Chapter Fourteen #2
Hudson stepped forward to join Elias. “You should have known that Wilton would align with a liar.”
Diana watched the men square off with each other and she wasn’t certain what to believe. He had still lied, misled, and used her. And for that, she wasn’t certain he could be forgiven, even if Elias let him live.
“Rothwell was threatening you,” Graham said desperately, focusing on Diana. “He said he’d hurt you, to do unspeakable things to you if I didn’t pay—”
“Was that before or after you used my sister to save your own skin?”
“That’s not what happened!” Graham ran both hands through his hair. “The compromise was an accident. I never planned—”
“I am done hearing your lies,” Elias spat.
Matt stepped closer to Elias. “Come on Elias. “I know Graham. And he—”
“You vouched for him,” Hudson rounded on Matt. “You brought him into our circle. And this is what he’s done.”
“The money will be replaced,” Graham said frantically. “A property in Devon closes within a week.”
Diana stepped between the men, done hearing them all bicker about her life. “But you lied to me, Graham. All you had to do was explain the situation to me. I would have believed you.”
“Diana, please,” Graham moved toward her, but Elias shoved him back.
“Don’t you dare touch her.”
“She’s my wife!”
“Not for long,” Elias snarled. “If there is any way to get her away from you, I am going to do it.”
“Please,” Graham said, his eyes locked on hers. “Diana, I love you. I should have told you so days ago. I know I’ve handled this terribly, but everything I did was because I love you and had to ensure you were safe.”
She had longed to hear those words from him. Longed to push aside those nagging feelings about what he was hiding and believe that he loved her as much as she loved him. But she couldn’t be certain it wasn’t more of his half-truths and lies.
“Love?” Diana laughed bitterly. “You don’t know what love is. Love is trust. Love is honesty. Love is partnership. You gave me none of those things.”
Augusta moved to Graham’s side, placing a hand on his arm. “Graham, perhaps we should give Diana a bit of space.”
She did need to remove herself from whatever this situation was. To have a moment to think without her brother and friends staring at her, expecting her to hate him as much as they did. When she didn’t hate him. She couldn’t. It would be far simpler if she were able to hate him.
Diana moved toward the stairs, but Graham clasped her hand.
“Diana, please. Just listen—”
“Let her go,” Elias warned.
He did and when she looked back at Graham, the pain in his expression almost broke her. “I’m sorry, Diana.”
But she wasn’t ready to hear it. She hurried up the stairs until she reached her chamber, not the one they shared together, but the one that belonged to her. Diana locked the doors to keep anyone from entering. She didn’t wish to see any of them.
Diana paced her chamber, wiping away the tears that she’d finally released. How could he have done this to her? He had given her a horse and showered her with affection. They’d spend almost every day together, and they had been the best days of her life.
But she couldn’t decide to forgive him until she’d had time to think the matter through and approach it with a practical mind.
Diana looked in her mirror to see her puffy, red eyes.
The heartbreak was written all over her face.
She looked around the room, and the walls were closing in on her.
She needed fresh air and to feel like she had a bit of control over her own future.
Even if, as a woman, she had very little control and would either live with her husband or go back to her father.
She tried to think of what would calm her. What would help her get clarity and give her some sense of herself? And then she knew what she must do. She’d go for a ride. The wind in her hair, free from the confines of the house, would give her the clarity she needed to face the chaos of her life.
Diana quickly changed into her riding habit without help. As quietly as possible, she opened her bedroom door that led to the hallway. She looked both ways to ensure no one was there, but she could still hear the men arguing in the foyer.
She crept down the servant stairs and made her way to the stables. On the way out the door, she ran right into Mitchell. But she didn’t stop. Mitchell would tell Graham where she went, but she would have enough of a head start that he couldn’t stop her.
Once she reached the stables, she asked the first groom she saw to saddle her horse. She looked back towards the house, watching for Graham to come running after her.
A few moments later, the groom handed her the reins and helped her with the mounting block. Looking back towards the house once more, she was still in the clear. She flicked the reins and took off. She kept Luna at a walking pace all the way to the park.
Once she reached one of the grassy areas, she urged Luna into a canter.
In a matter of moments, the tension had released from her shoulders and she was more comfortable in the saddle.
This was exactly what she needed. A long ride with her horse and then she’d face whatever the future did or didn’t hold with her husband.
She pushed Luna harder, needing the speed as if it would help her to outrun the pain. The mare responded eagerly, moving from canter to gallop along the park’s path.
Briefly closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. Despite everything, she still loved him. And he said that he loved her.
She opened them as a stray dog was about to run across her path. Diana screamed and tried to slow Luna. She pulled the reins too hard and Luna stopped abruptly, lifting her front legs. The movement caused Diana to be thrown back off of the horse, her body slamming into the ground.
Then everything went dark.