CHAPTER 1
NOVEMBER 1818 ~ BROCK STREET~BATH, ENGLAND
“Goodness! What a cutie pie. Let me help you. You’re such a little one… Wait…no, don’t turn away…come closer, little one, and I’ll share this fat, juicy piece of meat… Hold still. I can’t hold you if you keep wiggling away…”
Miss Serafina Davies tried to keep her balance as she leaned over as far as she could to reach the little dog that had somehow found its way into the filthy ash pit, full of rubbish and discarded scraps of food and debris from the gentlemen’s club her guardian, Carlton Coleman, the fifth Duke of Richmond, owned and operated.
Balancing on her tiptoes on the wobbly wooden crate that was missing a few slats, she uttered an unladylike grunt as she stretched herself a few inches farther, over the edge of the brick wall of the pit.
“I fear someone threw you in here. There’s just no other way you could have tumbled into this heap,” she muttered. She knewdogs that didn’t have homes didn’t fare well on the streets, and she was determined to rescue the poor thing.
How fortuitous that she’d just left the Golden Duchess’s townhouse and was making her way down Brock Street in the direction of the duke’s Gentlemen’s Club when she heard muffled whimpers in the alley next to the club. Curious, she set down her sack along with the small stack of books the duchesses had insisted she take to research herbs and spices and began to look for the source of the whining. Using the crate as a stepping stool, she’d peeked over the brick wall of the rubbish pit and saw a small, black and white, terrier-type dog at the far side. Retrieving a small cube of ham that she’d packed as part of a light lunch, she’d tried to tempt the pup toward her.
Serafina had planned to spend the day at her tea shop,The Lavender and Cream Tearoom, a cozy space that was currently undergoing renovations. The tearoom was tucked in between theCozy Quillbookstore and her guardian’s club and was set to open in two months. It was part of a broader plan her guardian and his friends, a consortium of investors, were involved in—something they referred to as“gentrification.”A variety of shops and dining establishments were being planned in the area. Uncle Carlton was even contemplating renovating a large, empty building and turning it into an elegant hotel. The reconstruction was meant not only to entice the residents of Bath but also to attract tourists.
Serafina had been hard at work for months on her tearoom. She planned to feature unique signature baked goods, hand-blended teas, and locally-made honey in a pleasant and soothing atmosphere that invited one to sit and relax for an hour or so while enjoying a cup of tea and a treat.
Given the many hours required from her to work on the plans, Uncle Carlton and his lovely wife, Catherine, thought it best that Serafina stay in town for the few months leading up tothe grand opening. They preferred this to her traveling back and forth each day from the family estate outside of Bath.
Serafina had been reluctant at first, worried that she’d have to stay at her uncle’s club. Catherine had adamantly vetoed that idea. And decided it would be best for Serafina to stay at the home of the Golden Duchesses—whom she considered honorary aunts. The Golden Duchesses were four widows who had been friends since they entered Society more than fifty years ago. All four had married dukes, and years ago, they’d made a solemn vow to live together in their golden years if they all were widowed. Sadly, they had all been widowed but were quite content living together in the home owned by Aunt Sophy, since it was the most centrally located and closest to her uncle’s gentleman’s club.
The duchesses, along with Uncle Carlton and several other investors, including the Duke of Danforth, had insisted on being the financial backers for her tea shop, and she truly appreciated their confidence in her. Serafina was certain her guardian’s sweet tooth had played a significant part in his decision. He’d even hired an experienced beekeeper to produce fresh honey for her various recipes.
“May I help you?” a deep male voice said from behind her, jolting her from her thoughts.
The man’s voice startled her, and with a gasp and an “eep,” she lost her balance and tumbled into the pit. “Oh fiddlesticks!” she huffed. The small dog limped to her and scrambled onto her lap. “Well, hello, little one.” She giggled, holding the little dog up and nuzzling its nose with hers. It was a black and white terrier, with short fur and a curious one-sided underbite. “Thank goodness! I got you.”
“It appears you need help,” the man said, with a thick Scottish burr.
Looking up from her seated position in the ash bin, Serafina found herself staring into a pair of deep, blue eyes of the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Brown, wavy hair framed a face with a strong, chiseled chin and an aquiline nose. He had a noble bearing about him, even though he was wearing plain dark breeches and a linen shirt. His clothes were not the refined clothes of an aristocrat, but they looked well-made and fit him well.
“I’m terribly sorry I startled you,” he said, looking quite abashed. “And even more sorry for causing you to fall into that ash bin.” When she didn’t answer—as she was still quite mesmerized by his blue eyes—he added, “Let me help you up.”
She took his outstretched hand, and he helped her stand, which brought her closer to those blue, blue eyes. Very kind eyes.
“Ye have a bit of lettuce right there,” the handsome man said, picking a withered leaf from her hair and tossing it aside, “and a rather mushy slice of tomato here.” He flicked the tomato from her shoulder and dusted off his hands. “Allow me to help ye out of there.”
No one had ever picked lettuce and tomato—or any other food stuff, for that matter—from her person. Serafina, who was still rather in awe of the man standing on the other side of the brick wall, couldn’t think of a darn thing to say in response to his offer of assistance.
He repeated his offer, and his words finally registered in her befuddled brain. Holding the puppy close, she finally heard herself say, “Yes, I would appreciate it very much, Mister…”
“Mr. Julian Kerr, artist, at your service,” the man said, giving a small bow of his head. “I just left the gentleman’s club and heard a voice back here, so I thought I’d investigate, and I’m glad I did.”
“I’m glad you did too,” she said, beaming a grateful smile up at him.
Now,heseemed to look a tad befuddled. Perhaps it was the smell of the rubbish?
His face seemed to clear of confusion, and he reached out his big hand again. “Pleased to meet you, Miss…?”
“Oh! Forgive my manners, I’m Serafina Davies.” She felt a blush bloom in her cheeks. Here, she was worried about manners while she was standing in a rubbish bin. “Thank you very much for your offer, Mr. Kerr,” Serafina said, taking his hand in greeting.
“Pleased to meet ye, Miss Davies,” he said, shaking her hand. “I can’t leave ye and yer dog in that foul pit. But I think the wall is too high for you to climb out with just my hand to assist ye, so it might be better if I lifted you out of there.”
He did look very strong. The fact that he’d just left the club meant that he boxed. That would explain his muscular physique and how easily he’d helped her stand.
Just the feel of her small hand in his large one had created a delightful fluttering in her stomach, a sensation she had never experienced. Without further hesitation, she nodded and let go of his hand. “Yes, please,” she said, stepping closer to the wall so that he could lift her out.
He placed his hands around her waist and lifted her from the filthy bin as easily as if he were lifting just the small dog. The press of his hands on her waist sent delicious jolts of sensation through her, turning the fluttery feeling in her stomach into a flurry of dancing butterflies. Depositing her gently on her feet, his big hands remained on her waist as she swayed a bit while regaining her balance.
