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She could lay his words out and intensely study their meaning, but she was reluctant to do that. Slowly, she sat up and looked down at him, barely feeling any discomfort in her foot. “I am not who you think I am.”
He sat up, too. “You were the woman I corresponded with for years, then I lost, but that is no longer important becauseyou, Diana, are here now, and what lies between us is more precious than anything.”
“Are you not curious about the reason I went silent?” she asked.
“I am, but I have learned to be patient with you. I know you will tell me when you are ready.”
As simple as those words were, they tore at her heart, and Diana knew she had to be honest. “Something happened in April two years ago,” she began, looking away from him and staring at the banked fire in the hearth because she could not bear to see the tenderness in his eyes transform into something cold and disappointed. “My father gave me until the end of the season to find a husband because he believed I wasted my first season. I wanted to meet you, and hoped to find a husband in you…”
She took a shaky breath before continuing, and felt his hand on the small of her back, telling her that he was there. “One evening at a ball, my friend, Annabelle, told me about a painting she had seen in one of the rooms in the manor, and because I was seeking a reason to escape the ballroom, I went there. She promised to join me, but a gentleman came before she did, and I found myself alone with him.”
Matthew removed his hand from her back when she said that, and she closed her eyes, knowing that what she had feared for a long time was happening. He began to move, likely to leave the bed because he could not stand what was being revealed to him. However, he positioned himself so he was facing her. Gently, he took both of her hands, the gesture completely contrary to the storm in his eyes. He was angry, but not at her, and Diana could not measure her surprise.
Tears brimmed her eyes, but she blinked and swallowed against the constriction in her throat. “He tried to kiss me and I fought him, but before I could escape, several women entered the room. He ran away, but I could not. My father sent me to Kent to live with my aunt because the embarrassment was too much for him. He is in London with my mother and not traveling the continent.” Her heart still twisted every time she thought of his words and her mother slapping her hand away when she had tearfully begged to be understood. “I could not continue corresponding with you because I was tainted.”
Matthew reached to wipe the tear that had rolled down her cheek. “You are not tainted, Diana. I think you are a very brave woman. I wish you had told me this when it happened, but I understand how afraid you were. You are not tainted,” he repeated, stressing every word, “and I do not regard you as any less.”
“You truly think that?” she asked, unable to believe that he was accepting her despite everything.
“Yes, I do.” He leaned forward to kiss her forehead. “We live in a society that is not afraid to cast a woman out for a man’s crimes. You should never be blamed for what happened, and I will defend you before the world.”
Diana could not hold her tears now, and she began to cry, covering her face with her hands. Matthew pulled her onto his lap and held her tightly in his arms, allowing her to release emotions that had festered inside her for a very long time. She had never known love but she thought this rather looked like it, and she wanted to accept it and find freedom in it.
His voice was low and controlled when he spoke. “Who is he?”
Diana had nothing to fear now, and she did not hesitate to respond. “Baron Crawford.”
The change in his demeanor was almost terrifying, and his eyes darkened with barely restrained rage. “Crawford,” he echoed, his teeth clenched. “Did he use this as leverage to take money from you?”
She nodded. “I gave him some of my dowry because he threatened to expose the scandal, and I was afraid.”
Several expletives sounded under his breath before he quickly shook his head, saying, “Forgive me. I did not mean to abandon my manners.”
Diana touched his cheek and he closed his eyes, covering her hand with his. “The only thing preventing me from marching to his house and confronting him this very instant is you. I do not know what I will do, and I know you would not want me to be violent.”
“No, I would not,” she whispered.
“But I promise you that he will pay. I will get you justice, Diana,” he vowed, lowering his head until their foreheads touched, and her heart lit with joy and wonder.
“What will you do?” she asked, curious.
“I am still thinking. He stole from me, from my business that he invested in.” Matthew then told her about a horrible fire in his warehouse in Ramsgate, the wares that had been stolen, and Crawford’s involvement in it. “I was told that he was taking money from an orphan, but that was a mistake because it was you he was threatening.”
Diana’s face pinched and she looked away. “I am no better than an orphan, Matthew.”
He gently turned her face so he could look at her. “Your parents do not deserve you. If you are willing, I still wish for you to be my wife.”
“Of course!” She joyfully wrapped her arms around his neck. “There are not enough elephants in Africa to prevent me from marrying you!”
He laughed, the sound rich, and his handsome face bright. She could be perfectly happy now, she thought. Everything she ever wanted could be hers.
Now that Matthew had a complete understanding of everything responsible for Diana’s plight, he could act. Thus, when she fell asleep again, he quietly got out of the bed. He put his boots on and picked up his waistcoat that lay at the foot of the bed, buttoning it back on.
Matthew leaned over and kissed Diana’s forehead before leaving the room. Instead of going to his chambers or his study, he elected to walk in the garden because he did not think he would be able to sleep. Not with thoughts of Crawford’s treachery running through his mind.
Diana had made him so incredibly happy when she accepted his offer, and he would do all that was in his power to protect her from both Crawford and her family. He was also realizing that her presence kept his anger checked, and now that he was away from her, it clawed his insides like a beast, demanding to be freed.
He stopped walking in the middle of the hallway, and his hands balled at his sides. A long groan was drawn from him despite doing his utmost to contain it. He moved to a window and opened it before pushing his head through and taking several deep breaths that fortunately calmed him. Years ago, his first reaction would have been to put his fist into something, but he was glad he managed his emotions better now.
