Immediately he saw the change in her face, and felt her shoulders tense. She looked away, seeming now to be unable to meet his eye. They moved through the dance together, but the easy flow between them had gone. Her movements felt mechanical.
The waltz came to an end and Tristan led her to the edge of the dance floor, still holding her hand. As soon as they reached the lawn, though, she pulled her hand away, still not looking at him.
“Please, you must excuse me,” she murmured. “I am feeling unwell.” She turned and walked away from him without another word, leaving him standing stock still on the edge of the dance floor.
He watched as she fled across the lawn, his thoughts a mass of confusion again. In a tiny moment, everything had changed between them, and now he was left standing alone, once again struggling to make sense of his life and everything that was going on around him.
Diana pushed through the crowd, looking for a space where she could be alone with her thoughts. She had thought that she could pretend that everything was normal, and enjoy the playful banter with him, but in the moment when they had locked eyes, as they twirled and spun, she had felt her heart fluttering in a way she had not anticipated. Each touch of his hand sent shivers down her spine, and with every step, she felt closer to him, drawn into the warmth of his presence. Yet, as the rhythm of the dance continued, she had not been able to shake the feeling of dread that loomed over her—she was falling for the man who was courting her sister. The man who was going to marry her sister. Nothing he had said to her had given her any reason to believe that his plans had changed, and she knew, in that instant, that she had to get away from him.
And now, she leaned back against a tree on the far side of the garden, as far away from the other guests as she could manage to be without risking getting lost in the darkness, and all the thoughts that had been haunting her for days flooded back into her mind.
The situation was beyond complicated, and she felt torn between the feelings that surged within her and the loyalty she knew that she owed to her sister. What good was it now, indulging the way that she now knew that she felt about Tristan?
He was not a rake; she saw that now. He was a man with a difficult past, who had done his best to protect himself from theinfluences and pressures of others, and who had done his best to provide for his family. And in his choices when it came to looking for a wife, he had been careful too. Of course he had; his position dictated it. She saw it all now clearly, for what it was.
The look in his eyes, though, had been undeniable. She wondered if he felt something for her too, that there was something between them that was becoming impossible to deny. A connection that they could not escape from.
But escape from it she must. She had to accept the reality of the situation. She could not allow the feelings in her that he had stirred to begin to take root into something more serious. She had to put a stop to it, now. And if that meant putting some distance between herself and the earl, then that is what she would have to do.
She glanced back to see Tristan watching her, confusion and concern mingling in his gaze. Her heart ached at the sight, for she knew that she was running away from something that could have been real, in another scenario. But the thought of her sister, the loyalty she owed to her family, weighed heavily on her mind. She could not allow herself to fall for Tristan, not when it would mean shattering Grace’s heart and destroying her hopes of happiness.
With that thought, she slipped further into the shadows, seeking refuge from the whirlwind of emotions that threatened to engulf her. The night had been enchanting, but it had also opened a door to a world of feelings she was not ready to confront.
And as she leaned against the cool bark of the tree and listened to the leaves rustling above her head, she closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer for strength. She needed to find a way to quell the feelings that had awakened within her, to push aside the allure of Tristan, the man who had captivated her heart.
But deep down, she knew the truth - her heart was already lost, and the more she tried to deny it, the more it would ache for him. But she could not give into it. She must be strong, and find a way through the mire.
CHAPTER 23
Tristan stood on the edge of the dance floor, watching as Diana slipped into the shadows on the other side of the garden. Her retreat from him left a hollow ache in his chest. He had allowed himself to fall into the moment with her, and lose himself completely. That easy sense of being with her that felt all too natural, but then he had seen the panic in her eyes and felt her pulling away from him.
He tried to shake off the unsettling feelings that swirled within him, pushing aside the worry that gnawed at his mind. But he could not understand what had happened. She had been utterly radiant in his arms, just moments before, but now she had vanished, and he was left with a sense of loss that he could not explain, not even to himself.
As he mingled with the guests, laughter and music filled the air, but he found it impossible to enjoy the festivities. All he could think of was Diana’s pale face when she had declared herself unwell. Was she truly ill, or had she simply needed an escape from him? The thought of her suffering, of needing help, drovehim to distraction. He knew that he had to do something. He had to go and find her.
“My Lord,” a voice called, pulling him from his thoughts. It was Lady Grace. Her expression was bright as she approached him, but there was an edge of concern in her eyes. “Are you all right? You seem to be rather preoccupied.”
“Yes, quite,” he lied, forcing a smile. “Perhaps I am getting old, My Lady. I suspect that I am just a little tired, and all the festivities are beginning to take their toll.”
She giggled. “You are not old, My Lord,” she said. “But perhaps you should take a moment away from the crowd, just to gather your thoughts. She glanced across the garden, towards the entrance to the maze. “The night air is lovely.”
He nodded absently, his thoughts still lingering on Diana. Without another word, he excused himself, his feet carrying him toward the hedge maze. It was almost automatic; he could feel something drawing him in that direction, and he was unable to resist. The cool night air brushing against his skin as he walked. The labyrinth of greenery had always been a place of solace, but tonight it felt like a sanctuary where his heart could finally confront the chaos within.
As he stood by the entrance, a thought occurred to him. Perhaps Diana would have sought refuge here, too. It was, of course, the place where they had shared their first moment together, and no one else was likely to come looking for her here. Upon entering the maze, he called out softly. “Diana?”
He hardly dreamed that she would answer him, and when silence answered him, he ventured deeper, feeling a growing sense of unease. Where could she have gone? The moonlight cast ethereal shadows, illuminating the path ahead, and he followed it with determination.
Then he heard it—a soft sound, like a muffled sob, echoing through the hedges. He quickened his pace, his heart racing as he rounded a corner. There she was, standing with her back to him, her silhouette outlined against the moonlight, shoulders trembling with emotion.
“Diana,” he said, stepping closer, concern flooding his voice. “What is wrong? Are you truly unwell?”
She spun around, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. But when he looked into her eyes, he saw that the anger in her gaze was palpable. “You shouldn’t be here, Tristan. Please, I should not have to tell you. You need to leave me alone. Have you not done enough damage already, without risking throwing us into a scandal again?”
“Leave you alone?” he echoed incredulously. “How can I leave you alone? You just ran away. You said you were unwell. I was worried about you, out here in the dark on your own?
“Worried about me? Why?” she snapped, her voice sharp. “You have my blessing to pursue my sister, and to marry her, since that is what you both want. What more do you want from me?”
Tristan felt a surge of frustration rise within him. “What do you mean? I wanted to know if you’re alright! I was worried about you, Diana! You cannot just run off like that.”
