Page 108 of A Wanton Adventure
He and Diana had discussed his missive before she left his townhouse. It was clear someone had tried to keep them apart. Sebastian suspected Tremont. Diana had made him promise not to confront the man. Diana wanted to speak with him and her mother. For now, Sebastian agreed to her request.
“Malcolm said you would never wed,” Penelope said. Sometimes, she called his brother and Sophia their names and sometimes referred to them as Mother and Father. She wasn’t born to them, but they loved her as if she was.
Sebastian smiled at his brother. “Well, he is wrong.”
“That was before he left for his trip and fell in love with the most proper lady in all of London,” Sophia said, sighing dreamily.
He and Malcolm rolled their eyes at her dramatics. She continued, “We must write to your mother. She will want to return to meet Lady Hensley as soon as possible.”
Sebastian agreed and had no doubt his mother would adore Diana. She didn’t come to London often because she spent most of her time traveling, and she hated the gossip her presence stirred up. Even after two decades, London still liked to talk about how his mother had lived in scandal with his father.
Sebastian couldn’t control the talk about his mother or his unconventional upbringing but was already making plans to sever any other ties that could impact Diana or Robert’s standing in society.
“I do have upsetting news,” he said to Malcolm.
Everyone at the table stared at him curiously. Malcolm turned to Penelope. “Pen, leave us for a bit.”
“I want to know the secret,” the girl insisted.
“Penelope,” Sophia said.
The girl slid her chair back dramatically. “I’m not allowed to hear anything.”
She stomped off in a huff. Malcolm and Sophia sighed. Sebastian laughed. “It’s about the Den. I want to sell my percentage of the business.”
No one said a word, and Sebastian sensed he shocked them. Finally, Malcolm said, “Why?”
“She is the mother of a soon-to-be duke. The least I can do is try to be more respectable. I’m not sure the owner of a gentlemen’s club will ever be that.”
His brother frowned. “It’s the most successful club in all of London. Has she asked you to do this? If she has—”
Sebastian held up a hand. “No. She would never. This is my choice. There are things I can’t change about myself, and she will have to endure them, but I can step away from the club.”
“Maybe you should ask her first,” Sophia said.
“No. I want to do this for her. I don’t want her to feel as if she forced me to make a decision.”
Malcolm rose and poured himself a brandy. Sophia frowned at him. “Malcolm, it is early.”
He plopped back down in his chair. “Sorry. My brother is talking about giving up his business that he built from nothing. That I built with him.”
“I love her more than I care about our business. I don’t want to argue about this. I want your help to find a new partner in the Den who can buy me out,” Sebastian stated.
Malcolm took a large gulp of his brandy. “If that is what you want, after the Ball of Sin, I will put some feelers out.”
Sebastian nodded. “Thank you. I think I will also ask Celeste to take over as host for the Ball of Sin this year.”
His brother sulkily shook his head. “If that is what you wish.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Are you readyfor 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.
