“Indeed there was a moment in my life I sighed your name with feeling, but not any longer. I’m content now, living the life of a widow—or hermit, if you want to refer to me as—only because it’s better than the ridicule I get when trying to associate with members of theton.I’ve spent all these years with bitterness in my heart for what you’ve done, but now…” She released a deep breath. “Now I can live the rest of my life knowing you paid the price along with me for our actions those days at your mother’s weekend party.”
Her words still confused him. What about what she’d done to him? Why wasn’t she remembering that?
“I’m sorry if you think me evil or vindictive, but what’s done is done and there is no erasing what Tabitha did last night.”
“I don’t think you are evil or vindictive at all, Diana. Although bringing me down has brought great relief to you, I worry about what might happen if people found out you and your maid planned my kidnapping.”
“They won’t. Remember, Tabitha planned that all out before you climbed into the wrong coach. Nobody will think I had anything to do with forcing you here. They’ll think you came of your own free will. It’ll be your word against theirs.”
He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. I’m worried about your reputation. What will this do to you?”
Her mouth stretched into a grin and she laughed. “Oh, Tristan. You have a short memory. I don’t have a reputation, remember. Nobody will care, and what has happened here won’t hurt or hinder me in any way. Polite Society might think I’m a little mad, but I can handle that.”
“Do you want people to know we have been together since last night? Is that your plan? Do you want people to think you have been my secret love interest for a few months as Tabitha’s missives have indicated?”
“I highly doubt anyone will think I’m involved at all.”
He shrugged one shoulder. “They will if they realized I have been here in your grandmother’s cottage.”
“Honestly, Tristan, I don’t think it will matter.” She chuckled softly. “Although it would be most humorous, would it not? You, carrying on with the woman you ruined all those years ago? Thetonwould certainly never expect that. You would have the older matrons fainting dead away.”
He couldn’t stop the smile stretching his lips. “I’m sure you’re correct. They wouldn’t expect this from me. In fact, I wonder if Lady Fairbourne won’t thank the good Lord she didn’t marry me after this.”
Diana tilted her head, her smiling slowly disappearing. “Do you love her, Tristan?”
The tenderness in her question twisted his heart. “You are the one who must not have a good memory. Have you forgotten I didn’t like her much back when you and I first met? That, my dear Diana, has not changed at all.”
“Why then did you want to marry her?” She moved to the sofa and sat next to him, her eyes wide with wonder.
“My mother’s health is declining. She often spoke of Lady Fairbourne and how she wished I would marry her. My brothers even acted like they would like me to settle down and raise a family. I’ve been a bumbling drunk since Trey and Judith found me two years ago, and I knew that wasn’t the kind of life I wanted. I had no energy to court a woman the proper way, so I gave in to my family’s wishes and proposed to Lady Fairbourne. I wasn’t looking for someone to love, just someone to be comfortable with. Jane was without a husband, and because she still showed interest in me, I asked her to be my wife. I thought it was time to put the past behind me once and for all.”
“I’m surprised some other woman hasn’t sunk her greedy claws into you before now. You’re a handsome and charming man who could have made any woman fall in love with you.”
Whether she knew it or not, she’d given him a compliment. For someone who loathed him, she certainly didn’t show it now. “You think I’m handsome? Charming?” Leaning toward her, he slipped his arm around her shoulders, gently pulling her forward. “You think I could getanywoman to fall in love with me?”
She stiffened and placed a hand on his chest. Strange, but he thought she should have tried harder to keep him away, instead, he was able to pull her closer. Originally, he did it to tease, but now… now with her so very near, he breathed in her lilac scent as her silky ringlet hair rubbed his hand. His teasing mood had vanished.
“Tristan… please,” she whispered.
It was all he could do to not kiss her, but he kept reminding himself this wasn’t right. Every time he’d been with her before, the voice of reason had never won. Passion had. “Please what?”Good grief, why had his voice dropped so low?
“I—I didn’t mean it like that.” She gulped. “I didn’t say what I did for you to do…this.”
Using his other hand, he swept his fingertips across her cheek, down her neck to rest on her shoulder. Her body remained stiff, although her breathing accelerated. She glanced at his mouth a few times, but switched her attention back to his stare. Panic laced her eyes, and he knew he definitely couldn’t kiss her now.
“Forgive me, Diana.” He pulled away completely. The warmth of her body left him in shock, like cold water being thrown on him. He forced a grin. “Besides, I was just teasing. I’m flattered you think I’m still handsome and charming.”
Slowly, he stood and tested his legs to make sure they would carry him as he walked. Thankfully, the feeling was back in them. He walked to the window and looked out on the wet land.
“I said that because I wondered why you hadn’t married anyone,” she said softly.
A grin pulled at the corners of his mouth and he glanced in her direction. “I haven’t married because you kidnapped me, remember?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m speaking about before that. Why haven’t you married someone before now?”
“Because I had loved someone at one time, and had been hurt. Terribly hurt. I hadn’t recovered my memory from the accident, and I didn’t know why I was such a bitter man. Now I do.”
She scowled. “What do you mean you didn’t know until now?”
