Page 51 of A Wanton Adventure
Surly Devons grunted and Diana rolled her eyes, exasperated with the man.
Costa didn’t seem to notice and continued, “I know I’m biased, as I was raised here, but I have traveled the world, and there is no place like Porto.”
Diana nodded. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
Devons gave his head a jerk, agreeing with them. Costa beamed, delighted they were enjoying themselves. “I heard Count Messina is traveling with you to Malaga.”
“Yes. He mentioned he has business,” Diana said.
Costa chuckled. “He has business everywhere. He deals in exports and imports of goods when he is not escorting the princess.”
Diana’s eyes widened, and her gaze swung to Devons before turning back to Costa. “Really? What type of goods?”
“Antiquities.”
“Of course,” Devons muttered.
Her eyes flicked to him, and she frowned. The news had only made him surlier. Diana smiled at Costa. “Thank you so much for the information.”
Costa nodded and held his arm out. “We should return. We will be leaving soon for your ship.”
Diana looked behind her and saw Devons strolling along with them. She sighed and glanced away. She’d so enjoyed her time with him and hoped this grumpiness was momentary.
*
Sebastian made hisway to the main saloon, where everyone was gathered for after-dinner games and drinks. In some ways, being on theSS Larkreminded him of the Den, except here, he didn’t play the part of host, and shockingly, he didn’t miss it. Perhaps because this wasn’t his ship. He’d invested a monumental amount of time into making the Den a success because it was his.
He perused the room and found both Messina and Monroe keeping Diana company. Didn’t at least Monroe have work to do? Sebastian gave Diana space, not wanting to interfere in her choices. In truth, he didn’t like either one of them. He’d thought long and hard about his own feelings for Diana. Not feelings, hereminded himself, but attraction. He’d been tempted more than once to pursue her.
But a fling with Diana wouldn’t end well. They had too many family members and friends between them. She was also his neighbor. And even more concerning to Sebastian, he could damage her reputation. Even though she hated it, she was highly respected within society, probably more than any other woman he associated with. This trip was a brief adventure into the risqué for her, unlike Sebastian, who operated in vice every day. If a hint that they were intimate got out, it would be scandalous.
Hell, when they’d departed on this ship, no one had suspected such a thing could happen because she was perceived as the epitome of properness. He would not be the cause of gossip about her. No, she didn’t need that. Nor did the club that she and Addie were standing up for.
He glanced at her, reaffirming to himself that there would be no tryst or liaison between them. Messina or Monroe would be perfect. She could have a flirtation or something else and return to England with society being none the wiser. He simply had to move past his attraction to the lady. It was the only option.
He took a big gulp of his brandy, annoyed that he felt the desire to go to her. To sit with her. To talk with her. And that terrified him more than the lust coursing through him because it meant he liked her. Sebastian assured himself that it was only because they were stuck on this ship together that he had such thoughts.
She was the mother of a soon-to-be duke. Yes, she was a lady so far out of his league when it came to a real courtship that he couldn’t allow himself to consider such an option. He’d been a witness to his own parents’ scandalous life. He would never put himself in a similar situation.
As much as he admired her and truly considered her a friend, he needed, for now, to keep her at arm’s length. Perhaps, hewould find a woman to spend time with during their stay in Malaga that would cure him of his outrageous thoughts.
“You have been rather quiet tonight, Devons,” Haggerty interrupted.
“Have I been?”
Haggerty chuckled. “I told Lady Hensley that her club can display two of the manuscripts.”
“Well done, Haggerty.”
“Do you think it odd that Lady Hensley was picked to be the face of this new club? I have seen her at other events, and I would have never guessed she had interest in such a lofty plan.”
Devons suspected many people underestimated what Diana was capable of, including herself. But he also believed the Diana who left on theSS Larkwouldn’t be the same one when she returned to London.
“I can’t imagine anyone else fulfilling the role.”
Haggerty looked at Diana and nodded. “Now that I have become acquainted with her, I think you are quite right.”
Devons would keep her at arm’s length, but he would support her and the club. He’d not only felt as if he was championing the club for Addie but now also for Diana.
