Page 34

T hey arrived at the hotel in Livorno in the early afternoon. While most of their stops were small cities or towns, Livorno was a lively, large port city in Tuscany. The buildings were a mangle of ancient structures and new ones being built. Diana was excited to explore the area.

As they were settling in their rooms, Diana received a missive from Messina stating the Calverts weren’t in Tuscany.

She sighed. It would have been quite the coup to have been able to develop some type of partnership with them.

Still, all in all, the trip had been only beneficial for the Historical Society for Female Curators. She refused to be disappointed.

A knock on the door distracted her thoughts. She opened it and an attendant bowed. “My lady, you have guests.”

Diana frowned. Her mother was in Livorno.

Was it her? Diana assumed she would call on her tomorrow.

Nerves filled her that she would be seeing her sooner.

She made her way to the top of the marble foyer stairs and looked down.

Her eyes widened in shock. Her mother did wait below, but Arthur was also with her.

What was he doing here? He glanced up and smiled. “Surprise, Lady Hensley.”

Surprise was certainly the word for it. She didn’t know what to make of his sudden appearance.

It was so out of character for him. As far as she was aware, Arthur had never been outside of England.

Her eyes flicked to her mother. She looked so much like her sister Clara.

The same blonde hair, slender figure, and pale-blue eyes.

Diana’s eyes were the only similar trait she had with either of them.

Her mother’s eyes raked over her as she pinched her lips together.

From that one movement, Diana suspected her mother found her appearance unsatisfactory. She descended the stairs. “Good day, Mother. Lord Tremont, I’m shocked you are in Livorno.”

He beamed. “I hope that you are delighted as well. I took one of the faster vessels. I arrived a few days ago. Your mother has been a gracious guide.”

She smiled, not wanting to be impolite. Diana supposed his arrival wasn’t that outlandish.

He was a man who wanted to court her. But every part of her wanted to yell, no, not yet .

Diana wanted more time with Sebastian. Her eyes swiveled around the room, looking to see if Sebastian had encountered Arthur yet. Nerves filled her.

“You have spent too much time in the sun, Diana,” her mother said.

Diana couldn’t believe that, after years of not seeing her, that was all the woman who bore her had to say. She forced herself to smile. “That is true, Mother.”

At that moment, Sebastian, Haggerty, and Spoor entered the hotel from a side door.

Sebastian laughed at something Haggerty said but then his eyes landed on Arthur.

The laughter vanished. Next, his eyes flicked to her mother and then her.

It may have been only Diana’s imagination, but it appeared as if the entire foyer had grown silent. Sebastian clenched his jaw.

Arthur, oblivious to any tension swirling in the area, walked over to him. “Good afternoon, Mr. Devons. You and Diana are becoming quite the sensation with your column in London.”

“That was the point,” Devons said flatly.

Diana, unsure what to do, fell back on all her etiquette training. “Mother, may I introduce a few of my travel companions, Mr. Devons, Mr. Haggerty, and Mr. Spoor?”

All three men bowed. She nodded in return, her gaze lingering on Sebastian. Her mother’s eyes narrowed as she perused him in a most unacceptable fashion. Her mouth pinched with distaste before turning back to Diana. “I’ve come to collect you in person. I insist you stay with me.”

Diana’s eyes darted to Sebastian’s. He stared back at her, and she sensed he was thinking the same thing. Reality was quickly being thrust back on them. Diana was not ready. She would not be forced into anything. She shook her head. “Aunt Winifred and I are settled at the hotel.”

Her mother’s eyes widened. “My sister is with you. I hadn’t realized she returned to England. Her husband enjoys living abroad.”

“Lord Clark passed away a couple of years ago and Aunt Winifred decided to return to London. Since her arrival, we have grown close. She has accompanied me on the trip.”

Her mother frowned. Her aunt always said she and Diana’s mother were like oil and water, but she didn’t realize how deep their dislike for each other was.

“I hadn’t planned to have a visitor beyond you.”

“It wouldn’t be appropriate to leave her at the hotel alone.”

Her mother sighed. “As you wish.”

It wasn’t a lie, but Diana also didn’t want to stay with her. Partly because of Sebastian but also because she and her mother were not on good terms. She was playing as if they were, but Diana suspected that was only because she hoped to return to England. She needed Diana’s support for that.

“Your mother has wonderful news,” Arthur said.

“Yes, I would like to host you and your fellow travelers for dinner at my home in three days. Everyone is welcome,” she said, her eyes flicking over Devons and the other two men.

Perhaps her mother had changed. She couldn’t think of a time growing up when her mother would have allowed commoners to dine with her. Diana, still stunned, took a deep breath. “That is kind of you. We would love that.”

Her mother nodded. “I didn’t realize Winifred was with you. If possible, I would prefer to visit with you today alone.”

“Mother, I have plans with my travel companions.”

Annoyance flashed in the woman’s eyes. “Diana, I have planned a full day for you, Arthur, and me.”

Why was Arthur going? Diana’s gaze flew to Sebastian. His eyes were filled with fire.

“We can all go together,” Diana stated.

Her mother pursed her lips. “You have been with your travel companions for weeks. You can spend time with your mother and a close family friend today. I must insist.”

Diana’s gaze darted back and forth between her mother and Arthur.

When had Arthur become a close family friend?

She gulped, unsure what to do. She wanted to stay here with Sebastian.

All of her etiquette training stopped her from declining.

She nodded. Sebastian’s face became shuttered. “If you will excuse me.”

Diana watched him stalk off. She wanted to run to him and tell him it was only a few hours but didn’t. Why did it feel like London society and all its rigid rules were back in full force? Annoyance and frustration festered within her.

“Come along, Diana,” her mother said.

“Aunt Winifred is napping. Let me wake her and tell her you are here. She may want—”

Her mother shook her head. “Not necessary. We can become reacquainted at dinner.”

Diana was flabbergasted that her mother didn’t want to see her own sister. Wanting to move things along as quickly as possible so she could return, Diana nodded. She turned to Spoor and Haggerty. “Will you inform my aunt I will be back before dinner?”

Spoor nodded. “Of course. Enjoy your day.”

Diana wasn’t sure that was possible but smiled in return.

A few hours later, Diana sat with her mother and Arthur drinking chocolate in a cafe.

The hot drink was decadent. Never far from her mind, she wondered if Sebastian would like it.

Arthur arrived in Livorno three days ago and had decided to call on her mother.

They’d appeared to have become fast friends.

All afternoon her mother and Arthur had chatted nonstop, no matter where they were—at a museum, a historic sight, and now at the cafe. Diana stayed quiet, lost in her thoughts that had nothing to do with ruins or antiquities but the displeasure that her society-free adventure was coming to an end.

“I have been speaking with Lord Tremont about my predicament, and he agrees with me.”

Diana glanced between the two of them. “Your predicament?”

She daintily took a sip of her tea. “Yes, I barely survived the activities that took place between the Austrians and the locals. I don’t think I can live through another revolution. I must return to England. We could have a flare-up of violence anytime.”

Diana looked around at the quaint street outside of the cafe.

She had to admit, she wasn’t sure how her mother had managed over the last few years.

A sliver of guilt shot through her. She pushed it down.

She would not feel bad for the woman who had treated both her and Clara horrendously their whole lives.

“Mother, I’m speculating that you would need to have your household packed up. Maybe this spring would be a perfect time to return.”

“Nonsense,” her mother said. “I have instructed my servants to be ready to leave when your ship departs.”

No. No.

“Lady Hensley, I think your mother returning with us would be the best solution. She has seen horrific things. Now that your father is gone, she shouldn’t be alone.”

She took another sip of her chocolate, trying to conceal her shock that Arthur would return to England on the SS Lark . Diana didn’t want that but had no valid reason to stop him.

“I only want to retire to our family country estate. Nothing more.”

She studied her mother. The duchess was still the perfect lady, but she did seem frailer. Was this a ploy? Diana’s eyes darted to Arthur, who appeared to be siding with her mother.

“You will be prepared to leave when the SS Lark does?”

Her mother nodded. Diana wished she could speak to Clara about this. The duchess rose, and her lips trembled. “You are unsure if you want to help me? Why don’t I leave you here with Lord Tremont? He is also staying at your hotel. He can make sure you are escorted back safely.”

She left in a blur of skirts. Diana wondered if this show was for Arthur or was her mother truly displaying genuine emotion. She watched her departure before turning back to Arthur. He frowned at her. “She is your mother, Diana.”