Chapter 23

Chapter 23

A familiar feeling stirred within Mark. The same feeling he'd often felt when his wife was still alive. The worry that she had found solace in the arms of a man other than him. Mark had not felt that way for some time and had wished never to feel that way again.

The fact that he did made him furious. He knew Viscount Starling and how he operated. If he wanted Diana badly enough, he would have found a way to make it happen. And his methods were not always the most suitable.

"Something bothering you?" his mother asked, once again, interrupting his thoughts.

"Don't fret about it," he said plainly.

"That Miss Fairchild of yours seems to be awfully interested in dancing with Viscount Starling," she said. "Are you sure she's interested in you? If that's her taste in men, then I don't know."

"Don't do this, Mother," Mark warned her. "I've told you what you need to know. And I ask you to leave it at that if you intend to remain in my London Manor."

His mother pouted. "You're so stern with me, do you know that? I only want what's best for you."

"You want what looks best for me," he corrected her. "Not what is."

His mother had been the one to push him towards his first wife. Their marriage had been a disaster. It wasn't all bad. Mark had Evangeline because of it, and he would not change that for the world.

But he did not know if he could face another relationship like that one in his life. They had been happy for only a year before the fighting had started. Then, it felt as if it never ended. They barely shared pleasant meals together or laughed loudly when in each other's company.

What hurt most was that Mark never truly learned the extent of her adultery. He only knew what he'd discovered on his own. His ex-wife had never confessed to anything. It made it difficult for him to trust anybody.

While he had been certain that he'd found that kind of trust with Diana, a small seed of doubt had been planted there by Lady Elizabeth. And it was rapidly blossoming into a nasty feeling he knew he would not easily escape.

"You're going to learn that I'm right someday," his mother said with a shrug.

"You've had until now to prove it to me," he answered. "I think from now on, I'm going to trust myself instead."

He knew it was not the time or place to get into an argument with his mother, but she was keeping him from more pressing matters. And he knew that she would likely interrupt him a few more times that night.

If she were upset enough with him, she would leave him alone that night. Then, all he needed to do was find Diana and make things right.

"Excuse me," he said sternly. "There is someone I must speak with."

His mother gave him a displeased look and said nothing. Most of the time, he tried to be patient with his mother, but it was difficult when he had so many other problems on his mind. Something was going on that was beyond his field of view, and he didn't trust it for a moment.

Mark made his way over to Anna, who was in deep conversation with Hugh.

"Good evening," he said kindly, hoping to act naturally.

He was greeted with a warm welcome and the offer of another drink. One which he accepted gladly. Hugh and Anna seemed to be disappointed by his interruption of their conversation, but Mark didn't care. He wasn't going to stay there long.

The longer he was there, the more his own mind tortured him. He had to know what was going on and if there was any truth to what Lady Elizabeth had said to him earlier. It stressed him out so much that even the sip of whisky he took then threatened to return on him.

"Are you aware of the reason for this celebration?" Anna asked. "I received the invitation but have no idea what it's for."

"Lady Elizabeth is a social woman," Hugh explained. "She doesn't need a reason to host a party. It's a good place for her to flaunt who she is."

Anna and Hugh burst into a quiet laughter, but Mark could not laugh. He was starting to feel raw with jealousy. He kept expecting to find Diana's face in the crowd somewhere he had not been able to spot it before.

He checked to see if she was seated somewhere or perhaps just standing on the other side of a particularly large person. But as the guests walked and moved through the room, he still had no sight of her.

"Are you with us?" Hugh asked, playfully bumping him.

Mark wasn't sure when he'd stopped listening to their conversation and got so carried away in his own mind. But he felt chaos grow inside him and knew that he could not hide those feelings away much longer.

If he did not find Diana soon and speak with her, then his emotions might make him unpleasant and disheartened. That was something he simply couldn't risk. Not when she was so important to him.

Not when Evangeline was at home, hoping that some day he would provide her with the perfect mother.

"I'm looking for Miss Fairchild and seem to have missed her," Mark said. "Do you have any idea where she might be? There is something important I must discuss with her."

Anna and Hugh glanced at each other with knowing looks.

"She's out in the garden," Anna explained. "Lady Elizabeth asked to speak with her out there. It seems she has many important discussions this evening."

"Lady Elizabeth?" Mark asked. "Are you certain?"

"Yes," Anna answered. "They left only moments ago."

Something wasn't right. Lady Elizabeth had been speaking poorly about her only minutes before, and now she was asking her to go out into the garden with her? It just didn't seem right, and Mark didn't like anything about it.

Something was going on, and he was determined to get to the bottom of it. He tried to piece it all together. The party, Lady Elizabeth's comments, Diana and the viscount dancing together. None of it made sense, yet it had to all be connected somehow. There was a scheme at play. Of that, he was certain.

"I must find her," he said urgently. "I don't like this. I'm worried about her."

"I'll help you," Anna offered. "I know in which direction they went. We'll go find them."

Mark agreed, and they made their way outside. It was a relief to be out of the party noise and away from the crowd. There, Mark could think a little clearer.

He wanted to trust Diana, and the only way he could do that was simply to allow it. Until such a time as she had proven to betray his trust, he would behave as if she hadn't. That was the only thing that would be fair to both of them.

He knew that his nervous energy was noticeable. He had seen the way Anna's face had changed earlier before she'd offered to help him. He could no longer smile and pretend as if everything was normal and alright.

Mark was worried and growing only more concerned with each passing minute. He wasn't having any fun and couldn't shake the feeling that he'd missed some important piece of information somewhere.

"Do you have any inclination of what they might need to discuss so urgently?" Mark asked.

"No idea," she answered. "Perhaps Lady Elizabeth wants to apologize for how she behaved at the party last time."

That didn't seem like her at all. Mark had not known Lady Elizabeth to be the apologizing kind. It simply wasn't in her nature or her upbringing.

"I don't like this," he voiced out loud. "I know Lady Elizabeth. Something isn't right here."

"What do you think it could be?" Anna asked.

"I don't know, but I think we should find her," he answered. "Then we can find out for ourselves."

He picked up the pace until Anna was all but jogging to keep up with him.

"You said they went this way?" he asked.

"Yes, but that was minutes ago," Anna said. Slightly out of breath. "They could be anywhere in this garden."

She was right, and that did nothing to ease his nerves. The garden was massive, with many areas separated by small balconies and hedges. And the more he searched for her, the more it started to feel like a maze.

Finally, he rounded a corner and caught a glimpse of her silhouette. But there was no sign of Lady Elizabeth.

He stopped to admire her for a moment and gave Anna some time to catch up with him.

"What is going on?" Anna asked. "You're basically running. I'm sure they're just talking. Look at me! I'm out of breath."

"Where's Lady Elizabeth?" He voiced his concern.

He pointed in the direction of where Diana was standing. She waited by a bench surrounded by plant pots and flowers. As she searched around her, she seemed to be equally as confused.

Anna looked around them for a sign of any other person and frowned. "This is odd," she whispered. "You're right."

Something moved beyond one of the bushes, just behind Diana. A shadow, tall and dark. Mark knew just who it belonged to. Viscount Starling lurked where Diana could not see him and crept closer to her.

"Lord Starling," Anna said softly.

"I see him," he assured her. "I don't like the look of this."

"Me neither," she answered.

They were right. Before Mark could make a move, Viscount Starling lurched forward and wrapped his arms around Diana. He raised her off her feet and pushed her up against the nearby wall. She struggled against him.

Diana shrieked, her eyes wild with fear.