Page 75 of A Wanton Adventure
Her husband sighed. Sebastian’s dark, piercing eyes swung to Diana. “Well, Lady Hensley?”
Diana glanced at Arthur, who frowned at her. Part of her almost agreed with him, but she stopped herself. She would not change her actions on this trip because he was here. She wanted to go to a gaming establishment. This was probably her only opportunity. Unless Diana visited the Den someday. She wondered, now, that she and Sebastian were friends if that may happen. She pushed the thought away. She wouldn’t focus on the future. “I think I would like to attend.”
Arthur’s frown deepened. “Diana.”
She shook her head. “I’m going.”
The sides of Sebastian’s mouth turned up in a smirk. She suspected it was because he was happy Arthur was annoyed. Diana wasn’t sure if she wanted to attend because of her desire to see such a club or because she wanted to see all these women Sebastian had charmed.
“Then it is settled. This evening, we will all go,” Mrs. Swinson said.
The carriage came to a stop, and Diana was unsure how this day would go. Not well if Mrs. Swinson spent all her time ignoring her husband and smiling adoringly at Sebastian. But Diana had no place to be upset. She and Sebastian had no commitments to one another. Her gaze swung to Arthur, confident that his appearance in Livorno was key to this sudden change in Sebastian. Still, she didn’t ask him to come. What a mess life had become in the last few days. The door was thrown open, and Signor Gallo yelled from outside, “Come, everyone. We have a busy day.”
*
Late that night,Sebastian walked throughCasa de Pavone. Unlike last night, he hadn’t come alone. The moment Lady Clark found out they were going to a gaming establishment that allowed women, she declared she would be going as well. That meant, of course, Spoor joined them, and surprisingly, Haggerty did as well. The only person who begged off was Mr. Swinson, who said now that his wife had friends, he preferred to stay in and read.
Sebastian liked the club and had been shocked to see so many women. Mr. Swinson, during the prior evening, stated the club was considered somewhat of an oddity in the area—a popular one, Sebastian guessed, based on the crowd that was in attendance tonight. Mrs. Swinson grabbed his arm, and heresisted the urge to pull himself free. He glanced back and saw Tremont was escorting Diana. His eyes met hers, and she looked away.
“Devons! Are you here to win more money tonight? Join us,” an English lady hollered over the chatter.
Sebastian flashed her a grin. “Not this evening.”
Lady Clark dragged Spoor and Haggerty off to a card table, leaving Sebastian, Diana, Tremont, and Mrs. Swinson. A man grinned lecherously at Diana, and Tremont stepped between them. An irrational urge to be the one protecting Diana hung over Sebastian, but he resisted.
“Shall we play faro?” Mrs. Swinson asked him.
Sebastian turned to Tremont. “Do you play?”
He pursed his lips. “No. I don’t engage in such activities.”
Was Diana going to marry this man? Sebastian hated him, and he promised himself it went beyond the fact that this man would become more to Diana than he could ever hope to be. He was damn boring. Diana would go back to being the proper lady she hated so much. The one the papers wrote about. He hated that for her. She was so different from that caricature of a woman. His gaze flitted to her.
She laughed. “I don’t play, but I would like to watch and learn.”
“Perfect.” Mrs. Swinson said.
Sebastian leaned into Diana. “You will enjoy it. I can teach you the game once we are back on the ship in case you ever want to play again.”
Tremont snorted. “That is unlikely.”
Diana frowned at him and turned back to Sebastian. “I would like that. Perhaps I will play at the Den at one of your events that allows women. Maybe one of your balls.”
Sebastian smiled. There was nothing he would have liked more. Tremont scowled but remained silent. They made theirway over to a faro table, and Sebastian and Mrs. Swinson took a seat. He took his time playing and won several hands. Mrs. Swinson lost a good deal but didn’t seem to mind. Sometimes, she followed Sebastian’s lead, copying his bet and flirting with him. He thought it was mostly to rile the crowd up.
From what he learned the previous evening, her husband was involved in some type of wine business, and they didn’t appear to be hurting financially. While she was a huge flirt, Sebastian believed it was all show. Sebastian suspected Mrs. Swinson was fond of her husband no matter their age gap. He saw it in her small actions and how she cared for him when no one was looking.
Sebastian placed his bet on the ten of spades. Mrs. Swinson placed hers on the same card. She beamed at him. “You are awfully lucky tonight, Mr. Devons. I can’t help but follow you.”
The crowd chuckled. He smiled and shook his head. The dealer flipped the two cards. The first was a five of hearts, and the second was the ten of clubs. Mrs. Swinson screeched and grabbed his arm, excited. Everyone around them hooted and hollered. Devons smiled, but when he looked behind himself, Diana was gone. He frowned and stood. “Mrs. Swinson, perhaps I can escort you to Lady Clark and the rest of the group. I want to see where Lady Hensley and Lord Tremont went.”
A knowing glint flashed in her eyes. “Of course.”
As they walked through the room, Sebastian’s gaze swung back and forth, looking for Diana. Where was she?
“I believe they were headed to the front door. Lady Hensley remarked to Lord Tremont that she was feeling unwell.”
Mrs. Swinson’s words filled him with concern.Fuck.The woman sighed. “I don’t think she liked my flirting. It was only a bit of fun, but I think it upset her. I spotted Lady Clark and the rest of our group. Go. I will make my way to them.”
