The Sweetest Love (Sons of Worthington Series) (28 page)

Or could she?

Shaking the negative thought from her mind, she frowned and glared at Tristan. “How dare you accuse Tabitha?”

“Oh, I dare.” He raked his fingers through his hair.
“Especially when I heard her confession of wanting to kill Ludlow and Elliot.
You were in the room with
her,
did you not hear her say those very words?”

“Well, yes, but…” She shook her head. “She was not confessing to a murder, she was voicing her thoughts. She—along with Sally—has every right to hate men like my husband and your cousin. If I have withheld anything from you, it’s this…” She took a deep breath and slowly released it. “Because of Ludlow’s treatment toward me, I cannot abide men like that abusing their servants—or their wives. There are many of us in England, Tristan. Were you aware of that? Even Lady
Dashwood
was abused not only by her husband, but her father. Together Claudia and I have taken it upon ourselves to rescue these women from their most unfortunate situations. Tabitha and Sally are no more killers than Claudia and I are.”

Tristan stared at her as his frown intensified. Anger filled her quickly as she continued, “Tristan, it hurts me that you cannot trust
me.
Do you honestly believe that I would become friends with a murderer? Tabitha may have hard feelings for men who beat women, but she is not a killer just because she has thought about it. I had thoughts about wanting my husband dead, so does that make me a murderer in your eyes?”

“No,” he said in almost a whisper.

“So then why do you think that about Tabitha?”

“Because everything adds up,” he explained. “Tabitha’s anger toward men is the key, Diana. Have you not noticed how she acts toward Hawthorne?”

“Well yes, but that doesn’t prove—”

“I have not met one woman who hasn’t nearly swooned when Hawthorne smiles at them, yet Tabitha does the opposite of most women and throws perpetual invisible daggers at him. Not only that, but she is devoted to you. She will do anything to protect you, Diana…even kill. And because she was beaten, I would not judge her for wanting those men dead.” He stepped closer. “Tell me, where was Tabitha the night Hollingsworth was found stabbed to death?”

Tears swam in Diana’s eyes but she refused to let them fall. “She was here at the cottage. Two days prior to my husband’s death, I had taken Tabitha out of Lord Elliot’s house because he had beaten her severely.”

“So, in her condition, would she have been able to travel without her master stopping her?”

Diana scowled. “You cannot be serious! Tristan, have you ever seen a beaten woman? Her eyes were swollen nearly closed, and she had bruises all over her body. She was as weak as a kitten.”

Tristan exhaled a frustrated sigh and ran his fingers through his hair. “Oh, Diana, forgive me. I’m just trying to piece things together. I’m so sorry that Tabitha was hurt by my cousin, and I wish I had known so I could have stopped it.” He shook his head. “I’m just trying to make sense of all of this. I have a gut feeling that Tabitha is the killer, she has motive, and I fear I cannot shake that from my mind.”

She fisted her hands by her side as she thought back to that day. “You are just going to have to try, Tristan, because Tabitha did not do it!” A tear slipped down her face. Sadness washed over her, but not because she thought her maid guilty, but because she didn’t know how to change his mind. “Tristan, how can I make you believe? Do you not trust
me
?”

He met her gaze and nodded. “I do, my sweet Diana, but I fear your love for the maid has clouded your judgment.”

“I assure you, it has not.”

“Then what do you want me to do?” he asked, his voice pleading.

“I want you to put this insane idea out of your head and help me try to figure out who the
real
killer is.”

He reached out and grasped her hands, but she quickly jerked them away. Taking a step closer to her, he ran his palms up and down her arms slowly.

“I fear, I cannot.
Deep inside me, I feel Tabitha is the one. Everything points to her.” He stroked her cheek. “My love, can you not trust
my
feelings?”

“I have trusted you so far, Tristan, and although I will always love you, I fear I cannot let you turn Tabitha in to the magistrate. If you try, I promise, I will do everything in my power to stop you.”

He remained silent, but his expression told her his thoughts. It was too late. She couldn’t change his mind.

Heartbroken, Diana turned away. Obviously, his love for her didn’t run as deep as hers. Now the question was…could she free him from her heart as he had done from his?

Chapter Eighteen

Nic
kept his wary eyes on Tabitha. After Tristan and Lady Hollingsworth had left the room, Tabitha started cleaning up the dishes and taking them into the kitchen. He didn’t want her out of his sight, so he helped her. She arched a curious eyebrow at him, but didn’t say anything as she went into the kitchen.

They were both far enough away from the parlor where Tristan and Lady Hollingsworth were having their talk that Tabitha couldn’t eavesdrop on them without
Nic
knowing, and while she cleaned the dishes, he knew she wouldn’t be trying to get away from him.

But she was nearly done, and he had a feeling that she would make her move at any minute now.

Once she wiped and put away the last dish, she remained by the cupboard with her back toward him. She didn’t move, except for when she inhaled deeply. From this view, he couldn’t tell if she were angry or just flustered. Knowing Tabitha, she was angry.

“My lord, I wish you would stop staring at me as if I were a dish of sweetmeats.”

After they’d been in silence for so long, it was refreshing to hear her voice. “And how do you know I’m staring?”

“Because I’m not a fool, my lord.
What else would you look at in the kitchen?” Slowly, she turned and faced him, but stayed by the cupboard. She folded her arms and arched an eyebrow. “I hope you don’t think I’m going to stay and entertain you while Lady Hollingsworth and Lord Tristan are in the other room.”

“Actually,” he said rising from his chair, “that’s exactly what I expect. The night is still early, and I don’t wish to retire to my room.” He shrugged. “So I suppose the two of us should do something to pass the time.”

“The
two of us
will do nothing, my lord. My plans are to check on Sally and visit with her. What you do with your time is not my concern.”

She stepped toward the door, but he quickened his step and reached the spot, blocking her escape.
“Oh, my lovely Miss Tabitha.
I have been looking forward all evening to spending time with you.”

She rolled her eyes. “I fear that your idea of
spending time
with me does not meet with my approval. I know what you really want, Lord Hawthorne, and if you cannot recall our last conversation, let me remind you that I do
not
find you interesting in the least. Your twinkling eyes and knee-weakening grins will not charm me as they have done with other ladies.”

Slowly, a grin stretched his mouth. He stepped closer to her, running the tips of his fingers across her cheek. “You think I have twinkling eyes and a charming grin, do you?
How very sweet of you to notice.”

Groaning, she smacked his hand away. “I did not mean it that way, my lord. Quit putting words in my mouth.”

“Oh, my lovely, I don’t need to put words in your mouth at all. You are doing just fine with that on your own. In fact, I still consider our conversations very stimulating.”

Her jaw tightened and her fisted hands were turning white. “Please let me pass, Lord Hawthorne.”

Nic
struggled to keep a charming composure. It was hard to think of her as a killer when she looked so beautiful when you’re angry. Her blue eyes were dark with passionate malice, yet he was still drawn to her. Heaven help him, he still wanted to see what it felt like with her locked in his embrace while he kissed her to distraction.

Good grief, what was he thinking? Indeed, she was a woman who would drive him to drink, and he had the sudden urge for a bottle of strong spirits right now.

“Could I indulge you to give me a few more minutes?” he begged, hating the fact that he’d been reduced to this level. “I really would like your company. I promise not to give you any of my charming grins, and I will try my hardest not to have my eyes twinkle.” He tried to be serious, but it was in his nature to flirt with beautiful women.

She’s a killer,
he reminded himself. Unfortunately, his subconscious wasn’t listening because he still wanted to hold her and see if passion was as evident in her kiss as it was when she argued.

Soon the lines of anger on her forehead and round her mouth disappeared and she nodded. “Shall we adjourn to the sitting room, then?”

“Splendid idea.”
He smiled and held out an arm for her.

Her attention moved to what he offered as a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Lord Hawthorne, you do not have to escort me. I assure you, I can walk to the room just fine on my own.”

He opened the door and motioned his hand. “Then lead the way, my lovely.”

As he followed her into the other room, he enjoyed watching the way her gray gown molded to her womanly curves. He admired the lift of her stubborn chin, and took pleasure in studying the way her brown hair swept up into a coil, leaving him ample view of her slender neck. A neck he wouldn’t mind kissing…

Stop this!
He silently scolded his thoughts as he searched the room for a decanter of spirits. Once she closed the door, she turned toward him but didn’t say a word.
As before, familiarity nudged in the back of his mind.
He knew her from somewhere, and until he remembered, it would drive him mad.

“My lord, would you like a drink?”

Thought you’d never ask!
“Indeed, I would, Miss Tabitha.”

She moved over to the liquor tray and poured him a drink. “All Lady Hollingsworth has is port. I hope that will do.”

“It
will
, thank you.” He took the glass from her then nodded to the decanter. “Are you not going to have a glass?”

“Servants don’t drink with their masters.”

“Well, since I’m not your master and you did very little to conform with propriety, I think it’s appropriate. Besides, this evening we shall be equals.”

She chuckled and poured herself a drink. “Equals, my lord? I’m surprised at your behavior this evening. I’m most certain if your fellow comrades were here witnessing this, you would not be acting in such a way.”

“True, I would not. But it’s just you and I here now, so why can we not pretend to be civil to each other?”

Shrugging, she carried her glass over to the sofa and sat. He followed and sat beside her, drinking his port. Daintily, she sipped her glass as she looked at him from over the rim. In one word, she was
adorable,
and he wished he didn’t think that way of her.

“Tell me, Miss Tabitha. Where did you grow up? Have I ever met you before?”

“Believe it or not, most of my younger years were spent right here in this cottage.” Her gaze moved slowly around the room. “Lady Hollingsworth’s grandmother lived here and my mother was her personal maid.” She returned his attention back to him. “So unless you came here to visit, we would have never met.”

“You said you were here in your
younger
years. What age were you when you left?”

“I was sixteen, my lord.”

“So where have you been since then?”

She lifted the glass to her mouth again, taking her time in drinking the port.
Nic
wondered why she hesitated, unless she was trying to think up a lie.

“I was a laundry maid for a man who was cruel to me. After he died, Lady Hollingsworth took me in.”

Tilting his head, he studied her. Up this close, he could get lost staring into her lovely eyes. “You are not going to tell me the lord’s name?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Lord Hawthorne, I can assure you we have never met before. I don’t believe it’s any of your business who I used to work for, and the only reason you ask is because you think you know me from somewhere. I can promise you, we have
never
met before. Because I was a laundry maid, I was never allowed to be around my master’s guests.”

Nic
grumbled under his breath. Tabitha was more intelligent than he gave her credit for. But of course she was smart. Who else could have killed two lords without leaving a trace of evidence?

“Forgive me for upsetting you, my lovely. I fear I’ve been doing that quite a lot lately, and it’s not my intention.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Then tell me, Lord Hawthorne, what exactly is your intention?”

“Just to get to know you better.”
He set his empty glass on the table next to him.

“Why?”

“Because you intrigue me.
Is that not enough reason?”

“No.” She placed her glass on the small table beside the sofa before turning to look at him again. “Gentlemen like
yourself
have no business wanting to get to know female servants so personally. There is only one reason masters want to chum with us, and it’s only for seduction. As I told you before, I will
not
allow that to happen.”