The Sweetest Love (Sons of Worthington Series) (20 page)

“Then tell us what you said,” the magistrate said.

Trying not to show how rattled she was, she inhaled slowly and exhaled softly. “I had attended a gathering at his manor with a friend of mine, Lady
Dashwood
. I happened upon Lord Elliot and one of his maids during the event. They were in a room, and as I walked by I heard him yelling at someone. When I looked in the parlor, I saw him slap the woman across the face not once, but several times. Fear was evident in her eyes and the terror in her voice was unmistakable. I cannot bear to see anyone abused, so I snapped at Lord Elliot and reprimanded him for treating the poor girl in such a way—at a social gathering, no less.” She took a deep breath and lifted her chin in defiance. “But not once did I threaten his life, even when he replied with some cruel words toward me.”

The magistrate crossed his arms over his round belly and tapped his finger against his elbow. “Lady Hollingsworth, where were you last night?”

“I have been staying at my grandmother’s cottage near Greenford for the past two weeks. One of my maids was with me, and Lady
Dashwood
visited me twice when I was there. I have only returned home this afternoon.”

“Lady Hollingsworth?” the second man asked. “Are you aware that Lord Elliot was killed in the same manner as your late husband?”

She nodded. “Lady
Dashwood
told me, but if you must know, it’s hard for me to credit.”

“Why is that so?”

“Because I cannot imagine there is someone going around murdering gentlemen in such a way. It’s very frightening.”

Sir Felix nodded. “Indeed, it is. Lady Hollingsworth,” he continued without hesitating, “how close are you to Lord Tristan?”

Fear clutched her throat, and she held her breath. How could she answer that question? Good heavens! She forced herself to laugh lightly. “Oh, I’m quite certain you already know the answer to that. If you have lived around these parts in the past few years, I’m sure you have heard about the scandal that happened between Lord Tristan and
myself
.”

Both men nodded, but it was the magistrate who continued his questions. “That is the very reason I ask, my lady. As you are probably aware, Lord Tristan is also a suspect.”

“Yes, I heard the rumor.”

“Well, we are now wondering if the two killings are connected…that maybe there is more than one person involved.”

She didn’t like the sound of that. “Pray, please cease confusing me in such a manner. What has this got to do with Lord Tristan?”

The magistrate’s eyes narrowed and a wicked grin stretched his lips. “With all due respect, Lady Hollingsworth, we are wondering if you and Lord Tristan are working together on this—ridding the world of men who abuse women.”

“Of all the insane, ridiculous notions!”
Diana jumped to her feet. “You two must be out of your mind to think such a thing.”

The two men quickly rose. “Lady Hollingsworth, were you not with Lord Tristan these past few days? Rumors have it that he was kidnapped and taken away from Mayfair by a woman set on revenge.” The magistrate arched his brow. “And you just admitted to be at your grandmother’s cottage for the past little while. I think this is too coincidental.”

“Then you,” Diana growled each word slowly, “are thinking entirely too much.” Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on calming her ire. “Tell me, did you once stop to ask yourself that if I had kidnapped Lord Tristan and taken him to my grandmother’s cottage, how would we have been able to murder Lord Elliot?
Especially with his lordship’s manor completely out of the way from my grandmother’s cottage.”

The two dolts exchanged worried glances before they aimed their attention back to her.

“Thank you, my lady.” Sir Felix bowed. “You have been very accommodating. If we have any more questions, we’ll let you know.”

She walked to the parlor door, and motioned the butler over. “Mr. Phillips, please show these men out.”

“Yes, my lady.”

She stood by the door and kept her eyes on them as the butler led them down the corridor to the front door. Each step they took made her heart sink lower. Those two idiots couldn’t possibly find any evidence that would link her to the murders, could they? Yet, her nightmare was hinting at reality. In her heart she
had
wanted her husband dead, and she
had
wished for Lord Elliot to have the same demise.

And what about Lord Tristan?
How could anyone have known that he’d spent the past few days with her at the cottage?

Groaning, she rubbed her forehead, realizing that a pain in her skull had been there since she waited for the magistrate to arrive. The happiness she’d always wanted in her life was moving further and further away. Just as she felt Tristan would.

From one of the other rooms, the door slowly opened and Tabitha cautiously poked her head out. She took a quick glance up and down the corridor before straightening and exiting the room, heading toward Diana in an unhurried pace. When she reached the sitting room, they both entered as Tabitha closed the door behind them.

“How did it go?” Tabitha asked in a quiet voice.

Emitting a deep breath, Diana covered her face with her hands, her heart ready to break and tears to flow at any moment. “I fear I made them more suspicious. I could not lie to them, so I evaded their questions.” Breathing slower, she dropped her hands and looked back at Tabitha. “However, I really think they know what I was trying to do.”

“Nonsense,” Tabitha said as she patted Diana’s shoulder. “Most men aren’t that astute.”

A smile tugged on Diana’s mouth. She just couldn’t help it. Sometimes Tabitha’s clever comments made her laugh. “I had thought the same, but the magistrate and his man knew things they shouldn’t have.”

“Like what?”

“They suspected Tristan was with me at the cottage.”

Tabitha scowled and folded her arms.

“Those two suspect that Tristan and I were working together to rid the world of people like my husband and Lord Elliot.”

The servant arched an eyebrow. “Not a bad idea, if I must say.”

Once again, Tabitha’s comment caught Diana off guard and she chuckled. “As much as I feel the same, killing people is not the way to do it.”

Tabitha shrugged. “Nice thought while it lasted.”

Diana squeezed her friend’s hands. “I’m just glad you are here to lend me support. Heaven knows Ludlow’s servants would not care in the least what happens to me.”

“I will always be your friend, Diana.”

She released a sigh and tried to relax. “Tell me, did you get a chance to ride back to the cottage this morning to check on Sally?”

“Yes, and I’m happy to report, she’s up and moving around, and her face is looking much better. It’s not swollen any longer.”

Sighing with relief, Diana nodded. “I’m very grateful for that. Maybe now Lady
Dashwood
can find employment for her.”

Tabitha grew abnormally quiet as her expression took on a faraway look. She was thinking about something, and Diana didn’t dare interrupt her friend’s thoughts.

Tabitha tapped her chin as her gaze finally cleared. “Tell me, my lady, how well do you
know
Sally?”

Diana shrugged. “Not that well at all. I only met her the night I caught Lord Elliot beating her. Why do you ask?”

“Forgive me for wondering this, but…is it possible that Sally killed Lord Elliot before you had rescued her that night?”

Diana’s stomach churned with unease. That thought had crossed her mind a time or two. “I suppose it’s possible, and I would not judge her if she had ended her employer’s life.” She shook her head. “However, we need to think bigger, here. Whoever killed Lord Elliot also killed my husband since both crimes were committed in the same fashion. However, I don’t believe my husband was close enough friends with Lord Elliot to know his servants and vice-versa.”

“I suppose you are correct,” Tabitha said with a sigh. “I was just trying to think of other people to help keep the magistrate from arresting you.”

“I thank you, my friend, but we cannot blame the innocent. We must put our minds together and try to think of who might be doing this, because if the magistrate doesn’t find any more suspects, he will surely arrest me or Tristan.” A pain pierced her heart. She couldn’t bear the thought of Tristan arrested. “But I need you to do something for me.”

“What is it, my lady?”

Diana hurried to the desk in the corner of the room, found a piece of paper and ink pen. “I need you to deliver a note to Lord Tristan, posthaste.” She sat and neatly penned a short missive. “I need to let him know what happened with the magistrate today.”

“Why do we not just take a drive and see if we can run into him in Town?”

“Because until the true killer is caught, Tristan and I cannot be seen together.
That will only make people more suspicious.”

“That’s understandable.”

After she finished the note, she blew on the ink to dry it, and then folded it. As she handed it to Tabitha, she met her friend’s gaze. “Give it directly to him and nobody else.”

“As you wish, my lady.”

Tabitha turned and hurried out of the room. Diana’s eyes misted and she prayed everything would go according to plan. She must see Tristan, and the only way was after dark and after everyone was asleep…and the only place to meet was in her bedroom. They could ill afford having a servant—or anyone for that matter—witness their meeting.

Chapter Thirteen

“Bloody fools!”
Tristan grumbled as he stared blankly at the black and white chess pieces on the table in front of him. His opponent, Lord Hawthorne, sat directly across from him. Dominic had come over to try and talk some sense into Tristan, but instead, he convinced his friend to play a game of chess. Unfortunately, Tristan couldn’t keep his mind on the game. Not when the magistrate had dropped by this morning.

“Worthington? Is the reference you made to
fools
aimed toward your chess pieces or something else?” Dominic had a hint of laughter in his tone, and sparkle of humor in his eyes.

Tristan shook his head. “I was referring to the magistrate and the idiot with him.”

“Ah, now your words make more sense.” Dominic nodded. “I must agree. Those two are fools, but fools who have solved many crimes before. Sometimes I wonder how they do it when they don’t have an ounce of brain in their heads.”

Looking up from the chess pieces, Tristan pierced
Nic
with a scowl. “Are you mocking me?”

“Hardly, my good man.”
Nic
waved his hand in the air. “I’m merely agreeing with you in my own humorous way.”

“Well, now is not the time or place for humor. I have much on my mind, and none of it is worth laughing over.”

“That explains,”
Nic
paused as he moved his white Knight and took over one of Tristan’s black Bishops, “why I’m winning.”

Although Tristan didn’t like losing, in this case he should just throw his hands in the air and admit defeat. Under the circumstances, there was no way he could concentrate on the game now.

“So tell me, what is it about their visit that has left you so upset?” Hawthorne leaned back in his chair.

“They tried to get me to confess the identity of the lady who kidnapped me, and even suggested the two of us were working together in Elliot and Hollingsworth’s murders.”

“Surely you jest.”
Nic’s
eyebrows creased. “Why would they say that?”

“Because they are bloody fools!”

Nic
tilted his head as his gaze narrowed on Tristan. “Tell me truthfully and settle my mind. Was the lady who kidnapped you the same lady you had fallen in love with so quickly a few years past?”

Tristan couldn’t tell his friend. Yet, Dominic Lawrence had always been a trustworthy fellow.
Nic
wasn’t the kind of man who spread hurtful lies, either. “What would you say if indeed it was Lady Hollingsworth?”

Groaning,
Nic
rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “I would say my friend was not in his right mind.” He met Tristan’s gaze again. “Because I know for certain that you have feelings for Diana, and at this time in your life, that is not a good thing.”

“What makes you think I have feelings for her?”

“It was obvious when you talked to us after your return the other day,”
Nic
answered.

Shrugging, Tristan focused back on the chess set.
“So what of it?
Diana and I talked for the first time since my accident. We both discovered truths that were kept from us.” He lifted his eyes to his friend. “And believe me when I tell you, she was not to blame in any of this. Not with what happened back then and certainly not what has happened to Hollingsworth and Elliot recently.”

“Although you might think this way,”
Nic
said, leaning forward, “the magistrate will see it differently. He will think Diana wanted her husband dead all this time because of what Hollingsworth did to her love for you. Now that you’re back from the dead, the magistrate will think you and Diana killed her husband so the two of you could finally be together.”