“Oh, my sweet Diana.” He kissed her forehead again and pulled her tighter as he brought her head to rest against his chest. “If I had known he treated you so terribly…” His voice broke. “I’m so sorry for everything. I had wanted to rescue you and marry you. We would have been very happy together, I know it.” He stroked her hair. “And I would have never lifted a hand to you in anger like he had.” He buried his face in her hair. “Oh, Diana, if I had known sooner what he’d done, I would have killed him by now.” He kissed her head. “I promise you no man willeverlay a hand on you now that I’m here.”
Slowly, the tears stopped and she wanted nothing more than to cuddle next to this strong man for the rest of her life. As she rubbed her cheek against his shirt, peace filled her. Soon her heart would mend, but it would take time. The best thing for both of them now was to heal—emotionally. Then, and only then, would they be able to trust each other and fall in love all over again.
“Tristan, indeed you are a wonderful man, just as I’d realized when we first met.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled closer.
He relaxed back against the sofa, seeming content just to hold her. She’d waited for this kind of comforting feeling for too long. Needless to say, it would be impossible to let him go now. But she must. There were still too many obstacles in their way, and until those were resolved, she and Tristan could never be together, and since that wasn’t an option, she realized she must do all she can to right the wrong.
Being without Tristan was like a flower without sunlight. She would not be put through that torture again.
Chapter Eighteen
Tristan awoke, feelingmore alive than he’d been for a very long time. As he blinked, he realized he was still holding Diana while they slept on the sofa.
Smiling, he closed his eyes again and caressed her back and arm. Happiness spread through him. Having their talk made his heart light once again, and yet knowing how her husband had treated her, broke Tristan’s heart. He’d always blame himself for not being able to save her. But as she’d mentioned before—they couldn’t change the past now. All they could do was move forward, and he was definitely going to move forward. With her. They were both on the road to recovery, and soon, she would be back in his life forever.
A thought struck him, making him open his eyes. As long as they stayed in this cottage—their haven—out in the middle of nowhere, they were safe. But he needed to think of his family and to let them know all was well. Unfortunately, he had to talk to Jane to tell her and her controlling father, that there wouldneverbe a marriage between Tristan and Jane.
He didn’t think his mother would be too unhappy about the news, especially when he explained that there was another lady in his life, one that he’d loved for three years now.
Looking toward the window, he tried to gauge the time of day by the sunlight. If his calculations were correct, it was mid-afternoon. He needed to return home before night fell upon them.
“Sweet Diana,” he whispered and kissed her head. “Wake up, my dear.”
A soft moan escaped her throat as she stirred against him. Slowly, her hand rubbed across his chest, and a smile gradually stretched across her face.Adorable!
“My dear, we have to wake up.” He kissed her forehead again, letting his lips linger on her skin a smidgen longer this time. Inhaling, he breathed in her lilac scent, recalling now why he had always enjoyed walking through his mother’s flower garden to the lilac bushes since he’d returned to civilization.
Diana’s eyelids fluttered open. When she looked at him, her smile widened.
“Tristan.”
He caressed her cheek. “Did you sleep well?”
“Remarkably well, thank you.” She sat up and stretched.
He loved seeing her so relaxed and content.
“I don’t think I have slept so well in a very long time,” she said.
He winked. “Me, either. I have struggled to remember my past, which kept me depressed and drinking entirely too much. It was a nice little break for my mind to finally have undisturbed sleep.”
He stood and stretched. Strange how his body wasn’t even cramped for lying crooked on the sofa. Yet, she had been in his arms, which meant everything was as it should be.
“Diana, I hope you don’t mind, but I really need to return home.” A frown marred her expression, so he quickly explained. “I have no other clothes here. Besides that, my mother is probably very worried about me.” He leaned over, grasped Diana’s hands and pulled her up to stand by him. “There’s something I have to do as well. I need to talk with Lady Fairbourne and her father to let them know there is not going to be a wedding. Ever.”
Finally, Diana’s smile returned which made her eyes sparkle. “That is a very good reason to return home.”
Chuckling, he wrapped her in his arms. “Are you going to remain here or come back and live closer to me?”
“Ludlow left nothing to me in his will. Although my grandmother’s cottage isn’t legally mine, it’s my brother’s, he allowed me to stay here without question. Returning to Ludlow’s manor is the last thing I want to do, but I suppose it won’t hurt to go back at least until his cousin comes to claim the property.”
“I will be nearby to protect you. I do wish we could live in this cottage forever. It’s the perfect escape from society.”
“That, it is.”
“Perhaps we can meet here again in a couple of weeks?” He waggled his eyebrows.
She laughed and nodded. “I think that’s a splendid idea.”
