The man blanched and shook his head. “You misunderstand me. I’m curious why they didn’t join the London Society of Antiquaries.”
“That club is for men only,” Sebastian explained, ignoring the part about Addie being hellbent on revenge because her husband took her best friend as his lover.
“Ah…there is my niece,” Lady Clark said, glancing at the door.
Sebastian turned. Was the woman trying to bring him to his knees, he thought? He took a large gulp of his champagne, watching her. Tonight, she wore a blue dress that emphasized her curvy figure more than anything else he had ever seen her in. Her hair made a tempting sight, tied on top of her head in loops and curls, with a few escaping down her neck. She laughed and looked back at someone. Sebastian glowered. Monroe was the cause of her joy.
He took another sip. Diana glanced around the room, and their eyes met. She smiled softly at him. It did something to him. I mean, she bloody well did something to his favorite part of his body, it seemed all the time, but this was different. It was a dip in his stomach, perhaps a flutter. Damn it. He needed to bed someone and not Diana. But he couldn’t. Why did he agree to their deal? He hated abstaining from anything. What was the fun in that?
Diana joined them, excited. “Captain Monroe provided some helpful news.”
Sebastian was glad the man didn’t follow her over. He annoyed him. If he was being honest with himself, his annoyance with Monroe was a new thing. The man often spenttime at his club, and he didn’t give him a second thought there. Sebastian simply didn’t like the way he looked at Diana.
“What did he tell you?” Lady Clark asked.
“Mr. Haggerty is meeting with someone about very old manuscripts at a church in Le Conquet. The documents contain tales about various mythical creatures and are believed to have been written by local monks over two hundred years ago. I’m hoping we can convince him to allow us to join him during his visit to the church. What do you think, Devons?”
“That’s a splendid idea,” he said begrudgingly.
She nodded, her eyes alight with excitement. “What lady doesn’t love a legend?”
He smiled. Clearly, Diana did.
“You will find Haggerty’s historical studies very insightful. Those lackwits at the London Society of Antiquaries messed up when they hemmed and hawed about allowing him entry into their club. Now, he’d never join them,” Spoor revealed.
Sebastian’s eyes flew to Diana’s, knowing that Spoor’s revelation was something that she could use. She grinned back at him, equally excited.
Continuing, Spoor said to Diana, “Your aunt told me you and Devons are to write about our travels.”
Diana beamed. “Yes. The proceeds will go to the Historical Society for Female Curators.”
Spoor’s gaze flicked to Devons. “And how did you become involved?”
Devons shrugged.
A frown filled Diana’s face. “None of this would be possible without Devons. He’s our silent partner in the club.”
He knew what she was doing. Diana, like all properly gracious ladies, wanted to make sure he was acknowledged for his part, but he didn’t need that. “Very silent partner.”
“Very modern of you to be supportive of a women-only scholarly club,” Spoor said to Devons.
He nodded. “I think it’s a worthy cause.”
An amused expression flitted across Diana’s face. He lifted a brow at her.
Diana grinned at him. “Sebastian Devons, the champion of women.”
If someone had asked him before Addie’s crazy scheme if he held such beliefs, he would have laughed but now his thoughts had changed. Why should it be so far-fetched or shocking for women to have their own club? Mr. Carlson rang a bell to signal the start of dinner. He offered his arm to Diana, his friend, he reminded himself. “May I escort you?”
Chapter Eleven
Le Conquet—Late June 1850
Everyone on theweather deck applauded as theSS Larkdocked at the Le Conquet port. Diana was excited to tour the village but also equally thrilled to visit the lighthouse. From the ship, the Port at the End of the World took Diana’s breath away and she didn’t want to miss a single thing. The jagged coastline was both stunning and treacherous. Captain Monroe stated at dinner the previous evening that the area was rampant with shipwrecks, explaining the need for the new lighthouse.
Diana’s eyes wandered over the stone buildings of the village, hoping the history of the region was as fascinating as the scenery. Devons joined her. “Excited?”
She turned to him, beaming. “Of course.”
