Page 31 of A Wanton Adventure
Diana’s eyes darted to Devons and saw he was already drinking a glass. Her brows drew together in confusion. “How long have you been here?”
He smiled wryly at her. “A bit. I hoped to speak with you tonight.”
She studied him, puzzled, and then turned back to Carlson. “Yes, that would be wonderful.”
“I shall return with your wine and the first course.”
Their table descended into silence, and eventually, Diana asked, “You mentioned that you would like to discuss something with me?”
Devons nodded before rolling his massive shoulders. He appeared nervous. Finally, he said, “I owe you an apology. I made some assumptions based on our interactions with Lady Wesley. I have since learned they were grossly inaccurate.”
Something about what he said annoyed her. What was he apologizing to her for? For kissing her? Or because he nowdecided she fell in the category of the morally upstanding ladies who would never dare to do anything improper? “What assumption was that? That I was lining you up to be my lover?”
His eyes widened at her blunt words. Carlson returned with wine and soup for each of them, stopping the conversation momentarily. Diana smiled at the steward, but when she turned back to Devons, she fixed him with a glare.
“Let’s be honest, Devons. You thought I was like any other lady you spend time with. And now you have decided for some reason I can’t be that type of woman, someone who does…well…”
“Wicked things,” he added, watching her in fascination.
What was the point she was trying to make? She should be happy that Devons realized she was a respectable lady, but it grated her. He tilted his head, still studying her, and slowly said, “I’m apologizing for assuming you view commoners the same way Lady Wesley did.”
“Oh.”
He leaned forward, his face filling with contrition. “And that my words about your husband hurt you so deeply. My innuendos were abominable.”
Diana took another sip and, perhaps because of the wine, confessed, “When my husband died, so many acquaintances acted as if I was lucky and could now find someone more physically to my liking. That is why your comments upset me so much. Stuart may not have been what was considered handsome to most, but, to me, there was no man more desirable than he.”
“I think your husband was a lucky man.”
Diana swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She would not cry in front of this man who recently had wreaked havoc on her emotions. “We were both lucky.”
“I’m truly sorry. My actions were caused by my own bitter thoughts and my own hurt.”
Devons had a broken heart, Diana realized. “Lady Wesley hurt you.”
He smirked. “I wouldn’t normally admit it, but yes, she did. I thought we would wed, and she corrected my assumption by marrying the Marquess of Wesley. While we had a grand time together, my background made me unacceptable as a husband.”
She almost placed her hand on his but refrained from doing so. Instead, she made a disgusted face. “That woman is a viper.”
A chortle escaped Devons, and Diana smiled at him. “You must know this. You couldn’t have really given your heart to such an awful lady. I refuse to believe you loved her.”
He took another drink and grimaced. “Perhaps I didn’t.”
Diana knew he believed he did. His heartbreak was written all over his face. This man, the king of one of London’s most scandalous clubs, had been laid low by love. Surprisingly, her heart ached for him.
“I’m only sharing this because I wanted to explain my behavior. I’m sorry for our previous interactions. I’ve been drowning my sorrows in vice, leading to poor choices. This includes making bad assumptions about proper widows that led me to believe they welcome my advances. Going forward, I promise to be the most behaved man on this ship. It is one of my goals for our trip.”
Why did his words fill her with disappointment? Still, it was for the best. Even if she wanted a tryst, Sebastian Devons was not the man to do it with, especially with him carrying around a broken heart. She glanced at him as he drank his soup. His large arms strained against his jacket, and his thick black hair fell over his forehead. No, the man sitting across from her was not who Diana should have on the top of her imaginary list for liaisons. He seemed altogether too much.
She sighed. “What a mess we are. You are suffering a heartbreak, and I am trying to figure out how to be less me.”
He frowned in confusion. “What does that mean?”
Carlson arrived at their table. “Lady Hensley and Mr. Devons, we have two more guests joining you. May I introduce Mr. Spoor and Mr. Haggerty?”
“Perhaps we can talk more after dinner,” Devons whispered.
She smiled.
