“Perhaps Lord Elliot had seen the two of you kill Ludlow and was trying to blackmail you.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “Tristan, you don’t understand that there could be plenty of ideas the magistrate could create. The point is, you mustnotsee Diana until after they have caught the true killer. Don’t you see how dangerous that is not only for you but for her?”
Growling in frustration, Tristan pushed away from the table and strode to the window. Confusion clogged his rational thinking, and at the same time, loneliness clutched his heart when he imagined not being able to see Diana. He couldn’t. Hewouldn’t. If needs be, he would find a way for them to be together, even if it meant returning to her grandmother’s cottage. He would inform his family he was traveling abroad for an extended period, and Diana could just tell those who needed to know that she was caring for an ailing family member.
Worry eased slightly from his idea. If this was the only way, then he’d do it. He wouldn’t allow Diana to slip through his fingers again.
The knock on the study door put a halt to Tristan’s thoughts. “Enter.”
Bentley, the butler, peeked inside. “My lord, you have a visitor. The young miss is delivering a note from her mistress, but she refuses to give me her name or a card. She says she has been tasked with making certain she hands the note to you and none other.”
How odd, unless…“Bentley, show her in. I shall speak with her directly.”
After the butler left, Tristan turned to Dominic who wore that worrisome expression Tristan was used to seeing lately.
“Do you honestly think that’s a good idea?” Nic asked.
“If the messenger is who I think it is, then it’s averygood idea.”
“And pray, who do you think this young miss is?”
Without being able to help it, a grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “The woman who kidnapped me, that’s who.”
Hawthorne’s eyes widened. “Lady Hollingsworth?”
“No, it was actually her maid who takes credit for that.”
When footsteps creaked on the floor outside the study, Tristan held his hand up to Nic, silently communicating with him not to say another word.
Just as Tristan suspected, theyoung missthat entered the study was Tabitha. She wore a brown cloak over her gray dress, and a matching gray bonnet. However, the hat was pulled low on her forehead as if she tried to hide her eyes. She watched Tristan until Nic rose to his feet. Tabitha stopped abruptly as her gaze flew to Hawthorne, and her eyes widened. In a flash, she threw her accusing glare back to Tristan.
“Nice to see you again, Tabitha.” Tristan smiled. “Let me introduce you to my good friend, Lord Hawthorne. Hawthorne, this is Lady Hollingsworth’s maid, Tabitha.”
The interest in Nic’s eyes was quite obvious as he skimmed his attention over Tabitha from the top of her head down to her shoes. A charming smile—the kind Nic enjoyed giving to women to make them weak in the knees—stretched across his face.
He bowed slightly. “A pleasure to meet you, Miss Tabitha.”
Tristan was surprised that the maid’s cheeks didn’t flare with color like what happened to most women when meeting Dominic for the first time. In fact, she rolled her eyes and focused back on Tristan without even saying one word to Nic.
“My lord, I came here to deliver a note directly to you. My lady wishes that you tellno oneabout this note.” She handed it to Tristan.
“I understand.” He turned to Nic and said, “Lord Hawthorne, would you give Tabitha and I a few minutes alone?”
“Of course.” He nodded to Tristan before turning to look at Tabitha. “Nice to meet you.”
She forced a smile until Nic left the room and closed the door then she turned back to Tristan wearing a solemn expression. “My lord, Lady Hollingsworth assured me there would be secrecy about this meeting and the kidnapping. So why did you introduce me to Lord Hawthorne?”
“Calm yourself, Tabitha.” Tristan walked to his desk and sat in the chair. “I assure you Lord Hawthorne is a man I can trust. He will not tell anyone about you coming here or about Lady Hollingsworth.” He broke the seal on the letter and scanned the contents. Diana needed to speak with him tonight. It was urgent.
He glanced up at Tabitha. “Tell Diana I will be there.”
“I shall.” She turned toward the door and placed her hand on the door latch. “I beg you, Lord Tristan, please don’t say anything to your friend. You might trust him, but I do not.”
“Why is that, I wonder?” Slowly, he stood and walked toward her. “Have you met my friend before or had dealings with him?”
“No, but…” She took a deep breath. “Men like your friend are only a threat to women like myself. I may not know him, but I’ve heard of his reputation and it’s not a good one.”
Tristan wanted to laugh, but he refrained. “I certainly can’t argue with you on that matter.”
She curtsied. “Good day, Lord Tristan.” She pulled the hood lower over her forehead, ducked her head and left.
