Page 102 of A Wanton Adventure
Laughter escaped Diana at the absurd statement. She did not incite or cause trouble. Proper ladies didn’t do that. Sebastian smirked at her, amused. “You really don’t see it, but I do. You are standing up for me and thumbing your nose at society.”
“Hmm…perhaps I am. No one should tell the Historical Society for Female Curators who they can partner with.”
Silence fell between them, but eventually Diana said, “I wanted to apologize for my harsh words at the theater.”
He shook his head. “You were right. I’m not seeing Lilah. It was a bad choice. One of many I have been making of late.”
Diana had the desire to ask more but was interrupted when Esme asked, “Do you think they are here for the talk or because of the awful article?”
Lisbeth joined them, rolling her eyes. “What do you think? The column was popular but not that popular. They are here to gossip.”
Addie appeared. “Are we ready?”
Diana glanced at Sebastian. Her heart did somersaults. The man was still so handsome. Standing this close to him, she had the desire to touch him. He smiled at her. The connection that she’d been trying to convince herself only existed on the trip bounced back and forth between them. Did he not feel it?
Diana nodded, and Addie motioned for everyone to start moving down the stairs. As they entered the large exhibit room, the buzz of chattering stopped. Diana tilted her chin up. She wouldn’t let society dictate what became of her, Sebastian, or the club. She glanced around and was shocked that there were as many men as ladies.
Her eyes narrowed on a few who were members of the London Society of Antiquaries. In a far back corner, she spotted Lord Hawley. She turned to tell Addie, but she was already standing at the front of the room. She seemed oblivious to her husband’s presence.
Nerves filled Diana, but as she looked closer, she realized more than a third of the room contained people that Diana, Sebastian, or the club would call friends or family. Their last-minute request for support hadn’t gone unanswered. As she and Sebastian reached the front of the room, her eyes landed on others whose faces revealed disdain and contempt. What was it about London society that seemed to make lords and ladies thrive off cruelty?
Addie smiled at the crowd. “Thank you all for coming. Today, we will be talking about a leisure cruise Lady Hensley and Mr. Devons took. The Historical Society for Female Curators is currently working with the passenger vessel company to design a grand tour for women.”
“Do you think that is the best idea with the existing reputation of your club?” a man asked.
Addie smiled wider. “I don’t know what you mean. Now—”
“Are you planning to pretend you haven’t seen the article?” Lady Dessup snickered from her chair. The crowd laughed.
Diana tilted her chin up, unwilling to allow this. “We have reviewed the article and the highly inaccurate statements in it. The board of this club has worked hard over the last few months to get the Historical Society for Female Curators off the ground. Mr. Devons has been by our side the whole way. The writers and source of that article can write as much inflammatory drivel as they like, but I challenge anyone in this room to point to anything factual. Additionally, I would ask that you judge us on what we provide, not speculation.”
“Then partner with less unseemly characters,” a man taunted from the back of the room.
Sebastian appeared prepared to take over, but Diana stopped him with her hand. “I don’t know what you mean, sir. I once read that the measure of a man is defined by his actions and based on that belief, I must say there is no finer of a man than Mr. Devons. He has been an ideal partner and treats our club and board members with a level of respect you are lacking.”
The room exploded into laughter. Diana grinned and looked at Sebastian. Shock flickered across his face. Diana wondered if it was because she’d used the words from his pocket watch. Their eyes held each other’s for a moment but then Sebastian replaced his shock with a smile. He looked out into the crowd. “It seems today Lady Hensley will be my champion.”
More than half the room applauded. Sebastian continued. “I’m honored. I hold her in the highest regard. I would ask you to allow this club to get its bearings and then decide if it should exist or not. Do this not based on gossip but on the value and enjoyment of what they provide.”
More applause echoed through the room. As the room became quiet, Addie asked, “If there aren’t any other questions, we shall continue with our actual talk about Lady Hensley and Mr. Devons’s leisure cruise.”
“I have one,” a man said from the back of the room.
“That is the vice president of the London Society of Antiquaries,” Sarah whispered to Diana. She would know as her father was the president.
Addie smiled at him. “Yes, what is it?”
“What is the purpose of this club? A club for antiquities already exists. Why do we need another one?”
Addie frowned at him. “Let’s discuss the leisure cruise. Afterward, our first exhibit will be available.”
“I agree with Harston. Why do women need an antiquities club when they can attend the exhibits put on by the London Society of Antiquaries?” another man yelled from the back.
“Not all women only want to attend exhibits. Some of us want to be hands-on in the study of history and artifacts,” Sarah said.
The room grew silent. Harston added, “It isn’t right, or the way things should be done.”
Annoyance flashed across Addie’s face. Before she could say anything, her husband, Lord Hawley, of all people, said, “Harston, one would think you are afraid of what their club might accomplish.”
