He was a rake, and thankfully they weren’t so very particular.
Except, every dress she owned was proper.
With a sigh, she chose a dark blue gown because it was the most flattering color on her and would hope for the best.
She also would not have above two glasses of wine this evening. She had confessed much that first night, not that she regretted anything that she had said, but she did not want to find herself in a similar state and voice secrets that she did not want anyone to know.
Thankfully, Demetrius still desired her and her kiss had not been too horrible. He had not claimed it to be wonderful, but said there had been nothing wrong. Since it had been the first time that she had kissed in that manner, Lavinia decided to deem it successful.
“Mr. Valentine has arrived, Lady Teviot,” her housekeeper announced.
Her hands grew damp and her pulse quickened with nervousness. “Please direct him here.” Here was the terrace. The evening was so pleasant that she had not wanted to remain inside, though a definite chill had begun to fill the air.
“Lavinia,” Demetrius acknowledged when he stepped outside. “Are you not cold?”
“Perhaps a little, but it is not uncomfortable.” She turned toward him. “It does not feel like Christmas even though it is only four days away.” She hoped that a general conversation would put her at ease.
“What does Christmas feel like for you?”
“If I was at Clarington Abbey, it would likely be cold and there is the possibility that we would already have snow. It if was deep enough, we would be required to take the sleds into the forest to cut evergreen, holly, ivy and rosemary to decorate.” She let out a sigh. “Without family, and being here, it simply will not feel like Christmas.”
“Do you regret your decision to leave them for the holiday?” Demetrius asked quietly.
Lavinia turned toward him. “I do not regret any decision I have made since I arrived, save one, nor am I sorry that I decided to leave my family and travel here.”
“Which decision do you regret?” he asked with curiosity.
“Perhaps it would better be described as a lesson learned.” She couldn’t help but smile.
“What lesson would that be?”
“To never drink above two glasses of wine in one evening or the following morning will prove to be most difficult.”
Demetrius laughed then held out his arm to escort her back inside just as the housekeeper entered the parlor to announce that dinner was served.
It was good to laugh and Lavinia felt her nervousness slip away, though she was happy that he had not asked what decisions she had made or she might have confessed that she intended to take him as a lover.
Over supper they talked of many matters, but none of them deeply personal as they had earlier. She hoped that it wasn’t because he no longer wished to pursue desire but because her servants were in and out of the dining room too often.
Once dessert was complete, they retired to the parlor after Lavinia requested a pot of tea, but she did offer Demetrius a brandy, which he declined. After the tea service was placed on the table, she dismissed the servants for the night. As she was unsure how their conversation would go, she did not want to be overheard.
Demetrius had settled across from her instead of beside her on the settee which resulted in some disappointment. She had hoped that he would want to kiss her again, and then perhaps seduce her, but he could not do so from so far away.
“May I ask you a personal question?”
“That would depend on how personal,” she answered cautiously.
“Tell me about your marriage.”
She had not expected Demetrius to want to know of her past.
“Why?”
“Well, he clearly did not kiss you properly, what else did he fail at?”
Her face heated and she quickly took a sip of tea to cover her embarrassment.
“Your marriage was not a love match, was it?”
