“I am certain that you did not.”
“I am needed here.”
“I know.”
“I will recommend a good and trustworthy solicitor to His Grace so that you are not forced to take on yet another duty.”
“Another poor man that I will need to correct,” she offered with sadness.
Demetrius chuckled. “You would make an excellent solicitor, Lavinia.”
His words of praise warmed her heart. “Thank you. It is a shame that I was not born male.”
“Thank God that you were not or this holiday would not have been nearly so enjoyable.”
“No, I suppose you are correct.” She wanted to be offended that she was no more than a bed partner, except that is how all this began. She had wanted a lover to learn if pleasure and passion existed, and she had thought him perfect for the experiment since she had believed him to be a rake. She had been no better than a man who seeks a lover with no intention of commitment.
“If only you resided next door instead of visiting.”
“Before I learned of your plans today, I had intended to return after the Season to spend the summer and only be with my family in the spring and during Christmas. I enjoyed being free of them, or perhaps, I enjoyed simply being free without duty.”
“Then I may see you again.”
She stopped and turned toward him. “No, Demetrius, you will not.”
“Why?”
“Because if I returned, it would not be the same.”
“Why could it not be?”
She shook her head. “Several reasons.” Lavinia turned to walk again. “You might marry, which would be very awkward if I arrived intending to indulge in the passions you have shown me.”
He snorted. “I have no intention of marrying.”
Perhaps that was what hurt the most. He enjoyed her body and Lavinia had no doubt that he cared for her, but it was not love.
Oh, if only he would have fallen in love with her as she had him then everything could be different.
“You cannot know the future,” she finally said.
“Neither can you.”
“Yes, but it wouldn’t be the same or would it even be right for you to wait until summer for me to return and then we would share four months of passion only for me to leave again. Is that truly fair to either of us?”
“If you fear that it is because I will find a substitute for you when you are not here, I can promise that would not happen.”
While it warmed her heart to hear his assurance, if she really were so important, then he would want her with him permanently.
“I came here for a holiday to discover something for myself or determine what I wanted. I found it, even if it can only be mine for a short time. I am not sorry that I did, and so thankful that you were here too.”
“As am I, Lavinia,” he said as he stopped and faced her before giving her a gentle kiss. “But our time is not yet at an end, is it?”
She looked up into his deep brown eyes. “Not yet.”
Without a word, Demetrius then led her into his cottage, and up to his bedchamber where he slowly removed her clothing and loved her with such tenderness, almost worship, that he nearly brought her to tears when they joined. He then held her until she almost drifted off to sleep, which could no longer be allowed, then silently escorted her back to Sea View.
“I do have one concern,” he said when they reached the terrace. “Something I should have considered a few days ago before now but did not because all I wanted was to be with you.”
