He gave her a quizzical stare. “What kind of comment is that?”
“Hear me out first.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sure by now you have heard the rumors I’d spoken of about my family, and yet still you are treating me as if I’m the daughter of a grand duchess.”
“I hate to disappoint, but I have not heard any rumors about your family, and I don’t care to listen to rumors, anyway. I have already made up my mind about you, and—”
The sound of his name being called from across the yard made him pause. He gnashed his teeth.Why can’t Jane leave me be for one night?
Tristan swiped his fingers through his hair, taking in deep breaths as he tried to cool his anger. It surprised him how quicklythat womancould irritate him. He glanced around them for a place to hide. Back behind the trees, sat a greenhouse. This would be the perfect place for them to go without being interrupted, especially when it wasn’t noticeable along the pathway.
He grasped Diana’s hand and tugged. “Come. I know where we can go that nobody will find us.”
“Where?”
“It’s my mother’s pride and joy.”
She nodded and followed. As he led the way, he still kept a sharp eye out for anyone who might see them. Thankfully the area around the greenhouse wasn’t lit as well. Even inside the greenhouse the lights were dimmed.
He tested the handle and it opened. Breathing a relieved sigh, he walked them inside and closed the door.
“Will anyone be able to see inside if they pass by?”
“If we stand away from the lanterns, I’m sure nobody will notice us.”
She nodded and walked around him as if studying each plant. Thankfully, she headed away from the lanterns.
“The Dowager Duchess of Kenbridge certainly has a lovely greenhouse,” she said.
“Indeed, my mother does.”
“My mother keeps a small one at our country estate, but it’s nowhere as grand as this.”
He walked behind her, trying hard not to touch her because if he did, he’d surely pull her into his arms. “And where exactly is your country estate?”
She grinned at him over her shoulder. “I told you. It’s near Bristol.”
“Why do you do that?” He shook his head. “I have watched you closely these past two days—just as I know you have watched me—and I can tell you’re a secretive woman. Your half-answered remarks are one of the reasons I want to get to know you better.”
“Tristan, I assure you I’m not an intriguing person.” She trailed her fingers across the table near the potted plants.
“You are wrong.” He caught her hand. She stopped and met his gaze. “In fact, you have kept me enthralled all day today and most of the evening yesterday, and I would like to know why.”
“I fear I don’t know how to answer that.”
He lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips across her knuckles. “I’m happy to know that you are nothing like Lady Jane, but I want to know why. What makes you so different?”
There was a stretch of silence before the corners of her mouth lifted. “I would think it’s a good thing I’m not like her. I can tell you don’t approve of her, either.”
Her comment caught him off guard and he chuckled. “How do you know that?”
“You forget, I have been watching you, and I noticed your subtle refusal when Lady Jane tried to speak with you. Tell me, Lord Tristan, was that my imagination?”
He took a step closer to her, and thankfully she didn’t withdraw. “No, that wasn’t your imagination. Her family and mine are close. Because of that, she thinks she needs to be seen with me duringtonfunctions, which I refuse to do. When she sees me paying attention to another woman, she tries to stop it. Not only that, I cannot tolerate the way she thinks she’s better than others. Since the party started, I’ve caught her glaring at you, and I don’t like it. I can only assume she’s jealous of your beauty.”
“Tristan,” she whispered, “you couldn’t be more wrong.”
“About what?”
“Lady Jane is not jealous of my beauty.”
