“It will sadden me greatly to kill you.”
“Then don’t, Claudia. Just leave us be.”
“You know I cannot. Especially now. If I don’t kill Tristan, he will have me put in prison. And if I leave you alive, you will hate me.” Lady Dashwood shook her head. “Both of you must die!”
Just as Claudia lunged toward them, Tristan pushed Diana to the ground and stumbled in front of her. He captured Lady Dashwood’s wrist and struggled with the lady to make her drop the weapon. Diana could tell Tristan was losing his strength, but he tried his hardest to fight Claudia.
Diana’s vision blurred from her tears, and she swiped the liquid away as she stood. Claudia and Tristan had moved farther away as each one fought for control. But just as Diana feared, Tristan’s weakened body crumbled to the ground. Victory shone on Claudia’s face as she raised the knife toward Tristan.
“No!” Diana screamed, and could have sworn someone else had screamed with her.
From out of nowhere, the sound of a pistol boomed through the air. Seconds later, Claudia cried out as the knife dropped from her hand. She fell to the ground, clutching her bloody hand.
Diana swung toward where the sound of the pistol had come from as Tabitha ran closer, holding the still smoking weapon.
“Tabitha?” Diana gasped. “What are you doing here?”
Tabitha peeked down at Claudia lying on the ground and kicked the knife away from the woman, and then turned her focus on Diana. “Is that the only thing you can think of to say at this moment?” She arched an eyebrow.
Diana wanted to laugh, wanted to cry, wanted to run to Tabitha and hug her. But before she did all that, there was one thing more important to do.
She hurried to Tristan. He was very weak but still alert. She fell to the ground beside him and lifted his head to place it on her lap. She grasped the end of her petticoat and ripped a long piece off the garment. “Give me your arm, Tristan.”
Without waiting for him to fully raise it, she carefully wrapped the strip of her cloth around the wound tightly.
More footsteps padded on the dewy grass followed by wheezing of air flow coming from a man. Diana looked up and met the wide-eye stare of Sir Felix, the magistrate.
“It’s about time you showed up,” Tabitha snapped. She pointed to Lady Dashwood who appeared to have passed out. “There is your killer.”
“Yes, I know,” Sir Felix huffed.
Diana shook her head. “How… how… when did you release Tabitha?” She looked to the maid. “What is going on?”
“Not too long ago, I received a visitor,” the magistrate began. “Sally, a former servant of Lord Elliot’s, came to see me, begging for Tabitha’s release. Sally had witnessed Lady Dashwood killing Lord Elliot, but feared to tell anyone because the young girl thought she would be the next to die.” He took a deep breath, his large chest lifting and falling slowly. He knelt beside Claudia and slapped wrist irons on her arms to keep her from doing any more harm. Letting out a slow breath, he turned his attention to Tristan. “Worthington? Are you all right?”
“He has been stabbed,” Diana answered for Tristan. “He will need medical help immediately.”
“I shall fetch a doctor,” Tabitha said before taking a step to run.
“Tabitha, don’t go yet,” Tristan said weakly.
The maid slowly turned back as her gaze fell on Tristan. “Why?”
“Sir Felix, will you please go fetch a doctor for me?” Tristan asked. “Now that Lady Dashwood has wrist irons on, I don’t think she’ll be going very far.”
“Yes, my lord. I’ll hurry.” He stood and rushed up the hill toward the house.
“Tabitha,” Tristan continued, grimacing as he held his hand tighter. “I want to know why you saved me when I was the one who accused you of murder last night.”
“Because… because I knew Diana loved you with all of her heart and you two deserve to be together.”
Tristan shook his head. “It’s more than that. Tell me, Tabitha. What made you change your mind about me when I know you have always loathed me?”
Diana watched as different emotions flittered across Tabitha’s face. Tears filled her eyes and she bit her bottom lip. Diana also wanted to know why her maid had saved Tristan’s life. “Please Tabitha, tell me. Tell Tristan. I have known for a while now that something has been bothering you, and I think it’s time to let us know so we can help you.”
A tear slipped from Tabitha’s eyes and her expression changed to relief. Diana held her breath, anticipating Tabitha’s confession.
*
