Page 92 of A Wanton Adventure
Sebastian laughed. “Brother, be careful. People might start to think you have a heart under your stuffy exterior.”
“He has the biggest heart hidden behind all his arrogance,” his wife said impishly.
Malcolm glowered at her, and she giggled loudly. Sebastian kissed her cheek and looked around. “Where are Penelope and the twins?”
“They are with their governess, being horribly punished,” his brother said ruthlessly.
Sebastian’s brows shot up in disbelief. “Truly?”
Sophia rolled her eyes. “If exploring the gardens with a basket of treats is a horrible punishment. That was your brother’s idea of making sure they were disciplined for putting a hole in the wall at the foot of the stairs.”
Some things didn’t change. “Do I want the details?”
“Penelope taught them how to slide down the stairs on a pillow,” Sophia said, unperturbed.
Chuckles erupted from Sebastian. “Pen might be my favorite of your children.”
Malcolm rolled his eyes. “Sit. Join us. You and Lady Hensley are the talk of the town. You are supposed to host a lecture upon your return for the Historical Society for Female Curators.”
Sebastian took a seat across from Sophia. “Am I?”
His brother and sister-in-law laughed at his question. He needed to visit Seely House and speak with Addie and the other board members. Perhaps, he would do that tomorrow. After breakfast, he planned to head to his townhouse and bathe, then call on Diana. He didn’t want to wait any longer to understand where they stood.
“Even the paper today is talking about you and Lady Hensley.”
“What are they saying?” he asked, sure it was some ridiculous drivel.
“All the papers are suggesting the same thing: send a rogue and the most proper lady in all of London abroad, and they will create the best grand tour of the decade.”
Sebastian smiled, surprised it wasn’t more salacious. “For once, the gossip sheets don’t have something shocking to say.”
His sister-in-law frowned. “What would they say? Lady Hensley’s proper reputation could never be tarnished. She is almost a symbol to London society regarding how a lady should act. Also, everyone is all a titter because Lord Tremont followedher there. They keep saying a betrothal is imminent. Was his arrival as romantic as speculated?”
Sebastian felt as if the air had been knocked out of him. That couldn’t be. Had his letter to her meant nothing? The crushing weight on his heart nearly undid him. He forced himself to smile. “Is he courting her?”
“Yes, they have been inseparable at the few balls and events that have been hosted since her return.”
Sebastian couldn’t believe it. He’d lost her to a man she held no desire for. Diana chose Tremont because he was a lord. He rose, his chair loudly sliding across the floor.
“I need to go the Den.”
“The club can wait,” Malcolm said, looking at him with concern.
Sebastian shook his head. “I only planned on stopping by briefly.”
Sophia frowned. “Is something wrong?”
He needed to calm down. He forced another smile, hoping to ease their worry. “I’m fine. Merely anxious to resume life as it was.”
Sebastian stumbled out of his brother’s home. He had his answer about Diana. He would not dwell on it, he told himself. She made her choice, and he would go back to his life. A life enjoyed immensely before his entanglement with the most proper lady in London. He scoffed. A lady who was so much more complicated than what people saw. He’d once loved that about her, but right now, he wished she was not nearly as interesting.
Later in the evening, Sebastian sat in his office at the Den, drunk. He flipped his pocket watch open and closed. He’d put on a good show at the club tonight, laughing, joking, and entertaining all the lords with his stories about his and Diana’sadventures. Diana’s reputation was so pristine that no one had considered anything occurred between them.
Tossing the watch on his desk, he grabbed his brandy and took a large drink, savoring how it burned going down his throat. They’d all laughed about Tremont, an unadventurous sort, venturing so far away to see the woman he wanted to marry. Sebastian grinned through it all and even joked about Tremont being out of place in Livorno. In truth, that wasn’t the case. He fit in fine with the rest of the lords and ladies touring the area.
A knock on the door interrupted his brooding thoughts. His butler Donahue entered. “Mr. Devons, there is a lady here who wants to speak with you.”
Sebastian slammed his drink on the table and staggered to his feet. Diana had heard he was here. She’d come. “Let her in.”
