Finally, he’d danced with other women—older matrons, of course—before seeking Diana out again. Just as last night, she found her by the refreshment table. It was almost as if she knew he’d come there for her because when she saw him heading her way, happiness made her face glow.
“Miss Baldwin.” He bowed.
“Lord Tristan.” She curtsied. “You seem out of breath. Have you been dancing too much this evening?”
He leaned into her and lowered his voice. “Actually, I think I was out of breath hurrying over here to see you.”
Her cheeks bloomed with color. “How shameful.”
He winked. “I’m only being honest.”
“I like that in a man.”
“Just as I want a woman to be honest with me.” He nodded. “And so that being said, I would like your honest opinion.” He straightened. “Would you care to take a walk with me outside?”
“That idea sounds heavenly. I would love to take a walk with you.”
“Splendid.” He offered his arm, and she took it. Walking toward the door with her next to him made him feel like the grandest man on earth. It still surprised him that this woman could make him react in such a way.
Once they were outside, their footsteps slowed as they moved down the pathway lit with outdoor lanterns. The full moon also helped light the way, especially when he would soon take her off the lantern-lit pathway.
“Miss Baldwin, I have to tell you how much I enjoyed spending time with you this afternoon.”
She looked up at him with twinkling eyes. “As did I.”
“You kept me thoroughly entertained, and I thank you for that.”
“Well, I did try my hardest, my lord.”
“Please, call me Tristan.”
She nodded. “And I give you permission to call me Diana.”
He led her off the pathway and back toward the trees. Many shadows helped to make their walk more private, which was the very thing he was after.
“Will you be staying all day tomorrow? Mother doesn’t have many events planned for tomorrow, but the party goes on all day.”
Diana shrugged. “I don’t know my mother’s plans, but I do believe we will be staying.”
“Splendid.” He patted her hand still around his arm. “Because I want to spend more time with you.”
“Lord…er, Tristan, I hate to confess this, but I do understand how Lady Hastings and her friends feel, because I don’t know why you want to spend so much time with me.”
He gave her a quizzical stare. “What kind of comment is that?”
“Hear me out first.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sure by now you have heard the rumors I’d spoken of about my family, and yet still you are treating me as if I’m the daughter of a grand duchess.”
“I hate to disappoint, but I have not heard any rumors about your family, and I don’t care to listen to rumors, anyway. I have already made up my mind about you, and—”
The sound of his name being called from across the yard made him pause. He gnashed his teeth. Why can’t Jane leave me be for one night?
Tristan swiped his fingers through his hair, taking in deep breaths as he tried to cool his anger. It surprised him how quickly that woman could irritate him. He glanced around them for a place to hide. Back behind the trees, sat a greenhouse. This would be the perfect place for them to go without being interrupted, especially when it wasn’t noticeable along the pathway.
He grasped Diana’s hand and tugged. “Come. I know where we can go that nobody will find us.”
“Where?”
“It’s my mother’s pride and joy.”
She nodded and followed. As he led the way, he still kept a sharp eye out for anyone who might see them. Thankfully the area around the greenhouse wasn’t lit as well. Even inside the greenhouse the lights were dimmed.
He tested the handle and it opened. Breathing a relieved sigh, he walked them inside and closed the door.
“Will anyone be able to see inside if they pass by?”
“If we stand away from the lanterns, I’m sure nobody will notice us.”
She nodded and walked around him as if studying each plant. Thankfully, she headed away from the lanterns.
“The Dowager Duchess of Kensington certainly has a lovely greenhouse,” she said.
“Indeed, my mother does.”
“My mother keeps a small one at our country estate, but it’s nowhere as grand as this.”
He walked behind her, trying hard not to touch her because if he did, he’d surely pull her into his arms. “And where exactly is your country estate?”
She grinned at him over her shoulder. “I told you. It’s near Bristol.”
“Why do you do that?” He shook his head. “I have watched you closely these past two days—just as I know you have watched me—and I can tell you’re a secretive woman. Your half-answered remarks are one of the reasons I want to get to know you better.”
“Tristan, I assure you I’m not an intriguing person.” She trailed her fingers across the table near the potted plants.
“You are wrong.” He caught her hand. She stopped and met his gaze. “In fact, you have kept me enthralled all day today and most of the evening yesterday, and I would like to know why.”
“I fear I don’t know how to answer that.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips across her knuckles. “I’m happy to know that you are nothing like Lady Jane, but I want to know why. What makes you so different?”
There was a stretch of silence before the corners of her mouth lifted. “I would think it’s a good thing I’m not like her. I can tell you don’t approve of her, either.”
Her comment caught him off guard and he chuckled. “How do you know that?”
“You forget, I have been watching you, and I noticed your subtle refusal when Lady Jane tried to speak with you. Tell me, Lord Tristan, was that my imagination?”
He took a step closer to her, and thankfully she didn’t withdraw. “No, that wasn’t your imagination. Her family and mine are close. Because of that, she thinks she needs to be seen with me during ton functions, which I refuse to do. When she sees me paying attention to another woman, she tries to stop it. Not only that, I cannot tolerate the way she thinks she’s better than others. Since the party started, I’ve caught her glaring at you, and I don’t like it. I can only assume she’s jealous of your beauty.”
“Tristan,” she whispered, “you couldn’t be more wrong.”
“About what?”
“Lady Jane is not jealous of my beauty.”
“She should be.” He moved close—scandalously close.
From outside the greenhouse, women’s voices were heard. He groaned, knowing exactly who had come looking for him. He pulled away from Diana, hurried to the door and locked it. From out the front windows, Ladies Jane and Margaret, and Miss Lilly walked by. He flattened himself against the door then motioned Diana to hide. She crouched low.
When the door handle jiggled, Diana’s eyes widened. She released a small gasp but then quickly covered her mouth. He held his breath, hoping Jane and her friends would not become suspicious.
After a couple of minutes, Jane and the other two finally left. Tristan crept away from the door. When he reached Diana, he grabbed her hand and pulled her deeper into the greenhouse, farther away from the lanterns and stopped them by a thick wooden beam.
“That was close,” he said.
“I know.”
She sighed and relaxed her back against the girder, then chuckled. “Tristan, being with you has certainly been an adventure.”
He smiled. “Shall I assume you are enjoying yourself, then?”
“Very much.”
“Splendid. I’m certainly enjoying the evening.”
A fly buzzed by her head, and he moved it away with his hand. The only discouraging thing about being this far in the shadows was he couldn’t see the color of her eyes. But if he stepped closer… He followed his thoughts.
She laughed and shook her head. “I fear if I do, you may get the wrong impression of my intentions.”
“But my dear, sweet Diana. I’m led to believe your intentions are as wicked as my own.” He arched an eyebrow. “Or am I misreading you?”
Even in the dim lighting, he detected a blush on her cheeks. He swept his knuckle across her heated skin to get his answer.
“Tristan,” she said as she fingered one of the gold buttons on his over jacket. “I don’t know why I’m here with you now. If we were caught, my reputation would be ruined.”
“Then I’ll make certain we are not caught.”
The fly darted by his face again, and he tried to swat it. Soon, her hands were trying to make the insect go away as well. After missing their target, they started laughing.
“Hold still,” he instructed, keeping his eyes on the fly. When it neared her hair, he batted his hand. Instead of knocking the fly away, he bumped her styled hair, making the pins fall out. Her locks tumbled out of the coil and hung around her shoulders.
“Oh, dear,” she gasped and tried to fix it.
Mesmerized, he stopped her hands, lowering them to his chest as he held her palms against him. “Don’t,” he spoke in a deep voice. “I’ve never seen hair so beautiful before.”
“Tristan…this is indecent.” Her voice cracked.
“Please, allow me this one thing.” He caressed her hair, running his fingers from the top of the curls all the way to the bottom where they rested against her arms. She inhaled sharply but didn’t remove herself from his touch. “Your hair is so silky.”
Her chest heaved with quick breaths. He ran the tip of his fingers up her hair once again, until it reached the curve of her neck before sliding his touch to her skin. Creamy, just as he’d imagined it would be. In slow circles, he rubbed his fingers along her collarbone. Her breaths grew quicker, as did his own.
“Tristan, I fear this is very improper.” Her voice was abnormally low and so very soft.
“Diana, I want to hold you so bad it’s killing me.”
Closing her eyes, she sighed heavily. That’s all the encouragement he needed. Cupping her face, he pressed his mouth against hers. Softly, he kissed her lips, gently urging them to part.
“Diana,” he muttered, “your lips are like wine, so pleasing to taste.”
Another moan rattled through her chest as she clung to his shirt. He pushed his body against her, pinning her to the wooden beam. Diana slid her palms up his chest and linked her hands around his neck. Suddenly he craved her touch like nothing he’d ever experienced before.
Tristan didn’t need to tell her what he wanted. It was like she could read his mind. She rubbed her hands over his shoulders, then around his back, pulling him closer.
“Oh, Tristan,” she muttered against his lips, “I have never done this before.”
He broke the kiss and trailed his lips down her throat. “My dear, sweet, Diana. Why can I not control myself around you?”
When he placed his mouth back to hers, the kiss turned wild. Never, had he experienced such desire for a woman, or had enjoyed kissing her so much.
Suddenly, the door rattled again as voices—both men and women—were at the greenhouse. Tristan stilled. Dread settled in his gut. We’re caught!
Chapter Six
Tristan pulled away from Diana and spun toward the door. Diana gasped and clung to his arm.
“Shh…” he told her. “Unless someone has a key, they will not be able to get in.”
“What if it’s your mother, or a brother?”
“Let’s pray it’s not.”
Tristan held his breath and focused on the door. Several long minutes passed before the group outside the door moved on and he was able to expel a relieved breath.
“Oh, Tristan,” she sighed and rested her head against his chest. “That was too close.”
“I know.” He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her head. “We must leave. I would not want anything to ruin your reputation.”
Nodding, she looked up at him and smiled. “I thank you for thinking of me. No matter how tonight ends, I want you to know I have had the most exciting evening.”
He grinned. “As have I—one that I shall never forget.”
She moved away, but then he realized her hair was a mess. “Diana, wait.” He pulled her arm until she came back to him. “We need to fix your hair.”
“Oh, heavens!” She gasped and brushed her fingers over her glorious mass. “If I’m seen like this, my name would be ruined, indeed.”
As best he could, he helped her wrap her hair back in the coil, but unfortunately, it wasn’t perfect and he knew if anyone saw her this way, they would definitely suspect what she’d been doing.
“Diana, I’m sorry but I was never a good lady’s maid.”
She chuckled. “Well, that’s a good thing, is it not?”
“I shall take you to the back of the house so that nobody sees you.” He stroked her cheek. “Although I do not wish to end our evening this way, I think it is best.”
“Yes, it is.”
Side by side they walked out of the greenhouse. Tristan glanced around the yard to make sure there weren’t others out here that would see them. Thankfully, the guests were further back toward the house.
He walked her back to the house then took her to the servant’s entry. “Just follow the stairs up to the floor where your bedroom is located and you should be fine.”
“Once again, Tristan, I thank you for a lovely night.”
She looked adorable in the moonlight, and although the urge was strong to take her back into his arms, he couldn’t. Ruining her reputation was not a gentlemanly thing to do. “I will see you tomorrow at breakfast.”
“Yes, you will.”
He mocked a small bow. “Then until tomorrow…” He gave her a wink before turning to leave.
As he wandered back to his own room, his body still hummed with desire from that wonderful kiss. Diana was a very passionate woman. Her mouth and those tempting lips would be branded on his forever. Kissing her had been pure enjoyment and now he wished they were still in the greenhouse. Perhaps they should have been caught because then he would have to marry her.
Marriage? He stopped and brought his thoughts to a halt as well. Why would he think about marriage to her? Then again, the idea wasn’t so terrible. He had wanted to marry a woman he could fall in love with. He had always wanted his wife to be a woman he could converse with easily and one who could make him laugh. And of course, she would have to be more beautiful than he’d ever beheld.
He grinned fully. This certainly fit Diana.
Chuckling, he started his trek back to the front of the house. By the time he reached the front door, the idea of proposing to Diana filled him with excitement. The more he fantasized about being married to Diana, the more pleasing it sounded.
* * * *
The next afternoon Diana stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom and stared at the pale-faced, pathetic woman with red, swollen eyes. The last two days had been heaven on earth, and Tristan’s kiss had made all her dreams come true…until early this morning when she was awakened and disaster struck. She should have known something bad would happen to her. It always had. There hadn’t been a time in her life when things had gone her way. For once she would like to see that happen.
Bright and early this morning, her mother had got Diana out of bed with the most dreadful news. Her father had received an offer of marriage…and had accepted it. Diana knew it hadn’t been Tristan because her father was still in Bristol and Tristan was here.
Diana hadn’t gotten a chance to say anything to Tristan before their trunks
were packed and her mother rushed them out of the house before everyone had awakened.
Now, standing in her bedroom, she hesitated on going downstairs to talk to her father. She wanted to tell him to wait another day or two—that Lord Tristan might make an offer, but she feared her father wouldn’t listen. Perhaps if she told him Tristan compromised her…
She shook her head. She couldn’t lie to her father. Although, if she and Tristan had been caught while in their passionate embrace, her reputation would have been turned to ashes and Tristan would indeed have to marry her.
Oh, why didn’t it happen like that?
Grumbling in distaste, she left the room. There was no enthusiasm in her legs as they carried her down the stairs toward the sitting room. Silence greeted her when she walked in and stood in front of her parents. Both of them wore wide smiles.
“Close the door behind you,” her father said.
She did as was told, then walked to the sofa and sat beside her mother. The older woman’s eyes sparkled with excitement, which was something Diana didn’t see often on her mother. Even her father’s cheerful expression was foreign.
“Diana, my dear, I’m very happy about the offer that was made to me yesterday while you and your mother were attending the party.”
Taking a deep breath, she slowly released it. “Who made the offer?”
“Viscount Hollingsworth.”
Hearing the lord’s name was like a slap across the face. Lord Hollingsworth? Why on earth would her father accept a marriage proposal for his daughter from a man like that?
Confusion filled her head and made her dizzy, and at the same time, her stomach churned fitfully. She’d met Lord Hollingsworth a few times over the years, and that’s all it took to decide she couldn’t stand the man. It wasn’t his bright red hair or the red freckles splattered across his pasty face that she didn’t like, nor was it that he was a good twenty years older than herself that made her feel this way about him.
The Sweetest Love (Sons of Worthington Series) Page 6
