Tristan waited forthe maid to speak. His arm hurt terribly, and he had lost a lot of blood already. He really should not worry about Tabitha and seek medical help as soon as possible, but something in his heart told him to hear her out.
“Please, Tabitha,” he said. “I would like to know. You have done a very heroic thing by saving my life. Will you not think of me as a friend now?”
Indecision played on her expression for the longest time, and he wondered if she would say anything at all. Finally, she took a deep breath. She remained standing as she stared down into Tristan’s eyes.
“For many years,” she began, “I thought of you and your brothers as irresponsible men who didn’t have a care in the world. I wanted to believe all three of you were carefree, foolish men with no sense of decorum. In my mind, you were all worthless creatures who slithered along the ground and it wasn’t worth my time to even spit upon you.”
Shocked, Tristan’s eyes widened. What on earth could have made her feel that way toward his family? “Go on,” he urged, wondering if he even wanted to hear more.
“But then I got to know you a little and I realized you were not as I had expected. I heard stories about your brothers, but they were different as well.”
Shaking his head, he still couldn’t understand. “But why, Tabitha? What have I ever done to make you think that I was such a terrible person?”
“Because growing up, I’d heard how much you and your brothers were just like your father. Forgive me for speaking ill of the dead, my lord, but your father was the scum of the earth, and since his sons were supposed to be just like him…” She shrugged. “Naturally, my first instinct was to hate you.”
“Tabitha,” Diana inquired, “why would you even care about the Worthington brothers, and more importantly, their father?”
“Did you know my father?” Tristan asked warily.
Hesitantly, Tabitha nodded. “When I was a little girl, he visited my mother quite frequently.”
Tristan groaned as sadness filled his heart. He figured he knew her story already, but he decided not to say anything, and to let her continue.
“My mother was extremely naïve, and she believed the old duke when he told her he would leave his wife and marry my mother.” Tabitha rolled her eyes. “Even as a girl I knew he would never leave a wife of good-breeding to marry a servant. Regardless, my mother continued to wait for the time she and the duke could be together. He would bring me trinkets and try to win my love and acceptance. At first, I wanted to since I had no father. Thankfully, within a few years I learned the truth.” A tear slipped down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away.
“What truth?” Tristan asked.
“That the Duke of Kenbridge… was my f—father.”
Stunned, Tristan lay still not believing what his ears had heard. She couldn’t possibly have said what he thought she said—that she was his sister? Beside him Diana gasped as her hand flew to her mouth. Her shocked gesture confirmed everything. He hadn’t imagined the words coming from Tabitha.
“M—mysister? You, you are my s—sister?”
“Yes.”
Tabitha pushed her fingers through her dark brown hair, pulling it off her face. Tristan could now see her facial features, eyes that resembled Trey’s, a mouth that reminded him of Trevor’s. And he couldn’t forget her stubbornness that was too much likehis.
“I have a sister,” he muttered to himself, still not quite believing. Yet looking at her now, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that she indeed was his relation.
“I have a sister,” he exclaimed and struggled to sit up. Diana helped him until he was steady to stay aright by himself. He held out his good hand toward Tabitha. “Ifinallyhave a sister!”
A sob tore from Tabitha’s throat as she fell to her knees and grasped his hand. He pulled her in for a hug and she wrapped her arms tight around his shoulders, burying her face into his neck. Hot tears dampened his skin, but he didn’t care. Emotion clogged in his throat and he didn’t dare say anything without his voice cracking.
Diana sat back as she let brother and sister share a tender moment. He smiled at her and gave her a wink. Tears streamed down her face and she covered her mouth with her hands, but he could see her happiness through the twinkle in her eyes.
Tabitha pulled back and wiped the tears off her face. “For years I hated you and your brothers because you were living the life I would never have. I knew the old duke wouldn’t tell his family about his illegitimate daughter, and I really didn’t want to claim the Worthingtons as family, either.”
He cupped her face. “Can I share a little secret with you? I had a difficult time claiming my father, as well.”
Tabitha hiccupped a laugh.
“However, I shall be very proud to tell all of England that you are my sister.”
Tabitha shook her head as color left her face. “Oh no, my lord. I don’t want you to do that. I wouldn’t be able to handle the ridicule.”
“We shall talk about this later.” He smiled through the pain in his arm that made his limb turn numb. “But right now, if the two of you will help me into the house, I would love to lie down as I wait for a doctor.”
“Oh, Heavens.” Tabitha stood and dried her face. “I shall go help the magistrate fetch the doctor—”
