“My lady,” he replied, giving a tight bow.
“And what other guests have you brought this evening?” Minnie asked from behind her, her voice coming up in short clipped tones.
Vice stepped forward. “This is my cousin, the earl of Sinclair. He was hoping for an introduction with Your Grace.” Vice winked.
Minnie stepped up next to her, tall and straight, her red hair shimmering in the evening light. “Her Grace does not remember inviting another guest.”
Vice swallowed. “My apologies. I should have written.”
“He’s here now,” Darlington answered, still behind her. “Welcome to our home, Lord Sinclair.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” he replied, then stepped to the front of the group.
Diana blinked as she studied him
. Vice was the most classically handsome man she’d ever met but his cousin somehow managed to be even more beautiful.
Rather than blond, he had dark hair and shimmering brown eyes set over a straight nose, full mouth, and a square jaw. He had broad shoulders and a tapered waist that might make a woman breathless.
Diana preferred the thick muscles of a burly Scot. One with reddish brown hair and the strong features that somehow filled her with warmth as well as desire, but still, Lord Sinclair was like a well-painted portrait, simply beautiful to look at but she had no desire to touch.
He looked at Minnie, giving a short bow. “Apologies, Your Grace, and thank you for your hospitality.” Then he turned to Diana. His gaze lingered on her features for what seemed an excessively long time before he said, “My lady.”
She nodded her head in response as she realized that Callum was inching closer, his shoulder now blocking Sinclair’s view.
“Shall we make our way to the music room?” Minnie asked. “We’ve much to discuss and dinner will be upon us before we know it.”
Diana followed her cousin, her heart hammering in her chest. She wasn’t exactly sure what this evening was going to bring, but she had a feeling that whatever happened would change everything.
Chapter Eight
Exile stared at Diana’s back as she walked next to the Earl of Sinclair. Even from behind, they made the perfect couple. His fists clenched. That should make him happy. He had a marriage contract. One that he needed to honor.
He closed his eyes. He didn’t want to go through with marriage to Fiona. He’d received a letter from her the other day, he’d yet to open it. Which made his chest ache with guilt. Like he needed another reminder that he wasn’t the man his cousin had been. Ewan would have never considered leaving the woman to whom he’d made a commitment. Honor and duty had always been his first concerns.
But damn, seeing Diana next to Sin made everything in him ache to punch that man directly in the face and carry Diana off the way his Scot ancestors might have.
He should be happy for her. She deserved a handsome, well-titled lord who could offer her the best sort of life. She was strong, kind, caring, and beautiful. She wasn’t the sort of woman who should be shoved away by society. Instead, Diana should be leading other women on how to be intelligent and independent, not shoved on a shelf as she assumed.
He wished he could be the man to show her that. But then he spasmed with guilt again. He had his own demons that plagued him and a past that he needed to prove he was better than.
Perhaps he should give up on himself and focus on her. He was likely damned to hell anyhow.
Then he rubbed the back of his neck. She deserved better than a man who’d become earl because he’d allowed his cousin to die for him.
“What’s the matter with you?” Daring murmured next to him.
Exile nearly jumped out of skin. He’d forgotten his friend was there. “Nothing.”
Daring, looked over at him frowning, his face set in deep lines. “You’re acting like a man who just committed a crime, or is being forced down the aisle at gunpoint.”
Exile shook his head. “Are you going to force a match between Diana and myself?” Part of him would be relieved. The decision would be out of his hands. But then he grumbled in dissatisfaction. That wasn’t fair to either woman. Fiona shouldn’t be ruined for his sake and Diana deserved a man who had chosen her.
What did he deserve? Probably a thrashing.
“No. Not yet.” Daring touched his shoulder. “Should I?”
Exile gave a half smile. “No. Not yet.”