Narrowing her gaze, Diana shook her head. “Tristan has treated you in such a way, like he wants you to warm his bed?”
Tabitha cringed. “No, not that way, but he looks down on me as if I were nothing but dirt on his boots.”
“Lady Hollingsworth,” Sally cut in, “I must agree with Tabitha. Because we are not but mere servants, we will always be treated as such. Lord Elliot taught us that lesson well.”
“Not all masters are like Lord Elliot.” Diana cut up a potato, letting it drop into the pot. “In fact Tabitha, do you not remember how it was when you and your mother worked for my grandmother?”
“Yes, I remember. Working for her was pure Heavenly. Your grandmother was the sweetest woman I knew.” Tabitha smiled at Diana. “And now I know that her granddaughter inherited her sweet nature.”
“You are too kind.” Diana’s face grew warm with the compliment.
“But back then,” Tabitha continued, “I worked for only a woman. After your grandmother died, I was sent to Lord Elliot. That was the first time a man had been in charge of me.” She shivered. “I never want to go through that hell again.”
Diana touched her friend’s hand. “Tabitha, not all men are like that. I assure you, Tristan and his brothers will never treat their servants with such disdain.”
Tabitha set her knife down, narrowing her gaze on Diana. “Are you certain, my lady? I have heard talk from servants and they say the old Duke of Kenbridge was very mean to his servants and treated women like they were slaves.”
Sighing heavily, Diana nodded. “Indeed, Tristan’s father was a very inconsiderate, selfish man who loved to create scandal, but even the one son who we thought would turn out like him, Trey, didn’t end up like his sire after all. Trevor and Tristan will never be like that, either. I stake my life on it.”
“I’m comforted to know you have so much faith in them. However, they are but three men, and England is filled with men like Lord Elliot and Lord Hollingsworth.”
Memories Diana tried to bury resurfaced. Scenes flashed through her head of Ludlow raising his hand to her when he thought she’d done something wrong. He even starved her on a few occasions, and those were the nice punishments he’d inflicted upon her. “Very true, Tabitha. I wish more men were like the Worthington brothers.”
“As do I,” Tabitha said with a frown. “Forgive me for speaking my mind, but I’m vastly relieved Lord Elliot and Lord Hollingsworth have been taken from this world. They both deserved to die for what they did to all of us. In fact, the thought of killing them with my bare hands had crossed my mind several times. I cannot tolerate men who treat women in such a way. They all deserve to die, or be punished severely.”
“I agree,” Sally muttered her response.
Diana carried the pot of vegetables to the hot stove before pouring water over them. “I believe there are many others who share your thoughts.”
“Lady Hollingsworth? Did you ever think of killing your husband?” Sally asked.
Diana walked back to the table and sat. She linked her fingers together and rested them on the edge of the table. Thoughts swam in her head, followed by the bitter feelings she’d once had. “Although I didn’t think about doing the actual deed, I had prayed that something would happen to my husband to end his life.” A tear slid down her cheek that she hadn’t realized was there. “I hated myself for feeling that way, but when it finally happened, I thanked God that it had. I couldn’t believe howfreeI felt, even when the magistrate suspected me of murder.”
“For months I felt that way about Lord Elliot,” Sally injected softly with tears in her eyes.
“As did I.” Tabitha nodded. “And I was grateful this angel of mercy—” she touched Diana’s shoulder—“came to rescue me.”
Sally nodded. “That was also the day I will never forget.” She sniffed and wiped her hand underneath her nose. “Lady Hollingsworth, you are truly my Savior for rescuing me from that monster.”
When Diana smiled her lips quaked as she tried to hold back the sob rising in her throat. “I just wish I would have known about it sooner.”
“You saved my life,” Sally said.
“And mine.” Tabitha wiped a tear off her face.
Diana stood and hugged Sally, then gave Tabitha a hug as well. Tears streamed down the servants’ cheeks, and Diana’s own cheeks were even wet.
Pulling away, she wiped her knuckles under her eyes to dry the tears before smoothing her palms on her apron. “Well, I think we should concentrate on getting the meal finished. I’m certain our visitors are famished. And we need to fetch their clothes and—”
Before she could finish, the floor outside the kitchen door creaked. Diana sucked in a quick breath and swung toward the door. Her heart dropped.
“What’s wrong, my lady?” Sally questioned.
“I think someone is in the hall, coming.”
Diana prayed she was hearing things because she didn’t need Tristan or Nic overhearing and asking her questions later. Her mind argued that the men wouldn’t leave the room wearing only a blanket to venture into a room with three women, yet… Someone was indeed outside the door. She could feel it as a dark cloud of doom settled over her.
Chapter Twenty-Six
