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D iana walked with Arthur, the Earl of Tremont, along a pathway in Hyde Park as Robert raced ahead chasing squirrels. His governess, Miss Melanie, the saint she was, kept up with him. She smiled as he looked over his shoulder at Miss Melanie, grinning mischievously.

“It’s a beautiful day to take such a charming lady for a walk,” Arthur said.

They had long ago agreed to do away with formality when it was just the two of them.

He’d become a dear friend as she dealt with the impacts of losing Stuart.

In truth, before her husband’s passing, Diana doubted she’d spoken more than a few words to Arthur, but death, she supposed, brought people together.

He stopped suddenly. Diana followed suit. Robert and Miss Melanie darted off to explore a wooded area.

Turning back to Arthur, she asked, “Is everything all right?”

He nodded and motioned to a bench. “Would you please join me?”

Diana frowned, perplexed by his actions. What she enjoyed so much about Arthur was how at ease they were with one another. He seemed nervous, making her anxious. Still, she sat, and he joined her.

“Diana—”

“Mummy, look at this beetle,” Robert said, now only a few feet away from them.

She’d been studying Arthur so intently she didn’t realize he’d come to see them. She smiled patiently, leaning forward to examine the insect in his hand. It was a tiny thing, but Robert grinned proudly.

“It’s lovely.”

“Yes, I agree,” Arthur said impatiently. He waved Miss Melanie over. “Can you please take him to play? I need a moment of his mother’s time.”

Robert’s excitement diminished. Miss Melanie ushered him away, and Diana turned back to Arthur with a frown. He held up his hands. “I’m sorry. I have been building up the courage to speak with you for weeks, or I wouldn’t be so dismissive of the boy.”

What was he going on about? She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

He took a deep breath and pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket. Horror filled her as he showed it to her. It was the caricature of the uneventful lady. What was he doing with it?

“Diana, I admire you for all your wonderful qualities. You are a virtuous lady. Recently, I came across this article, and it only increased my admiration for you because you personify every trait that keeps society together. I shall read it to you.”

“No! Please don’t,” Diana interrupted him.

The harshness of her tone caused Arthur to jerk back. She could not sit here and listen to him recite the list she knew so well. A list that annoyed her. She took a deep breath and forced herself to smile. “I have seen the article.”

A smile appeared on his face, pleased. “I imagine you have discerned the similarities.”

She suppressed the urge to rail at him that she was so much more than those few qualities. Her sister was correct. No lady should be put in such simple boxes.

“Well, I’m glad we are in agreement.”

They weren’t, but Diana said nothing.

He continued. “These last few months have been nothing short of perfect. We have come to know each other so well. Reading the article heightened my awareness of all your exemplary traits.”

Arthur was going to propose! Diana blinked rapidly at him, willing him not to. The man just described her as the very thing she disliked. He sat up straighter and took her hand. “I think a match between us would be most beneficial. Lady Hensley—”

“I’m not ready.”

He went rigid, turning bright red. Diana gasped, horror filling her that she was so blunt. “It isn’t that I don’t want to ever marry again, but I need more time.”

Arthur took a deep breath as if composing himself. He smiled tightly. “I didn’t mean to rush you. Still, I would be honored if you would consider me when you are ready.”

“Of course, I would,” she said, doing her best to conceal how overwhelmed she felt.

“You are the epitome of what a lady should aspire to be. Perfect in bearing, grace, and above reproach.”

Diana wanted to scream that she was more than those qualities.

Still, she remained quiet. She’d been raised to be the ideal lady and had excelled in her role.

Her eyes roamed over him. Was she being unreasonable?

Arthur was perfectly suitable and even handsome.

He was tall, slender, with brown hair. Why did she feel like something was missing?

Perhaps because he was so different from Stuart in appearance and personality.

Stuart was a short, larger man who, in all honesty, had won her heart over time.

Theirs had not been a love match at first, but his gentleness, kindness, and interest in her thoughts made her fall for him.

Diana was doubtful she would ever feel such devotion again.

Still, shouldn’t she feel something for Arthur?

At least desire? Perhaps she was incapable of feeling such passion for another.

Liar. Liar. An infuriating man and his words flashed in her mind. Is this what you want, my lady? A tryst in a darkened corner.

She flushed, horrified she had a respectable man on the verge of proposing, and her mind was fixated on a rogue who operated a scandalous club. What was she doing?

Arthur took her hand. “Just know when you are ready, I’m here.”

“You have my word. You are the first person I would consider,” Diana lied.

Later that evening, Diana sat in her drawing room, turning the message over in her hand.

Yes, if she weren’t intrigued before, which she was, Diana was now.

The missive requested that Diana meet with Lady Hawley at Seely House in three days to learn about an exciting new venture.

Seely House was in the northwest area of Mayfair near Diana’s home.

The peculiar part was the building had been empty for years.

She should send a response stating she couldn’t attend.

Diana should be content with her life and accept Arthur’s proposal, but part of her vehemently refused the idea.

She wanted to be more than the traits the awful article listed.

Was it ludicrous that she hoped whatever Lady Hawley was proposing would help her prove she was more than the caricature?

She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out her copy of the annoying article.

She unfolded it and frowned at the caricature.

Arthur suggested it was her to perfection, but she disagreed.

Diana balled the paper up in her hand. No longer would she allow herself to be so easily defined.

She tossed it into the fire. It was time to try new things, starting with exploring Lady Hawley’s venture.

*

“Have you lost your mind, Addie?” Devons asked his dear friend as he sat in her drawing room.

The voluptuous beauty rolled her eyes. “I’m serious.”

“What do you know about artifacts or ancient texts?”

She rose from her chair and grabbed the brandy decanter, pouring him more before she added some to her glass. “I know enough, and what I don’t know, I plan to have the best minds in England help me.”

He raised a skeptical brow at her as she sat back down. She ignored it and continued, “Did you know the Duchess of Lusby, prior to her wedding, spent four years working at ancient sites cataloging artifacts.”

“She’s been married for at least a decade,” he reminded her.

“Or that Sarah Martin, the daughter of the President of the London Society of Antiquaries, applied five times to be admitted to her father’s club and was turned down each time. Her father is the president!”

“It’s a men’s-only club. I have no problem with that. I, too, own a men’s only establishment.”

She frowned at him disapprovingly. “Yes, but you employ women and hold events that ladies can attend.”

“If you are asking if I’m some type of secret advocate of women’s rights, I will be quite frank, it isn’t something I spend much time thinking about.”

“You are more of a supporter than you realize. I wouldn’t be meeting with you if I thought otherwise. I need your help and involvement.”

His eyes narrowed. Addie was a shrewd lady, and Sebastian didn’t doubt there was a reason she wanted his participation. “What part am I to play in this escapade?”

She took a sip of her drink. “You are right to suspect I have hidden motives.”

Sebastian snorted. Addie always had an agenda. She appeared carefree to all of London, but he’d known her way too long to believe the facade she presented to society. He’d seen the scandal sheets. He knew she was hurting because of what happened between Eleanor and Lord Hawley.

“Pretty brazen of you to take on his club.”

Sebastian thought she would feign ignorance. She twirled her brandy glass silently but finally looked up. “He took Eleanor away from me. My dearest friend.”

He pressed his lips together, knowing he couldn’t do anything to prevent his friend’s pain. Still, this was a complex venture and would require a great deal of work. He needed to know more.

“What is my part?”

She took a deep breath. “My goal is to have the entire club managed by a board of women. The problem with such an initiative is anything we own is the property of our spouses or guardians. I want to make sure they do not have the ability to gain control over what we build. I need you to be the sole owner and then we will draft up a trust, giving overall management to the board.”

He was shocked. Sebastian and Addie were close friends, but he didn’t realize she trusted him that much. He was honored, to be honest. A frown marred his face. “Do you suspect your husband would take this venture from you?”

She smiled sadly, and Sebastian had the urge to pummel Lord Hawley. “I don’t, but I also never believed he would involve himself with someone so close to me. It is merely a precaution to protect not only me but the other ladies as well. Would you like to know what you will gain from this?”

Sebastian nodded.

Addie continued, “Prior to investing or splitting profits among the group, we would be willing to give you forty percent of all revenue generated.”

Addie really wanted this, Sebastian realized. She was being far too accommodating. He took a sip of a drink. “What will the payout be for the board members?”

“For two years, we will reinvest any revenue back into the club and then, following that, split any profits equally among the board.”

Sebastian was silent. He pulled his watch out and read the text from his father before flipping the cases open and closed as he pondered Addie’s words. Eventually, he said. “I will forgo any revenue for the first two years and take an equal share with the board.”

Addie beamed. “And that is why you are the only man I would trust in this venture. You, Sebastian Devons, are a decent man. A true champion for women.”

He ignored her statement, not wanting to argue with her, and asked, “What will the name of this club be?”

“The Historical Society for Female Curators.”

“Do you have the capital to start this?”

Addie grinned. “Some, but I also have an idea. I need your help with that, too. It is the bigger request.”

An hour later, Sebastian sat in his carriage, still incredulous Addie convinced him to agree to her outlandish scheme.

He wasn’t sure if it was because he had Malcolm’s voice in his head saying he needed to do something besides spend all his time at the Den or he wanted to help his friend pull off the impossible.

Regardless, he was committed now. He would need to see if Celeste would play host more than the one night a week she’d agreed to.

Though it made him nervous to be away from the Den for so long, Sebastian completely trusted that Malcolm, Miller, and Celeste would be fine for two months.

Malcolm was right. He was stuck in a rut.

He needed this venture even if he still thought it was crazy.

What did he have to lose? He couldn’t think of anything. Sebastian would spend two months touring far-flung lands with his good friend and then watch a group of ladies shake society up a bit.