Page 57 of A Wanton Adventure
A smirk flitted across the count’s face. “If you say so. She seemed distracted by you today. When I—”
Sebastian’s face filled with fury and Messina didn’t finish his comment. Instead, he chuckled into his glass. “You are a foolish man.”
Chapter Seventeen
Diana strolled intothe main saloon, hoping to find a spot to read. The sun had only come up an hour prior, but she felt restless in her cabin. She entered the room and found Devons sitting in a wingback chair in the corner. He was reading a book and hadn’t seen her yet. She quietly turned to leave.
“Lady Hensley,” he said.
She closed her eyes, wishing she had been able to escape before he saw her. Diana took a deep breath and faced him. He was standing and, of course, made a dashing figure.
“Yes.”
An amused smile flickered across his handsome face. “Join me.”
“I would prefer to enjoy my morning. We’ve not been the best company for each other as of late.”
His smile vanished. Diana turned to leave, but Sebastian turned to one of the attendants and asked, “Could you please bring Lady Hensley tea?”
The attendant nodded. Diana frowned at the man who’d spent the last few days being a surly beast. Her proper upbringing prevented her from leaving. She made her way to the sitting area Devons was at and plopped down in the chair, feeling grumpy.
He sat. “Why am I always apologizing to you?”
“Perhaps because you are the moodiest man I have ever met. And men like to say women are irrational.”
A rich throaty laugh erupted from him. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling. She did love her friendship with Devons when they weren’t fighting. He smiled. “I’m sorry we haven’t spent as much time together the last few days.”
She shrugged. “You said we needed distance, and we couldn’t talk about certain things.”
Devons leaned forward, staring at her intently. “I only said we should stay away from discussions of interludes and flirtations.”
“Admit it, it is you who has been distant from me,” Diana said, trying her best to keep her voice emotionless.
He nodded. “You are right. I’m not perfect. There is an attraction between us, and it wasn’t easy for me to watch you with Messina. I don’t like the pompous count. You deserve better even for the short time we are on this journey.”
Diana wanted to annoy him and said, “I found him quite charming.”
A grimace crossed Devons’s face. “I’m sure you did.”
They sat in silence, and Diana wondered what he was thinking. He sighed and opened and closed his pocket watch. Diana realized he did that when he was restless, upset, or nervous.
“Was there anything specific you hoped to speak with me about?” she asked.
He snapped the watch closed and put it back in his pocket. “I promise not to be so sour. Can we be friends again?”
Part of her angrily wanted to say no but she didn’t. She adored her time with Devons and had missed it. “I never once considered us not friends. Though, you can be a surly beast.”
He tilted his head back and laughed. She smirked at him. “I’m not jesting.”
“I will be better. I was behaving unacceptably. You and I have decided anything more than friendship isn’t a good idea. It isn’tfair for me to be upset over your potential suitors. I want you to live a little. I apologize for acting as if that isn’t the case. It’s hypocritical of me to judge you.”
Diana wanted to say she didn’t remember ever agreeing to what Sebastian said, but she didn’t. She didn’t want to continue the fight. As much as she hated it, his previous points were valid. They would be working together when they returned to London. She didn’t want any awkwardness between them after they returned home.
An attendant threw open the door and said, “Come quickly.”
They looked at each other and rushed after him. They ran up the stairs to the weather deck and headed to the railing. What was going on? Once they made it to the railing, their eyes looked to where he was pointing. “Mermaids.”
Diana gasped and grabbed Devons’s arm. “Dolphins.”
