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He pulled out his pocket watch, flipping the front and back cases open and close while he frowned at Messina.

The handsome Sardinian stood next to Diana, beaming at her.

The man said he had business here, but he’d been by Diana’s side since they’d arrived this morning.

Sebastian clenched his jaw, wanting to join them.

No, he wanted to push Messina out of the way but stopped himself. Diana could do as she pleased.

The woman finished her dance, and everyone applauded.

Some of the Spaniards started to clap out a rhythm, and the woman in red pulled Diana and her aunt out into the middle of the courtyard, encouraging them to try the dance.

Another dancer cajoled the remaining ladies out.

Diana became flushed from the activity, and Sebastian couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face.

She lifted her hands, following the woman in red’s movements with her hips and feet.

As her form spun and turned, Sebastian’s body reacted to her.

The woman in red gave a slight shimmy, and all the ladies did the same thing.

But it was Diana he couldn’t tear his eyes away from.

He was so distracted that he didn’t notice the woman wearing the bright-green dress in front of him until she pulled him into the middle.

He glanced Diana’s way, and Messina had joined her.

Sebastian tore his gaze away and looked at his dance partner. She winked at him and nodded to Diana. “ Ella te gusta .”

He answered back in Spanish. “No, she is a friend.”

The dancer smirked in disbelief. She moved him back and forth, teaching him the steps. Sebastian wasn’t conceited, but he’d done fine with his dance lessons in his younger years. He caught on quickly to the movements she was showing him. The music started to play at a much quicker tempo.

The dancer motioned him to move quicker.

Then she guided him to turn. He moved her around the dance area.

He glanced at Diana and Messina, who were struggling to follow the steps.

Sebastian was being an ass, but it pleased him that Messina wasn’t doing so well.

The dancer said, “You pay attention to me.”

He turned back, focusing on her. She smiled.

As the music increased in tempo, the dance became faster with them moving closer to each other.

Those around them cheered and whistled. His dance partner laughed.

Finally, the music stopped. She gave him a flirty wink and then glanced at Diana.

She leaned into him and whispered in Spanish, “I think you are more than friends or should be.”

Sebastian’s eyes slid over to Diana. She frowned as her gaze flicked back and forth between him and the dancer. Finally, Diana forced herself to smile and said, “You did wonderfully.”

Sebastian wanted to dance with her. He wished his body could rock against Diana’s.

He felt his member twitch at the thought.

Fuck! He needed to stop focusing on her.

Whatever these emotions and connections were, he needed to move past them.

Still, it only confirmed that some distance between them was the best course of action.

But not too much. Diana and Sebastian had spent so much time together at the beginning of the trip, he couldn’t avoid her completely.

Within days of departing England, everyone on the ship had seemed to separate into little groups that did everything together.

Sebastian didn’t want to break that up. Even today, they’d traveled with the rest of their tribe, including her aunt, Mr. Spoor, and Mr. Haggerty.

He glowered because Messina had joined them as well.

The dancer beamed at him. “You are a good dancer. I would ask you to accompany me to an event tonight, but I think you would decline.”

Sebastian’s eyes darted to Diana, who quickly glanced away. What was the blasted woman doing to him? He should have wanted to join the dancer, but he had no desire. The lovely woman’s mouth stretched into an amused smirk. “Good day, sir.”

Later that evening, Sebastian declined to go out to dinner with everyone. He wasn’t avoiding Diana, but he was uninterested in watching Messina fawn over her. Agitation filled him that she hadn’t returned to the hotel yet. He’d heard her aunt and Mr. Spoor in the hallway but not Diana.

Even though it wasn’t any of his business, it worried Sebastian that she was alone with Messina.

Diana and Sebastian’s rooms were both located on the fourth floor of the hotel while Messina’s was on the fifth.

He would not interrupt her but would wait up until he was certain she made it to her room safely.

Sebastian poured himself a brandy, slowly drinking it.

He tried to read a book but couldn’t focus.

Finally, a man’s voice echoed down the hallway followed by a woman’s.

No, what he heard was Diana’s voice. Sebastian stood closer to the door.

Diana’s laugh filtered into his room and then there was silence.

Was Messina being inappropriate with her?

Was he taking advantage of her? Unable to contain his concern, he yanked the door open, and Diana and Messina sprang apart.

She stared at him in shock. Messina scowled. Sebastian ignored him. “Are you fine, Lady Hensley?”

Diana’s brows drew together in confusion. “Yes. I was bidding the count good night.”

Sebastian became rooted to the floor. He folded his arms, leaning against the side of his room’s doorway. Diana looked from him to Messina and back. He wouldn’t leave until the count departed. He was being an ass and he knew it.

“Can you give us a moment?” Messina asked.

He shook his head, and the count sighed. He took Diana’s hand in his and said, “Good night, Lady Hensley.”

She glanced at Sebastian before turning back and said, “Good night.”

The count left and made his way down the hallway. When Sebastian turned back to Diana, she was glaring at him. “What are you doing out here?”

“Making sure you are unharmed.”

“From Messina. He is a gentleman.”

Sebastian snorted. Diana angrily pressed her lips together.

“I wanted to make sure he wasn’t taking any liberties with you.”

She sighed. “Maybe, I was hoping he would. Maybe, I have enjoyed being pursued by a man who is open with his feelings.”

He scowled, knowing she was intentionally pointing out Messina’s behavior. “Next time, I won’t interrupt.”

Diana pushed open her door. “Please don’t. Good night, Devons.”