The Sweetest Love (Sons of Worthington Series) (6 page)

“I’m certain he would have enjoyed that,” Diana lied through clenched teeth. Vicious women like these three would have upset her brother so much he wouldn’t have acted in a gentlemanly manner around them.

“Yes, indeed,” Lady Jane said. “Well, I thank you for taking a moment to speak with us. I must be going now.”

Jane and the other vipers sashayed back into the ballroom. Diana thanked her lucky stars she hadn’t said anything rude, because heaven knows she wanted to.

She turned and hurried to the refreshment table, hoping to get a cool drink soon because she needed something to calm her heated disposition. She fisted her hands at her side. Why couldn’t she have made it through the evening without talking to those rude girls? And why was she the one being punished for something her father had
supposedly
done? She still didn’t dare ask her mother. Diana didn’t think she could bear bad news right now when this weekend had already started out badly.

When she reached the table, she hoped the footman would pour her a cup since she didn’t have a gentleman friend to get her a drink. But before she could ask the footman, a masculine voice came from behind her.

“Here, allow me.”

She jumped and looked over her shoulder. Lord Tristan stood entirely too
close
as he reached around her and took the cup from the footman. Tristan then presented it to her as if it were made of gold.

Her anger for Lady what’s-her-name and her hen witted friends quickly left Diana as her heartbeat hammered with excitement. She took the drink. “Lord Tristan. What a surprise.”

He smiled in that knee-melting, charming way of his. “I’m glad you think it is, because I have to admit, I was hoping for another chance to talk with you.”

Excitement pumped through her faster. “You were? Why, I wonder?”

A corner of his mouth lifted higher than the other. “I’m completely bored at this party—to tears, in fact—and I want someone to cheer me up.”

She laughed, and he joined her. “That shocks me, Lord Tristan, especially when I know how popular you are with the guests tonight.”

“Still, it was all I could do to not fall asleep during each conversation.”

“Oh, I highly doubt that, my lord.”

“It’s true. Not when I could keep company with you and enjoy the rest of my evening.”

Sipping her drink, she studied him over the rim of the cup. Humor tinted his eyes, making them sparkle, letting her know he was jesting with her. Yet, he stood by her side instead of with his friends in the other room so there must be a little truth to his statement.

“So,” he continued and held out his elbow, “I had hoped to convince you to take a stroll with me outside and free us from the hum-drum of this room.”

As much as she wanted to, she didn’t dare. Would it be proper? But of course it would. They wouldn’t be the only couple outside strolling around the dowager’s flower garden, Diana was certain.

She placed the cup on the table. Smiling, she hooked her hand around his elbow. “Lead the way, my lord.”

Diana walked beside him, feeling like the grandest woman in the room—whether her gown was outdated or not. Not once did Lord Tristan act as if he was embarrassed to be seen with her. Surprising, since she figured he’d heard the rumors by now.

The moment they walked outside, she inhaled deeply, enjoying the fresh air. The moon was full tonight, and combined with the lanterns placed along the walkway, she was certain their stroll would give nobody reason to wonder if they were being proper or not.

He slipped his palm over the top of her hand as it rested on his arm. Her heart leapt and she looked up into his smoldering eyes.

“Are you feeling better, Miss Baldwin?”

“Immensely so, I thank you for asking.”

“So tell me why a lovely lady like
yourself
hasn’t been coerced into marriage yet.”

She laughed. “It seems, my
lord, that
is a very interesting question—one I wish I knew how to answer.”

“I would assume you would have a flock of men standing at your doorstep, waiting for the chance to woo you.”

“You assume wrongly, then.”

His gaze moved all over her. Tingles erupted inside her chest, creating sensitive bumps all over her skin. She wished he didn’t have the ability to make her react in such a way, yet in a way she cherished this newfound feeling.

“Impossible.” He shook his head. “Tell me truthfully, my dear. Why am I the fortunate man who gets to escort you outside tonight?”

She couldn’t believe how sincere his tone of voice was. Perhaps he hadn’t heard the rumors. No, that couldn’t be right. Knowing Lady Jane and her friends, Diana was certain the whole party knew by now. “You are flattering me, my lord. I assure you, I don’t deserve it.”

They stopped by the tree where she’d been sitting when she first saw him earlier today. Even if they sat on the wooden bench, the lanterns surrounding the area would not make their time very private. Wasn’t that what she wanted? Yet, the more she gazed into his sultry eyes, the more she wanted him to herself for a little while without curious eyes watching.

“Would you like to sit?” He pointed to the bench.

She grinned. “I hesitate sitting here with you, my lord. I would hate to be bothered by a bee again and have you
believe
I’m blowing kisses at you.”

He tilted back his head and laughed. It made her happy to think she could do this. As she studied his handsome face, dark eyes, dark hair, and especially his tempting mouth, she realized no other man had made her feel so comfortable. And for certain, no other man had made her insides jump with excitement.

A movement from back by the house drew her attention when three women poked their heads out of the door. Diana groaned. Where those girls really trying to be her watchdogs?

Lord Tristan frowned. “What’s amiss? You look upset.” He swung his head in the direction she’d been looking.
“Oh, dear.
Lady Jane and her entourage,” he mumbled.

“Lord Tristan, do you mind if we go someplace else? I really don’t want to talk to them right now.” She looked back at Jane. The gossipmonger and her friends had stepped out of the house and were coming in their direction.

“Your wish is my command, my sweet.”

He took her hand in his and pulled her away from the lantern walk and in through the thicket of trees. He moved the branches away from her face and gown so she wouldn’t get snagged. When they walked by a large tree, Lord Tristan pulled her in the back of it, pinning her against the trunk with his body.

“
Shh
…” He put his finger to her lips. He peeked around them toward the path they’d just left.

Diana heard Lady Jane’s voice, but not her words—how could she when Lord Tristan’s muscular frame leaned against Diana’s so intimately. His finger still pressed against her mouth, and she dare not even breathe for fear she’d take in more of his intoxicating scent of leather and musk.

He pulled his attention away from the other women as they passed by, and stared into Diana’s face. His gaze dropped to her mouth. Instead of moving his finger away, he tenderly slid it across her bottom lip. Her throat grew dry and her heart nearly beat right out of her chest. The sounds around them disappeared and all she could hear was her quick breaths—and his.

Good grief, what was he doing to her? And pray, why did she like it so much?

“I—I believe they are gone now,” she whispered with much difficulty since her mouth felt as if cotton had taken up residency in her throat.

“Yes, I do believe they are.”

He gave her a lop-sided grin that made her heart flip. Yet he didn’t move. And heaven help her, she didn’t want him to move, either. She enjoyed this so much…too much.

Watching his gaze as it rested on her lips fascinated her, and gave her hope. Would he kiss her? It wouldn’t be proper, that was for certain. But they were out here alone, and one little kiss wouldn’t hurt.

The rhythm of her heart beat frantically against her ribs and she dared to move her head forward in silent encouragement. His blue eyes softened as his head tilted toward her.

“Diana? Where are you?”

Her mother’s shrill voice broke the spell quickly. Tristan jumped back just as Diana pulled away from the tree. She moistened her dry lips with her tongue and tried to meet Tristan’s eyes, but it was difficult.

“Perhaps I should take you back to your mother now,” he said in a voice much deeper than she’d heard before.

“Yes, perhaps you should.”

As they walked toward her mother who stood just outside the double glass doors, not another word was spoken. The awkward silence pierced through the air, making her very uncomfortable. Each step she took closer to her mother, Diana’s heart sank. Could Tristan be regretting the
almost
kiss? His continued silence reaffirmed her worry.

When they neared and her mother saw Diana, the worried lines around the older woman’s eyes and mouth disappeared. “Oh, there you are, my dear.”

“Yes, Mother. I am here. Lord Tristan and I were just taking a small walk.”

“Oh, how lovely.”
Her mother smiled at Lord Tristan. “Please forgive my interference, but I would like to introduce my daughter to an old friend I just saw at the party.”

“That is just fine, Baroness.” He bowed to her, then to Diana. “I shall take my leave now. Miss Baldwin, I hope to see you tomorrow during the morning ride my mother has planned.”

“I shall be there, my lord.” Diana curtsied.

With each step Tristan took away from her, loneliness grew inside her chest. What a wonderful man he was, and so willing to help her get away from Lady Jane. And even though Diana hadn’t been with him for very long, their time together was well spent, and she realized she wanted to see him again…and be alone with him, even as improper as it was.

Tristan made her heart soar, and she enjoyed the elation shooting through her soul. The foreign feeling made her realize she wanted this always!

* * * *

Tristan squinted against the sun as it shined brightly toward the front of the house. He sat straight on his horse and waited as his mother’s guests spilled out of the house and toward the stables where horses awaited them for their scheduled morning ride. He’d been waiting for ten minutes, but had yet to see the lovely Miss Baldwin or her mother.

Scrubbing his hand over his face, he blinked his tired eyes. Last night he’d lain awake thinking of Miss Baldwin.
Diana.
What a different woman she was…and what a relief! In just the little time they had visited, he had relaxed and didn’t have to act like someone else around her. He enjoyed being himself, and he felt that she, too, had been herself around him. Unlike the pristine Lady Jane and her friends who sashayed around the dance floor last night acting as if they were the only women at the party. How he loathed women like that!

Diana Baldwin was a breath of fresh air…and she was exactly what he was looking for in his life. For the first time, he actually wanted to pursue her. He wanted to win her heart. The look of adoration that she had given him when he’d asked her to dance, and then later when he saw her at the refreshment table, was the greatest feeling he’d had in such a long time. He actually felt like her rescuer.

Three women walked out of the house in a rainbow of dresses, and as they came toward the stable, their high-and-mighty noses were where they always were…in the air, and their holier-than-thou attitudes were gleaming off their haughty expressions. He rolled his eyes. The more he compared Diana to them, the more they failed in comparison.

When they neared, Jane’s smile broadened. “Good morning, Lord Tristan. How happy it makes me to see you here.”

“Indeed? I wonder why that is since I live here.”

“You misunderstood, my lord. What I meant to say was that I was hoping you would be here to ride with us.”

“Of course I would be here. Where else would I be during my mother’s party?” Jane chuckled lightly and the other two displayed faux grins. He motioned toward the horse. “Please find your mounts. We will be leaving for our ride soon.”

“My lord?”
Jane batted her eyes. “Will you help me mount?”

Tristan glanced at the stable hand that stood ready to help. “Lady Hastings, you already
have
someone to assist you.”

He tried not to laugh at the displeasure on her face as the servant helped her on to the horse. If Tristan’s mother would have heard and witnessed this scene, she would have boxed his ears for being so uncaring. But Tristan didn’t want to give Jane any more encouragement than necessary.

He glanced back toward the house. Floating down the slope was a vision in a light gray riding habit trimmed with black lace. His heart jumped with happiness. At the back of Diana, her mother and another lady trailed behind.

Tristan jumped off his horse, and then motioned to the stable hand. Earlier, Tristan had prearranged to have the servant prepare one of his mother’s mares—a beautiful white filly—for Diana.

As she neared, he heard the snickers from over his shoulder where Jane and her cronies were waiting on their horses. He threw them a glare, but they didn’t see him. Their eyes were fixed on Diana as they whispered behind their gloved hands. He couldn’t hear everything they were saying, but the words
outdated
and
riding habit
stood out. Jane growled in distaste and said,
why is she here?