Was she being irrational? Maybe she was too naïve to have a tryst with Devons. She pulled away from him, but he stopped her. Her eyes flew to his face. He leaned in. “I want to be able to look across a ballroom or a business meeting and not see regret on your face. You are the mother of a soon-to-be duke. Right now, London seems so far away, but I promise it is there with all its judgment and damn rules. Even as a widow, it would doyou no good to have speculation swirl around you that we are involved. I won’t have that for you. I care for you too much to allow such gossip.”
He was talking about society’s judgment of him and how it would impact her. Specifically, that ladies like her didn’t dally with men like him. Men who were by-blows of lords. “You are a good man, Sebastian Devons.”
Devons held up a hand as if to stop any further assurances. “I know I am. Yet I still would be unable to prevent the gossip that would happen if we were to become lovers and it was found out. You may be frustrated with your proper social standing now, but it is very much a part of who you are.”
She wanted to tell him she couldn’t care less, but Diana then thought of Robert. She wasn’t sure and being on this ship had confused everything she believed. Perhaps Devons was right. An interlude between them was too much. He was the expert in vice, after all. Maybe in this area of their lives, they needed to keep their distance. “I understand your points. I think, maybe, we have started to overshare with each other. I think it is best when speaking we stay away from anything related to interludes or flirtations. You can do as you like, and I can do the same.”
He frowned at her. “I’m only trying to do what I think is best for you.”
She’d humiliated herself enough for one night. “I imagine the count is waiting for me.”
His face became shuttered. “I imagine so.”
Without another word, she made her way back to the saloon. An attendant reached out to open the door to the room for her, but Diana shook her head. “Please, just a moment.”
Diana leaned against a wall, feeling foolish. She wouldn’t think about her attraction to Devons anymore. He could do as he liked, as could she. Diana took a deep breath and nodded to the attendant. The man opened the door to the saloon. As sheentered both Messina and Monroe turned and smiled at her. Yes, Diana didn’t need Devons.
The next morning, she sat looking over her letter to the ladies of London. This was the priority. Raising money for the club. She and Devons could and would work together on that. Anything else she chose to do was only her business, not Devons’s. She held up the paper and read it once more.
To the Ladies of London,
The city of Porto is a delight you can’t miss. We were fortunate enough to learn about Senhor Pedro, the eventual King of Portugal, as well as see an enormous tapestry that told the story of his unrequited love for a woman he was banned from marrying. I hope if you join this leisure cruise, you will take the time to hear their tale.
Porto is a city like no other. Some call it the city of artists, and I can see why. We ended our time with a dramatic opera and a tasting of some of the finest ports. Not that I have very much experience, but Mr. Devons assured me it is the best. I imagine he is an expert on such things.
Next, we are off to Malaga.
Lady Hensley
*
Malaga—Early July 1850
The woman inthe red dress spun to the sound of the music while those around clapped and whistled. They were getting a presentation by Romas about a dance called the flamenco. Devons had to admit the dance was beautiful and sultry. The women twirled around as everyone cheered. Several of thepassengers from theSS Larkwatched the show hosted in the courtyard of an old stone building.
His eyes darted to Diana, who hadn’t spoken to him more than a greeting since their talk on the weather deck. It pained him that the closeness they once shared was now missing, but it was needed. He’d already been hurt by Lilah, and Sebastian suspected if he became involved with Diana, it would be far worse.
What he hadn’t told Diana was that he wasn’t sure he could survive an interlude with her, and Sebastian refused to think they could have more than that. This trip deceptively made everything possible. Varying groups of people mingled that never would in England.
While Lilah had been a widow in London, she wasn’t used as an example of the proper lady. Not like Diana, who was revered for her ladylike qualities. She existed in a tier of society that judged someone like him as unsuitable to be in their presence.
They were attracted to each other. Any denial from him at this point would be ridiculous. Still, she was untouchable, a temptation that would only bring him pain. And, more importantly to him, Sebastian was determined not to cause any gossip that would impact her or her family. Gossip always swirled around him, but he didn’t want that for Diana.
He pulled out his pocket watch, flipping the front and back cases open and close while he frowned at Messina. The handsome Sardinian stood next to Diana, beaming at her. The man said he had business here, but he’d been by Diana’s side since they’d arrived this morning. Sebastian clenched his jaw, wanting to join them. No, he wanted to push Messina out of the way but stopped himself. Diana could do as she pleased.
The woman finished her dance, and everyone applauded. Some of the Spaniards started to clap out a rhythm, and the woman in red pulled Diana and her aunt out into the middleof the courtyard, encouraging them to try the dance. Another dancer cajoled the remaining ladies out. Diana became flushed from the activity, and Sebastian couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across his face. She lifted her hands, following the woman in red’s movements with her hips and feet.
As her form spun and turned, Sebastian’s body reacted to her. The woman in red gave a slight shimmy, and all the ladies did the same thing. But it was Diana he couldn’t tear his eyes away from. He was so distracted that he didn’t notice the woman wearing the bright-green dress in front of him until she pulled him into the middle. He glanced Diana’s way, and Messina had joined her.
Sebastian tore his gaze away and looked at his dance partner. She winked at him and nodded to Diana. “Ella te gusta.”
He answered back in Spanish. “No, she is a friend.”
The dancer smirked in disbelief. She moved him back and forth, teaching him the steps. Sebastian wasn’t conceited, but he’d done fine with his dance lessons in his younger years. He caught on quickly to the movements she was showing him. The music started to play at a much quicker tempo.
The dancer motioned him to move quicker. Then she guided him to turn. He moved her around the dance area. He glanced at Diana and Messina, who were struggling to follow the steps. Sebastian was being an ass, but it pleased him that Messina wasn’t doing so well. The dancer said, “You pay attention to me.”
He turned back, focusing on her. She smiled. As the music increased in tempo, the dance became faster with them moving closer to each other. Those around them cheered and whistled. His dance partner laughed. Finally, the music stopped. She gave him a flirty wink and then glanced at Diana. She leaned into him and whispered in Spanish, “I think you are more than friends or should be.”
