“At least I was able to brace myself this time.”
But not before Max left paw prints on her dress, one paw above each breast, not that Demetrius would mention it to her, of course.
“Still, I apologize.”
“Very well. If you will excuse me.” She then stepped around him and Max.
“What have I done to offend you?” he asked as she retreated.
Lavinia stopped, her back straightened and shoulders raised, but she did not turn. “Nothing, Mr. Valentine.”
“Mr. Valentine?” he questioned and hurried after her.
“Last evening was a mistake. I apologize for any familiarity. It should not have been shared between us.”
Bloody hell! “I found last evening quite pleasant so again, I ask how have I offended you?”
She sucked in a deep breath, jaw tightening as she turned to him. “You truly are a rake of the first order.”
He most certainly was not. “You mentioned the same last evening and now I am starting to become insulted,” he ground out. “You also did not seem to mind.”
“That was before you had women visiting your cottage. As one was leaving another was arriving. It is quite unbecoming, even for a rake.”
“You thought the women who visited my home were there for seduction?” It was all he could do not to laugh. Besides, if she was this upset, it wasn’t because she disapproved but perhaps she was jealous.
“Then I am surprised that I have the energy to stand at all,” he offered.
“What does that have to do with anything?” she demanded.
“Because there were eight women who called on me today. Had they been there for the reason you assumed I would be quite done in.”
“Eight?” she asked in alarm as she took a step back.
“Yes. Eight.”
“Why would you want eight lovers? Is one not enough?”
Did she truly think he could bed eight different women in one day? Not even when he was nine and ten could he have accomplished such a task.
“They were not there for seduction!”
“Then what purpose did they have? Women simply do not call on bachelors.”
“They do if they are answering an advertisement for a maid of all work.”
Her blue eyes widened as her perfectly kissable coral lips formed an “o”.
Chapter
Eight
Goodness! She had certainly erred, and further insulted Demetrius, but how was she to know…
Lavinia nearly groaned when she recalled that he had told her that he had placed an advertisement for a maid of all work. How could she have forgotten?
And now, any warmth that may have developed between them last evening had just been destroyed because she had made the wrong assumption, gave him the cut direct as she walked into town and then insulted him upon her return.
As there was nothing to be done for it, she guarded her emotions, as she often did when with others, and made her enquiry. “Were you able to hire someone for the duration of your holiday?”
