Page 45

D iana made her way up the stairs to her desk in the Seely House.

She smiled, still amazed she was a board member of the Historical Society for Female Curators.

Stuart would have been delighted that she was part of this effort.

As she entered the office, she came to an abrupt stop.

Sebastian sat with Addie and Lisbeth in the sitting area, looking at a letter.

The package in her hands fell to the ground, causing them to glance at her. Diana flushed. Sebastian picked the package up and handed it back to her. She studied his face. He smiled, but it was a smile one would use when acknowledging someone they barely knew. It gutted her. “Diana.”

“Devons,” she said.

“I’m glad you are here. We may have an opportunity to one-up the London Society of Antiquaries,” Addie said.

Diana looked at Sebastian’s impassively polite face one more time before taking a seat in the sitting area. She asked, “How?”

Addie and Sebastian grinned at each other.

A flash of envy shot through Diana at how comfortable they were with each other.

It didn’t help that Addie looked stunning today.

She was dressed in a turquoise gown that highlighted her black hair and vibrant blue eyes.

Married and single men adored her. She glanced at Sebastian, wondering if he ever had a liaison with her.

It was none of her business, Diana reminded herself.

She sighed, causing everyone to look in her direction. “I’m sorry it has been a long day.”

“There is talk about you and Tremont’s lovely waltz last night.”

Diana’s eyes darted to Sebastian and his impassively polite face hadn’t changed. She had the desire to rile him up but wasn’t sure she knew how. She turned back to Addie. “Tremont is an adept dancer.”

Addie laughed and then refocused her attention on Devons. “This man has brought us the best news.”

The longer Diana sat there with the two of them, the more annoyed she became. She arched a brow. “Really?”

“During my follow-on travels, I traveled with Thomas Easton, and he introduced me to the Calverts. I know you had hoped to meet them in Livorno about a potential partnership. I mentioned this to them. They are interested. They know the duchess—”

“Lisbeth, please.”

“They know Lisbeth well. Benjamin Calvert has proposed an option for an exhibit.”

Addie, unable to contain her excitement, clapped. “They offered to allow us to display ancient stone tablets that Benjamin Calvert suspects is a love story. Ladies will love it.”

“What do they want in exchange? Can we afford it?” Diana asked.

Lisbeth smirked. “Benjamin would like me to host his daughter for the season.”

Sebastian shook his head. “I met Rose. She has no interest in visiting London.”

Diana forced herself not to frown at his familiarness with the woman.

Lisbeth smirked. “No, she would rather be anywhere else, I assume. The tablets have not been thoroughly studied or translated. Rose will want to be the one to do that. Benjamin will use them to entice her to London. She will be furious with her father.”

Sebastian laughed. “That is sneaky of Calvert.”

The duchess was quiet for a moment but finally said, “Benjamin’s wife passed away before I met him, but he used to always say she held big plans for Rose when it came to the London season. I think he wants to make sure he fulfills her dream.”

“When will she and the tablets arrive?”

Lisbeth studied the letter again. “I think the tablets should be here within the week, and I bet Rose is not far behind.”

“Is Rose a family friend?”

Lisbeth’s face became shuttered. “Something like that. Rose is twenty-eight. She will come because of the tablets and attend a few balls to appease her father, but I doubt she has any plans to marry. I do think we should invite her to be part of our club.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind hosting her?” Diana asked.

Lisbeth shrugged. “I adore Benjamin. He was like a father figure to me when I was younger. I would host her for a season even without the tablets.”

Addie nodded excitedly. “These tablets may be perfect for the grand exhibit. The next topic we need to discuss is the talk we are hosting about the leisure cruise. Can we be prepared in a week?”

They all looked at Sebastian since he had only returned to London a few days ago. He shrugged nonchalantly. “That’s fine. Whatever Diana believes is best works for me.”

“We wrote the column as partners. I would like your thoughts too.”

He smiled at her politely. “Within the week is fine.”

That smile was starting to annoy Diana. Addie, oblivious, nodded.

“Perfect. I think we will have each of you describe your favorite ports, and then we will open it up to the audience. The interest in the leisure cruise is at an all-time high. The first cruise dates should be announced towards the end of the season. The talk will only make ladies want to sign up more. Can we be ready by next Tuesday?”

“I think so,” Diana said.

Sebastian nodded and stood. “Really, whatever you think, Addie. Just send me a missive, and I will be there.”

“Where are you going? You’ve only just arrived. I want to hear about Thomas Easton,” Addie complained.

He held his hands up as if it was out of his control. “I’m late for another meeting.”

Diana wanted to throw something at him. Where was the Sebastian Devons she spent two months with?

*

Sebastian sat in his theater box as his brother glowered at him from his own box.

He suspected Malcolm was unhappy with his choice of companion.

It wasn’t as if Lilah were the only one with him.

There were others in his box, including Celeste.

Still, he knew they were causing a scene because Lilah was practically in his lap.

She giggled and rubbed her breasts against his arm.

He felt nothing for her. It was a void of emptiness.

Crazily, he wanted to feel something, anything.

It was as if Diana had somehow broken him.

Lilah whispered in his ear that she couldn’t wait for later tonight.

Celeste, behind them, sighed dramatically as if trying to warn him how bad of a choice the lady was.

Apparently, while he was away, Lord Wesley had been caught with an innocent young lady in his bed.

She hadn’t even had her first season. To avoid the scandal, he’d fled to America.

Since then, Lady Wesley had been openly enjoying a plethora of lovers.

She ran her hand over the top of his thigh.

He sipped his drink, not engaging but not stopping her either.

His gaze moved back to Malcolm and Sophia.

His brother’s expression was murderous. Sophia whispered in his ear frantically.

Sebastian suspected she was telling him everyone was watching.

Malcolm, the marquess, wouldn’t give a damn.

He had the title to do as he liked. A twinge of guilt ebbed through him that he was thinking such harsh thoughts about his brother.

Sebastian sighed and turned away from him, focusing on the empty stage.

When the hell would the show start? Tonight’s opera was a drama about a sordid love affair between a prince and a farmer’s daughter.

Sebastian wasn’t sure what made it tawdry.

He imagined it was the different classes.

He smirked at the ridiculousness of it all and took another sip of his drink.

Increased chatter drew his eyes to a box where opera watchers were arriving.

His eyes narrowed as he realized it was Diana and Tremont.

His stomach clenched at the sight. Yesterday, it had taken everything in him to appear unbothered at seeing Diana.

He needed to get past this. There had to be an end to the madness of his emotions for her.

Lilah ran her hand down his thigh again.

Sebastian forced himself to focus on her.

He grinned wickedly at her, and she fluttered her eyelashes back at him.

It seemed impossible, but Lilah somehow managed to scoot even closer to him.

The play started but didn’t hold his interest. His eyes sought out Tremont’s box.

Even in the dimly lit theater, Sebastian could tell Diana was staring at him.

Lilah leaned over and, with her lips practically touching his ear, whispered, “I’ve missed you.”

He reminded himself that Diana had made her choice. He was free to do as he liked. Sebastian looked at her again. She still watched him. Lilah continued to whisper in his ear, but he had no idea what she was saying. He was too distracted by Diana.

Suddenly, she was on her feet, followed by Tremont, but she shook her head insistently. Tremont sat back down, and then she was gone. Sebastian stood. “Excuse me.”

He made his way to the hallway Diana entered. He caught a flash of a skirt entering a side room and briskly headed in the same direction. The room had no door. It was more of an alcove than anything, but it was private.

“Diana.”

She turned and fury flashed in her eyes. “Why are you with her?”

He stepped back, shocked at her angry tone. She marched up to him. “Of all the people to bring back into your life, why her?”

Anger flared in him, and it had nothing to do with Lilah. “You are here with Tremont. What does it matter if I’m having a tryst? You are to be married. I don’t think you can dictate to me who I take as a lover.”

She shook her head. Sebastian wasn’t sure in response to what. She turned away from him. Again, he questioned, “What does it matter, Diana? We have both moved on. Why do you care?”

Diana spun back around. “Because I care about you. That viper hurt you, and you choose her of all people to bring back into your life.”

He said nothing, and she added angrily, “Whether she is a tryst or more, you deserve someone who respects you.”

Her eyes started to water, and Sebastian stayed quiet. She took a deep breath and looked up at him. “I’m your friend. That is why it matters.”

“My friend?” he said skeptically.

She marched up to him and poked him hard on the chest. “No matter how things ended, I will only and always want the best for you. That woman who hurt you so deeply is not it.”

“She is not the only woman to hurt me.”

His words hung between them. Confusion flashed across her face. “What are you insinuating?”

The sound of frantic footsteps coming closer caused Diana to step back as Tremont rounded the corner. His eyes bounced back and forth between Diana and Sebastian.

“Diana, is anything amiss?”

She studied Sebastian for a moment. “No. I ran into Mr. Devons. We were conversing about his return trip.”

Tremont moved to her, offering her his arm. “How about we fetch you something to drink?”

Diana accepted, and a polite smile appeared on her face. “Good evening, Mr. Devons.”

Later in the night, Sebastian sat at his desk at the Den, playing with his pocket watch and drinking brandy. Diana and Tremont kept appearing in his mind. They were perfectly suited for one another. The gossip sheets had it right. They would make a perfect peerage match.

His door bounced open, and Malcolm stomped in.

His eyes flicked around as if he thought he would catch Lilah lurking about.

Sebastian had dropped an unhappy Lilah off at her townhouse after the theater.

She’d expected to return with him to the Den, but Sebastian didn’t have it in him to entertain her.

He wanted something he could never have, and it tore him up. His brother slammed his hand down on his desk. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Anger boiled in Sebastian at his brother’s arrogant tone. “Don’t start with me.”

“I will tell you when you are fucking up. Get a hold of yourself, man. She is not worth another moment of misery.”

“Do you think it is so easy to forget her?”

His brother glowered at him and marched to his side of the desk, grabbing his brandy and finishing it. Sebastian rose to retrieve more, and Malcolm stopped him.

“Remove your hands from my person,” Sebastian growled.

“She is not worth it!”

Sebastian grabbed Malcolm by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the bookshelf.

“She is all I can think of. Don’t tell me what her worth is.

You are a fucking lord. My entire life I have never envied your title or resented you.

Not once did I care that I was the bastard, and you were the son born within wedlock. ”

Malcolm grabbed his shirt and spun them around, slamming Sebastian into the bookshelf. “Enough!”

He shook his head and hated himself because tears pricked his eyes. “Right now, at this moment, I would do anything to have your title. I want it so badly it is destroying me.”

His brother leaned his forehead against his and whispered, “Stop this. She isn’t worth this madness.”

They stood like that for a moment, brother and brother. Their angry embrace turned to comfort. Malcolm pulled Sebastian closer to him. Eventually, Malcolm stepped back, giving him space to move back to his chair.

“It isn’t Lilah.”

Malcolm’s brows shot up. He took a seat across from Sebastian. “Start at the beginning.”