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C aptain Monroe escorted Diana around the weather deck. She’d been surprised when an attendant knocked on her door to ask if she would entertain a walk with the captain.

“I feel I may have offended you by requesting you wait on the ship at our first stop. I want to apologize. It wasn’t my intent to upset you. In truth, I want these types of leisure cruises to be successful. If you and Lady Hawley can help with that, I would be delighted.”

Diana smiled, happy he was apologizing, but she was confused as to why it seemed so sudden. She supposed she should just be content that they were no longer debating the topic. “Thank you, Captain Monroe.”

“Did you enjoy your time at the cove and Le Conquet?”

“I did, and I think travelers will love the area, especially the lighthouse.”

“Good,” he said.

They continued to walk, but Diana finally stopped. “What is it you really want, Captain Monroe?”

He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned. He was quite boyish, and Diana wondered if he was younger than her thirty-one years. Eventually, he said, “I was hoping you would accompany me to dinner in Porto?”

Her eyes widened. Was the captain flirting with her? She smiled, flattered. But she hesitated. She wasn’t sure why. “Perhaps you could take a group of us to dinner? I know others would love to join.”

“Like Devons,” he said with curiosity.

“Yes, he and I will be writing about all our stops, and it is beneficial if we go to the same places.”

His eyes met hers. “Is that all it is?”

Was he asking if something existed between her and Devons? That wasn’t any of his business, regardless of if there were or weren’t. Diana frowned at him. “We are associates and friends.”

He leaned in close to her. “Perhaps, then, you and I can share a glass of champagne one night.”

The captain was flirting with her! She hadn’t forgotten Devons’s warning that a dalliance with Captain Monroe might cause complications for the club, but that wasn’t what prevented her from agreeing.

Something was missing. What was wrong with her?

She wanted a flirtation, and here was a man interested in having one.

Annoyed she felt like saying no, she instead said, “Let’s make plans after we visit Porto. ”

He smiled, seemingly delighted with her suggestion.

As they walked, he told her about Porto and what they could expect to see.

Unfortunately, Diana was only partially focused on his descriptions as her mind kept going back to her discussion with Devons from earlier.

She couldn’t believe she revealed so much to him.

He probably thought she was an emotional mess.

Devons put her at ease in a way no one else could.

Well, besides, Stuart. The thought disconcerted her.

Well, not exactly like her husband. She and Devons were only friends, Diana reminded herself.

“Is everything fine?” Monroe asked her.

Diana blushed, realizing she had stopped with no explanation. “I’m sorry. Please continue.”

She did her best to listen to Monroe but her mind flitted back to Devons.

They’d agreed to be just friends, and Diana knew that was the best decision.

He needed to focus on himself, and she wanted something brief.

Still, they’d kissed. A kiss she hadn’t forgotten about.

Yet the thought of pursuing an interlude with Devons, she suspected, wouldn’t be so simple.

No, Diana didn’t want or need anything that would prove to be complicated.

She pushed away the absurd notion of having any type of liaison with Devons and did her best to engage with Monroe.

Later that evening, Diana sat at the desk in her room, trying to form her thoughts about what to share with all of London.

This would be her first missive about their trip and the first one printed in the papers.

She was nervous. She wanted it to be exciting, clever, and intriguing. Things Diana felt she was none of.

“Good evening,” her aunt said, knocking on the door between them.

Diana rose and opened it for her. “I thought you were asleep, Aunt.”

“I’m about to, but I wanted to say goodnight.”

Diana smiled. “Thank you.”

Her aunt studied her, and Diana shifted nervously under her intense gaze. “You have come into your own away from England.”

“We haven’t been gone that long.”

“No, but I see it already. Travel suits you. And so does Devons,” she said with a wink.

Diana’s brows shot up at her statement. “I have no idea what you mean.”

Her aunt smiled at her slyly. “I think the man holds a tendre for you.”

A laugh escaped Diana. “That is ridiculous. He could have any woman he likes.”

“Oh, calm down. I’m not saying he is in love or going to propose, but he desires you. You can see it when he watches you.”

“He isn’t interested in pursuing any type of relationship right now.”

Her aunt tilted her head. “You two are becoming rather close. What has he told you?”

Diana wouldn’t reveal Devons’s broken heart. That was his story to tell. She shrugged and said, “Nothing.”

Aunt Winifred sighed. “Why must young people deny themselves what they really want?”

Diana flushed. “I’m denying myself nothing. I’m not interested in Devons.”

One of her aunt’s brows shot up in disbelief and Diana added, “I’m serious.”

“Perhaps my ability to sense these things is slipping. Maybe I’m too distracted by Mr. Spoor.”

It was Diana’s turn to give her aunt a hard time. “You like him.”

“I will allow him to entertain me while we are on our journey,” her aunt said, causing Diana to giggle. “What are you working on?”

Diana sighed. “I’m trying to figure out what I want to share about Le Conquet for my first update on our trip.”

“Well, you must tell them about Devons carrying us to the cove. That will make the ladies swoon.”

Diana gave her aunt a pointed look. “I thought I would write about the korrigans and sirens in the manuscripts.”

“Ugh…that is exceedingly dull,” her aunt said.

Diana frowned at her. “The only reason I’m here is because I’m on the board of the Historical Society for Female Curators.”

“That is true, but you are trying to gain the interest of ladies who don’t normally care about a bunch of old artifacts. Who wouldn’t love to hear about a scoundrel carrying some ladies? You are the most proper woman in all of London. No one will think it’s anything more than that.”

She winced at her aunt’s accurate statement. “You make a valid point.”

Her aunt made her way back to her room and winked before shutting the door. “Of course I do.”

Diana smiled, took a moment, and then started to write. Once done she looked down and read her words.

To the Ladies of London,

The SS Lark arrived in the fishing village of Le Conquet, a beautiful coastal setting comprised of small stone buildings. This area is known as the Port at the End of the World.

We were greeted by the friendliest individuals who helped us enjoy the most divine food.

At our first stop, Chapelle Dom Michel, Father Jean shared with us manuscripts depicting tales about the mischievous korrigans and the tempting sirens of the region.

The Historical Society for Female Curators may have more to share about them soon.

But my favorite part followed. Mr. Devons and I journeyed to the farthest point of land in France. A lighthouse stands there, and we stood at the very edge, allowing the winds to batter us. I won’t tell you which of us was more nervous, Mr. Devons or me.

Our first official stop ended with a day of leisure in a cove with the most beautiful water I have ever seen. If you are wondering how my dear aunt and I made it to shore, Mr. Devons, our increasingly helpful travel partner, carried us. We are grateful he is on this trip with us.

Both Mr. Devons and I can’t wait to share more of our adventures with all of you.

Lady Hensley

Perfect, Diana thought. She wondered what Devons would write about.

They had agreed with Addie not to share their updates with each other.

Addie suspected it would be more interesting and exciting that way.

Diana sighed. Hopefully, this would entertain enough ladies to raise money for Seely House.

A smile flitted across her face, feeling optimistic about this club in which she initially didn’t think she had a place.

*

Sebastian stood leaning against the railing of the SS Lark , smoking a cigar.

Even though it was a calm day at sea, he was the only one standing on this side of the ship besides a few sailors coming and going.

He took a puff of his cigar before releasing the smoke.

The door to the stairway leading to the saloon deck opened, and Diana stepped out, surprising him. Their eyes met, and she smiled at him.

His mouth lifted up at the corners, happy to see her.

He waved her over. She smoothed her hands over the front of her beige-and-pink dress.

It was lovely on her, made more so by all the color she’d gotten recently.

He’d been tempted to tell her that he liked her freckles, but he suspected she wouldn’t like that.

“Are you hiding from everyone? There are several games taking place in the saloons below.”

“I decided to enjoy the sea air.”

She peered over the railing and lifted a brow. “You are faring much better up here. I remember our first evening. You wouldn’t even let me stand by the railing, and now you are leaning against it.”

He tilted his head back and laughed before looking down at her. She looked out at the ocean. He nudged her with his arm and handed her his cigar. Her blue eyes widened. “I couldn’t.”

“Why is that?”

“Ladies don’t smoke.”

He snorted and took another puff. “Plenty of them do, including the proper ones.”

She looked back at the cigar and then at him, biting her lip. He held it out to her, and unable to resist trying something new, she took it. His friend was becoming quite a risk-taker. Her fingers squeezed the cigar, and she asked, “What do I do now?”

“Bring it to your mouth and puff on it but don’t suck in the air.”

She did as he said, bringing it to her lips, forming an O . His eyes were transfixed by her mouth. He had to stop himself from groaning. She inhaled and immediately started coughing. Sebastian leaned over and patted her on her back. Diana handed him back the cigar.

“That is awful.”

He laughed. “It’s an acquired taste.”

She rolled her eyes. “If you say so.”

“Would you like to go back down to the saloon? I will join you.”

She nodded and he held his arm out to her.

“But before we go, I wanted to apologize for sharing so much with you yesterday.”

Her face turned red, and Sebastian suspected she was embarrassed. He dropped his arm before tilting her chin up so their eyes met. “Diana, we are friends. You can tell me anything.”

She clasped his hand and squeezed it. “Thank you.”

A sailor shuffled by them, carrying ropes, and they sprung apart. Diana wiped her hands on her skirt and said, “Well, still, I appreciate you letting me go on and on. I certainly overshared.”

He didn’t want her to be embarrassed. “It sounds like you and your husband had a special marriage. Honestly, it made me rethink what my feelings were for Lilah. Perhaps you were right. Maybe what I thought was love was infatuation.”

“I shouldn’t have said that. Who am I to say if you loved someone or not?”

“I guess my point is if I were to ever fall in love, I would want something as special as you described.”

Diana grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “You deserve that.”

Their clasped hands set off a warning within him.

He was in a treacherous area of feeling something he didn’t want or wasn’t ready for.

This lady was not for him, and he wasn’t for her.

He suspected Diana felt something similar as she released his hand and stepped back.

“Well, I’m happy we have that out of the way. ”

He nodded. Sebastian wanted her to understand she would always have a friend in him. “Agree, but I do mean it. You can tell me anything.”

“Thank you.”

He held his arm out to her again, and as they walked, Diana asked, “Have you written your update?”

“Not yet.”

She frowned at him. “You must do it before we arrive in Porto.”

He laughed. “I will. Come, let’s go join the others.”

As they made their way to the saloon deck, Sebastian’s mind flitted back to Lilah. Had he loved her? He wasn’t so sure.

Late that night, Sebastian Devons sat at the desk. Addie should like his first missive, he thought. He perused the letter again.

To the Ladies of London,

Lady Hensley is making sure we have the most entertaining adventure.

Le Conquet was filled with the magic of the korrigans and sirens.

After learning about them, we ate the finest food and were told even more stories about the sirens.

These sirens are said to be able to tempt men to their deaths.

I told Lady Hensley I wouldn’t be tempted.

She seemed doubtful. My ladies, can you believe she thought I couldn’t resist these magical creatures? Why would she make such an assumption?

We traveled to what is considered the farthest point of land in France.

Some call this area the Port at the End of the World because it feels like from the coastline, nothing else exists beyond the ocean.

The day we visited, it was exceptionally windy.

I was reluctant to venture too close to the water, but Lady Hensley assured me she would stop me from toppling into the ocean if we encountered a big gust of wind.

The lady is very brave and quite the adventurer.

Hopefully, my travel companion also told you about the enchanting cove we spent time in. It was a spectacle to get us to shore, but we made it. I believe if all my other ventures fail, I can find employment carrying men and ladies about.

That is it for now. I bid you good day until my next letter.

Sebastian Devons.