to see that happen to you.”

Tristan waved his hand in the air. “You misunderstood, Hawthorne. I’m grateful you told me, but at the same time, my heart is broken because the woman I have loved for so long is deceiving me. That is why I have a rotten disposition.”

“Of course, Worthington. I understand. I shall try not to poke fun at your expense any longer. I cannot even imagine how you must feel right now.”

“I thank you, Hawthorne. I pray you will never have your heart broken like this. Then again—” Tristan scratched his chin, “it would be a miracle if you ever gave your heart to a woman at all.”

Nic laughed loudly. “That miracle will never happen, I assure you. I shall remain a bachelor for the rest of my life.”

After removing his shirt, Tristan knelt in front of the hearth and threw the logs in. “You never did tell me why you are like this.”

“What do you mean?”

He struck the flint. “Why are you so reluctant to fall in love?”

“Worthington,” Nic said as he struggled to get his wet shirt over his head, “there are many things you don’t know about me. Why are you so certain I have never given my heart to a woman? Perhaps I have been burned in the past, which is why I don’t want to do it again.”

The spark in the fireplace started. Tristan blew on it gently until a good fire began to burn. “Are you going to allow one woman to control how you feel for the rest of your life?”

Nic moved to stand by the fire. Tristan looked up at his friend’s serious expression. Not often did Hawthorne show this vulnerable side to him.

Nic tapped his finger on his chin. “You know, I could say the same about you.”

“Me?”

“Indeed. Have you not allowed Lady Hollingsworth to control your feelings? If we discover from our visit here that she has indeed deceived you, will your heart be scarred for life? Or will you eventually find another woman to love?”

Tristan stared into the fire. Numbness spread across him and he refused to think of the future. Nic was correct. Tristan had allowed Diana into his heart, and God help him, he never wanted to let her out.

*

“I just don’t understand you, Tabitha. Why do you taunt that man so much?” Diana sat at the table peeling potatoes as her maids helped her prepare the meal. “Lord Hawthorne is a respected man… and a man many women would love to marry, I might add. I just cannot understand why you don’t have dreamy eyes for him.”

A loud unlady-like grunt came from Tabitha as she rolled her eyes. “ That will never happen. Men like him are not worth my time. And honestly, the only reason I put up with Lord Tristan is because of you.”

Diana set her knife and potato down before looking at Tabitha. “What do you mean men like him ? Are you referring to rakes or nobility? Because Tristan has never been a scoundrel.”

“Perhaps it’s a combination of both that I’m disgusted with.” Tabitha frowned. “Gentlemen think of themselves as holier-than-thou creatures who cannot even force themselves to speak civilly to someone who is beneath their station, and if they do speak, they treat us like our only purpose is to warm their beds.”

Diana patted her friend’s shoulder. “There are a lot of men like what you have described, but Lord Hawthorne and Tristan are not like that.”

“I see them differently, my lady. They treat me differently when you are not around.”

Narrowing her gaze, Diana shook her head. “Tristan has treated you in such a way, like he wants you to warm his bed?”

Tabitha cringed. “No, not that way, but he looks down on me as if I were nothing but dirt on his boots.”

“Lady Hollingsworth,” Sally cut in, “I must agree with Tabitha. Because we are not but mere servants, we will always be treated as such. Lord Elliot taught us that lesson well.”

“Not all masters are like Lord Elliot.” Diana cut up a potato, letting it drop into the pot. “In fact Tabitha, do you not remember how it was when you and your mother worked for my grandmother?”

“Yes, I remember. Working for her was pure Heavenly. Your grandmother was the sweetest woman I knew.” Tabitha smiled at Diana. “And now I know that her granddaughter inherited her sweet nature.”

“You are too kind.” Diana’s face grew warm with the compliment.

“But back then,” Tabitha continued, “I worked for only a woman. After your grandmother died, I was sent to Lord Elliot. That was the first time a man had been in charge of me.” She shivered. “I never want to go through that hell again.”

Diana touched her friend’s hand. “Tabitha, not all men are like that. I assure you, Tristan and his brothers will never treat their servants with such disdain.”

Tabitha set her knife down, narrowing her gaze on Diana. “Are you certain, my lady? I have heard talk from servants and they say the old Duke of Kenbridge was very mean to his servants and treated women like they were slaves.”

Sighing heavily, Diana nodded. “Indeed, Tristan’s father was a very inconsiderate, selfish man who loved to create scandal, but even the one son who we thought would turn out like him, Trey, didn’t end up like his sire after all. Trevor and Tristan will never be like that, either. I stake my life on it.”

“I’m comforted to know you have so much faith in them. However, they are but three men, and England is filled with men like Lord Elliot and Lord Hollingsworth.”

Memories Diana tried to bury resurfaced. Scenes flashed through her head of Ludlow raising his hand to her when he thought she’d done something wrong. He even starved her on a few occasions, and those were the nice punishments he’d inflicted upon her. “Very true, Tabitha. I wish more men were like the Worthington brothers.”

“As do I,” Tabitha said with a frown. “Forgive me for speaking my mind, but I’m vastly relieved Lord Elliot and Lord Hollingsworth have been taken from this world. They both deserved to die for what they did to all of us. In fact, the thought of killing them with my bare hands had crossed my mind several times. I cannot tolerate men who treat women in such a way. They all deserve to die, or be punished severely.”

“I agree,” Sally muttered her response.

Diana carried the pot of vegetables to the hot stove before pouring water over them. “I believe there are many others who share your thoughts.”

“Lady Hollingsworth? Did you ever think of killing your husband?” Sally asked.

Diana walked back to the table and sat. She linked her fingers together and rested them on the edge of the table. Thoughts swam in her head, followed by the bitter feelings she’d once had. “Although I didn’t think about doing the actual deed, I had prayed that something would happen to my husband to end his life.” A tear slid down her cheek that she hadn’t realized was there. “I hated myself for feeling that way, but when it finally happened, I thanked God that it had. I couldn’t believe how free I felt, even when the magistrate suspected me of murder.”

“For months I felt that way about Lord Elliot,” Sally injected softly with tears in her eyes.

“As did I.” Tabitha nodded. “And I was grateful this angel of mercy—” she touched Diana’s shoulder—“came to rescue me.”

Sally nodded. “That was also the day I will never forget.” She sniffed and wiped her hand underneath her nose. “Lady Hollingsworth, you are truly my Savior for rescuing me from that monster.”

When Diana smiled her lips quaked as she tried to hold back the sob rising in her throat. “I just wish I would have known about it sooner.”

“You saved my life,” Sally said.

“And mine.” Tabitha wiped a tear off her face.

Diana stood and hugged Sally, then gave Tabitha a hug as well. Tears streamed down the servants’ cheeks, and Diana’s own cheeks were even wet.

Pulling away, she wiped her knuckles under her eyes to dry the tears before smoothing her palms on her apron. “Well, I think we should concentrate on getting the meal finished. I’m certain our visitors are famished. And we need to fetch their clothes and—”

Before she could finish, the floor outside the kitchen door creaked. Diana sucked in a quick breath and swung toward the door. Her heart dropped.

“What’s wrong, my lady?” Sally questioned.

“I think someone is in the hall, coming.”

Diana prayed she was hearing things because she didn’t need Tristan or Nic overhearing and asking her questions later. Her mind argued that the men wouldn’t leave the room wearing only a blanket to venture into a room with three women, yet… Someone was indeed outside the door. She could feel it as a dark cloud of doom settled over her.