His gaze shifted to Diana, and he perused her.

Earlier, when she had entered the dining saloon, his body had instantly responded to her.

What was it about the woman that tempted him so much?

Tonight, her hair fell over her shoulder, plaited, giving her a carefree appearance.

The vision stirred something within him.

He clenched his hands as he watched her.

He had an urge to wrap that braid in his fist while he—

“She fared better than I thought she would. She was one of the first ladies out of her cabin,” Captain Monroe said from behind him, watching Diana as well.

A flash of anger shot through him at the way Monroe studied her. “Do you need something?”

Monroe smirked at him. “I do. I must speak with you and the lady. We need to talk about the ports. Some of them we’ve never visited. Perhaps we should go ashore first and identify a few potential activities for Lady Hensley?”

A frown filled Sebastian’s face, knowing the lady would likely disagree with the captain’s advice.

Sebastian wanted to speak with Diana alone tonight.

Not for vice or the trip activities, but because he was curious and puzzled by her statement about being less her.

“Let’s meet tomorrow. We are just getting acclimated to the ship. ”

The man sighed. “Fine, but no later than that. Also, the weather deck is open for those interested in enjoying some fresh air this evening. The ocean is calm right now.”

Sebastian’s eyes darted over to the captain, but Monroe was already strolling towards a group of men playing cards.

He moved towards Diana and bowed to both her and her aunt once he reached them.

“May I join you? Or convince you ladies to join me for a promenade on the weather deck. It’s a calm night, and Captain Monroe gave the go-ahead if anyone would like to. ”

Diana’s face lit up, but Lady Clark shook her head. “I barely made it out of my room. I don’t think I am ready to walk along the deck.”

Sadness flitted across Diana’s face, and her aunt smiled. “Go without me.”

Sebastian could tell by Diana’s expression that she was torn between doing what she liked and what was proper. She bit her lip, and he sensed she would decline. Disappointment shot through him.

Her aunt waved her away. “Go. Ship travel is different from all the events in London. There isn’t enough space, and there are too many people for such rigid rules. You will be fine. I’m sure Devons will see to that.”

Sebastian nodded. “There are plenty of people about. I wouldn’t lead you into trouble. Remember my promise from earlier.”

Diana laughed. “Well, how can I say no now?”

“You can’t,” her aunt said.

She stood and took Sebastian’s arm. Lady Clark winked at him as he escorted Diana away.

He shook his head, wondering what was going on in the lady’s mind.

They took the steps leading to the deck, and as they stepped out, Diana gasped.

She tilted her face up to the sky, taking in the millions of stars stretching across the blackness.

The delight on her face took his breath away. Her mouth curved upwards as she glanced around. Diana turned back to him. “Isn’t it stunning? It’s almost as if someone or something took a handful of diamonds and threw them up into the darkness.”

He forced himself to look away from her euphoric face and stare up at the sky. Sebastian had to agree he’d never seen the stars so clearly. “You don’t see this in London.”

They were both silent as they stared out into the black void.

The deck was empty and quiet besides the two of them and the few words they’d spoken.

The waves lapped against the ship in a calming fashion.

Shockingly, Sebastian felt at ease and content in a way he’d not expected.

They were new feelings for him. His club and other businesses didn’t allow him to slow down.

His new emotions disappeared as Diana walked to the railing and peered over. Overwhelming fear filled Sebastian, and he had the protective urge to yank her back to him. He’d never been on a ship in the middle of the ocean, and it made him damn uncomfortable to watch her lean over the side.

She looked back at him and smiled. “It’s as if I’m staring into nothing. Come look.”

He grimaced. “Why don’t you come back here?”

Her lips turned up in a smirk. “Is the King of the Den afraid of the ocean?”

Sebastian stepped closer to her, even though, in truth, he was. Not for himself but for her. “Fear is a healthy emotion.”

Diana laughed. He held his arm out to her. “Please join me.”

She grinned at him. “As you wish.”

As they moved to the center of the deck, the tension in Sebastian subsided. Diana beamed at him. “Shall we return to the saloon?”

He shook his head. “Before we do, I wanted to know what you meant about being less you. You mentioned that earlier.”

She blushed, shaking her head. “It’s nothing.”

Now, he really was curious. “I told you about Lilah.”

Diana rolled her eyes. “I didn’t ask you to share with me.”

He winked at her and smiled. “Yet I did.”

She was silent but finally said, “A few weeks ago, one of the papers had a caricature of a lady who symbolized the moral compass of London society. Do you know who it looked like?”

Devons shook his head. Diana’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Come now, you must know.”

She believed it represented her, Sebastian realized. He said nothing, waiting for her to confirm his thoughts.

She pointed towards herself. “It’s almost as if someone drew me, cap and all.”

“I’m sure she was still beautiful.”

Diana rolled her eyes. “It made me wonder, is that all I am? Just this perfectly behaved lady. Truth be told, that is who I have always been. That is even why Addie asked me to participate in her club. It wasn’t because I had some useful skills like the duchess, Lady Esme, or Miss Martin.”

“Is that why you agreed to do the cruise?”

She nudged him with her elbow. “It wasn’t because I hoped to spend time with you.”

He flushed. “I have apologized for that.”

Diana laughed. “I know.”

“Caricatures don’t honestly represent anyone. I have known plenty of ladies who were the epitome of properness but lived much more, shall we say, colorful lives.”

She sighed. “I’m sorry for sharing. I’m sure you would rather be hearing about anything else.”

“Don’t assume that,” he said. “I confessed my plans for this trip. We are friends, correct?”

Diana’s eyes widened at his words. But Sebastian did believe they were friends or would be by the end of their leisure cruise. They may have started their relationship on the wrong footing but no more.

Her face lit up. “Perhaps we could help each other.”

He tilted his head and studied her. “How?”

“You can help me be less proper, and I can help you stay out of trouble.”

There was nothing wrong with Diana. He didn’t understand what she wanted. “What are you hoping to accomplish?”

She removed her hand from his arm and paced back and forth.

He waited for her to formulate her thoughts.

Finally, she smiled at him softly. “I’m the mother of a future duke and a highly respectable lady.

In truth, I enjoy those things for the most part, but I want a reprieve to allow myself the luxury of doing something that isn’t what is expected of me. ”

“You need to give me more details. You will receive no judgment from me, Diana.”

She was quiet for a moment and avoided making eye contact with him. Now, he was intrigued.

Sighing, Diana said, “Perhaps I am hoping for all the things you suspected. Not with you, of course. You need to mend your heart. But if I can feel something when you kiss me, maybe I can meet someone on this trip. A man I can have an interlude with.”

Sebastian was shocked. Diana wanted a lover—not him, but someone she was hoping to find during their journey.

She added, “I will likely be courted when I return from this trip. I would never consider such improperness if I were betrothed or married. It wouldn’t be fair to my suitor and eventual husband. Now is my only chance. Does that make me selfish?”

“Tremont is the suitor?”

Her gaze flew to his, and she blushed furiously but nodded.

For some reason, he wanted to tell her marriage to the dull lord would bring her nothing but discontent, but he didn’t.

The lords and ladies of the ton often had loveless marriages.

Still, the lady had known love with Hensley.

Why was she settling? He reminded himself it wasn’t his concern, and perhaps she did have strong feelings for Tremont.

He scowled. She wouldn’t be looking for a lover if that were the case.

Mistaking his unhappiness for judgment, she added, “Maybe not a lover but a kiss or a flirtation. But even if I don’t find someone, over the next few months, I want to live as if society’s thoughts on my actions do not matter.

I want to allow myself to be more than the moral compass of London society. ”

She was a fool if she thought she was only perceived as that. Sebastian didn’t see her as so simple. He moved to her and tilted her chin up, so he was staring into her eyes. “You are so much more.”

A wave of desire drifted between them.

“How do you know that?” she asked softly.

Warnings fired in his mind that being this close to Diana was a bad idea.

Hell, upon their return to London, it was almost certain she would enter into a betrothal with Tremont.

While Sebastian was always up for a liaison, he suspected he wouldn’t escape this without one of them or both getting hurt.

He wouldn’t endure that again. Not after the debacle with Lilah.

He released her chin as he stepped back.

Trying to lighten the mood, he said, “Because a lady who is the moral compass of society wouldn’t spy on me in my gardens or join Addie in her crazy scheme. ”

A surprised giggle escaped her, and she grinned at him. “Guilty.”

They were silent, both studying the night sky. Finally, Diana asked, “What do you say? Shall we help each other?”

Yes, the request. He’d somehow forgotten about it, or was he avoiding it? While he was taking this journey to be vice-free, Diana wanted his assistance to be a little improper but not with him. It was wise he wasn’t part of her plans, but it still rankled him.

In truth, every part of Sebastian’s being roared to tell her hell no because the thought of anyone even flirting with Diana made him see red. But he reminded himself they were just friends. He studied her face, so eager, and knew he would play this game with her, no matter where it led.

“I will help you, but I’m unsure how your assistance will benefit me. There are all of ten women on this ship. I don’t think I will have much trouble avoiding liaisons.”

“There are the ports. You could have a tryst at every stop. I’ve heard the rumors about the King of the Den.”

His face heated. “Most are likely not true.”

Diana had the gall to look at him in disbelief. She shrugged. “Regardless, I will make sure you avoid any ladies hoping to catch your attention, and you can assist me in pursuing things that are…well…what is the word—”

“Wicked,” he growled.

Her eyes jerked to his. She gulped. He waited for her to laugh and say she was only pretending or this was some sort of joke, but she whispered, “Yes, wicked.”

Her uttering of the word made him want to show her how improper she could be. Damn it! Sebastian shouldn’t be thinking such thoughts about her. They were only a few days into their journey. He reassured himself that he would get over this strange connection he felt for the lady.

“And I will make sure you are the opposite of wicked. Is there anything else you would like to abstain from? Drinking?” she added.

Hell no. He wouldn’t get through this without a drink. He shook his head.

“Smoking?”

He shook his head again. “I think what we have agreed to so far is more than enough.”

“Splendid. So, we are in agreement?”

Sebastian nodded, and she beamed back at him.