What had really happened that morning? Why couldn’t he remember? When he’d finally started to remember his past, the deepening hatred for Diana stayed in his heart and wouldn’t leave. He remembered being in love with her, yet was that feeling real at all? Could he have mistaken love for infatuation—or Heaven help him—lust?
As Diana stayed on his mind, a comforting sensation spread over him. When they first met, she’d been so adorable blowing kisses at him even though it was really to blow away the bee. Her eyes twinkled when she looked upon him while they danced. And her laugh was like Heavenly chimes in his ears. When she said his name, it was always followed with a sigh.
Then that dreadful day she’d learned of her betrothal to Lord Hollingsworth, her emerald green eyes had pleaded for help. His heart wrenched, and he’d wanted so badly to take away her pain—and his frustration. She’d made him feel like a man, more so than any other woman had made him feel.
Lord Hollingsworth was also in Tristan’s mind. So forceful. So cock-eyed sure of himself that Tristan wanted to pummel the man’s face. Hollingsworth knew he could make Tristan squirm, and that kind of feeling wasnotacceptable!
Slowly, the fog in his mind cleared.
The letter… Diana’s letter.
Drowsily, Tristan shook his head, trying to remember more. The duel hadn’t happened in the morning, but…
That night!
While he and Trey stayed at the local inn waiting for sunset to arrive that evening, a letter had come from Diana. His heart had thumped wildly, hoping that she wanted to meet him and perhaps they could run away to Gretna Green. Her letter had stated she wanted to meet him, but at Henry’s Cliffs instead. She had exciting news to tell him.
“Tristan, this does not feel right,” Trey had repeated as they mounted their horses and rode toward the cliffs.
Dusk covered the sky in blue and purple colors with a slice of red mixed in. Tristan wanted to share this beautiful evening with the woman he loved. “Nonsense, Trey. I couldn’t very well meet her at her home. I believe she will be there waiting for me with her satchel packed and ready to leave for Gretna Green.”
“I pray you are correct, but I have an uneasy feeling about all of this.”
When they reached the cliffs, Tristan pulled his horse to a stop. Trey halted beside him. Shadows danced in the tall trees, most of the light from the sun had been removed.
“I’m telling you… something isn’t right,” Trey repeated in a low voice.
Tristan scanned the area and called out, “Diana? Where are you?” He dismounted and walked further.
The glade was peaceful and only the chirps from crickets were heard, and an occasional hoot of an owl. The waterfall shooting down the cliffs crashed at the bottom as it hit the rocks.
“Tristan, don’t you feel it? The atmosphere here is too… eerie.”
Apprehension washed over Tristan. “I agree, brother. Something is not right. Diana would have been here by now.”
“I think we should leave. What if this was some kind of trap?”
Tristan glanced over his shoulder and arched his eyebrow at his brother. “Do you think Hollingsworth might have planned this and not Diana?”
“I do. Hollingsworth has never been trustworthy.”
“He hasn’t, but I’m not leaving.” Tristan scanned the area again through a narrowed gaze. “If he is here, then I’ll stay. Killing that man is the only way Diana and I can ever be together.”
“Are you aware what kind of hero you’d be?” Trey dismounted. “I can count at least ten men who would be glad to see the bloke dead.”
Moving further into the glade, Tristan kept his ears alert. If Hollingsworth and his second were here at all, they must have hidden their horses. Tristan took calculated steps toward the trees. “Hollingsworth? If you’re here, come out and show yourself. Or are you a coward who hides behind the trees?”
Deafening silence filled the air.
“I don’t feel right about this.” Trey shook his head. “Tristan, get back on your horse—”
The blast of a pistol pierced the air. Immediately, the impact of the bullet hitting Tristan in the back above his left shoulder brought him to his knees.
Trey shouted a curse, terror laced his voice.
Pain like no other burned through Tristan’s back as he fell face-down on the ground. Quickly the area soaked with sticky, blood. Dizziness assailed him, but he struggled to stand.
“Tristan, you’ve been shot,” Trey said as he pressed his hands to the core of the pain.
