Notorious Deception (15 page)

He bolted from the bed, barely shrugging into his robe before bellowing for Joe. The innkeeper met Derek halfway up the stairs, his face registering his shock at encountering an angry and half-naked Derek at this hour of the morning.

“Where is she?” Derek roared.

Mrs. Potter crept up behind her husband. She took in Derek's disheveled appearance with a jaundice eye and answered his question. “Lady Diana has left for Snowshill Manor.”

Derek scowled at the pair. Not that he was surprised. Diana had stated several times she would leave for the estate at first light.

“When I awoke I noticed all her clothing and personal effects were gone from the room,” Derek stated flatly, not in the least concerned with revealing the fact he had spent the night with Diana.

“Lady Diana asked me to move her things to another room,” Mars. Potter said, her face flushing slightly. “She said the other one gave her nightmare.”

Derek merely grunted. “Who escorted her out to the manor?” he snapped.

“Escorted?” Joe asked with a puzzled frown.

Derek rolled his eyes skyward, trying valiantly to keep his temper in check. “Don't tell me that you let her ride all that way by herself. Are you daft, man?”

“Now there is no need for you to be calling my Joe names, milord,” Mavis said, pushing her husband aside and planting herself firmly in front of Derek. “Lady Diana was anxious to ride out this morning. And why should she be needing an escort? She never has before.”

“Her house has never been deliberately set afire before, Mrs. Potter,” Derek said sarcastically. He heaved a heavy sigh. “How long ago did she leave?”

“About two hours,” Joe said, his face masked with worry.

“Do you think she could be in danger?” Mrs. Potter asked, understanding Derek's agitation.

“I sincerely hope not,” Derek said. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. “Tell my driver to have my horse saddled and ready to leave in twenty minutes.”

Derek turned and started back up the stairs, willing himself to remain calm. There was no reason to get into a panic, not at this stage. Diana was just being headstrong. It was unlikely she would encounter any danger.

Derek washed quickly. He had just begun shaving when Joe brought in a steaming tray of hot food. “Mrs. Potter thought you might be hungry,” Joe said lamely, setting down the tray. Joe lingered a few minutes, but Derek was in no mood for conversation.

Derek ate the tempting food quickly while he dressed. His mind kept recounting Simpson's words about the fire being deliberately set. The arsonist had done a most thorough job, true, but was his task complete? Had he achieved what he had intended? Or was the main task yet ahead of him?

It took Derek longer to reach the manor house than he'd hoped, due to his unfamiliarity with the rugged coastal terrain. Joe Potter's directions could only be described as minimal, but fortunately Derek possessed a keen sense of direction and an excellent memory. He recognized several key landmarks on the road, and in the end, the lack of proper signposts did not hamper him in reaching his destination.

When he turned his gray stallion down the tree-lined drive, Derek could not believe the changes already underway. The eerie silence of yesterday afternoon was gone, replaced by the hum of activity as workmen, carts, horses, and supplies clogged the drive.

He quickly scanned the crowd of burly workmen until he located Diana. She was standing in the middle of what appeared to be a command post. An old, battered wooden table served as her desk, upon which various papers were strewn. Derek noted with amusement several rocks being used as paperweights to keep the documents from scattering about the lawn in the gusting wind.

A large group of men were clustered around the table, all apparently trying to give Diana advice simultaneously. Simpson stood next to his mistress, trying to maintain some kind of order. He was not very successful. Everyone was talking and shouting at once.

Derek tethered his mount to a tree and approached Diana cautiously, uncertain of his reception. She was engaged in earnest conversation with two members of her work crew and unaware of his presence for several moments. Some sixth sense must have alerted her to his nearness, because she paused suddenly in midsentence to turn her head in his direction.

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she did not acknowledge him. Instead, she returned her full attention to the men before her. Within minutes she somehow brought order to the boisterous crowd, and the men disbursed to begin carrying out her orders.

Derek noticed Simpson was still hovering about Diana, but she spoke to the butler in a low voice and soon he too was gone. Then she turned back to Derek, waiting for his approach with her chin held high.

Derek's heart was pounding loudly in his chest as he strode toward her. He could not yet decide how he wanted to greet her. Should he kiss her senseless or throttle her lovely neck for putting herself in possible jeopardy and scaring him half to death?

“Good morning, my lord,” Diana's voice rang out. “How very nice to see you this morning.”

“Back to my lording me again,” Derek said with a wry grin. “I got the distinct impression last night you were going to call me by my given name from now on. Was I mistaken?”

“Of course not, Derek,” Diana said slowly, placing great emphasis on his name. Insufferable man! How could he remind her of last night? And what on earth was he doing there? Diana demanded her heart cease its ridiculous pattering and vowed to disregard the exciting effect Derek was having on her. He most likely had come to say good-bye. She refused to allow herself to hope for more. “It was most kind of you to travel so far out of your way before beginning your journey back to London.”

Derek towered above her, standing so close she could feel the warmth of his body. “I don't understand why you keep insisting I am leaving this morning, Diana,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “I can't imagine what I have said or done that has led you to that false conclusion.”

Diana's heart skipped another beat at his words. “You have fulfilled your obligation to return me safely home, Derek,” she replied evenly, meeting his eyes. “Naturally, I assumed you would return to London.”

“Not without you,” he said softly.

“I beg your pardon?” Diana asked, startled.

“You heard me correctly,” Derek said, taking yet another step closer to her. “Do you honestly think I am so lacking of honor that I would leave you behind with the threat of danger still here? It is very possible the culprits who torched your house are still lurking about in the district. I want you with me until this mystery is solved. It is the only way I can be assured of your safety.”

His honor. Of course. Derek's words sliced through the burgeoning hope that Diana did not even realize she had cherished until this moment. How very foolish of her to even entertain the notion he had stayed because he cared for her—or even because, God forgive her for hoping, he had somehow fallen in love with her.

“There is no need for you to remain here, Derek,” she stated firmly, glad her voice did not betray her inner sorrow. “I am among my own people now. I will be perfectly fine.”

Derek gave her an angry scowl. “Damn it, Diana, don't fight me on this,” he said. “You are my responsibility and I intend to take care of you, whether you want me to or not.”

“There is no need to shout at me,” Diana yelled back at him, her heart sinking anew at his words. “I can hear you well enough. For pity's sake, Derek, you are close enough to be standing on my toes.”

Derek shot her a murderous look, then glanced around. There was enough hammering, sawing, and banging noises among the work crew to prevent their shouting from attracting an audience for the moment. Impulsively, Derek grabbed her arm in a grip that was gentle, yet unshakable, and dragged her farther away from the ruined ashes of the house to the privacy of the rose garden.

“We are going to discuss this, Diana, in a calm and rational manner,” Derek said grimly.

“There is nothing to discuss,” she gritted through her teeth. “I release you from all your responsibilities, obligations, or whatever else you want to call them. You may return to London with a clear conscious, content in the knowledge you have admirably performed your duties toward me.”

“Are you quite finished?”

“No.” Diana took a deep breath. “I do want you to send out one of your investigators to Chippenham so my marriage to Giles can be substantiated. Even though the estate room has not yet been cleared of debris, I am certain all the documents I kept there have been destroyed, including the only copy I possessed of my marriage lines.”

“There is no need for that, Diana,” Derek said.

“But there is, Derek,” Diana said. “The rebuilding of my home will nearly deplete me of my funds. I'm afraid I will have to ask you to repay some of the monies Giles stole from me. I cannot do that unless I prove to you he was, indeed, my husband.”

“I told you before I believe your story about your marriage to Giles. You do not have to prove anything to me, Diana,” Derek repeated wearily. “I will gladly give you anything you desire.”

Diana looked at him, surprised. “What has prompted this sudden change of heart?”

“Last night,” he whispered huskily.

Diana gave a small cry and turned away from him. Her face flushed with heat as she remembered her wanton abandonment in his arms. “I was not myself last night.”

“Oh, I think you were,” Derek said with a wicked grin. “In my opinion, you were your most delightful self last night.”

“I had a nightmare,” Diana stated emphatically. “I was afraid and you offered me comfort. You were just being kind. That's all.”

“I am seldom kind,” Derek said. He pulled her reluctant body toward him. “You have the basic facts concerning last night correct, my love, but you have neglected a few rather salient points. Shall I refresh your memory?” He bent his head down and trailed small kisses along her neck.

“Stop that!” Diana exclaimed, trying to elude him. She slapped her hands ineffectually against his broad shoulders. She could barely speak, let alone think, when he held her thus. He allowed her to escape from his embrace, and Diana quickly walked away from him, retreating farther into the garden.

Diana heard Derek following her, and she increased her speed, but stopped suddenly under a flowering rose trellis. Her body began to shake uncontrollably as she realized where she stood. This was the exact spot where her nightmare had begun last night.

“What's wrong? Are you could?” he asked and she knew he had noticed her trembling.

“No, I'm not cold,” she stammered. When he reached for her this time, she welcomed his arms. “This is where my nightmare began last night.”

“Oh, Diana,” he whispered with genuine concern. “You must never be afraid when I am near you.”

“It's strange, but I don't feel afraid when you are with me,” she said, not understanding how that could be true, but knowing it was.

“Then I shall endeavor to stay by your side as much as possible,” Derek told her in a charming voice.

Diana shook her head sadly, pulling away from him. “You must return to London, Derek—without me.”

“I don't want to be without you,” Derek said, his voice rich with emotion. “Marry me, Diana.”

Diana blinked her eyes twice and looked at him as though he had just sprouted wings. She began to berate him for his cruel jest, but the scathing retort died on her lips when she realized he was being serious.

“Good Lord, Derek, have you taken leave of your senses?”

Derek threw up his arms in mock despair. “You are a true romantic, my sweet!” he said with a wry grin. He held his arms open, beckoning her. “Enough of this foolishness, Diana. Come here and give your future husband a proper kiss.”

Diana's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Derek was acting with supreme confidence, and it rankled her. What did he expect her to do? Fall into his arms in gratitude and start blubbering like an idiot, just because he had asked her to marry him? Diana straightened her spine and glared up at him.

“I don't seem to recall agreeing to your ridiculous proposal, Derek,” she said in a haughty voice.

“Oh, but you will, my dear,” he said, advancing upon her.

Diana backed away from him, her heart thundering furiously in her chest. She could feel the panic rising in her throat. To marry Derek might have been her secret dream from the moment she'd realized she loved him, but faced with the reality of the situation, Diana was having serious doubts.

Her marriage to Giles had been such a cruel mockery. It had taken her a long time to get over the pain and despair. If she failed as Derek's wife, it would be all the more painful because she loved Derek with a depth of feeling she had never felt for Giles. If she married Derek and their relationship fell apart, it would crush the very life from her. Diana shuddered at the thought.

“I never thought I'd marry again,” she whispered. “Ever.”

“It will be different this time, Diana.”

“How?”

“I will sleep by your side every night,” he said earnestly.

“There is more to marriage than intimacy, Derek,” she said with a huff.

“I know, Diana,” he said with a smile. “There is love. And you love me.”

Diana lifted an eyebrow, truly annoyed at his smug smile—and livid because he was speaking the truth. “Oh, really,” she replied sarcastically. “And just how did you come by that interesting bit of fiction?”

“You told me,” he said lightly. “The first time we made love.”

She frowned. “And you called me a liar that night,” she whispered, her voice cracking with pain at the memory still vivid in her heart.

“I was an idiot,” Derek said sincerely. “I hope you can forgive me.”

“'Tis not a question of forgiveness, Derek,” she responded earnestly. “It is a matter of trust.” She turned her back on him and gave a slight shrug. “Do you know I spent the entire carriage ride from my house to the village yesterday waiting for you to accuse me of setting the fire at my own house? It merely seemed the next logical step, after you first accused me of lying about my marriage to your cousin and then implied I might have knowledge of his murder.”

“I have wrongly accused you far too many times, Diana,” he said with regret. “I can only promise you I shall never do so again.”

Diana closed her eyes to conceal the wave of pain that washed over her. How she wished things were different! “It won't work, Derek,” she said in a flat, emotionless voice. “You don't trust me, and no amount of one-sided love can compensate for that.”

“You are wrong, Diana,” he shouted. He grasped her shoulders, turning her around to face him. “I do trust you. And the love in this relationship is not one-sided. I happen to love you also. Very much.”

Diana's knees buckled. For one horrible moment she thought she was going to fall, but Derek's strong arms prevented her from hitting the ground.

“What did you say?” Diana asked, shaken.

Derek gave her a heart-melting smile. “I thought you said your hearing was sound, my love,” he teased. “But if you want me to, I shall be happy to shout it again. I love you.” He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose. “And I want you to be my wife.”

“Good Lord, I must be dreaming,” Diana muttered to herself.

She staggered to a garden bench and sat down with a loud thud. Derek followed her at a leisurely pace, the maddening grin never leaving his handsome features. He looked perfectly delighted with the morning's turn of events. She felt ill.

“You know, Diana,” he said in a conversational voice, “I was rather hoping you would be a bit more enthusiastic over the prospect of becoming my wife.”

She lifted her hand and rubbed her forehead furiously. She was having difficulty concentrating, and Derek's unshakable good humor was rattling her even more. He loved her! He wanted to marry her! Why wasn't she leaping with joy? Why didn't she throw her arms around him, loudly proclaim her love and devotion, and express her boundless happiness at the idea of belonging to him throughout this life and into eternity?

“I'm not sure I would make you a proper wife, Derek,” she said softly, voicing her innermost fears. She met his eyes boldly.