“How do you know I would not have been happy?” Her voice cracked with anger.
“Because my parents were never happy in their arranged marriage, and I don’t wish that torture on anyone.”
Viscount Hastings stomped in front of Tristan again. “Do you think your apologies will help now? You are dragging my daughter into a scandal.”
“Then tell everyoneyoubroke the betrothal. Then only my reputation will be damaged.”
Tears flooded Jane’s eyes, all the while scowling at Tristan.
“And pray, Lord Tristan,” she said in a tight voice, “what would be my reasons for wanting to call off the wedding?”
“It doesn’t matter what reasons you give. Whatever it is, I will go along with it.”
“But I don’t want to give any at all. I still want to marry you.”
“No, Jane. I shall not enter a marriage unless love is part of the deal, and I am not, nor have I ever been, in love with you.”
Her bottom lip trembled as more tears streamed down her face. She turned to her mother and sobbed against the older woman’s chest while she soothed her daughter.
Huffing, the viscount stepped closer to Tristan. The other man’s expression was deadly. His eyes would shoot out venom any moment now, Tristan was certain.
“I warned you before that if you ever hurt my daughter—”
“Don’t you understand?” Tristan asked, raising his voice. “I’m saving your daughter from a lifetime of unhappiness. Marrying me will make her miserable.”
“All of this is because of Lady Hollingsworth, isn’t it?” Jane shouted, pulling herself away from her mother and stomping up to Tristan.
“Pardon me?” he asked in panic.How did she know Diana was involved?
“You don’t want to marry me because of Lady Hollingsworth.”
“What does she have to do with any of this?” Tristan wouldn’t give Jane the satisfaction of knowing the truth.
“I heard you were with her the past couple of days.”
What on earth…That was impossible. Nobody would have known that information, especially when Tabitha was the one who kidnapped him! “I believe you have heard wrongly, then.”
The older man’s face reddened even more as he pushed his finger into Tristan’s chest. “If you don’t marry my daughter,youwill be the one miserable. I’ll personally see to it, Lord Tristan.”
Tristan shrugged. “Do your worst. I will not change my mind.”
He turned back to the women, bowed, then walked past them and out the door. The viscount’s threat didn’t worry him in the least. Tristan knew the man over-reacted. Jane would find another willing soul very soon, he was certain.
As he mounted his horse, he breathed a sigh of relief. One obstacle down, others to hurdle, but they would be easy, he was certain.
*
Diana’s coach stoppedin front of her home.Ludlow’s home,she reminded herself. This grand estate would never be hers, and really she didn’t want it even if she had that option. There were too many bad memories here. Evil lurked in every corner, and she still had nightmares that her husband’s spirit would haunt her.
She turned to Tabitha who sat next to her and patted her maid’s hand. “I hesitate to bring you in as my new maid. Ludlow’s servants were very loyal to him since they’d been with the Hollingsworth family for years—although I don’t know why—and they all hate me. I fear they will not like you because we are friends.”
Tabitha shrugged. “Then we shall spend more time together, won’t we?” She smiled. “I don’t have a lot of friends, so I’ll be fine. We shall get through this together.”
“Yes, we shall. I pray our time here will not be long. The only reason I’m here is to be closer to Tristan.”
Tabitha tightened the bows of her bonnet underneath her chin. “Do you anticipate him asking for your hand?” She winked.
Excitement rushed through Diana even though she shouldn’t feel this way. Just because they had talked about their past and he had kissed her so tenderly and passionately, didn’t mean he would propose. As much as she wanted him to, she still feared that when he discovered she was barren, he wouldn’t want her for a wife after all. Ludlow had wanted children, but she had never conceived, and he blamed her for not giving him an heir.
