Tempted By a Rake (Wicked Widows’ League #21)

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Valentine was the one gentleman who had always made Lavinia nervous. She had never understood why, but she continuously suffered from a strange awareness when around him, and when their fingers accidentally touched, such as when she was handing him a document, they would nearly burn.

She’d never experienced such sensations with anyone else. It was now even more intense as he clasped her hand in his, which she quickly pulled away.

“Yes, he is mine and again, I apologize. Are you unharmed?”

“I am,” she murmured and shook out her skirts. “Why are you here?”

Had Leopold given his solicitor permission to use the cottage? If he had, that was something he should have shared with her.

“I am to spend the holiday at Hartshorn.”

That was the cottage that neighbored Sea View. “The viscount gave you permission?” she asked.

Valentine chuckled. “He bequeathed it to me.”

Lavinia was certain her facial expression revealed her shock and dismay. “That was…um…very generous of him.”

“Too generous, but his son would not take it back because he never liked the place, so I thought to visit.”

All she could do was nod. Valentine would be living next door for the duration of the Christmas holiday and she could not decide how she felt about that fact.

“I had not known that you own a dog.”

Again, he chuckled. “Yes, well, Max also belonged to Totten, as well as a cat named Cal, and they were left to me as well.”

“The former viscount must have been very fond of you.” Such gifts were given to family members—heirs, not solicitors.

“Or he disliked me because the two of them are quite set on destroying my belongings and keeping my clothing covered in hair.”

For the first time since Max had knocked her down, Lavinia found herself recovering from the surprise and almost smiled. “I assume his son did not want to take them either.”

“No.”

He glanced about. “Did the rest of your family join you?”

“I came to Seaford on my own.”

Demetrius pulled back in surprise. “His Grace allowed you to do so? I was under the impression that he could not do without you.”

That was the opinion of many since she had returned home. “Leopold has no idea. That foolish man decided to drive his cabriolet, of all conveyances, from Clarington Abbey in Westmorland all the way to Kent. He will likely freeze before he arrives.” Her brother was usually not so foolish, but there was no arguing with him, and if he came down with an illness, she could only hope he survived because the spare, Crispin, would be quite displeased to become the Duke of Claybrook.

“Why would he do so?”

“Likely because he did not want to be stuck in a carriage with our younger siblings.”

“Is that why you are here?”

“I have my own reasons,” she answered then realized that her tone was colder than she had intended. “I decided that a holiday for myself was just what I needed.”

“A holiday in Seaford?” he questioned.

“Yes, at Sea View.” She gestured back to the cottage.

His warm brown eyes widened ever so slightly. “I had forgotten your family owned the property.”

“I am not surprised. There is no reason to mention it, hardly anyone ever visits and there has been no cause for us to argue about this particular property.”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “I prefer to call our disagreements lively discourse.”

Lavinia tried not to smile, but there was something so very likeable about Mr. Valentine and she always looked forward to his visits.

“I will not keep you.” He nodded. “I hope you enjoy your stay and I will try my best to keep Max away.”

“I do not mind big dogs,” she quickly answered though not certain why she felt compelled to say anything. “I simply prefer warning so that I might brace myself before a boisterous greeting.”

“Again, I apologize.”

“No harm was done,” she answered, though her bum was a bit sore from landing on the stone terrace, but that was too personal to mention to Mr. Valentine.

“Did your family join you?” she asked before he could walk away. If she recalled correctly, he had several siblings.

“I, too, am alone for Christmas. I felt the need to leave London for peace and quiet and…”

“And?” she questioned when he did not complete his answer.

“It is nothing,” he dismissed. “I thought it would be good to be somewhere else.”

Much like her.

“Then I shall not bother you so that you can enjoy your peace,” she offered.

“I cannot imagine that you would ever be a bother.” Valentine smiled, his light brown eyes warm and endearing and once again Lavinia reminded herself that he was a rake.

Perhaps that is what you should do . Take a lover and discover passion . Elizabeth’s words echoed in her mind. Your life has been that of duty and now you should take something for yourself .

Goodness! Why was she recalling that conversation now?

She most certainly could not take a lover, nor did she want one, especially if he was a rake.

“Lady Teviot?”

Lavinia blinked. Oh, how she hated that name, yet there was nothing she could do to change it short of marriage to another, which would never occur.

“Is all well? You seemed concerned. I do promise not to disturb you.”

Except, maybe she wanted him to.

Lavinia shook the thought away.

“I am simply tired from the journey. I should go in and rest.”

“Yes, of course.” He stepped back and started to walk away, Max the sheepdog trotting by his side.

Rakes were known to be the best lovers, or that was what Society believed. Did she dare find out for herself?

No!

Lavinia turned and stalked back into the cottage. Valentine was her brother’s solicitor, who she would be required to encounter weekly once they all returned to London. If she had him as a lover over the holiday it would make it very difficult to meet with him over estate matters in the spring. Therefore, she would dismiss the very foolish idea. If she truly wanted to know if her sister and Blythe spoke the truth—that intimacy could be pleasant—she would find another rake. One that she would not have to encounter ever again.

Demetrius had only known Lady Teviot since last spring, when she and her sister had come to London for the Season, both widows and just out of mourning. She had displayed nothing but strict supervision and devotion to her family and always remained reserved and polite. She gave counsel to the duke, guided her younger sisters, and oversaw the household. Demetrius had been quite certain that they could not get on without her. Yet, she was here, alone.

He glanced down at Max who walked along beside him.

“You may have ruined her dress, Max.”

The sheepdog looked up at him.

“You should not jump on people, especially women.”

Max just wagged his tail.

When they reached the terrace Demetrius pointed. “Sit.” Then he stepped inside to find the brush he had purchased specifically for Max and returned outside and set to grooming the dog. It was a daily practice and necessary, but if Max kept going in the water he would have to do this more often.

At first Demetrius had been irritated by the shedding and feared that the woman he had hired to clean his set of rooms would quit. Luckily, she adored Max as well as the increase in her wages.

He also found that the time that he spent brushing Max after the end of a long day was relaxing, which had come as a surprise.

He may not have known what to do with the cat and dog, nor had he even wanted them, but Demetrius had come to realize that he’d be lonely if they were gone.

They still weren’t the same as human interaction, however.

With those thoughts, he glanced at the Sea View cottage.

Why had Lady Teviot abandoned her family for the Christmas holiday?

Demetrius remembered the first time he had seen her and had been struck by her beauty, mahogany hair with a hint of red, and light blue eyes which were narrowed on him the moment they were introduced. She then proceeded to question him about the language he had used in a contract and made suggestions for how the agreement could better benefit her brother.

He'd been stunned and impressed. He had never met a woman, so beautiful and desirable, with intelligence and determination that she did not feel the need to hide. Every time they had met, which was weekly during the Season, Lady Teviot challenged him.

Despite the impossibility of the two of them sharing a dance, let alone anything more intimate, Demetrius was still infatuated with Lady Teviot, an emotion that had grown daily since their first meeting.

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.