The sound of frantic footsteps coming closer caused Diana to step back as Tremont rounded the corner. His eyes bounced back and forth between Diana and Sebastian.
“Diana, is anything amiss?”
She studied Sebastian for a moment. “No. I ran into Mr. Devons. We were conversing about his return trip.”
Tremont moved to her, offering her his arm. “How about we fetch you something to drink?”
Diana accepted, and a polite smile appeared on her face. “Good evening, Mr. Devons.”
Later in the night, Sebastian sat at his desk at the Den, playing with his pocket watch and drinking brandy. Diana and Tremont kept appearing in his mind. They were perfectly suited for one another. The gossip sheets had it right. They would make a perfect peerage match.
His door bounced open, and Malcolm stomped in. His eyes flicked around as if he thought he would catch Lilah lurking about. Sebastian had dropped an unhappy Lilah off at her townhouse after the theater. She’d expected to return with him to the Den, but Sebastian didn’t have it in him to entertain her.
He wanted something he could never have, and it tore him up. His brother slammed his hand down on his desk. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Anger boiled in Sebastian at his brother’s arrogant tone. “Don’t start with me.”
“I will tell you when you are fucking up. Get a hold of yourself, man. She is not worth another moment of misery.”
“Do you think it is so easy to forget her?”
His brother glowered at him and marched to his side of the desk, grabbing his brandy and finishing it. Sebastian rose to retrieve more, and Malcolm stopped him.
“Remove your hands from my person,” Sebastian growled.
“She is not worth it!”
Sebastian grabbed Malcolm by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the bookshelf. “She is all I can think of. Don’t tell me what her worth is. You are a fucking lord. My entire life I have never envied your title or resented you. Not once did I care that I was the bastard, and you were the son born within wedlock.”
Malcolm grabbed his shirt and spun them around, slamming Sebastian into the bookshelf. “Enough!”
He shook his head and hated himself because tears pricked his eyes. “Right now, at this moment, I would do anything to have your title. I want it so badly it is destroying me.”
His brother leaned his forehead against his and whispered, “Stop this. She isn’t worth this madness.”
They stood like that for a moment, brother and brother. Their angry embrace turned to comfort. Malcolm pulled Sebastian closer to him. Eventually, Malcolm stepped back, giving him space to move back to his chair.
“It isn’t Lilah.”
Malcolm’s brows shot up. He took a seat across from Sebastian. “Start at the beginning.”
Chapter Thirty-One
The door tothe drawing room opened and Diana tensed. Her mother entered the room in a swirl of light-blue silk and lace. Even with the streaks of gray in her hair, the duchess’s looks could rival any of the most talked about ladies of the season. She had the same beautiful but untouchable ethereal appearance as Diana’s sister. Thetonhad given Clara the name Ice Princess during her time on the marriage mart. She hated it and, in truth, didn’t deserve it. Their mother, on the other hand, was never swayed by emotion.
Diana poured them both tea. She was nervous. Today, Clara would be visiting them. Henry still wanted nothing to do with their mother, but Clara had shocked Diana and requested to see her before she retired to her country estate.
“Is Henry joining us?”
Diana shook her head. “He couldn’t get away from his studies.”
The only sign her mother was displeased was the pursing of her lips. “I can’t imagine why Clara would like to call on me.”
Anger surged within Diana. Didn’t she want to see her daughter? “She is your child.”
Her mother took a dainty sip of her tea. “She shamed our family by marrying that man.”
“He has been an amazing husband to your daughter. She would likely not be here if she ended up with the man you did your best to sell her to.”
