Once Upon a Diamond (27 page)

Andrews went over a few more facts about the diamond,
inquired about Mr. Wilcox’s health, then gulped down his brandy. “I shall
return with the slightest bit of information that may assist you, my lord. Take
heed, and keep that wife of yours out of sight until we know for certain whom
the cad is. And we will find that diamond.”

After Andrews made his retreat, Tristan pulled the
bellcord for his butler. “Have Miss Wilcox meet me in my study at once.”

“My lord,” the butler cleared his throat and pulled
nervously at his collar, “I understand the lady has left the premises.”

Tristan’s brows slammed together. “Where the devil did
she go?”

Perkins shrugged.

Cursing, Tristan raced up the stairs and whipped open
her bedchamber door. She was gone. Heart racing, he flung open the connecting
door and marched toward Matthew who was sitting in bed, sipping tea as if he
were King of England.

Not realizing the depth of Tristan’s anger, Matthew
flashed a set of white teeth his way. “Lost your little bride?”

Tristan’s gaze burned with rage. “Where the devil is
she?” 

Instantly, Matthew frowned and clanked his cup against
his tray. “Come now, aren’t you going a bit far? She rode over to the duke’s to
clear her head. She’ll come back after she’s thought it all through. You know
women. Lover’s spat and all.” He resumed sipping his tea.

“Hell’s teeth! That’s not what I’m concerned about! A
Bow Street Runner just informed me Gaston was home when you were shot. We don’t
think it was a footpad either. Or that you were the intended victim. You’re
right. No one could have known you were in the carriage. That means there’s
someone out there wanting me dead. Could even be Douberry. I have no idea! But
that person may go after Kate. I can’t explain it all now, but she could be in
grave danger.” 

Matthew’s jaw dropped in horror. “I figured with all
that has happened with my father and the attack back in Boston, the pistol shot
was meant for me. But who knew I was in your carriage, Tristan? No one. Then I
figured it had to be a footpad...”

Tristan grabbed the door handle and glared back at Kate’s
brother. “I only hope your sister made it to the townhouse safely.”

“You can’t keep her caged up while you’re searching for
the scoundrel who’s after you or that family diamond.”

The
blasted diamond again! 

A
muscle twitched in Tristan’s jaw. At the moment he wanted nothing to do with
that cursed gem or Whitehall.

“She’s
my wife now! Whether she likes it or not! She’ll do as I say. I won’t have her
at death’s door like you were. I’ll do what it takes.” Clenching his fists, Tristan
vowed to bring his wife home, safe and sound, even if he had to use force.  

K
ate sat on the
sofa in the duke’s drawing room, emotionally and physically exhausted from her
brother’s shooting and her rushed marriage. Handsome curled beside her while
she stroked his back. The duchess and Charlotte were out shopping. She, on the
other hand, had been here all afternoon, playing her flute, and Tristan had
never noticed that she had left his townhouse. What did he care anyway?

She let out a weary sigh, inhaling the sweet smell of
roses beside her. The scent reminded her of the summers at the Wilcox Manor
where red roses climbed the garden trellis in the back gardens. Home. She
wondered what that was anymore?  

“Katherine?” 

Kate glanced up as Devin entered the room.

“Is your brother
…
?” Her cousin left the dreaded words unsaid.

Kate drew her lips into a tight smile. “No, no. Matthew’s
taken a turn for the better.”
He’s going to live. The cad.
“The worst is
over. He’ll be joining us soon.” 

Her words implied that she was staying at the townhouse
indefinitely. Devin gave her a beaming smile and strode across the room, taking
hold of her hand. “Thank heaven. You must be relieved.”

“Very,” she muttered, peering down at the floor.

“Katherine, if I didn’t know better, I would think you
didn’t want Matthew to recover.”

“It’s not that.”

“Then, what is it?” He tilted her chin toward him. “You
can confide in me, you know.” 

Tears welled in her eyes.

Frowning, Devin sank into the sofa beside her and
wrapped his arm about her shoulders. “Come now, it can’t be that bad. What
happened? Tell me.”

“I discovered that Tristan and Matthew,” a sob escaped
her, “planned something without me. It was so humiliating.” She gave a
distressed moan and fell against Devin’s chest.

Devin opened his mouth, but snapped it closed when the
sound of pounding footsteps echoed in his ears.

“A mad earl is not what I need right now,” he muttered
under his breath, then turned to Kate who was plastered against him like a
weeping child, completely oblivious to his warning.

Tristan loomed in the doorway and launched a frigid
stare at Devin’s tight hold on his wife. “What the blazes is going on here?” He
stalked toward them, his powerful body eating up the distance between them.

Peeking out from under Devin’s arm, Kate met Tristan’s
piercing glare. “Y
–
you
scoundrel!” she shouted.

Devin’s eyes widened. He set Kate aside and rose from
the sofa. “Now, Trist, this isn’t what you think.” 

Tristan’s eyes were icy chips of green. “You will come
home with me this instant," he said to Kate, stalking toward her.

Handsome gave a whine and hurried to Tristan’s side.

“Traitor,” Kate hissed to the dog as she scurried behind
the piano.

Devin placed himself between the couple and threw up his
hands. “Wait a minute. You may have some say at your home, but I live here, and
Katherine is my cousin. You have no right to burst in and demand the lady come
home with you, even if her brother is recovering at your house. I realize your
mother is acting as chaperone, but have a care. You’re being unreasonable.”

Tristan’s glance sharpened. “Move aside, Devin.” 

Devin snapped his brows together into a firm V. “I’m
warning you Trist, not one step further or I
–
”

He had no time to finish. Tristan slammed two powerful
palms into Devin’s chest, sending the man whirling across the room into the
piano, knocking Kate’s flute to the floor with a loud thwack.

Kate’s chin jutted forward. “You broke my flute!” 

She stopped talking when Tristan’s determined gaze froze
her to her spot. His menacing strides chilled her bones.

Devin rose. “That’s far enough. You have no right!”

With a flash of irritation, Tristan jerked his attention
toward his friend. “I believe I have every right to bring my wife back home
where she belongs!”

The color fell from Devin’s face. “You jest?”

“I do not jest. We were married yesterday.” Tristan
glared at his friend, then turned toward Kate. “Let’s go home.
Wife
.”

Kate
stiffened. “No. I’m staying here.”   

A low growl erupted from Tristan’s throat.

Devin whirled around to face his cousin. “Is this true?”

Kate nodded. “Yes, but
–
”

Devin turned to his friend, not letting Kate finish. “Sorry.
Had no idea. I was simply comforting her. She explained about some plan.” He
closed his mouth, as if knowing it was time to stop, then stepped aside to
watch marital bliss unfold. “Katherine, it’s best you go with him.”

“I won’t!” 

Tristan moved toward her with long, purposeful strides,
his gaze gleaming with intent. “Oh, you most certainly will.” 

She took notice of those snapping green eyes and
estimated the distance to the door. “Over my dead body.”   

Tristan shot her a devilish grin. “Oh, I want your body,
sweetheart. But not dead.”

“Oh! You’re insufferable!”

Devin let out a shrill whistle. “Watch your language, Trist.
If you do recall, I’m not a married man.” Turning, he gave Kate a saucy wink. “Believe
this is where I depart,
Cousin
.”

“Don’t you dare leave me,” Kate cried.

“Yes, please stay, Devin,” Tristan countered. “You might
want to see how this is done in the event you snare a wife someday.” 

Tristan’s steady gaze bore into Kate, making her heart
pound. She was not blind to his attraction for her, but it made her more
vulnerable.
He didn’t love her,
her heart screamed.

“Don’t you touch me.” She scooted behind the sofa, half
in anticipation, half in dread.

He strode toward her, his green eyes flashing. She
looked toward the open doors, and without another second to spare, ran for her
escape, but she was not quick enough.

Tristan vaulted over the sofa, crashed against the
mahogany table, and yanked Kate against his body. The bang reverberated
throughout the room. Tristan shielded Kate’s fall, and she landed on top of
him, her feet hanging in the air and her skirt riding up her legs.

Tristan let out a chuckle. “Not quite what I had in
mind, dear wife, but this will do for now.” In one swift move, he wrapped a
strong hand around her waist and pulled her to a standing position. “Time to go
home, sweetheart. We have a few more things to discuss.”

She was so furious, she could hardly speak.

Grinning, Devin propped his shoulders against the
opposite wall. “Perhaps I will stay. The view from here is getting better all
the time.”

Heart thumping, Kate attempted to pull away from the
powerful hands that held her, but it was no use. Tristan was not about to let
her go. “If you think
–
”

Without warning, he swept her into his arms and threw
her face down over his shoulders. Kate gasped in horror as he carried her about
like a sack of flour, dangling, kicking, and screaming to no avail.

Tristan turned to his smirking friend. “I’m trying to
keep our marriage a secret,” he confided as he rearranged Kate’s backside, “for
reasons that I shall discuss with you later.”

Devin gave him a swift salute and smiled. “My word as a
gentleman. Unless told otherwise, your secret is safe with me.”

Craning her neck, Kate tried one last attempt for a
rescue, though she knew it was fruitless. “Devin, how could you?”

Her cousin shrugged. “He is your husband, my girl.”

“Of all the unmitigated gall,” she stammered, knowing
that she was in this fight alone. She pounded on Tristan’s back and wiggled her
legs. “Let me down this instance!”

Tristan stole a glance at Devin while enduring the fist
pounding from his wife. “Sorry about the broken table. Tell the duchess I’ll have
it replaced as soon as possible.”

“You pompous windbag! Let me go!” Kate continued her
pounding as her husband walked out of the drawing room and into the entryway.

Mrs. Pennyweather peeked out from the hall and frowned
while watching the grim-faced earl carry Miss Wilcox out the door.

Kate caught sight of the butler, her eyes pleading with
him to help. Webster stood at the open door, the red parrot perched on his
shoulder and Handsome at his side. “I’m sorry Miss...my lady. I heard Lord Lancewood.
If you are indeed married now, you
are
his lordship’s property.”

Tristan turned. “It may be hard to keep from the
servants, Webster, but if you can…”

Webster nodded as he opened the door for the earl. “I
never saw or heard a thing, my lord. Not a thing.”

“Why,
of all people, Webster,” Kate cried as she was carried out the front door and
down the steps. “I thought you would help me. All you men are insufferable! Pompous
windbags, the lot of you!” 

As the door closed, Webster smiled and patted the
barking dog, whining after its mistress. “She will be quite all right, Handsome.
The earl’s a good man. A bit firm, but a good man. Though I believe he’s met
his match with your mistress.” 

The dog barked back as if in agreement.

Webster laughed. “But pompous windbag?”

“Pompous Windbag! Windbag! Windbag! Simply divine!” 

Kate’s parrot sat in a cage near the door and continued
its tirade as Webster smiled at a frowning Mrs. Pennyweather. “A secret,
madam.”

Her lips pinched together in distaste. “It ain’t fitting
the way he carried her off like that. Ain’t fitting at all.”

Webster raised a bushy brow. “Sometimes a woman needs a
firm hand, Mrs. Pennyweather.”

She fisted her hands against her plump hips. “Who are
you to be talking? I being a widow for three years. I know what’s what.”

He looked her up and down, his eyes focusing on her
flushed face. He always had a liking for this woman. “Do you now?”

Her eyes popped open in surprise. “Webster!” 

“What happened here?”

Devin glanced up as his mother entered the drawing room.
He rubbed his jaw with one hand and held a crystal glass filled with claret in
the other. “Where?” He looked around. “Here?”

Charlotte gave him a frowning glare. “Did the earl’s
carriage just leave?”

Devin peered over his glass, his eyes twinkling. “Yes
indeedy, the old boy did stop by.”

“And how is poor Matthew?” the duchess asked, studying
her son’s reddened jaw. “And what happened to your face?”

Devin winced and exercised his chin back and forth. “First
of all, Matthew is recovering nicely. And second of all, the earl was not too
pleased with me. So he let me have it.” 

“And why is that?” the duchess said, raising a motherly
brow.

Devin rolled his eyes toward his sister. His mother's
ignorance toward the ways of the world was incomprehensible. “Well, Mother, it
seems I had something of Tristan’s that I had no wish to give up.”

The duchess gasped. “Have I not told you since you were
a small boy not to take things that do not belong to you?”

Devin grinned. “I shall try to remember that, Mother.”

“See that you do. And have someone clean up this room.
But my, I am so glad Matthew is getting better. I wish to see him as soon as he
is taking visitors.” And with a swish of skirts, the duchess departed the room
in a huff.

Charlotte stared suspiciously at her brother. She walked
near the piano and noticed Kate’s flute on the floor. “Devin?” She picked up
the instrument and gazed at the large dent. “What happened to this, pray tell?”

Devin stared across the room and lifted an irate brow. “It
fell,” he explained calmly. “I believe one would call it a minor complication
due to the phenomenal force called gravity.”

As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the
Lancewood townhouse, Tristan stepped down, offering a hand to his wife.

Kate looked over his shoulders, her mouth clamped tight.
She was beside herself that Tristan would take her from her aunt’s house in
such a manner. She would not cater to his demands now. He didn’t even love her!
She was but a piece of property!

“Kate, I’m waiting.” 

He could wait forever if it was up to her. She sank
against the seat, folded her arms across her chest, daring him to touch her. That
icy green glare would not move her in the least.

“Very well, my little shrew. Have it your way.” Before
she knew what he was doing, he grabbed her arm, slung her over his shoulder,
and stomped into the house.

“How dare you!”

“How dare you,” he said, his voice hard.

Kate stiffened when she felt the servants’ stares upon
her. Mortified, she squeezed her eyes tight, not uttering a word. She hung
limp, not believing her husband’s ungentlemanly behavior.