Once Upon a Diamond (8 page)

The next moment she raised her foot and jabbed it into Tristan’s
boot. That sent him hopping, but it was the jolt to his chest that toppled him
to the ground with a thud. Having an older brother to wrestle with at home
helped at times like these. Seeing that the boy lay on the ground, not moving
an inch, she took a flying leap onto the tree stump and mounted the stallion,
riding off with her cousin’s angry words rattling in her ears.

“Katherine! I order you to come back here this instant!”

She let out a laugh. But a second later, her nose wrinkled
into a frown. Tristan had not looked happy. Before he had hit the dirt, those
emerald eyes had glared at her in a most unseemly manner. Had he twisted his
foot after he tripped on that rock?

The more she thought about it, the more she realized those
eyes had never opened. She glanced over her shoulder at his still form and her
stomach churned. She gulped, trying to keep down her last meal. She had killed
him! Oh, oh, the horrifying thought made her ill.

She deserved whatever punishment her father handed out!

Kate’s fork clattered onto her plate the moment Tristan
returned to the table. With trembling hands, she gave Handsome a piece of
sausage.

“Everything’s in order,” he said.

Disorder you mean.
Even though Tristan had lived, she had heard he had injured his foot in that
accident. The notion had haunted her for years.

What a spoiled little girl she had been then. She had felt
terrible about what she had done. She truly had. But the man didn’t seem to be
limping now, did he?

“Has the tree been moved?” she asked, barely able to
utter any words at all.

“Tree’s been lifted. Road was slightly damaged in the
storm, but it’s passable. I needed to check on it just the same. You could see
how dangerous things were from your fall outside your carriage yesterday.” 

The sausage stuck in her throat.

“My coachman’s new,” he went on. “Have to be careful
though. Can’t trust just anybody these days.”

“Hmmm,”
she nodded. How true.

And
to think for a few mad seconds she had thought about the possibility of marriage
to this man. Of course, he could be married for all she knew. But she had
already dismissed the dreadful thought of wedding him from her mind. Perhaps
she should take a peek at Matthew’s list of suitors after all.

She picked up her napkin and dabbed at her mouth. What a
dreadful mess she was in right now. Absolutely dreadful.

“Can I give you a lift somewhere or some coin to carry
you along?”

Her head snapped to attention. “Why would you think I
would need your coin, sir?”

“Ah, back to sir again?” He cast her a wry smile. “From
my understanding your carriage has a problem with its wheel and the driver is
still foxed from last night. Therefore, you have no other transportation than
your own two legs. And as we have so blatantly observed, they are not working
the best these days.”

His amused green eyes moved over her person in a lazy
manner that irked her to no end. She may seem a bit frail and look a bit
homely, but good gracious, she was not as bad as all that! 

She
raised her chin, knowing there was no two ways about it. She needed a ride to
Ridgewater, and she was desperate. She would have to tell him the truth.

“I’ve
traveled from America and had a most dreadful time. I lost my strength and my
health along the way, but I assure you, I will recover. My destination is
Ridgewater.”

Tristan halted his fork half way to his mouth. “Ridgewater?”

A
bit curious at his hesitation, Kate wondered if he had any memory of her at all.
“You know of this place?” 

Without
a doubt, the man knew about Ridgewater. Who was she fooling? Her gaze widened,
watching his every move.

His eyes fell to his plate, and he seemed to hesitate. “I
know of the village of Ridgewater. I shall be passing that way today. I’d be
delighted to escort you in my carriage if you need a lift. But that,” he
pointed to the parrot, “Goes on top.”

It was all Kate could do not to gag on her breakfast. It
was fortunate that she had not mentioned her relatives, for she had meant
Ridgewater Manor, not the village. He still had no idea who she was. She felt
her stomach turning again.   

“That would be most advantageous to me. Thank you. I
should like the lift.”  A lift into hell, for all she knew.

Nevertheless, it was better this way. Whatever he
thought she was doing in the village, she did not care. As soon as she could,
she would be as far away from him as possible. She hoped. And then she could
make her plans accordingly.  

Tristan sat opposite Kate as his carriage turned onto
the gravel road and away from the Hunting Fox Inn. The air was crisp, yet pleasant
as the sun’s warm rays spilled through the windows and onto the soft leather
seats.

A hint of lavender floated in the air, and Tristan
instantly recalled carrying Kate to her chambers. She was a stubborn little
thing, but vulnerable all the same, and that worried him.

What in thunderation was she doing in Ridegwater?  

“Comfortable?” he asked, lifting his gaze to meet her
doe brown eyes when the carriage hit a bump in the road.

 A light feminine laugh sprang from her lips. “Oh, very
comfortable.”

She peered out the window and took an invigorating
breath. “The weather is so much better today. I cannot really complain, can
I?” 

Tristan watched in awe. The rain from yesterday had
washed away some of the road making it difficult to make the journey smooth. Most
females would complain about the uneven ride, but not Kate. She seemed to be
enjoying it. He admired her gentle smile, yet inwardly cringed at her pallor.

No matter, she would be fed in Ridgewater. The village
was not rich, but there was plenty of food wherever she would be staying. The
Duke of Ridgewater always made certain his tenants were well fed and that the
villagers did not suffer any hardships if he could help it. Yes, Kate would
improve in no time.

“Tristan?” 

His head snapped up at the use of his name. The way
she’d said it sent a prickle of warmth shooting through his limbs. “Yes.”

“Thank you for everything.”

“I should thank you when you refused to give the ruffian
my location.” He leaned forward and took her small, delicate hand in his. “I am
eternally grateful.”

A pink flush took over her face, and he instantly felt
the barrier around his heart beginning to crumble. Her eyes glittered with
innocence. Her smile was endearing. Her lips were made for kissing.
Kissing?
Daft man! You’re going daft!
Abruptly, he dropped her hand.

Turning her head, she glanced out the window. “Did you
venture to the inn to see Maggie?”

Tristan choked down his laugh. If he didn‘t know better,
he would think the little spitfire was jealous. “Maggie?”

“Yes, Maggie. It seems to me a man of your age would be
more set on a wife instead of leftovers.”

His temper flared. “I am not married. And a girl your
age should not be speaking of...leftovers. And what do you mean, my age? I will
have you know that a man of my age is
–
”

She raised a stiff hand to ward off his explanation. “No,
don’t tell me. Forgive me. It’s not for me to ask. I should never have said a
word.”

Tristan bit down on his teeth. The devil! She was doing
it to him again. Putting him in his place, as if he were a naughty schoolboy. Why
should he feel any guilt over Maggie? This girl was nothing to him, but a chit
just out of the schoolroom. She shouldn’t even be thinking things like that. It
was...well...dashed improper.

“I came to the inn because I was to meet someone, but
the man never showed. I was looking for a gem that disappeared years ago.” Hells
teeth! What was wrong with him that he felt he had to explain himself to this
stubborn female?

“A gem?” Her eyes grew with curiosity, and he almost found
himself pleased with her interest.

“A diamond. Over two hundred carats, to be precise.”

“Two hundred carats! Surely you jest?”

Tristan felt unduly warm as he watched the expression in
her face change to fascination. At that moment, she seemed older than her sixteen
years. She did say she was sixteen, did she not? 

“No, I do not jest. This gem was similar to many of the
diamonds found in the treasuries of European royalty. It originated in India.”

“India? Hmmm, I’ve heard of magnificent gems coming from
that country. I’ve also heard that the cut and the color of a diamond are some things
people look for, are they not?”

Tristan pursed his lips. Whoever this
girl
was -
and now he was having second thoughts about her age - she must have had an
excellent education or she knew someone very rich. Perhaps she was a maid. Yet
her learning spoke of a higher class. She was a mystery.

“As a matter of fact,” Kate tapped her chin with her
forefinger, “I believe the less flaws, the more valuable. Of course the facets of
a diamond are intriguing as well...”

As
she went on about different gems, Tristan sat back in disbelief, clearly
baffled by this woman-child.

“So, tell me about your diamond,” she asked, leaning
forward, making Tristan more uncomfortable by the minute.

There was something about her that stirred his blood, but
he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. She certainly wasn’t beautiful. In
fact, she looked quite ill. Yet when she blushed, she actually appeared quite
pretty.

Tristan cleared his throat. There was no need to discuss
his search for the diamond due to his covert involvement with Whitehall, but he
could explain his family’s involvement. It would almost help his cause if
anyone questioned his stay at the inn.

He rubbed his jaw, then sat back and heaved a deep sigh.
Where the hell was Fletcher? Something must have gone wrong. He wondered if the
dead man at the inn had known of his clandestine meeting.

“Yes, well, the diamond could very well have come from
one of the largest diamonds in India.” 

“How fascinating,” Kate exclaimed, clasping her hands
together.

Tristan angled his head further in the girl’s direction
and noted her eyes. They were round and luminous, flashing with such
understanding and tenderness that he felt an instant squeeze of his heart. Devil
take it. In a few years when this female filled out, men would be chasing her
like hounds to a fox. And he knew without a doubt, if ever there was a need, he
would protect this little American with his life.

“Were there murderers and cutthroats vying to have the
stone?” she asked, her eyes sparkling. “There must have been some history.”

He shifted his gaze out the window. “Probably. All
priceless gems seem to have the worst of society wanting them, don’t you
think?”

“I suppose you’re right.” A few seconds
passed before she spoke again. “This may be a bit strange to ask, but do you
think that man back at the inn was, um, looking for your diamond?”

His head jerked around. “No.”

Her face paled, as if she were remembering
the gruesome scene. He instantly wished he hadn’t been so curt. But he had
divulged more than he should.

“I have every intention of finding the diamond. It’s
just a matter of time.”

Kate looked away and played with a strand of her hair. He
was all too aware of the confines of this space and the awkwardness of the
situation if anyone should find him alone with this slip of a girl.

“It sounds rather mysterious to me,” she said with a
sigh. She turned to look at him. “Yet what I cannot understand is why a man as
wealthy as you, would have this fascination to seek such a diamond. Heaven
knows you must have entire estates and homes all about England. This hobby of
yours, to put it mildly, is rather extreme, is it not? Or is it a wild
obsession?”

Her eyes glinted with mischief, but Tristan stiffened
every muscle. Though she didn’t know it, her words were a direct hit.

She had no idea that finding this gem meant everything
to both his peace of mind and England’s trade. Obsession? He was not like his
father and never would be. If it weren’t for Whitehall, he would never be
looking for the cursed gem.

Nevertheless, he had said too much already.

“Forgive me,” Kate said, frowning at his cool reaction. “I
wasn’t suggesting that you were greedy or anything like that.”

Greedy now, was he? Tristan narrowed his brows and
decided it would not be to anyone’s benefit to continue telling the story about
the family diamond.

Kate seemed to sense the tension and looked away, her
shoulders stiffening. The rolling of carriage wheels and clacking of horses’ hooves
filled the silence.

But Tristan refused to speak. The diamond had wreaked
havoc on his life for as long as he could remember. And now people thought he
was as foolish as his father. Even this slip of a girl. Society had begun to
talk, and he was quickly losing his patience.