Page 6

D iana rolled her eyes at her Aunt Winifred as they made their way through the exhibits.

“It’s an innocent question. Why is it acceptable to look at all these naked statues, but women must have layers and layers of clothing? Goodness, it’s so hot.”

Diana slowed and glanced sideways at her aunt. “It isn’t the same.”

Her aunt snorted. “When I’m in the country, I often go without unnecessary undergarments.”

A smile tugged at Diana’s lips. “Well, thank you for wearing all the proper garments today.”

“You are most welcome.”

Diana shook her head and continued. She’d received a message from Lady Hawley that she had an exciting venture to discuss with Diana, but first, she wanted her to visit the London Society of Antiquaries grand hall, which housed hundreds of artifacts and antiquities.

The lady had finished the missive, explaining she would be in touch soon.

Diana would be lying if she said she wasn’t intrigued.

Still, most of the exhibits appeared dreadfully dull.

She leaned in to study a manuscript written in Latin. The volume was stunning, even without her understanding the words, but she suspected the value was derived from the text. She wished there was a translation.

“Of everything you could find fascinating, you’re looking at an old piece of parchment,” her aunt complained, disappointed.

“What should I be looking at?”

Aunt Winifred moved closer and said, “The naked statues, of course.”

Diana flushed. Her aunt winked at her before her eyes darted behind her. “Or maybe that man. He’s so wickedly handsome. And the stories they tell about him are delicious.”

For some reason, Diana suspected her aunt was talking about Sebastian Devons.

She turned and saw him standing by another exhibit, laughing with the Marquess of Derry, his half-brother.

They were once considered something of a scandalous family.

Their father had chosen to live openly with his mistress, Devons’s mother, while the current marquess’s mother lived abroad.

Studying them both, Diana didn’t sense any animosity between the brothers.

If she remembered correctly, Sebastian Devons was the oldest. He didn’t seem bothered that his younger brother held the family title.

She wondered what his life was like growing up.

How did that shape the man rumored to be one of the biggest rakes in London?

She’d enjoyed watching him play ball with Robert yesterday.

His enthusiasm to engage with her son had seemed so sincere.

Her son had gone to bed delighted their neighbor was now their friend.

Diana flushed, still perplexed by the man’s comments over her hair.

Still, she couldn’t be too upset. She had spied on him.

Diana studied him. He was tall and much broader than most of the men in the room. Even without the height, he would have stood out with his square jaw and dark hair.

“You find him attractive, too,” her aunt said before guffawing.

The sound caused both the marquess and Mr. Devons to turn their way. Her eyes met his. He nodded, and she smiled in return, before turning back to Aunt Winifred.

“You are causing a scene.”

“I’m an old lady, and I’m allowed to.”

Diana shook her head. “You are only fifty-two.”

“One foot in the grave.”

How was her aunt so different from her mother?

They had the same parents. Diana didn’t understand it and once asked Aunt Winifred that very question.

She’d said Diana’s mother was her parents’ favorite.

Aunt Winifred was mostly an afterthought to their mother and father, spending most of her childhood with distant relatives.

Once she became an adult, she was married off.

After her wedding, Aunt Winifred happily moved overseas with her husband and stayed there until he passed away two years ago.

Her aunt had reached out to her, Clara, and Henry upon her return to England last year. Initially, they’d all been suspicious of her, but she’d gradually won them all over. Now, Diana couldn’t fathom her aunt not in her life.

“I think he is coming over here,” her aunt whispered excitedly.

Diana spotted him making his way to them and turned, not wanting him to think she was watching him.

Her eyes landed on a young woman furiously scribbling on a pad as she observed a Grecian statue.

Opposed to the rest of the visitors, who seemed to be there to be seen and socialize, the woman was working. Diana wondered what she was doing.

“Lady Hensley, I didn’t know you were a lover of history,” Devons said, bowing before her.

Diana took a deep breath and turned. “The same could be said about you, Mr. Devons.”

He grimaced. “Please, just Devons is fine.”

She sighed, and he chuckled. It was a deep, rich, alluring sound. “I’m not a formal man.”

She smiled. “Very well.”

“Diana, you must introduce me to your friend,” her aunt said, even though she knew very well who he was.

Diana stopped herself from rolling her eyes. “Devons, please meet my aunt, Lady Clark.”

Devons bowed again. “It’s nice to meet such a lovely lady.”

Aunt Winifred tittered. “Oh, you are delightful.”

He winked at her, and her aunt grinned as if she’d received a puppy. She fanned herself and turned to Diana. “I think I will get some punch. Would you like some?”

“I will go with you.”

Aunt Winifred shook her head. “No. Stay and talk.”

Her aunt smiled impishly at her and left. Diana frowned at her retreating figure. What was she up to?

“You didn’t answer my question. What brings you here?” Devons asked with a smile.

“A friend recommended I attend.”

He looked at her with a wicked grin. “A gentleman?”

She blushed, which he seemed to take as confirmation. She wasn’t outraged by his improper question. She didn’t know why because they barely knew each other, but a sense of familiarity and ease seemed to exist between them.

“He should have escorted you.”

Not wanting him to get the wrong impression, she said, “A lady friend. I was hoping she would be here.”

Just then, they were interrupted by Lady Wesley and Lady Mattle. “Lady Hensley, it’s so lovely to see you.”

Diana forced herself to smile even though she wasn’t fond of Lady Wesley.

The lady was beautiful, but she’d always struck Diana as intentionally mean.

Devons stiffened next to her. Lady Wesley’s eyes raked over him as if she knew him far better than she should.

Diana flushed at the obscene perusal, preparing to leave.

Devons’s bearing turned cold, and he appeared unaffected by her stare except for the tightening of his jaw.

Something was amiss, but she didn’t know what.

The lady glanced between her and Devons, her smirk turning colder the longer she studied them.

“I see Lady Hensley found you. I recommended she spend time with you.”

His hard facade cracked for a moment, and he frowned at Diana. She looked back at him, confused. What was Lady Wesley talking about?

“She asked me about you. I told her we were on a little break. That you were wonderful to have fun with but to make sure you understood your place.”

Diana gasped. “Lady Wesley!”

She had no idea what the viper was up to. She’d never talked to her about Devons. In all honesty, she rarely spoke with the lady.

“Don’t be shy, Diana,” the lady said, winking at her as if they were friends.

Devons’s eyes darted between the ladies, and he emanated with anger.

“Devons—”

“If you will excuse me,” Devons said before Diana could deny the lady’s words.

He walked away as if he had no worries, but Diana sensed it was a show. She wasn’t sure what Lady Wesley was up to, but the woman had used her. Fury swelled in her. “How dare you! We are not friends, nor would I be friends with someone who treats others in such a way.”

The lady’s eyes raked over her. “Devons is mine.”

Had the lady insinuated they were friends to Devons so he wouldn’t speak to Diana? And what must he think of Lady Wesley that she was confident he would behave that way? A dark laugh escaped Diana, drawing stares their way. “I hope he has enough sense to choose better.”

She spun on her heels and headed in the same direction as Devons.

Diana needed to explain she was not friends with Lady Wesley, and they’d never discussed him.

She flushed. He couldn’t think she’d planned to proposition him.

She was one of the uneventful ladies, the moral backbone of society.

She quickly made her way down the hallway she saw him take.

She didn’t know what she would say to him but she—

Diana let out a gasp as strong arms from an alcove grabbed her and pulled her against the wall. Her eyes widened in alarm as she stared up at Devons. He looked furious as his black eyes assessed her. She flushed.

“So, you were talking with Lady Wesley about me?”

Diana shook her head but froze as Devons leaned in and nuzzled her neck. Her stomach dipped. “Do you think of me when you’re alone?”

She felt his lips graze her neck, and Diana trembled, causing him to chuckle darkly. “Is this what you want, my lady? A tryst in a darkened corner?”

He nipped at her ear, and she let out a moan, shocking herself.

“Do you wish I would have taken you to bed that night all those years ago when I brought you home from the Den? Your husband wouldn’t have ever known.

What a charmed life that would have been.

Married to a soon-to-be duke and taking the King of the Den as your lover. ”

Devons’s last words chilled any desire racing through her body. She would have never betrayed Stuart. What was she doing? She was almost ready to submit to a man who thought she would betray the one person who had held her entire heart and still did. She pushed at his chest. “Release me.”