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

Chapter 4

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.

Further, in Seaford they were away from the eyes and ears of the ton. Therefore, if anyone noted her actions, it would not be gossiped about outside of the town and thus would not reflect poorly on her sisters.

Yes, that is what she would do, and as soon as she changed her gown, she’d visit the town and come to know the other male residents.

Demetrius had assumed that Seaford was no larger than a small village, which turned out to be his second incorrect assumption since he had arrived. He really should stop assuming anything. He also had no idea where or how he might go about hiring a maid of all work. In London, he had hired the same woman who cleaned his brother’s set of rooms and had not needed to search as he did now.

Uncertain how to proceed, Demetrius decided to visit the Post Office. If anyone knew the town it would be the postmaster. From there he was directed to the building that produced the local newspaper. After purchasing the latest publication, he found a tavern and took a seat where he ordered a meal and a pint and read the latest news of Seaford and reviewed the advertisements. Unfortunately, there was nobody asking for a position, which prompted Demetrius to return to the newspaper office and purchase his own advertisement for a maid of all work through Twelfth Night.

As he was uncertain when, or if, he would even find a servant, Demetrius had no choice but to visit the various shops and purchase more bread, arrange for eggs and milk to be delivered, then wondered what else he might need. It would be just enough to get him by and no doubt he would be having many of his meals at the tavern, which was no different than living in London.

What he needed was a real home of his own, with servants who lived within. At least two, one who cooked and another who cleaned and did his laundry. Certainly, it would be more economical then always eating at taverns.

Such were his ponderings when he stepped from the cheesemonger’s and right into a woman because he had been looking into the basket that he’d been forced to purchase to carry his items.

“I am terribly sorry,” Demetrius said as he reached out for her elbow so that she did not fall.

“Did you learn your manners from your dog or did he learn them from you?”

His eyes snapped to the light blue ones of Lady Teviot.

“The difference was Max was happy to see you and make a new friend with no concern of damage. Whereas I should have been more cognizant of my surroundings and looked before I stepped out on the walk.”

“Does that mean you are not also happy to see me?”

Good God! He had not meant to insult her. That was not what he had meant. “Yes…of course, Lady Teviot. I did not mean to imply…” Demetrius only trailed off when he noted that the corner of her mouth tipped and her blue eyes filled with humor.

He tried to continue what he was saying, but words failed him. He had rarely seen Lady Teviot smile let alone tease. If anything, she was a harsh critic and Demetrius had yet to provide her brother with a contract or agreement that she did not question him about and insist on changes.

She then looked down and frowned. “Foodstuffs?”

“Yes, well, one must eat.”

“Do you know how to cook?”

“I can manage an egg and I am quite fond of butter and jam on bread. Oh, I am also proficient at boiling water for tea.”

“One should not need to survive on eggs, cheese, tea and bread alone.”

Though many did, and some had far less, not that Demetrius mentioned such a sad fact to her.

“What of a cook or maid?”

“One did not come with the cottage, but I have placed an advertisement.”

“And this is the only thing you will eat until you hire someone?”

“I was on my way to the butcher or the fishmonger so that I would have something to prepare for this evening.”

“You did not claim to know how to prepare those items.”

It was the same tone she often used when questioning him about language in an agreement, but he did not mind because he had glimpsed humor in her eyes.

He shrugged. “It cannot be so difficult.”

“That will never do, Mr. Valentine,” she insisted.

He had lost count of how many times he had heard those exact words from her with the same disciplinary tone. Despite his attraction to her, Lady Teviot would always censure him.

“I have little choice, Lady Teviot, but I thank you for your concern.”

“It is because of my concern that you will dine with me this evening.”

He would be far happier if she were asking him to dinner because she wanted his company, but Demetrius suspected her reasons were of a far more practical purpose. “I do not wish to impose.”

“An imposition would be for you to die from food poisoning, or starvation. That would then require that my brother seek a new solicitor and as he trusts few men it would take him weeks or months during which your duties would fall to me. Therefore, you shall dine with me. Dinner will be served at six.”

Before Demetrius could accept or decline, Lady Teviot turned on her heel and marched away.

He couldn’t help but grin. It did not matter the reason he had been invited because he would be quite happy to dine with her this evening. And just maybe he might come to know the beautiful widow a little better than before.