Once Upon a Diamond (23 page)

“Why?”

“Because you love me.”

“Love you?” Edward glanced over his shoulder, then back
at Charlotte. “By Jove, I’m mad about you, Charlotte. You drive me insane.” He
pulled her behind the towering statue, his head moving dangerously close to
hers.

Charlotte blinked in panic. “Mr. Fullerton, this statue
is much bigger than that little rhododendron. I truly don’t think—

“Call me Edward when we’re alone, darling. And don’t
think. Don’t talk. Just kiss me.” 

She complied as he clamped his mouth down upon hers,
with a possessiveness that sent her head spinning.

The only light came from the half moon hanging in the
nighttime sky. Kate shivered. She hated the darkness that surrounded them. It
seemed cold and lifeless. But almost more than that she hated the feeling of
Gaston’s eyes resting on her shoulders.

She had no sane reason why she had strolled into the
garden with this man, but she knew one thing for certain, Tristan would be
furious with her. The faint sound of the orchestra played in the wind, and she
felt an uncomfortable heat sweep through her.

“Captain?” she asked, waiting for a response. “I think I
would like to go back now.” 

No answer. Her heart plummeted as she regarded the
captain’s icy stare. It seemed as though he didn’t see her anymore, but someone
else.

What was wrong with the man? She spun on her slippers to
retrace her steps. She heard the captain’s heels click off the stone path,
hitting the dirt. She had no time to react as his hand reached out and wrapped
around her elbow, dragging her to him.

“Katherine.”

“Captain!” 

His breath was hot against her ear and she suppressed a
shiver as she spoke. “P
–
perhaps
we should head back. It’s a bit chilly out here and I would like to return.” Chilly
was an understatement.

“Perhaps, if I hold you like this you can warm
yourself.” He turned her around with a quick jerk and circled his hands about
her waist.

“Captain, please, you’re hurting me.”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t want this, my dear.”

Kate pushed against his chest, trying to break free. “I
don’t want this. Let me go!” 

She kicked him in the shin. He swore, dragging her
further into the darkness of the garden. She could hardly breathe from his
tight hold.

“I’ve always wanted you, Katherine. You’ve teased me
long enough.” He gripped her shoulders, ripping the top of her gown in the
struggle. Her bare shoulder bore the brunt of his nails.

“Let me go!” She fought for another breath and kicked
him again. But his hold on her felt like a steel vise. Burning tears slipped
down her face. Breathe. She just needed to breathe.

Her lungs felt as if he were squeezing the life out of
her. There was a roaring in her ears and her eyes swam with tears. She was an
idiot for leaving the ballroom with this man, but it was too late to admit that
to anybody. In truth, it might be too late for anything.

The captain slammed her up against a tree, jerking his
body against hers. “You’re mine.”  

Pain hammered in her head. “Please, don’t do this.”

The captain sunk his fingers into her flesh. “No, Katherine.
Not after all this waiting. You shouldn’t have tried to leave me. I could have
been gentler.” 

His angry growl sent another shiver throughout her
already terrified body. Wet slimy lips crushed against hers. He was brutal in
his attack. The metallic taste of blood tainted her mouth, and she was dimly
aware of what was happening.

There was no escape. The darkness. The evil. The
wretched cold hitting her limbs, her neck, her legs. She tried to pull her
mouth away to scream, but the captain gripped her shoulders harder and shook
her. Her body scraped against the tree. Her head lolled back limply. She felt
herself drowning, numb to everything, even his touch.

 “Darling,
call me, Edward, when we’re alone. And don’t think. Don’t talk. Just kiss
me...I love you...always...”

Tristan
stopped on the path, listening to his brother’s speech of devoted love. Love? Edward
was a fool. But his brother’s love life was the least of his worries with Kate
gone. For a moment he debated on recruiting Edward’s help. No. Not now. He
clenched his fists and started down the path again, his black shoes dusted with
dirt and mud. He would return if
–

His
stopped abruptly, his ears lifted to the sound of a small whimper.

His
stomach clenched. A lady’s moan of distress? Kate!

Adrenaline
pumped through his veins as he hastened down the path.

Chapter Fourteen

A
primal roar
erupted from Tristan’s chest at the sight of Gaston towering over Kate’s limp
body. “You’re a dead man, Captain.”

Gaston immediately loosened his grip on Kate and pushed
her aside. Before he could react, Tristan plowed the scoundrel squarely in the
jaw.

The captain staggered back, hitting the ground with a
dull thump. “You dirty...arrogant swine!”  And then came words mumbled in
French.  

Tristan’s breathing was ragged, from both fear and
relief. He glanced at Kate’s dazed expression and his blood stirred with anger.
Lunging forward, he drove another thrust to Gaston’s stomach.

Wracked with pain, the stooped captain moaned and jerked
forward, making a grab for Kate.

“Not enough?” Uttering a vile oath, Tristan grabbed the
captain by the jacket, then struck his face dead center. Blood spurted from
Gaston’s nose. The man fell to the ground, unmoving.

Tristan strode toward a shaking Kate, his eyes narrowing
on her ripped gown. Her mouth was swollen and tinged with blood. Teary eyes met
his as she pulled the parts of her dress together.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was a ragged whisper, cutting
into Tristan’s heart like a burning knife. His arms shot out, catching her
before she tripped into the rose bushes.

Holding her limp body in his arms, he frowned as he
surveyed  her torn gown, her split lip, the marks on her neck and shoulders,
not to mention Gaston’s blood that had been smeared against her skin. He spit
out a curse, knowing he had to remove her from the scene without delay. He
would return for the captain, and when he did, it was going to be devilish hard
not to murder the man.

Tristan swept Kate into his arms and carried her to the
edge of the garden near the windows of the mansion. The murmur of voices and
the hum of violins lifted on the cool breeze, making him all too aware of the
scene they would make entering the ballroom.

He couldn’t enter holding a semi-unconscious lady with a
ripped gown. The ton’s gossip would be ceaseless. He needed help.

As if an answer to his prayers, he twirled around when
he heard his brother’s voice.

“Charlotte, I want to marry you. I
–
” 

Tristan broke past the trees. “Edward.” 

Edward glanced over his shoulder, his eyes wide. “Devil
take it! What the blazes is going on!”

Charlotte peaked over Edward’s shoulder. “Kate!"

Tristan winced. “Kate is alive, but if you dare scream
any louder, the entire ballroom shall be witness to this. As you can see, I
have no wish to engage anyone else in this delicate matter.” 

Tristan motioned to his brother. “I’ll tell you about it
later. But for now, get the carriage and Matthew. No footman. Only Digby. I’ll
be waiting with her around back."  

Edward gave him a grim nod and hastened inside the
ballroom with Charlotte by his side.

Tristan lowered Kate to the ground and cradled her head
in his arms. Sweeping her golden tresses from her face, he patted her face
until a bit of color seemed to return to her. Hell and spitfire!  He had never
been so scared in his life. “Kate?"

She raised the back of her hand to her eyes. “Wh-what
happened?”

Tristan gathered his temper and stored it in the back of
his mind for later. Every muscle in his body went taut as he counted the
minutes for his return to Gaston. “You don’t remember?”

Kate closed her eyes and nodded shakily. “H-horrible.”

Fat tears spilled down her cheeks. Tristan pulled her against
him as she buried her face in his chest. He combed her hair with his fingers. “You’re
safe, sweetheart. You’re safe now.” 

Her small body shook in his arms while her low, moaning
sobs broke his heart. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for this woman.

He squeezed her tighter in his arms. Her pain seemed to
override his fear of losing her.

Nevertheless, the moment she recovered, he planned to
give her the tongue lashing of her life. He could not believe how stupid she
had been to ever let that man touch her, let alone bring her out into the
gardens. When she became his wife, he would change her ways. He would not allow
her independent nature to put herself in any more danger.

If he had been one minute later...

He closed his eyes. No! He wouldn’t think about that.

“Tristan?"

He dropped his gaze to a pair of chocolate brown eyes
that had captured his soul the first time he had seen her ten years ago. “Hmmm?”

She grasped her stomach. “D-don’t feel very well.”  

“I
know, sweetheart. I’ll have you home as soon as I can. You’ll be safe
there." 

Kate’s hand reached beneath his arm. Her face was deathly
pale, and he fought the urge to return to the gardens and kill Gaston with his
bare hands.

“No, I mean, I’m ill." Her lips pressed together
into a thin white line.

Tristan stared at her heaving stomach and finally caught
her meaning. With a quick jerk, he lifted her behind a bush, just in time for
her to abandon her last meal onto the poor plants.

She wiped her wet forehead with her hand. “Th-thank
you.”

Grimacing, Tristan swept her into his arms once again. She
rested her head against his chest and heaved a deep sigh. “Tristan?” Her voice
was hoarse, but edged with control.

“Hmmm?” His heart was just beginning to recover as he
walked toward the carriage.

“I...I love you.” 

Tristan was too stunned to speak. He carried Kate to the
waiting carriage as he mulled over her words.
I love you.

It was the second time she’d told him. His heart warmed
every time he heard those words. Kate was everything to him. At the moment, he
had no wish to make light of his feelings for her. Even though he’d told her of
his honorable intentions, he wanted to wait for the perfect time to ask her to
marry him again.

A minute later Kate sat in Tristan’s carriage. The pink
was slowly returning to her cheeks. “What are you waiting for?” she asked,
watching him pace along the gravel pathway.

“Your brother,” he said with a scowl.

But Tristan knew too much time had passed. By now
Captain Gaston may have come to his senses, and there was no inkling what the
scoundrel might do then. Simply looking at Kate made Tristan furious. He wished
he could lock her up for good, he having the only key. Yet it was amazing how
she had snapped back to life, spouting her opinion as if she were queen.

“Matthew can come along with the others in their
carriage,” she said. “I refuse to have him see me like this. He’ll want to go
after the captain and kill him. Do you want
that
on your conscience?” 

Tristan glared at her bloody dress and all reason left
him. “I sent for him. He’ll be here.”
And he won’t do the killing! I will! 

“Kate?” Matthew’s voice was anything but calm as he
stalked toward the carriage.

Kate shuddered and shrank far back into her seat. Matthew
came to a screeching halt. His face twitched in disbelief at the sight of his
sister’s disheveled state. “What the hell happened?” He glared at Tristan with
his fists planted firmly on his hips.

Tristan threw up his hands in defense. “Hold it! Just
calm down! Your sister’s safe.”

“Safe from what?” Matthew piped louder, exchanging angry
glances between the two.

“Truly, Matthew, I can explain all of this.” Kate
started to step out of the carriage.

Having completely lost his temper, Tristan took a firm
step toward her. “You!” He pointed to Kate. “Return to that carriage and stay
there!” 

Kate’s eyes widened at the powerful command, and she
obediently moved back into the carriage.

Matthew gaped at Tristan with the utmost respect. “In
all my born days, I vow, I have never seen anybody tell her what to do and get
away with it. Now, what happened?"

Tristan rested a hand on his shoulder. “Hop in the
carriage. I’ll tell you everything when I get to my townhouse.”

Glaring at Kate, Matthew stepped into the carriage, then
glanced over his shoulder at Tristan. “Your townhouse? Why your
townhouse?"

“Would you rather I drive to the duke’s residence and take
your sister inside looking like a bleeding dog that was dragged through the
trenches?” 

Kate clamped her mouth shut and pushed her jaw forward,
as if to say that she didn’t look that bad!

Matthew’s lips thinned as he inspected his sister. “I
see your point.” He watched as Tristan began to close the door to the carriage
without stepping inside. “Wait a blasted minute!” 

Matthew flung the door open and shot out of the carriage.
“What’s going on here? I demand to know what happened and why you intend to
stay!”

Kate leaned out the carriage. “Please, you two. Get
inside!”

Tristan glared at her, pure rage smoking through his
nostrils. “
You
have nothing to say,” he snapped in a voice so low that
Kate trembled. Pursing her lips, she retreated to her seat.

A vein bulged in Matthew’s neck. “It was Captain Gaston,
wasn’t it?” 

Tristan gritted his teeth and nodded.

Matthew grabbed Tristan’s shoulders. “He’s mine. Let me
go after him. He’s wronged me too many times. You cannot deny me.”

For a split second Tristan weighed the crazy idea of
letting Matthew go with him. He knew that Matthew thought the man was involved
in his father’s murder. But no. He couldn’t let Kate’s brother search for the
captain. Gaston might be anywhere. For all he knew, the man could be carrying a
pistol.

Again, Kate poked her head out of the carriage. “Matthew,
the man did nothing to hurt me, not really.”

Matthew pointed his finger at Kate. “Whose blood is
that? Tell me!”  

Tristan gave Matthew a quick rendition of the night’s
events, and Matthew’s eyes flamed with rage.

“We’re wasting precious minutes.” Tristan darted a
glance toward the bushes. “Let me return to the gardens. If he’s not there,
I’ll come back straight away.”

“Nothing doing. He’s mine,” Matthew insisted.

“I’m sorry to have to do this two nights in a row, old
boy.” With a hurled fist to Matthew’s face, Kate’s brother fell to the ground
like a sack of grain.

Tristan turned his head, only to meet Kate’s disgusting
glare.

“Take care of him,” he said before he looked up at his
coachman who had been intently watching the entire scene. “Digby, if I don’t
return in ten minutes, fetch my brother and the marquess.” 

The next ten minutes were the tensest moments of Kate’s
life. She rested her brother’s head in her lap, waiting for him to awake and
wondered if the captain was still lying in the garden. Her head hurt so much
from the horrid evening, she couldn’t think.

But she could still remember the words she had spoken to
Tristan. She had told him she loved him, but he didn’t seem to care. Her
stomach twisted in pain. She loved him with all her heart, but he didn’t love
her.

Matthew moaned and lifted his hand to his cheek. “Where
the devil is he?” 

Kate sniffed, not saying a word, but only peered back at
her brother’s hardened expression.

“How long has the idiot been gone?"

Kate swallowed the lump in her throat. For all she knew,
Tristan might be dead. “Almost ten minutes.”

Aware of the sound of crunching of footsteps, Matthew
shot up. “Get in the carriage,” he commanded to his sister. Kate looked at him
as if in a trance, not able to move. “I said, get in! NOW!" Matthew shoved
her toward the carriage.

Trembling, Kate took a seat and let out a relieved
breath when a familiar voice reached their ears. “He’s gone.” Tristan appeared
beyond the bushes, his eyes glued to Kate. “There’s nothing we can do about it
now. Let’s head back to my townhouse and clean her up. My brother can catch a
ride home with Devin when he finds him."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Kate blinked back tears. Matthew
nodded in agreement. The two gentlemen joined Kate in the carriage. Tristan
waved Digby to move on.

Kate felt the burning stares of the two men, Tristan’s,
hard and unforgiving, Matthew’s, grim and uncompromising. A brittle silence
lingered inside the carriage as the vehicle jerked forward. Worrying her bottom
lip, Kate shivered as a fog descended upon the city like a phantom in the night.

When the carriage finally came to a stop in front of the
Lancewood townhouse, Digby jumped down from his perch and opened the door,
letting Matthew exit first.

The damp air chilled Kate’s skin as she waited for
Tristan to step onto the walk. Frowning, she moved from her seat and peeked up
at him. He opened his mouth to speak, but clamped it shut.

Kate let out a shuddering sigh. Both men were as mad as
hornets, and she was going to be the recipient of their sting. She didn’t
relish the thought and decided to have her say now before the two men were on
her at once. “Listen here, I can tell you
–
”