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Messina dropped Diana’s hand and smirked at Devons. “This is where I’m staying while in Porto.” And then added dramatically, “Dom Costa asked if he could bring you all here so he can tell his story of tortured love.”
Everyone laughed but Devons. Diana, trying to ease the tension, said, “Mr. Devons and I are writing articles for two London newspapers about a potential new leisure cruise for ladies.”
Messina’s eyes flicked to Devons and back to her. “I understand why you are here but not Mr. Devons. He isn’t a lady.”
“No, but he is very well-liked by the ladies of London,” her aunt piped up.
Diana gasped and frowned. Her aunt grinned and shrugged. “It’s true.”
Messina glanced around the room before landing back on Diana. “Well, I look forward to our evening later. I have some dealings to handle. Goodbye until then.”
“Goodbye,” they all replied.
He glanced at Diana one last time, causing her to blush. Goodness, she hadn’t expected them to meet someone new.
*
Sebastian sat at one end of the table, watching both Monroe and Messina flirt outrageously with Diana.
To say he was displeased was a gross understatement.
He reminded himself this was what she wanted.
It wasn’t his place to interrupt. She seemed to favor the count more.
Monroe looked as if he was on the verge of giving up.
In truth, Sebastian imagined Messina was the perfect person for her to have a brief flirtation with. The count leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, causing her to laugh louder. Aunt Winifred, who sat next to him, peered down the table. “He is certainly handsome.”
He took a sip of his wine and grunted in response. She elbowed him. “Are you telling me that doesn’t bother you?”
He flicked his dark-brown eyes in the direction of Diana’s aunt. “Why would it?”
“Because you like her.”
“We’re friends.”
She rolled his eyes. “You like her. Diana says you are not looking for a tryst. Why? You are one of the most notorious men in all of London.”
He choked on his wine. Lady Clark patted him on the back and told the table, “He is fine. He took too big of a drink.”
Everyone resumed their conversations. Lady Clark whispered, “Well, maybe not in so many words.”
He looked at her skeptically, suspecting Diana hadn’t shared any of their private conversations with her. “I’m taking a break from vice and interludes.”
Disappointment flitted across the older woman’s face. “What a waste. Why?”
Sebastian stopped himself from laughing. “I’ve had too much fun. A break is good for me.”
Lady Clark snorted. “Or more like torture.”
Sebastian couldn’t let her make assumptions about Diana and him. “We are business associates and friends, that is all.”
She sighed dramatically. “Well, at least there is Messina. He would be the second-best option and will be with us until we reach Malaga.”
His brows drew together confused. “What do you mean?”
“Captain Monroe mentioned to me earlier today he would be joining us on the ship.”
Sebastian didn’t like that at all. He frowned at Messina and Diana at the end of the table. “I wasn’t aware of that.”
“Yes, it’s a shame you are out of the game.”
He glanced at her and saw a gleam of something in her eyes.
Was she attempting to rile him up? He was tempted to ask her why.
But he reminded himself that Diana and he had two different focuses.
He was trying to be vice free while she was trying to live a little.
Then why did he feel like he was the perfect person to show her all about vice, not Messina?
Later that evening, Sebastian sat next to Diana in a box at the Teatro do Principe , waiting for the opera about star-crossed lovers to begin.
Messina insisted on sitting on the other side of her.
He wanted to make sure Diana understood the scenes because they were in Portuguese.
It was a damn opera. Most didn’t need to be translated.
He’d only briefly spoken with Diana since leaving the hotel for dinner and the evening’s entertainment. The count seemed to be happy to monopolize her time. Messina excused himself to fetch champagne. Diana turned to him. “I have so enjoyed Porto. Have you?”
“It appears you have enjoyed the count.”
Her eyes widened at his words, but she didn’t say anything. His tone had been unreasonably harsh. She didn’t deserve that. He sighed. “I’m sorry that was very rude of me. I’m glad you are enjoying yourself.”
“Even if Messina hadn’t joined us, I would still think Porto was exquisite.”
He forced himself to smile. “I apologize.”
She nodded and was quiet for a moment but eventually said, “It’s nice to have someone find me desirable after being alone.”
Sebastian wanted her to have that. He couldn’t comprehend how anyone wouldn’t find her tempting.
Hell, he’d found her desirable even with her damn cap.
It wasn’t her fault he was struggling with watching her flirt with the count.
They’d decided they were friends and friends only.
Sebastian should be happy as her friend she was getting her flirtation.
“I’m glad you are enjoying your time with him.”
She studied him as if looking for something. He kept his face emotionless. He would never want Diana to think he was judging her. Hell, he had no room to judge her.
“Enjoy the evening, Diana,” he said.
She nodded and turned back to the stage. Messina reappeared with their drinks as the opera started. Sebastian did his best to ignore him whispering in Diana’s ear and her giggles. It had nothing to do with him, he told himself, glowering at the stage.
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