Of course, nothing could ever come from their association because she was above his reach. Not only was she the widow of a marquess but had been raised the daughter of a duke. She was a lady and he was a solicitor.
Had his emotions and desire not been engaged, he may not even wonder why she was here now and her family elsewhere, but it was so out of character for her that Demetrius was concerned. For those reasons, he vowed to keep an eye out to make certain all was well.
With his coat brushed, Max wandered to find a place to nap, and as was Cal’s habit, he jumped onto Demetrius’ lap for his turn.
Demetrius settled back and enjoyed the purring against his chest, which was as calming as brushing the dog, as he made plans for the afternoon. The first thing he needed to do was go into town and hire a maid of all work and hoped that there was someone who could start immediately. If such could not be found, he’d need to visit the market.
At least he’d had the forethought to pack foodstuffs to help him get through the first couple of days, if one could consider bread with jam a meal.
Chapter
Four
Lavinia had thought that by coming to Sea View Cottage she would be able to spend time reflecting on what she wanted for her life, though anticipated that nothing would truly change. However, that was altered the moment Valentine’s dog knocked her to the ground. When he helped her up and she looked into his warm brown eyes, everything within her being shifted.
She had hoped that she would be able to remove Valentine from her mind and went about unpacking her belongings. Such had not been the case and he continued to linger in her thoughts.
He’d left her unsettled in a manner she did not understand and likely never would.
Lavinia had always assumed that it was Valentine’s knowledge that drew her to him because few gentlemen were more intelligent than she was.
Though, in truth, there were likely many, but since few bothered to engage in a judicious conversation with a mere lady, it was impossible to judge the intellect of the male population.
It also didn’t help that there was just something about Valentine’s bearing that warmed her being. It could be because he was so different from her former husband. For one, Valentine was taller and his shoulders broad, and she suspected there were muscular arms, chest and stomach hidden beneath his clothing whereas her former husband had been nearly the same height as Lavinia and possessed a softness about him. She had certainly never believed he could protect her whereas Valentine…No, she would not compare the two as there was no purpose in doing so.
Except, Valentine was also handsome and if she were still a debutante fresh from the schoolroom, Lavinia would assume that she was smitten. But being a widow of a certain age and knowing what the future held for ladies who were duty bound to wed, she was not so foolish as to become besotted.
So why did he make her pulse race and body warm?
And, it wasn’t just today, but since she’d first been introduced to him last spring.
She could comprehend no reason other than he was a rake!
She had observed enough of them sauntering through ballrooms in London to know that gentlemen of that reputation exuded not only confidence, but charm and…oh, she didn’t know what else it was but there was something in their manner, and in their eyes, and teasing in a smile that had led many a young miss to being smitten and widows into their beds.
However, her disapproval of his character was in conflict with her respect for him as a solicitor and her secretly held fascination for the man.
Lavinia paused in setting her belongings on the dressing table and stared at her own reflection. She wasn’t beautiful, but she wasn’t ugly either. Average, she supposed, and while there was nothing about her that drew potential lovers to her side, rakes were not as discerning as gentlemen in need of a wife. Rakes enjoyed the seduction and the power, free of commitment, and sometimes chose the most beautiful woman in a room and at other times the plainest.
Would a rake such as Valentine ever consider seducing her?
If so, would she allow him to do so?
Did she dare seek him out and ask?
In a blink she turned from the mirror.
She would not! She had already determined that it was a very bad idea.
Except, no other man had gained her attention. No other man had made her wonder if perhaps there was such a thing as pleasure and passion.
No other man had ever shown an interest in her before either. Not even before she had wed. There were many who wished to court her, but it was because she was the daughter of a duke who brought twenty-thousand pounds. It wasn’t her they wanted and if she approached Valentine, he might reject her too.
Her stomach tightened at the very idea of being denied and then having to face Valentine when he arrived at her brother’s home to review a contract, let alone making certain that she avoided him until one of them left Seaford.
It was better to shield herself from humiliation and remember that he was a rake and even if she did give him the opportunity that it would mean nothing more to him than any other female. Instead, come spring, she would do as her sister, and find a lover for the Season. It worked out well for Octavia and just maybe Lavinia would learn about pleasure and desire, and maybe passion too. She just would not experience such with Mr. Demetrius Valentine.
Or maybe she should find a lover here, in Seaford. One that she could dismiss if all did not go as well as she hoped. It would be easy to avoid a near stranger and she would likely never see him again once she left Seaford.
