Page 114 of A Wanton Adventure
The whispers grew louder. He bowed before her. “Lady Hensley.”
Diana smirked at him. “Mr. Devons.”
“You look lovely, but you’ve broken the main rule of the night. You should be wearing a mask.”
“The King of the Den needs no mask so neither does the queen.”
It was true. He wore no mask and never did. It was his ball after all. His lips twitched at her confidence. He liked Diana like this. He arched a brow at her. Her tempting lips, painted red, smirked at him. “Am I not to be your queen?”
“You are the only woman who will ever be.”
A lady somewhere sighed, and Sebastian knew this night would be talked about for years. The night the most proper lady in all of London chose the King of the Den. He reached for her, pulling her to him. He leaned close to her ear. “What are you doing?”
She whispered back. “Malcolm said you were going to give this up for me. I wanted you to know that I choose you. All of you. Don’t sell this for me. Don’t be someone else.”
Sebastian’s eyes flicked to his brother who smirked back at him and shrugged. He turned back to her. “I wanted to limit the gossip I brought upon you.”
Diana shook her head. “Let them gossip.”
He laughed and someone in the crowd hollered, “What are they talking about?”
“No one can hear.”
Diana grinned up at him. “But if we are going to create a scandal, it should be a worthwhile one. Don’t you agree?”
He smiled wickedly at her, eliciting more sighs from the crowd. “What do you have in mind, Lady Hensley?”
She winked at him. “Well, you must kiss me like a man madly in love.”
Sebastian pulled her flush. “There is nothing I would like more.”
Their lips smashed together. He cupped the back of her head, kissing her as if only her mouth could sate his desires. And it was the truth, she was the only woman for him. He and all he hadwas hers. Applause thundered around them. Malcolm whistled loudly and yelled, “Ladies and gentlemen, in celebration of the King and Queen of the Den’s love, enjoy a free glass of champagne.”
They pulled apart, looking at each other, laughing. Sebastian shook his head. “You are insane.”
She frowned at him. “You are. How dare you think I would ever want you to change.”
Sebastian was a fool. He saw that now. “I apologize.”
Even though Sebastian had always taken the words in his pocket watch to heart, in this moment, he felt his father’s sage wisdom deep within his soul. Bloodlines, titles, and how one acquired wealth didn’t matter. What was important was how a man lived, how he loved, and how he treated others.
“I love you, Diana.”
Epilogue
Diana looked upas Addie tossed a paper on her desk at Seely House. Every London paper hinted that a great scandal occurred at the Ball of Sin, but none had shared what it was. Those who attended feared they would never be invited to one of the Den’s notorious balls again. While many whispered something had happened, no one dared to say that Diana had arrived maskless and kissed Sebastian in full view of the entire crush of people.
Addie grinned. “Thetonis dying to reveal what they know.”
She laughed. Honestly, if one looked close enough they would also see that each paper contained a betrothal announcement for Diana and Sebastian. It wasn’t a stretch to guess who the scandal was about.
Lisbeth entered the office. “It was all unneeded drama in my opinion.”
Diana rolled her eyes. The duchess was always so pragmatic.
“Admit it. It was rather romantic,” Addie insisted.
Lisbeth shrugged. “I suppose.”
