Isabelle chatted about the guests she intended to invite while Judith picked at her food. It would be enjoyable to see Dominicagain, but could she talk to him without wanting Trey nearby? She silently cursed that man, then herself for not being able to stop thinking about him.
After the meal, both she and the dowager walked into the drawing room. Judith stood by the window, gazing into the flower garden. The bright sun colored rainbows above the beautiful plants and beckoned her to venture out and enjoy their loveliness. It wouldn’t happen today. Not with her sour mood. She’d wilt the petals if she strolled too close.
“Judith, I hope you do not mind, but I would like us to travel into London to Bond Street this afternoon. I feel it’s time to outfit you in the latest fashion.”
She yanked her attention away from the window and focused on her guardian. “Why? I’m not in need of anything. I have plenty of gowns.”
Isabelle flipped her hand in the air. “Humor an old woman, please. I would very much like to take you shopping. Besides, women can never have enough gowns and accessories in my opinion.”
Strange how being raised a country girl was so different than how Isabelle lived her life. Judith nodded. “Then I would enjoy an outing with you.”
Her guardian walked to her before clasping their hands. “We shall have a fabulous time. Go now and ready yourself. I would like to leave shortly.”
“As you wish.”
As Judith hurried to her room, her thoughts turned to Trey once again. Not too long ago he’d offered to take her shopping, but she declined. What would have happened if she hadn’t turned him down? A thrill shot through her and made her stomach flutter. Going alone with him would certainly cause a scandal, especially since she couldn’t keep away from him. Instead, she’d have to imagine what it would have beenlike in secret, knowing it would never happen in real life. Unfortunately, reality was not as sweet and left her heart flat, without emotion.
It didn’t take long to get ready for the trip, and soon she sat across from the dowager in the black coach trimmed with silver; the family’s crest painted on the door. The coach bumped them around on the seat, more than Judith would like.
“Your Grace? Would you mind if I asked you something personal?”
The older woman’s eyebrows rose. “What is it, my dear?”
“I sincerely hope I’m not dredging up bad memories, but—” she swallowed hard—“Lord Trey briefly mentioned Lord Tristan had died. If you are up to it, could you tell me what happened?”
Isabelle’s smile faded and her eyes ceased sparkling. She wrung her hands in her lap as she switched her attention to the landscape passing outside the window.
Judith’s heart sank. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said anything, but she desperately wanted to know the fate of her childhood friend. It was obvious Trey was troubled by his brother’s death and refused to talk.
Several minutes passed. The only sound came from the clip-clop of the horse’s hoofs, and the coach’s wheels crunching on the road. Finally, the dowager turned as her eyes met Judith’s stare.
“I suppose I could speak about it. I have not said anything for so long, hoping the pain would disappear.” She shook her head. “It has not.”
“It might never leave,” Judith whispered. “I will always mourn the death of my parents, but I choose to remember the good times instead of the bad.”
“You are correct of course, my dear.” The older woman pulled herself a little straighter. “The truth is I really do not know every detail of his death, just what Trey has related.”
Judith wrinkled her brow. “Lord Trey was with him?”
“Oh, yes. They were traveling abroad, somewhere near the North Sea. Trey said they came upon bandits who were being chased by the local military regiment, and they were caught in the crossfire. Tristan was shot, and the blow knocked him off his horse. Apparently, they were near a cliff, and Tristan fell a great distance into the water below.” The dowager’s bottom lip trembled. “Trey tried to find his brother. Searched night and day, and had others helping, but they finally came to the conclusion the sea had taken Tristan’s body.”
The dowager dabbed her finger at the moisture sliding down her cheek. A knot formed in Judith’s throat. What a tragic death.
Isabelle sniffled. “Trey was beside himself for months afterward. He stayed in his room or his study, drinking himself into oblivion. I feared for his mental state. He would not talk about it. When he did, he blamed himself.”
Tears gathered in Judith’s eyes as her heart broke.
“If it was not for Lord Hawthorne, I don’t know what would have become of my son.”
“What did Lord Hawthorne do?”
The duchess shrugged. “I never learned exactly what he had accomplished, but Dominic stayed in Trey’s study for forty-eight hours straight talking and sobering my son. After that, Trey took things day by day. He was never the same. For some reason, he had hardened his heart against everything he had cherished.”
“And Lord Trey has never talked about what happened?”
The older woman shook her head. “Never. Every time I ask him, he changes the conversation.”
“Was that when his lifestyle became…um…less than admirable?”
