Further, in Seaford they were away from the eyes and ears of the ton. Therefore, if anyone noted her actions, it would not be gossiped about outside of the town and thus would not reflect poorly on her sisters.
Yes, that is what she would do, and as soon as she changed her gown, she’d visit the town and come to know the other male residents.
Demetrius had assumed that Seaford was no larger than a small village, which turned out to be his second incorrect assumption since he had arrived. He really should stop assuming anything. He also had no idea where or how he might go about hiring a maid of all work. In London, he had hired the same woman who cleaned his brother’s set of rooms and had not needed to search as he did now.
Uncertain how to proceed, Demetrius decided to visit the Post Office. If anyone knew the town it would be the postmaster. From there he was directed to the building that produced the local newspaper. After purchasing the latest publication, he found a tavern and took a seat where he ordered a meal and a pint and read the latest news of Seaford and reviewed the advertisements. Unfortunately, there was nobody asking for a position, which prompted Demetrius to return to the newspaper office and purchase his own advertisement for a maid of all work through Twelfth Night.
As he was uncertain when, or if, he would even find a servant, Demetrius had no choice but to visit the various shops and purchase more bread, arrange for eggs and milk to be delivered, then wondered what else he might need. It would be just enough to get him by and no doubt he would be having many of his meals at the tavern, which was no different than living in London.
What he needed was a real home of his own, with servants who lived within. At least two, one who cooked and another who cleaned and did his laundry. Certainly, it would be more economical then always eating at taverns.
Such were his ponderings when he stepped from the cheesemonger’s and right into a woman because he had been looking into the basket that he’d been forced to purchase to carry his items.
“I am terribly sorry,” Demetrius said as he reached out for her elbow so that she did not fall.
“Did you learn your manners from your dog or did he learn them from you?”
His eyes snapped to the light blue ones of Lady Teviot.
“The difference was Max was happy to see you and make a new friend with no concern of damage. Whereas I should have been more cognizant of my surroundings and looked before I stepped out on the walk.”
“Does that mean you are not also happy to see me?”
Good God! He had not meant to insult her. That was not what he had meant. “Yes…of course, Lady Teviot. I did not mean to imply…” Demetrius only trailed off when he noted that the corner of her mouth tipped and her blue eyes filled with humor.
He tried to continue what he was saying, but words failed him. He had rarely seen Lady Teviot smile let alone tease. If anything, she was a harsh critic and Demetrius had yet to provide her brother with a contract or agreement that she did not question him about and insist on changes.
She then looked down and frowned. “Foodstuffs?”
“Yes, well, one must eat.”
“Do you know how to cook?”
“I can manage an egg and I am quite fond of butter and jam on bread. Oh, I am also proficient at boiling water for tea.”
“One should not need to survive on eggs, cheese, tea and bread alone.”
Though many did, and some had far less, not that Demetrius mentioned such a sad fact to her.
“What of a cook or maid?”
“One did not come with the cottage, but I have placed an advertisement.”
“And this is the only thing you will eat until you hire someone?”
“I was on my way to the butcher or the fishmonger so that I would have something to prepare for this evening.”
“You did not claim to know how to prepare those items.”
It was the same tone she often used when questioning him about language in an agreement, but he did not mind because he had glimpsed humor in her eyes.
He shrugged. “It cannot be so difficult.”
“That will never do, Mr. Valentine,” she insisted.
He had lost count of how many times he had heard those exact words from her with the same disciplinary tone. Despite his attraction to her, Lady Teviot would always censure him.
“I have little choice, Lady Teviot, but I thank you for your concern.”
