But, Diana didn’t have a child. If she had been pregnant, what happened to the baby?
No, that’s not what happened. Hollingsworth didn’t know how to tell the truth. So why had the man wanted to marry her so badly? And why had her father been so obliging to Hollingsworth?
The more Tristan thought of it, the more he wondered if Hollingsworth really had paid the baron’s debts. That made more sense to why Diana’s father wouldn’t break the contract.
That dirty-rotten cheat Hollingsworth had planned on Tristan coming to meet Diana at the glade the night before the duel. If the viscount would have met him the morning of the duel, many people would have been there and seen firsthand who the cowardreallywas. And yet now Tristan knew why there had been rumors about him jumping over the cliff, and not even showing up for the duel that morning.
Could that be the reason Diana had hated him so much and wanted revenge?
Taking a deep breath, he detected a faint food odor. It smelled pleasant, whatever it was, reminding him how long it’d been since he ate. Perhaps he would eatbeforebathing.
As he stepped into the corridor, he half expected Tabitha to rush toward him holding a pistol. It surprised him that he didn’t awaken with his arms and legs shackled to the bed. Either that or she just didn’t care if he escaped anymore.
Taking the lamp from the corridor table, he moved through the small cottage. No women’s voices were heard this time. But if it were early in the morning as he suspected, then they would definitely still be in bed.
As Tristan moved down the hall, he hadn’t realized until now how cozy the place looked. For some reason this style of home fit Diana perfectly. Although he couldn’t remember what the outside looked like—and probably wouldn’t have because it was dark when they had arrived—the interior wasn’t as newly decorated as his mother liked to keep her houses. Had Diana’s grandmother been wealthy? Wood décor was everywhere he looked, and so pleasing to behold. He would certainly not get bored studying each painting or furniture and admire the artists’ touch.
Nothing looked worn or rundown. It just wasn’t the fashion his mother enjoyed having in her homes.
Finally, he entered the kitchen. Slowly he walked through the room, admiring the shelves and cutting tables and the many stoves. In the corner sat a copper tub and his attention remained there. He hurried to the tub and pulled it out into the room a little more. Grinning, he couldn’t wait for a nice relaxing bath.
The popping of wood jerked his focus to a large fireplace. Several large pots of water hung over the burning fire. Perhaps Diana or Tabitha was already up and preparing water for a bath. Even towels and soap had been laid out. Well, he’d show them that the early riser would be the one to claim the warm water first.
He tested the temperature of the water with his finger. Nearly what he wanted. Once he removed off his clothes. It didn’t take long to pour the water into the tub before climbing in. The warmth from the water crept over his skin and soothed his nerves slightly. Since regaining some of his memory from those horrid two years of wandering to find his identity, taking a daily bath was the one thing Tristan enjoyed more than anything.
After he washed himself, he leaned back in tub to unwind. As he relaxed in the tub, he mentally planned out his morning. Once he filled his belly with food, he would take a tour through the house and acquaint himself with all the rooms. Hopefully by that time, Diana would be awake. They had so much to talk about.
Sighing in contentment, Tristan knew he’d made the right decision to stay here. With such a peaceful atmosphere, he was certain to clear his mind enough to remember all those events that were still trapped behind memory’s door.
Whether Tabitha or Diana realized it, they had actually saved him when they kidnapped him. Marrying Jane would have made him more miserable than he’d been already. Living a life of misery was not an enjoyable way to live. His parents could testify to that.
He tilted his head back against the edge of the tub, and closed his eyes. From down the corridor, he detected soft footsteps. Finally, one of the ladies was awake. Tristan was quite certain they wouldn’t like seeing their guest using the bath first…especially if they had drugged him last night which he suspected had happened.
The footsteps grew closer, and he struggled to open his eyes to greet whoever came his way, but it was too enjoyable to leave them closed. Finally, the headache he’d had since waking up disappeared, and he didn’t want to do anything to bring it back.
Suddenly, a gasp ripped through the room, followed by a piercing scream from a woman. Tristan jerked upright, only to lose his balance and slip back in the tub, splashing water on the floor. By the time he adjusted himself, he noticed the woman.
My Diana.
He expected her to be in her nightgown and bare feet. Instead, she was fully dressed and even her beautiful hair had been wound in a coil as wisps of locks hung by her ears. Disappointment hung heavy in his chest. Although it would have been improper, Tristan rather wished she had been in a nightgown with her hair long and flowing. Instead, she stood across the room, her shoulders stiff as she presented her back to him.Always the proper Diana.
He cleared his throat. “Forgive me for startling you, my sweet Diana. I hope you don’t mind that I’m taking a bath without asking permission.”
“I, um… Well, I heated the water for whoever needed it,” she said over her shoulder, but didn’t look at him.
“So you are not put out with me for using it?”
She released an uneasy laugh. “Don’t be absurd. It was for you or Tabitha.”
He studied her stiff back still facing him. “Diana, why are you up so early? I thought I would have the house to myself for at least a few hours.”
“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m an early riser.”
He glanced over her body slower from the high neck dress with long sleeves, down to her boot crusted with mud.Mud?“Why were you outside?”
“I um… I had errands this morning, if you must know.”
“So early? That’s unheard of.”
