Chapter Thirty-Five – A Sister’s Arrival
In the silence that echoed through the large house, the closing of the front door sounded like the deafening chime of a bell.
Flinching despite herself, Beth listened, her ears strained as she wondered where her husband was headed so early in the morning. Then the familiar rumble of carriage wheels drifted to her ears, and her limbs twitched with the need to move.
The night before, Beth had hoped that her husband would seek her out, that he would confide in her and tell her what had rattled him so. However, he had not, and she had retired with a large rock resting on her heart. However, over the course of many wakeful hours, her disappointment had slowly and deliberately been crushed by a growing anger fuelled by an all-consuming fear that something bad, something awful awaited them that day.
She needed to know. And he would tell her. She would make him.
Only now, he had left.
After dressing quickly, Beth hastened down the stairs, hurrying toward the haggard butler, who stepped toward her as though he had sensed her approach. “Where is my lord?”
“He left early this morning, my lady.”
“Did he say where he went?”
Grafton shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Is there anything else I can help you with, my lady?”
Beth hesitated. “Is Lord Ainsworth up?”
“I believe so. However, he’s already left.”
“I see. Thank you.” As her mind spun, Beth focused on one thing alone: if she was not mistaken, Lord Ainsworth had gone after Tristan. She nodded. Yes, she was certain he had, and he would look after him. He always had. He would do so again.
“My lady?”
Turning around at the butler’s voice, Beth found him stepping toward her, a silver platter in his hand, and on it, a simple envelope. Even from a short distance, Beth could tell that no address had been written on the front. Only a single word, a name decorated the white parchment: Elisabeth.
Recognising her husband’s handwriting, Beth stood stock-still for a moment lest she faint with shock. Although she could not say why, that letter suddenly brought back all the fears that had tortured her during the night. Why would he write her a letter?
The answer terrified her.
“Thank you, Grafton.” Her voice calmer than she would have thought possible, Beth took possession of the letter, her fingers gentle as though the paper would tear and crumble if she held it too tightly. “I shall be in the library.”
Retreating from the watchful eyes of the servants, Beth hurried down the corridor and slipped into the vaulted room. The early morning sun heated up the chilled space, making the dark wooden shelves glow with warmth and the ruby carpets shine with intensity. Sinking into an armchair under one of the large windows, Beth ripped open the letter, unable to bear the suspense any longer.
My dearest Beth,
Allow me to apologise for the worry I’ve caused you. I assure you it was never my intention to see you distressed. On the contrary, ever since our eyes met that first night at your father’s ball, I’ve been unable to force you from my thoughts. I know our marriage began in a way that would make you doubt me, and I do apologise for my behaviour toward you. However, lately, everything has changed.
When I look at you today, I know that I love you. These three words are so simple, and yet, they’ve changed my whole world. You’ve changed my whole world. And I thank you for it.
I wish I could spend the rest of my days with you, with the children we could have had. And the thought that that might not be possible breaks my heart…as I am certain it is breaking yours as you read this.
My cousin has challenged me to a duel, (Beth gasped, and her hand clasped over her mouth as thick tears began to blur her vision) and my uncle insists we see it through. After all, it is a matter of honour.
Although I know you must be angry with me, I believe you are the only one who might understand. No one knows me as well as you have come to know me in the past few months.
Still, the past holds its sway over me, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot shake the need to prove myself worthy. I cannot and will not be the man my father was. I will protect and defend those I care about, and I shall not break my word no matter the consequences. Allow me to assure you that I have made certain that you will be taken care of. Although we do not have a son who can inherit my title, I leave all my worldly possessions to you. Use them as you see fit. I’ve never in my life trusted anyone more than I trust you.
With all my heart,
Tristan
For a moment, Beth allowed her tears to stream down her face, wetting her dress, as a gut-wrenching sorrow claimed her heart. She was about to crumble onto the floor when a streak of outrage seized her. How dare he do this to her? How dare he give up the life they had fought for so hard?
Jumping to her feet, the letter all but forgotten on the floor beside her, Beth hurried from the room, brushing the wetness off her cheeks. If he thought she would simply sit here and wait for him to get himself killed, he was thoroughly mistaken!
As her footsteps thundered in her ears, Beth brushed the last remnants of her breakdown from her face and hurried to the front hall. She needed to call for the carriage. Or should she rather go on horseback? What would be faster? As far as she knew, most duels were held in Hyde Park. But where? After all, it was a large area.
Cursing under her breath, Beth stepped into the foyer just as the footmen opened the door to allow a tall, blond-haired woman in a dishevelled riding habit accompanied by a bear of a man to enter. While he stood slightly behind her left shoulder, his eyes watchfully sliding over his surroundings, all his senses alert, her face held a sense of urgency and fear. Straightening, she pressed her lips together. Her shoulders tensed, and her pale eyes grew wider as she glanced behind Grafton as though looking for someone.
“Welcome back, my lady,” the elderly butler greeted the woman with a slight nod of the head. “I’m afraid your brother is out. Do you wish to call upon Lady Elton?”
“Brother?” Beth gasped as she stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the young woman.
At the sound of her voice, the visitors whipped around, and the man’s hand instinctively moved down to the sword at his side. However, when he saw her, his posture relaxed, and his eyes returned to the young woman by his side.
“Lady Elton?” Tristan’s sister mumbled, and her eyes held Beth’s gaze with the same curiosity and wonderment that Beth felt in her own heart. “You’re his wife?”
Beth nodded. Then she stepped forward, for a moment overwhelmed with the developments of that day. “We were married only a few months ago.”
Tristan’s sister, Henrietta, drew in a deep breath, and her eyes clouded with something unspoken. Then she nodded. “I see.”
“He wanted to write to you,” Beth blurted out, sensing her sister-in-law’s disappointment, and secretly rejoiced in the knowledge that the siblings still meant a lot more to each other than they both had thought. “But he feared that you wouldn’t come since you didn’t invite him to yours.”
Beth’s gaze drifted to the large man by Henrietta’s side, and she noticed the way his eyes narrowed in confusion at her words. From this small, almost insignificant reaction, Beth deduced that despite all the rumours surrounding Henrietta’s marriage, husband and wife knew each other well and judging from the way he moved whenever she did, they loved each other just as much as she and Tristan did.
That thought jarred her awake again. “I apologise, but I do not have time to speak with you further,” Beth blurted out once again as she strode forward. “I need to go. Please wait here until−”
“We cannot!” Stepping in Beth’s way, Henrietta shook her head. “We’ve come with urgent news. Where is my brother? Forgive me for being so blunt, but this is a matter of life and death.”
Beth’s eyes opened wide, and her heart began to hammer in her chest as she stared at her sister-in-law. For a long moment, the two women looked at each other, and Beth felt as though she and Henrietta had known one another for a long time as she could almost read the other woman’s thoughts. “You know,” she whispered then, stunned by the sudden onslaught of emotions.
Henrietta’s face remained almost immobile before she finally nodded her head, a slight tremor in her shoulders as she drew in a deep breath. “As do you,” she said as though needing to clarify her suspicions. “Uncle Randolph?”
Beth nodded, her mouth suddenly dry as she spoke. “I don’t know what happened,” she admitted, aware that the other woman probably knew more than Beth suspected. “However, Tristan left early this morning without saying where he went.” She drew in a deep breath. “But he left me a letter saying that his cousin had challenged him to a duel.”
Henrietta sucked in a sharp breath. “Curse that weasel!” she snapped, her face contorted into a snarl. “He’s doing my uncle’s bidding.”
As she spoke, her husband stepped toward her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes searching her face. “Where?”
“Where what?” Henrietta asked, confusion distorting her face, as she began to pace the foyer.
“The duel,” her husband prompted, his eyes imploring as he met hers. “Hyde Park?”
Halting in her step, Henrietta looked up, then nodded. “I suppose so.” Then she turned to look at Beth. “Did he say?”
Beth shook her head, incredible relief washing over her that she was no longer alone in this. “He did not. I merely assumed Hyde Park as well. But I am not certain.”
Cursing under her breath, Henrietta stormed to the door, her husband on her heels. “We’ll be fastest on horseback. Let’s hope the stable boy was not fully awake when we arrived and our horses are still saddled.”
Quickening her step, Beth rushed after them, determined not to be left behind. However, before Henrietta could even reach the door, it flew open and Lord Ainsworth stormed in, his face flushed. Upon seeing their guests, his eyes narrowed, and Beth could see his mind at work as he slowly took in the situation.
“Who are you?” Henrietta demanded, suspicion in her voice.
Lord Ainsworth drew in a deep breath as a touch of recognition came to his eyes. “You’re Tristan’s sister, are you not?”
Henrietta nodded, lifting her hands to her hips, as she opened her mouth again.
However, Lord Ainsworth interfered. “Good.” Then he looked up and met Beth’s eyes. “Both of you need to come and stop Tristan from making the biggest mistake of his life. I believe you’re the only two people in the world he’ll listen to.”
“The duel?” Beth gasped as she strode toward Lord Ainsworth. “You know where it is?”
He nodded. “We need to hurry.”