Page 100 of A Wanton Adventure
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 inthe 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.”
