Page 46

T he door to the drawing room opened and Diana tensed.

Her mother entered the room in a swirl of light-blue silk and lace.

Even with the streaks of gray in her hair, the duchess’s looks could rival any of the most talked about ladies of the season.

She had the same beautiful but untouchable ethereal appearance as Diana’s sister.

The ton had given Clara the name Ice Princess during her time on the marriage mart.

She hated it and, in truth, didn’t deserve it.

Their mother, on the other hand, was never swayed by emotion.

Diana poured them both tea. She was nervous. Today, Clara would be visiting them. Henry still wanted nothing to do with their mother, but Clara had shocked Diana and requested to see her before she retired to her country estate.

“Is Henry joining us?”

Diana shook her head. “He couldn’t get away from his studies.”

The only sign her mother was displeased was the pursing of her lips. “I can’t imagine why Clara would like to call on me.”

Anger surged within Diana. Didn’t she want to see her daughter? “She is your child.”

Her mother took a dainty sip of her tea. “She shamed our family by marrying that man.”

“He has been an amazing husband to your daughter. She would likely not be here if she ended up with the man you did your best to sell her to.”

Her mother scoffed. “How did I raise two daughters who are so dramatic?”

The duchess needed to go to the country. She couldn’t stay here. Diana didn’t want Robert around her.

“When will the country house be ready?”

Her mother shrugged. “I’m sure in a few weeks.”

“I would like you gone within a week.”

Fire did flash in her mother’s eyes then. “You all judge me so harshly. I made you a wonderful match. Perhaps even a love match, and you didn’t have to slum it like your sister.”

Diana placed her teacup on the table in front of her. It rattled. “Do not take credit for anything that occurred between Stuart and me. You chose him because he would inherit a dukedom. We found love. It had nothing to do with you.”

Any further discussion on the topic was halted when the door of the drawing room was opened by her butler. Clara entered the room and frowned. She likely sensed the tension emanating in the space. “Diana, is everything fine?”

She nodded and Clara walked to the sitting area.

Her gaze darted back and forth between Diana and their mother.

At that moment, Diana wished she hadn’t allowed her mother to return to England with her.

This woman who always caused pain would be just that for Clara.

Her sister sat and poured herself a cup of tea. The room was deafeningly quiet.

Finally, Clara said, “Hello, Mother.”

“Good afternoon, Clara,” their mother said, disdain dripping from her words.

Diana wanted to take her sister from the room. Protect her from this woman who still very much thought Clara made a poor choice by choosing a decent man over a title.

“Do you not have anything to say?” Clara said, her voice trembling slightly.

Their mother took a sip of her tea. “How is Henry? When may I see him?”

After all these years and the pain she’d caused Clara, that was her first question.

It shouldn’t have been a shock to Diana.

Their brother was the duke. She probably hoped to somehow work her way into his good graces.

Her mother didn’t realize Henry wanted nothing to do with her.

He respected Clara’s husband too much to ever allow someone who hated commoners in his life.

More importantly, Sam and Clara had shown him love. Something none of the Duke and Duchess of Claremore’s children had known from parental figures.

Clara didn’t flinch, smiling broadly instead. “Henry is doing wonderfully. I can’t speak for him. He is the only one who will decide when he wants to see you. He did receive your letters.”

“Good. I hope to help guide him with the estate.”

Diana and Clara both looked at each other in shock. Diana shook her head. “Clara’s husband helps him.”

“A commoner.”

Clara’s eyes sparked. “My husband is the one who helped make the dukedom healthy again.”

Her mother glared at her. “It wasn’t ever unhealthy.”

“Mother, you tried to wed me to a monster because you and Father were in so much debt,” Clara said quietly.

“Why must you bring up such things? He had a great family and would have never hurt you if you married.”

Clara rose and smiled at Diana. “Thank you for arranging this. It was right for me to come.”

Diana stood as well. “I’m sorry.”

“No, I mean it. I needed this.”

Her sister departed and Diana turned back to her mother. “Within a week, you need to depart for the country.”

“You would banish me because I don’t approve of your sister’s marriage to a commoner?”

“I’m not banishing you. I’m choosing not to have you in my life. You were a cruel mother, and I will not have my child around you. My son will grow up valuing people for more than their titles.”

Her mother scoffed. “And what will you teach him? That it is acceptable to associate with people like Sebastian Devons? Did you read the paper this morning? Both your club and his association with it are being questioned.”

Diana frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Her mother grabbed the paper next to her and dropped it on the table between them. Diana picked it up and read the title.

Is a Club Owned by a Rake where Ladies should Spend Their Time?

Diana continued to read and gasped. The paper insinuated the club was used by Sebastian for nefarious reasons.

It also suggested not even Diana’s title could save it and she risked ruin herself if she continued to be associated with the Historical Society for Female Curators.

A caricature of a proper lady holding on to several other ladies who were being pulled off a cliff by a rakish devil finished the article.

“You didn’t think you would succeed with such a silly, pointless club, did you?”

Fury flared in her. Diana was done with her mother. “By next Wednesday, you must be on your way.”

The duchess didn’t say another word and walked out. Diana stared down at the paper, concern filling her because she knew gossip had the ability to end the club before it launched.

*

Sebastian sat in the carriage with his brother who scowled at him. He sighed and leaned his head against the back of the seat. He’d told Malcolm the whole sordid tale about losing his heart to Diana. His brother had been outraged that the lady discarded him so quickly for Tremont.

After their talk, Malcolm insisted Sebastian stay at his townhouse.

He’d woken up and joined his brother and his family to discover the article that put the Historical Society for Female Curators on the cusp of failure.

The damning words suggested he was somehow using the club to lure ladies into scandalous activities and Diana was the only thing stopping him, but she eventually would be dragged into his nefarious deeds. It was all lies.

“You should let the bloody club implode,” Malcolm bit out.

Sebastian opened his eyes and glanced at his brother. “Diana is not the only one that is part of the venture. Addie is our friend. We can’t let her fail.”

“I don’t think you are asking me to do this for Addie.”

Sebastian wasn’t sure why he didn’t want to witness the club go under.

Yes, it was partially because of Diana, but his desire to see them succeed was bigger than that.

He pulled out his pocket watch, flipping it open and closed, pondering why it bothered him so much that gossipers tried to destroy the Historical Society for Female Curators.

“They have worked hard to make their club successful. No one should take that from them because they are women. It reminds me of when we first started the Den and some of the lords tried to convince others not to frequent our establishment. They’d done it for the simple reason they found it unseemly for the by-blow and the heir of a marquess to partner with each other.

In their eyes, I should have been cast out and never acknowledged. ”

Malcolms scowled. “Our father raised us to always support each other.”

Sebastian read the words inside the back of the pocket watch.

The measure of a man is defined by his actions.

He snapped it shut and stuffed it in a pocket.

“He did. No matter how unconventional our family was, we were lucky to be raised with so much support and encouragement. The Historical Society for Female Curators has only me and now you. These ladies are being challenged because they aren’t the right sex. It’s wrong.”

An amused expression flitted across Malcolm’s face. “My brother, the advocate for women.”

Perhaps he was. He certainly didn’t like that gossipers were trying to stop them before they even started. “Thank you for doing this, and thank you for last night. I’m sorry—”

“Don’t. You will never owe me an apology. Those words are never needed. I love you, and I would hate it if you despised me because of the title.”

Sebastian grimaced. “I don’t. I was drunk.”

“She is not better than you and she is not worthy of you if she chose a title over love.”

Diana had never said those words, but Sebastian didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want Malcolm to be angry when they showed up at Seely House. “I’m going to rest my eyes for a moment.”

Malcolm sighed.

A short time later, they followed Harrison up the steps to the office in Seely House. All the board members were already there. His eyes met Diana’s and worry filled her face. He clenched his fists as the urge to comfort her overwhelmed him.

“I was wondering if you would appear. We may be done for,” Addie said, sounding defeated.

She looked tired as she stood rubbing her eyes and leaning against a desk.

“We can get through this,” Lisbeth said, choosing to be optimistic, shocking Sebastian.

Of all the ladies, she seemed the most pragmatic to him. He didn’t expect that. Sebastian ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “I think I have a solution.”

Addie motioned everyone over to the sitting area. The five board members sat on the two sofas and Sebastian and Malcolm took the wingback chairs.

“I would like to introduce you all to my brother, the Marquess of Derry.”

Addie looked at Malcolm and Sebastian. “How is Derry going to help us?”

Sebastian continued. “While he is still part owner in my club, the Den, he is a peer and, as a partner, could provide the Historical Society for Female Curators a level of respectability I can’t.

I’ve convinced him to partner in the club and use the same agreement I signed to make sure the board remains in control. ”

Lisbeth frowned and glanced at Malcolm. “Why would you do that?”

Malcolm’s eyes flitted to Diana and back to the duchess. He shrugged. “My brother says this club is a worthwhile endeavor.”

Addie beamed at Sebastian. His eyes flitted back to Diana who was frowning at him intently.

“You will hand over ownership of the club to the Marquess of Derry?” Sarah asked.

Sebastian nodded, and the group fell quiet. Shockingly, Diana said, “No.”

Everyone’s eyes flew to her. She flushed but still shook her head.

“Why should we bow to these bullies? There are very few men who would have supported our endeavor and done so much for us. We can’t simply end our association with Devons because of some article.

It would make us no better than them. We are better than that.

This board may be comprised of all ladies, but Mr. Devons has been our partner and our champion.

As the board of the Historical Society for Female Curators, we should not turn our backs on him. ”

Sebastian stared at her in shock, and he suspected the rest of the ladies felt the same way as no one said anything. Malcolm said, “I promise I will be as dedicated as my brother. I have given him my word.”

“Thank you, Lord Derry, but my vote is no. We started this with Devons. Fail or succeed, we end it with him,” Diana said.

An impressed smirk filled Addie’s face. “You are right. I vote no, too.”

Esme said. “I agree.”

“Me as well.”

Lisbeth sighed and nodded.

Diana turned back to him and Malcolm. “We do not accept your plan.”

Malcolm guffawed and everyone’s eyes jerked to him. He held his hand up apologetically as he tried to compose himself. “I’m sorry. This is not at all how I planned this going today.”

Addie shook her head. “You aren’t alone.”

Diana’s gaze swung back to Sebastian. “We still should do our talk tomorrow. If we don’t, they will think we are worried about the article.”

Sebastian was stunned by the board’s willingness to risk everything by continuing to partner with him.”

“Diana—”

“I refuse to be forced to do anything because of what is printed in the gossip sheets. We should not change our plans. Will you be ready for our talk tomorrow?”

Even though he was still nursing his wounded heart, he couldn’t help but smile back at her, impressed. “I will be ready.”

She nodded. “Good, then it is settled.”