“As am I,” she agreed as they settled before plates of cold meats, bread and boiled eggs. “Tea!” Lavinia stated in alarm and rose from her seat.
“It should be ready,” he announced. “I prepared it not long ago and left it to steep.”
Sure enough, there was the teapot on the counter, which she brought back into the dining room and poured before taking her seat once again.
This was nice. So very nice. It was a shame that in little over a fortnight it must end.
Demetrius had studied Lavinia since she walked into the cottage because he feared that once she woke and realized what they had done, she would quickly regret her actions. But she was happy and had a dreamy smile upon her lips, as if she just woken from a wonderful dream.
Last night would be forever burned into his memory and if he lived to be one hundred, no woman would ever compare to Lavinia. She may have even ruined him for any other female.
After she brought the teapot to the table, she poured some into each of their cups and then took her seat. He reached over and placed his hand over hers. “Is all well?”
Her cheeks grew pink and she smiled shyly, so unlike the Lavinia that he had once known. “More than simply well,” she assured him. “Are you?” she asked with some hesitation.
All he could do was chuckle. “Oh, Lavinia, I have never been better.”
She met his eyes. “I am quite happy to learn that some myths are indeed very true.”
Though he knew that there was passion and desire, last night he realized that he had never truly experienced passion until Lavinia.
“I really like how you look this morning.”
She frowned and looked down at her dress. That wasn’t what he had meant. Clearly, she had not looked in the mirror. The Lavinia he had once known had always been put to rights. There had never been a crease in her gown nor a curl out of place, unlike this morning, and he suspected that he’d find a handful of hairpins in his bed when he returned home later. Hairpins that he would hide away and keep as a memento of what they shared.
“What is wrong?”
“Nothing at all. In fact, you are perfection and appear as though you have been thoroughly loved.”
Alarm flashed in her eyes and Lavinia quickly left her chair and disappeared from the dining room. When he heard her gasp Demetrius laughed, but wished he had not said anything, especially when she returned with her hair smoothed and pulled behind her instead of the messiness from sleep.
“I apologize…”
“Lavinia, it was only evidence of how you spent your night.” He smiled. “I hope that I can mess it up even more next time.”
Her blue eyes widened.
“I had not considered the consequences of tangles,” she finally chuckled and looked away. “If you are intent on engaging in such activities again, I may need to braid my hair first.”
“No,” he whispered. “But I will try to take care next time.”
“Oh, please do not,” she returned quietly.
He loved her! Demetrius had already acknowledged that he did, but he had only fallen deeper and it hadn’t been just last night but this morning when he woke to find her deep in slumber, curled on her side with his body wrapped around her. When he had pulled himself from the bed, and only because Max whimpered to be let out, she had rolled onto her back and he pulled the counterpane up to her chin so she not be chilled.
So beautiful with her tangled hair spread across the pillow, lips parted and face softened in her sleep. His heart had ached with longing and then when she returned to Sea View in her rumpled state, he fell further.
He also knew that come spring it would be impossible to sit next to her in her brother’s library and review contracts or agreements pretending that they had not shared a glorious holiday together. It would pain him too much, which was why he made the decision to remain in Seaford.
The idea had been lingering in the back of his mind, but when he had gone into town early this morning to purchase greenery, Old Jacob had asked his advice on a piece of land that was being disputed. He worried the property that had been in his family for generations was going to be taken away. Demetrius had promised to meet with the man in a few days to review his documentations and the claims made against him.
There were people in this town and surrounding area that needed a solicitor and that was what he enjoyed doing the most and therefore he would remain here, alone and with his memories of what he and Lavinia had shared.
Of course, he was not going to tell her yet because he did not want to ruin what was left of their holiday.
“Is all well?” she asked, intruding on his thoughts.
Demetrius smiled. “Yes, it is.” He finished his tea then rose from the table. “How would you like to spend Christmas Eve?”
