Her mother snorted a laugh then quickly switched her gaze between the other two ladies before meeting Diana’s eyes. “But my dear, we’ve just arrived. There’s no reason to leave.” She patted her daughter’s hands. “All you need is to rest for a bit. I’m quite certain you’ll feel much better by suppertime.” She turned Diana toward the house and gave her a gentle push. “Now go up to our room and lie down. I’ll wake you before the meal.”
Disheartened, Diana trudged toward the house. How could she tell her mother what she’d overheard without causing any pain? And, if the gossip wasn’t true, then what had her parents done to make people talk about them in such a way? Was this the reason her father wanted her marriedthisSeason?
As she turned the corner of the house, she ran smack into a hard, male chest. Strong hands gripped her arms to keep her from falling, and a scent of leathery musk enveloped her. Not believing any man could smell this good, she looked up into a pair of the most fascinating blue eyes she’d ever seen. The longer they stared at her, the more they twinkled.
Finally, when the rest of his face registered in her brain, she realized this was the man she’d seen earlier. It wasn’t proper to meet like this, but she’d give anything to know his name.
“Forgive me, sir. I did not see you.”
“There is nothing to forgive.” He released her arms and took a step back. His mouth stretched into a grin. “I don’t believe we have met.”
“You are correct, sir. We have not been formally introduced.”
He glanced around them and shrugged. “Since nobody is here to do that now, let me begin. I’m Lord Tristan Worthington. The Duke of Kenbridge is my father.”
She curtsied. “I’m Miss Diana Baldwin. My father is Baron Baldwin.”
He bowed. “Nice to meet you at last. I saw you sitting by the tree earlier, and I have to admit, you caught my attention.”
Her cheeks grew warm as heat continued to spread through the rest of her body. “Thank you, my lord.”
When his name was called, he turned toward the person not far from him. Lord Tristan lifted his hand. “I shall be finished momentarily.”
She had a second to admire his profile: square jaw, clean-shaven face, and such a sweet smile and dreamy eyes. He looked back at her more quickly than she’d expected, and she feared he’d caught her gawking. Her throat turned dry and she swallowed hard.
“Well, Miss Diana Baldwin,” he said, taking her hand and lifting it to those perfect lips, “I bid you farewell—at least for now. I hope we will meet again soon.”
“Uh, yes. That would be lovely.”
He walked away and she stared after him, still feeling the imprint of his lips on her knuckles and the heat from his stare. Perhaps this weekend party would turn out wonderful after all.
Chapter Six
“Everyone raise theirglasses in a toast to welcome back those lords who have returned from their Grand Tour.” Lord Felton lifted his glass and smiled.
The others gathered in the room cheered with lifted champagne glasses.
Tristan laughed and toasted, before gulping his drink. He was very delighted that his cousin, Lord Elliot, was one of those men.
But Tristan’s mother’s weekend party at the Worthington’s estate in Bath wasn’t about the lords who had returned as much as it was for persuading them to find a wife—as well as himself, he was sure. Nevertheless, he had enjoyed the event thus far. It’d been a while since he’d socialized with his grandmother and mother’s friends.
Beside him, Lord Henry slapped Tristan’s shoulder. “My good man, what plans do you have tonight? Are you really going to stay here at the party? A few of us were thinking of leaving later this evening and finding some wenches to entertain us.”
Tristan laughed and glanced at his friends standing around him. “As much as that sounds like the safe thing to do, I shall stay. I don’t need my mother put out with me again.”
“Nonsense.” Elliot flipped his hand in the air. “What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”
“You don’t know your aunt very well,” Tristan told his cousin. “My motheralwaysknows when I’m not telling the truth. However, I assure you, I shall find something that will keep me entertained.” He waggled his eyebrows. “So far at this gathering, I have noticed a few women who are unaware of my charm, and I find I’m most eager to show them.”
“Well, I hope you don’t expect us to entertain you, Worthington,” Elliot said. “Both Henry and I have more pleasant matters to attend.”
Mocking a bow, Tristan nodded. “I will leave you to your adventures. I assure you, I will find some way to keep myself occupied.”
His friends laughed and walked away like strutting peacocks. Tristan shouldn’t look down on them for what they had planned this evening.
Adjusting his brown coat, he strolled out of the room, nodding to acquaintances as he made his way toward the violins introducing the first dance of the evening. A few couples occupied the dance floor as a couple of eager young swains searched for a partner.
Tristan smiled and leaned against the wall. He enjoyed dancing, and especially getting to know the young ladies. He hadn’t been a regular in Polite Society for a few years since he had been in Scotland visiting relatives on his mother’s side, but he found it surprising that he didn’t know very many people at his own mother’s party.
