The Sweetest Love (Sons of Worthington Series) (13 page)

“Oh, what am I going to do with you?” she mumbled. She had thought of no solution for their problem.

She glanced at the window. It wasn’t raining, and the sun was up. Still, as much as it had rained, the roads were probably very poor to travel on this afternoon. But if she untied Tristan, he would try to leave anyway…as stubborn as he was.

Walking toward the window, she tried once again to think of a way out of their mess. Keeping him tied up wasn’t a good thing, but what other choice did she have? She stopped and peered out on the muddy ground as she recalled his confusing words last night. Why did the insipid man act as if he didn’t know what she was talking about? She’d heard rumors that he’d lost some of his memory, but really…that was so far-fetched, she wasn’t sure if it was true or not since there were so many rumors going around about him lately.

“Uh…Diana?
Could you help me, please?”

His scratchy voice pulled her from her thoughts and she swung around. His head was turned toward her, but his body hadn’t moved. “Lord Tristan, pray tell, what did you think to accomplish by moving to the sofa?” She walked toward him slowly.

“I was thinking to rest my head on something soft so that I could sleep.” He grimaced. “Now I’m rethinking that decision since it’s made my body that much more cramped.”

She grabbed the back of the chair and pushed him to an upright position. “There. Is that better?”

“Actually, no.
I would be much better if you untied me.”

“I’m quite certain you would, but before I do, I need to ask you some questions.”

He blinked his sleepy eyes as if he was clearing his vision. When his gaze finally locked on hers, he nodded. “Good, because I have some questions to ask you as well, but before that, might I inquire how long you and Tabitha are planning to hold me here?”

She didn’t dare admit she had no plans…the right kind, anyway. But something in her heart encouraged her to just talk to him and try to work things out.

“I’m not quite certain, Lord Tristan. I haven’t been able to speak with Tabitha about it yet. Last night I’d considered keeping you only long enough to make you anxious, but now…” She shrugged. “I rather enjoy torturing you, so perhaps we shall keep you longer.”

“I do hope you will untie me before the torture begins. After all, your plan is already in affect, so even if I try to deny it, the damage will be done to my character. Why would I want to return home now anyway?”

She cocked her head, studying him. Was he playing another game? Then again, even if he did escape, his reputation would be ruined.

“Well,” she stepped closer to him, sliding her fingers up his arm. Hard muscles flexed noticeably. He’d definitely not been this strapping three years ago. “I suppose I could untie you, even if the idea of keeping you bound and helpless sounds more and more pleasing.”

He chuckled. “Oh, Diana, I never imagined your thoughts to be so wicked, especially from a recent widow.”

Embarrassment washed through her as heat rose in her face. “You don’t believe I could think of such cruel things to do to you?”

“Actually, now that you mention it, I suppose it’s not totally out of your character to be so vicious.”

She frowned, her heart dropping once again. Why did he continue to act as if
he
were the injured party? None of this made sense, and she was determined to get to the bottom of this.

* * * *

He couldn’t recall the last time his body ached so much. He needed release. And now! In his current frame of mind, he didn’t care what he had to do—or say—to make her release him. “Diana, if you will until me, I promise as a gentleman, not to run. I feel we need to talk about the past. That is the only way to understand each other.”

She tilted her head and studied him for several minutes before nodding. “Fine, I’ll untie you, but remember, Tabitha still has a pistol and won’t hesitate to use it.”

“I assure you there will be no need to use it on me.”

She moved beside him and started untying the ropes. Closing his eyes, he inhaled her intoxicating scent of lilacs. Memories washed through his head, reminding him what had
really
happened three years ago. He shook his head and snapped open his eyes. Definitely, they needed to talk.

Slowly, the blood flowed back into his hands and feet, and tingled with awareness. Since he was still close to the sofa, he hopped on the cushions. A sigh fell from his mouth, enjoying the softness. “Ah, I thank you, Diana.” He patted the empty space next to him. “Would you like to join me?”

“Not really.”

He shook his arms then his legs. “Diana, I have realized that you hate me for some reason, and I cannot fathom why. The reason I told you I won’t leave here is because I need to know why you feel this way about me. It hurts to know you think I’ve ruined your life.”

She snorted a laugh before quickly covering her mouth with her hand. Most well-bred women would have scolded Diana for doing this.
It’s not proper
they would have told her with their noses in the air. Yet he thought it adorable the way Diana did it—so natural. His heart melted. Perhaps there was still the old Diana inside this shell of a woman after all.

“Oh, my lord, you are humorous. I’m beginning to wonder if there was something in that tea Tabitha made last night that I’d given you to make you talk this way. I fear you are not thinking straight at all.” She shook her head. “I don’t
think
you ruined my life. I
know
. And there is nothing you can do to make up for my misery, I assure you.”

“First off, I’m in my right mind, and secondly—please call me Tristan. I recall a time when you were wrapped in my arms and whispered my name with much emotion it melted my heart.” He quickly snapped his mouth closed. Good grief! Why had he said
that
? He couldn’t bring up the past—not that part of their past, anyway.

She leaned back against the wall, folding her arms. Her gaze took on a seriousness he hadn’t expected. Her adorable green eyes moved over his face slowly then came to rest on his lips. Anxiousness pumped inside him, and memories resurfaced once again.
This is not the time!

“Indeed there was a moment in my life I sighed your name with feeling, but not any longer. I’m content now, living the life of a widow—or hermit, if you want to refer to me as—only because it’s better than the ridicule I get when trying to associate with members of the
ton.
I’ve spent all these years with bitterness in my heart for what you’ve done, but now...” She released a deep breath. “Now I can live the rest of my life knowing you paid the price along with me for our actions those days at your mother’s weekend party.”

Her words still confused him. What about what she’d done to him? Why wasn’t she remembering that?

“I’m sorry if you think me evil or vindictive, but what’s done is done and there is no erasing what Tabitha did last night.”

“I don’t think you are evil or vindictive at all, Diana. Although bringing me down has brought great relief to you, I worry about what might happen if people found out you and your maid planned my kidnapping.”

“They won’t. Remember, Tabitha planned that all out before you climbed into the wrong coach. Nobody will think I had anything to do with forcing you here. They’ll think you came of your own free will. It’ll be your word against theirs.”

He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. I’m worried about your reputation. What will this do to you?”

Her mouth stretched into a grin and she laughed.
“Oh, Tristan.
You have a short memory. I don’t have a reputation, remember. Nobody will care, and what has happened here won’t hurt or hinder me in any way. Polite Society might think I’m a little mad, but I can handle that.”

“Do you want people to know we have been together since last night? Is that your plan? Do you want people to think you have been my secret love interest for a few months as Tabitha’s missives have indicated?”

“I highly doubt anyone will think I’m involved at all.”

He shrugged one shoulder. “They will if they realized I have been here in your grandmother’s cottage.”

“Honestly, Tristan, I don’t think it will matter.” She chuckled softly. “Although it would be most humorous, would it not? You, carrying on with the woman you ruined all those years ago? The
ton
would certainly never expect that. You would have the older matrons fainting dead away.”

He couldn’t stop the smile stretching his lips. “I’m sure you’re correct. They wouldn’t expect this from me. In fact, I wonder if Lady
Fairbourne
won’t thank the good Lord she didn’t marry me after this.”

Diana tilted her head, her smiling slowly disappearing. “Do you love her, Tristan?”

The tenderness in her question twisted his heart. “You are the one who must not have a good memory. Have you forgotten I didn’t like her much back when you and I first met? That, my dear Diana, has not changed at all.”

“Why then did you want to marry her?” She moved to the sofa and sat next to him, her eyes wide with wonder.

“My mother’s health is declining. She often spoke of Lady
Fairbourne
and how she wished I would marry her. My brothers even acted like they would like me to settle down and raise a family. I’ve been a bumbling drunk since Trey and Judith found me two years ago, and I knew that wasn’t the kind of life I wanted. I had no energy to court a woman the proper way, so I gave in to my family’s wishes and proposed to Lady
Fairbourne
. I wasn’t looking for someone to love, just someone to be comfortable with. Jane was without a husband, and because she still showed interest in me, I asked her to be my wife. I thought it was time to put the past behind me once and for all.”

“I’m surprised some other woman hasn’t sunk her greedy claws into you before now. You’re a handsome and charming man who could have made any woman fall in love with you.”

Whether she knew it or not, she’d given him a compliment. For someone who loathed him, she certainly didn’t show it now. “You think I’m handsome? Charming?” Leaning toward her, he slipped his arm around her shoulders, gently pulling her forward. “You think I could get
any
woman to fall in love with me?”

She stiffened and placed a hand on his chest. Strange, but he thought she should have tried harder to keep him
away,
instead, he was able to pull her closer. Originally, he did it to tease, but now… now with her so very near, he breathed in her lilac scent as her silky ringlet hair rubbed his hand. His teasing mood had vanished.

“Tristan…please,” she whispered.

It was all he could do not to kiss her, but he kept reminding himself this wasn’t right. Every time he’d been with her before, the voice of reason had never won. Passion had. “Please what?”
Good grief, why had his voice dropped so low?

“I—I didn’t mean it like that.” She gulped. “I didn’t say what I did for you to do...
this
.”

Using his other hand, he swept his fingertips across her cheek, down her neck to rest on her shoulder. Her body remained stiff, although her breathing accelerated. She glanced at his mouth a few times, but switched her attention back to his stare. Panic laced her eyes, and he knew he definitely couldn’t kiss her now.

“Forgive me, Diana.” He pulled away completely. The warmth of her body left him in shock, like cold water being thrown on him. He forced a grin. “Besides, I was just teasing. I’m flattered you think I’m still handsome and charming.”

Slowly, he stood and tested his leg to make sure they would carry him as he walked. Thankfully, the feeling was back in them. He walked to the window and looked out on the wet land.

“I said that because I wondered why you hadn’t married anyone,” she said softly.

A grin pulled at the corners of his mouth and he glanced in her direction. “I haven’t married because you kidnapped me, remember?”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m speaking about before that. Why haven’t you married someone before now?”

“Because I had loved someone at one time, and had been hurt. Terribly hurt. I hadn’t recovered my memory from the accident, and I didn’t know why I was such a bitter man. Now I do.”

She scowled. “What do you mean you didn’t know until now?”

“Because parts of the past were blocked from my mind.
Last night I had a breakthrough and I remembered what had happened…what had
really
happened between us.”

“Tell me, Tristan,” she said rising from the sofa to walk toward him. Her forehead was creased with anger.
“Because apparently your version of the truth and mine are completely different.”

Chapter Nine

Never had Diana felt more puzzled than right now. And yet an inner panic began to grow in her chest. What if all these years she’d been misinformed and had judged Tristan too harshly?

Dryness had suddenly filled her mouth and she swallowed. No matter what was said, she was relieved to know the truth would finally come out. She’d waited three years for this.

“Last night while in my very uncomfortable position, I had a dream.” He ran his fingers through his unkempt hair. “Actually, it wasn’t a dream at all, but my mind was being opened. The fog that had covered my memory had been lifted. I now know exactly what happened.”