“That will be lovely!” Grace said, smiling.
Tristan was about to reply, when Diana’s laughter, coming from behind them, broke his concentration. She was walking with Lord Anthony, a little way behind them, and Tristan could not help but turn to look at them. The man was handsome, he had to admit, but he could not understand what it was that Diana was finding so amusing. Lord Anthony seemed to draw her attention effortlessly, even though Tristan himself had never reallyconsidered him to be particularly interesting. He wondered for a moment why he had even invited the man to the party.
He turned away, and forced his attention back to Grace, even though he was struggling to think of what to say next, and she herself was doing little to move the conversation along.
“What plans do you have for the remainder of the season?” he asked her.
She paused before replying. “It rather depends, My Lord,” she said, and he that perhaps she was being a little coy, and referring to whether or not she was likely to become engaged. But as she continued, he realized that was not what she meant at all.
“My sister does not like to be much in society, as you know,” she said. “So I suspect that once we have returned home, we will live quietly for a while.”
Tristan nodded absently; no matter how hard he tried to focus on Grace, his mind kept drifting. He had not heard her voice for a while – not heard that tinkling laugh that was distracting him beyond measure. Had she and Lord Anthony wandered off alone? He did not want to look back again to see if they were still walking behind; he sensed that Grace was aware of how distracted he was, and he did not want her to suspect the reason behind it. But if Diana had ventured off alone with Lord Anthony, was she even safe? His mind raced with thoughts as he walked along next to Grace, entirely unable to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the gardens due to the turmoil in his mind.
Finally, he could bear it no longer. He turned his head to look behind him, only to see Diana and Anthony walking close together, sharing smiles and whispers. His heart dropped each time he noticed the way Diana’s eyes sparkled when she spoke to him. Each and every glance they exchanged felt like a dagger to his heart. He felt a simmering frustration building within him, even as they made their way through the tranquil gardens, flowers blooming on either side of the path.
“Isn’t it simply lovely in the gardens?” Grace remarked, her voice breaking through his reverie.
“Quite,” he replied absently, his gaze still locked on Diana, who was now leaning closer to Anthony, her laughter bright and carefree. “Perhaps a little too lovely,” he muttered under his breath.
“My Lord?” Grace’s voice held a note of concern. “Are you quite well?”
“Of course,” he replied, forcing a smile. He had not realized how much his irritation was showing. He resolved to try harder to conceal his feelings. “Forgive me, I was a little distracted. I was just admiring the flowers.” He knew that he sounded ridiculous, but he could not think of anything else to say. He felt irritated, even now, as he looked back again at Diana and Anthony. She had made him worry about her, and all the while, she looked as if she did not have a care in the world.
Diana caught his eye and raised an eyebrow. The tension in Tristan’s chest tightened as he watched her. He could feel theheat of jealousy clawing at him, and the longer they walked, the more he struggled to contain it.
“Shall we sit for a moment?” Lord Anthony suggested, gesturing toward a nearby bench shaded by an old oak tree.
Tristan’s heart sank further. “Perhaps we should continue walking,” he interjected, his tone sharper than intended. All he wanted now was for this experience to be over, and to never have to set eyes on Lord Anthony again, and here was the man proposing to elongate the experience by taking a rest.
“Tristan, it is a lovely day,” Lady Grace said, her voice gently reproachful. “We can rest for a moment. It will not delay us. I did not think we were in a hurry this morning? There is nothing else planned for the guests, is there?”
“You are right, there is nothing planned. We can rest if you wish,” he replied tersely. He felt unwilling to relent, but he did not wish to seem churlish. He could hardly refuse the ladies the chance of a rest, if they needed it. But as they settled onto the bench, his frustration reached a boiling point. He needed to speak with Diana alone, but he had no idea how he was going to manage it, not with Lady Grace and Lord Anthony making up the other half of the party. But he had to get away for a moment, to clear his head and to try to quiet the thoughts swirling around in his mind.
“Excuse me,” he announced abruptly, rising from the bench. He strode away, leaving the others watching him curiously. He knew that it would appear strange to be walking away like this,but he had to find a moment of solitude to gather his thoughts. If he did not, he thought that his head might burst with the pressure of it all.
After a few moments, he found a secluded spot behind a hedge. He made sure that he was hidden from view, then took a few deep breaths to steady himself. Finally, he felt that he was beginning to regain his composure, and he was about to turn and rejoin the others, when he heard footsteps approaching. It was Diana, and he could not quite name the emotions he felt as she came near.
“Lord Silvermere?” she said softly, a concerned expression on her face. “What is the matter? Why have you gone off on your own?”
He turned to face her, irritation bubbling just beneath the surface. “I need you to give me some space,” he said, his voice strained despite his attempts to keep his tone steady. Somehow, he wanted her to leave him alone, but he also wanted her to stay near, at the same time.
“Space? What on earth do you mean?” she replied. She crossed her arms defensively and glared at him. “You seem to be angry with me, but I cannot see that I have done anything to deserve it?”
“Nothing?” he retorted, frustration spilling over. “How can you say that?”
Diana looked at him, blinking in surprise. “I do not know what you mean, My Lord!”
“How can I focus on anything else, when you are laughing and joking with him all the time?” Tristan demanded. He felt the words pouring from his mouth like a fountain, before he had even thought through what he was going to say. He was losing control, but he did not know how to stop it.
He saw the look of shock on his face, and knew that he could not take back what he had said. She would know, now, that he was jealous, and she would think him pathetic, no doubt.
Diana’s eyes widened in disbelief, her expression shifting from confusion to anger. “You cannot be serious! I am merely enjoying a conversation with a pleasant gentleman. You have spent time with my sister; what right do you have to claim that I owe you my attention? You are being childish and selfish.”
“Do you not see how easily you are swayed?” he snapped, taking a step closer. “Lord Anthony has come out of nowhere and now he is the only person you are paying any attention to. Do you not realize what it is that he wants from you? Or do you think that everyone is as innocent and blameless as you are?”
“I do not know what you are talking about,” she said, turning away from him. “This conversation is ridiculous. I will take no further part in it.”
“You are impossible!” Tristan exploded. “I can bear it no longer!”
