Page 50

“A re you ready for this?” Sebastian asked.

They were standing outside of Seely House.

Today, they would tell Addie and the rest of the board members they were engaged.

Diana worried that after their talk and the scandalous article, they would be livid that she and Sebastian hadn’t revealed their relationship sooner.

Still, Diana wanted all of London to know that she loved this man. She put aside her nerves. “Yes.”

They entered the building, and Diana led the way to the office. They had a meeting scheduled for today, so Diana was confident everyone would be there. As they walked through the doorway, Addie looked up from her desk. She smiled. “I didn’t know you would be visiting, Devons.”

“There is something Diana and I wanted to explain to you all,” he said.

She frowned and her face filled with worry. “Is something amiss?”

Diana motioned the ladies to the sitting area. Addie and Sebastian joined her right away and were then followed by Lisbeth, Esme, and Sarah. Sebastian flashed her an encouraging smile. Esme frowned at both of them. “Has another article come out?”

Diana shook her head and took a deep breath. “Devons and I are betrothed.”

No one said anything. All the ladies stared back and forth between Diana and Devons. Suddenly, Addie burst into the belly laughter she was known for. Sebastian frowned at her as Diana flushed from head to toe. Lisbeth glared at her. “Addie.”

“I’m not laughing at the match, I promise. You are perfect for each other, but I can’t believe I didn’t catch on sooner.”

Diana smiled at her, and Sebastian shook his head. The other ladies beamed at them.

“I know this may cause trouble for the club, so we wanted you all to know as soon as possible.”

Sarah shook her head in response to Diana. “You put everyone in their place at our talk. You will be the envy of the ton because you captured the King of the Den’s heart.”

Addie’s eyes darted to her. “Sarah, I didn’t know you followed gossip.”

The young woman rolled her eyes. “Just because I’m a scholar doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy the London scandal sheets.”

Esme laughed. Addie sighed. “So, tell us how this happened.”

Diana looked at Devons. His eyes lingered on her for a moment with such adoration Diana thought she would float away with joy. He turned back to the other ladies. “Diana is my end and my beginning. There is no one quite like her.”

They all sighed, shocking Diana. None of these ladies were the least bit romantic, but with a few words, Sebastian made them so.

“So, you aren’t mad?” Diana asked the board members.

Addie laughed. “It seems scandal will follow our club no matter what. We should embrace it. I learned a long time ago that words and gossip can only hurt you as much as you allow.”

Lisbeth nodded. “I agree. The gossip is only going to continue whether it is Diana or one of us.”

Sarah Martin frowned. “What else could they say about us?”

Lisbeth lifted a brow. “You and Esme are both considered bluestockings, I’m considered peculiar with a secretive past, Addie is considered a flamboyant walking scandal, and now Diana is about to marry one of the greatest rogues in London.”

Her soon-to-be husband’s mouth tilted up in a smirk. “Not one of the greatest.”

Addie snorted. “You are and I love that you lost your heart to the most proper lady in all of London.”

Esme and Sarah laughed. Lisbeth just shook her head. “Who knew you were such a romantic, Addie?”

She shrugged. “I can admire a love story, especially when it involves a besotted rogue.”

Sebastian’s eyes met Diana’s. “Completely besotted.”

Later that day, Diana paced back and forth in her drawing room.

She was delighted at how well received the news of her and Sebastian’s betrothal had gone with the ladies of the Historical Society for Female Curators.

Currently, she was waiting on Wescott. Sebastian had requested to meet with him to ask his permission to marry Diana.

While she found it to be a touching sentiment, Diana wanted the news to come from her first. She needed to know his thoughts before Sebastian spoke with him. The door opened, and her butler announced, “The Duke of Wescott.”

Diana rose and smiled as her father-in-law made his way to the sitting area. “I was delighted to receive a missive from you, and I must admit, intrigued.”

She laughed as they both sat. “Thank you for coming. I have some news for you.”

Her father-in-law smirked. “I suspected you might. Recently, I received a request for a meeting from Mr. Devons.”

Diana blushed. Wescott chuckled. “Every week when I read the column about your leisure cruise, I suspected that man was wooing you. I suppose I can meet with him and find out if he is acceptable.”

She stiffened, concerned. “Mr. Devons is a good man. He may not have a title but—”

Wescott waved his hand. “I don’t care about any of that. As you get older, Diana, you begin to realize how ridiculous and cruel the world can be. You either join them or try to be better. Stuart would want you with someone who was the latter. Is he that?”

“Yes, he is. Stuart wouldn’t be upset by our match,” Diana said but then frowned. “I want you to know I will always love your son.”

Westcott reached over and squeezed her hand. “Of course, you will, but that doesn’t mean you need to live the rest of your life mourning him. I have two more questions for you. Do you love this Mr. Devons? Are you happy?”

“I do, and I am.”

Her father-in-law nodded. “Then, when I meet with Mr. Devons, he will be given my blessing because my duty to my son is to make sure you are happy.”

Diana’s eyes watered. “Thank you.”

*

Sebastian laughed at something Lord Shipley said, smacking him on the back.

The Den was packed. He’d slowly started to step back from the club, but tonight, he was playing host. Celeste had the night off.

He grinned at one of the patrons while he silently admitted to himself that he would miss this.

This business had been his everything. He’d poured all his blood and sweat into it, and deep down, he knew it would hurt him when he let it go.

Still, he was determined to walk away because he wanted Diana more.

She was proper and the mother of a duke.

It would destroy him if she ever felt shame or resentment from something his actions caused.

He pushed the dark thoughts from his mind. Getting rid of the club was a good thing, he insisted to himself. Sebastian joined Malcolm, who stood leaning against a wall, drinking a brandy. “I thought the role of host was to engage.”

His brother rolled his eyes. “I cater to these fools in my own way.”

“By lording over them,” he said dryly.

They both laughed. Loud, angry footsteps struck the ground, and Sebastian turned to see who was barreling down on them. An enraged Tremont stopped in front of him.

“You will turn her into a disgrace!”

Diana had shared with him that Tremont confessed to the letter.

He’d been livid. She’d made him promise he wouldn’t spend his time worrying about the man or seeking out revenge.

With that in mind, Sebastian fixed him with a cool menacing stare.

“Leave, Lord Tremont. You are lucky that is all I have to say to you.”

“Your union will bring her and her son nothing but shame.”

There was only so much a man could take.

Sebastian grabbed him by the cravat and pulled him up, so they were face to face.

“The only thing stopping me from destroying you, Tremont, is my promise to Diana. Her kind heart is what allows you to walk away from everything you have done without any form of punishment.”

Tremont struggled to get out of his grasp as Sebastian held tight, wanting this man to know who had the power between the two of them. He leaned in so only the wiggling lord could hear him. “Had you succeeded with your trick, make no mistake, I would have made sure your union with her ended.”

Sebastian’s grab on his cravat tightened. His brother said, “Sebastian, you need to release him.”

Tremont started to choke, and he still didn’t let him go. He glared at him and whispered, “And it wouldn’t have been by divorce or annulment.”

Sebastian’s hand finally released its hold, sending Tremont staggering backward and crashing into a table and chairs.

They were on the side of the main hall so most had missed the commotion up until his fall.

Now the room had grown deafeningly quiet.

Malcolm grabbed the angry lord and pulled him up by his arms. “Enough brandy for you, Tremont. Our staff will escort you out.”

Tremont yanked away from Malcolm while glaring at Sebastian. “Don’t bother. I can see my way out.”

Sebastian watched him stalk out of the hall and into the night. The room was still silent. He clapped. “A free round on us tonight, gentlemen.”

Loud cheers erupted in the room and any scene was quickly forgotten. The dramatic showdown may be over, but Tremont’s words lingered with him. He vowed that he would do everything in his power to protect Diana and Robert’s social standing.

The next day, Sebastian waited in the Duke of Wescott’s study. He paced back and forth. Sebastian reminded himself he didn’t need his approval, but he still wanted it for Diana’s sake. She had a great affection for the duke, and the man was Robert’s grandfather.

The door opened, and the duke walked in.

He was a formidable presence and looked nothing like his son.

He nodded to Sebastian and indicated for him to sit in the chair across from his desk.

Sebastian took a seat and studied the man whose son married Diana.

There was a hardness to Wescott, making him wonder why Diana cared for him so much.

“How can I help you, Mr. Devons?” he asked.

Sebastian considered what his next words should be. He could tell Wescott he had enough money that Diana would never want for anything, or he could explain his yearly income. He sensed the duke would care about none of that. Instead, Sebastian spoke from his heart.

“I’m here to ask for your blessing to marry Lady Hensley. I love her.”

Amusement twinkled in the duke’s eyes, transforming his face. He leaned back in his chair. “Will you make her and Robert happy?”

This was the question that mattered to the duke the most, Sebastian realized. He nodded. “I will try every day to make sure she and Robert are happy. It will be my greatest honor and duty.”

He smiled. “My son, when he was very sick, told me that was all he wanted for Diana and Robert. If you can do that, you and I will get along well.”

Relief coursed through him. “Thank you. I also plan to step away from some of my businesses that may not be acceptable for Lady Hensley’s social standing.”

The duke sighed. “I’m not worried about that. The world is changing, Devons. No matter how many of my titled friends dislike it, what was once unacceptable is becoming tolerable.”

The words shocked Sebastian, but he did want the duke to understand that he took Diana’s reputation seriously. “Still, I will do everything I can to make sure that Diana’s social standing isn’t impacted by our marriage.”

“Do not fret, Mr. Devons. The ton adores a love match. How about a drink to celebrate?” he asked, as he pulled a cord, summoning a servant.