“It’s the least you could do,” Sir Orwen grumbled. “After tonight, you won’t see us again and I, for one, would like to know what is so horrible that prevents us from being set free.”
Diana blinked at Sir Orwen. “Where will you go after tonight, if you aren’t freed?”
“We will still be here, but you will no longer see or hear us because we would have failed.”
Diana pressed a hand against her breast. “I didn’t know.” The thought of no longer being pestered by them was disturbing. Yes, they got on her nerves, but she would miss them just the same
“You owe us.” Sir Orwen glanced at the clock and frowned.
It was nearing nine. She didn’t know when the deaths had happened, but as the sun slipped away, they’d become more despondent and depressed.
In fact, they weren’t even bickering any longer, but simply resigned to repeat their fate.
Diana looked from one to the other. As she was the cause for them not moving on, perhaps they did deserve an explanation.
She gave a quick glance about the room, but there were too many people about. First, she certainly didn’t want to be overheard. And second, others might think her mad if she appeared to be talking to herself even though she was behind the palms. “Not here.”
“The gardens?” Sir Gilbert offered hopefully.
“Anywhere that we won’t be overheard because the tale is not only humiliating, but painful, if you must know, and why I find it difficult to speak of,” she whispered behind her fan so others wouldn’t see her lips move.
“This way,” Sir Orwen insisted and Diana followed him outside and further into the gardens until they came to a quiet corner.
Diana sank onto a bench. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t help you. I truly am.”
Sir Gilbert took her hand in his cold one, not that he could actually hold it, but the comforting gesture did fill her with warmth.
“Just tell us what has caused you so much pain.”
The tears welled and she went to swipe them from her eyes. Sir Orwen fished a handkerchief from his doublet and waved it before her. It was as ghostly as he and offered Diana no assistance in wiping the tears away. “I appreciate the offer. Thank you, Sir Orwen.”
He frowned and shoved the handkerchief back inside of his doublet.
“Dry your tears and tell us,” Sir Gilbert said kindly.
And she did, from the moment she’d heard James’ name come from the card room, his vow to remain a bachelor, and then, that he’d been her mother’s lover.
“He confessed he had changed his mind about being a bachelor. We were there,” Sir Orwen insisted.
“If that was all, we might now be betrothed, but he was my mother’s lover.”
The two knights stared at her as if they weren’t certain why she was upset.
“While he was courting me, he was bedding my mother. How can I marry him knowing what they’ve done? If it would have been anyone else, a mistress, stranger, whore, I might have been able to forgive if he swore to be true to me. But it was mymother.”
“I don’t believe Lord Somerton would ever be untrue to you,” Sir Orwen offered. “He loves you very much.”
“That won’t stop my mother from pursuing him if she so wished,” Diana sniffed. “Further, how do I know that he won’t compare me to her. What if I don’t make him happy? What if he wants her instead of me?” The tears flowed as she confessed all of her fears.
Sir Orwen frowned and Sir Gilbert did the best that he could to pat her on the shoulder.
“Now, now, perhaps if you explain,” Sir Gilbert offered.
She shook her head emphatically. “I can’t speak of it with him. It’s too humiliating. Besides, there is nothing he’d be able to say to ease my fears.”
“Can you at least give him the chance? For us?” Sir Gilbert begged.
“Perhaps you were mistaken. Gossips do not always have the facts correct,” Sir Orwen offered.
