A hesitant hand slid across his shoulder, barely brushing the fabric of his coat, but he jumped and turned around as if her fingers had burned him.

“Don’t touch me.”

She looked up at him, trusting. “Are you afraid of me?”

Of Diana? He could physically have her removed from his house with the snap of his fingers. It wasn’t as though Nelson was his only servant. There were some who listened to him. It wasn’t fair what she was doing to him, though. He had thought they were friends. He had enjoyed her company and even the company of her brother, despite his painful history with him.

“Diana, I am not afraid of you.”

“Afraid of my touch, then?”

A disdainful laugh escaped his throat. “You ask that and yet claim to know me? All of London knows the touch of a woman means nothing to me. Those ladies we have been speaking of? I did much more than touch their cheeks, and I will not have you think otherwise.”

“Not that much more, though. Not really. And they weren’t thinking of you when you snuck off into the garden or got caught kissing. How long has it been since a woman who longed for you has embraced you?”

There was no possible way to answer that. He needed Diana to leave. Now. Everton caught her by both shoulders, spun her around, and pushed her toward the door. His brain wasn’t settled enough to have this conversation. It might never be.

“I’m not leaving until you answer my question.” She squirmed until she was able to turn partially around to face him. “If I had to hazard a guess, I would assume it has been since your wife passed away.”

Everton hadn’t been making much progress at removing Diana, but at her guess, he froze. The room darkened around them, and the air seemed to grow thick. Diana completed the rest of her turn slowly, and he let his arms drop to his sides. He blinked once, his eyes so heavy he barely managed to open them again. Here was the heart of it. The one truth that would finally make Diana leave.

“And you think you know me so well.” She may have guessed what his scandals were about, but she still had no insights into his marriage. “I can assure you, on that account, you are wrong.”

Diana stumbled back a step. “Merciful heavens.” Her eyes were wide, and she covered her hand with her mouth.

“What?” Lord Bryant’s voice was hard. “Whatever your scheming mind is up to, you are wrong.”

Diana’s hand shook as she lowered it. “She didn’t love you.”

And there it was. The hole that had eaten his life away in painful increments was now opening in front of Diana. She would never look at him the same again.

Chapter 23

Diana watched Lord Bryant’s chest rise and fall after her accusation, but he didn’t deny it. He spun away from her and strode toward the door. Diana couldn’t follow. Her mind was still frantically trying to make sense of what she had just learned. His wife, his precious Rachel, whose ring he still wore on his finger, hadn’t loved him.