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

Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Goodness, she’d confessed much more to Demetrius than she had intended. Yes, she was going to tell him that she was seeking something for herself, but she had not intended to express her dislike for her former husband.

It also mattered little because it was freeing to talk openly with someone. She could never tell Leopold or her younger siblings how unhappy her marriage had been, or that she was discontented.

It was also time to turn the subject from her. “You are the eldest of your siblings, are you not?”

“Yes.” Demetrius leaned back as the soup bowls were removed and then the next course was placed before them.

“I assume you carry some of the same responsibility for your younger siblings.”

“When I was younger, yes, but once I was at school, I left the guidance to my aunt and uncle.”

She wanted to ask what had happened to his parents but feared that it might bring up painful memories. Instead, she asked after his siblings.

“There were ten of you, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me about them,” she said.

Demetrius took a sip of his wine before he spoke.

“There is little to tell. Benedick is an investigator with the Thames River Police. Orlando is a doctor. Mercutio had always been the fighter in the family and is a pugilist.”

She knew the name but had not made the connection previously. “Mercutio Valentine is your brother?”

“How do you know about pugilists?” He chuckled with his question.

Of course, a lady should not know about such, but ever since she had come across two boys fighting when she was a child herself, she had been interested in the sport. Not that ladies were allowed to attend events, but she learned what she could. “I have read his name in the newssheets and my younger brother has mentioned attending matches. He never wagers against your brother.”

“I am just happy that the aggression from his youth has earned him a career.” Demetrius chuckled.

“Did he fight so often when he was younger?”

“He did not like his sisters to be teased and took offense. I pulled him off many boys with bloodied noses.”

“Were they cruel boys?” she asked.

“They were boys who teased girls because they were too young to realize that one day they would grow up to find that girls can be very likeable.” He chuckled again.

At least his fists were used because he was protective and not because he was a violent person. “What of the others?”

“Petrucio enjoys the stage. He is an actor and often travels with a troupe,” he answered with a shake of his head.

“You do not approve?”

“It is not for me to approve or disapprove,” Demetrius answered. “So long as he is happy.”

Happy. Would her siblings be concerned if they learned that she was not?

Lavinia pushed the question aside. She did not want to think of them tonight.

“The next born was Rosalind and she married the Marquess of Felding a few years back. Bianca married the Duke of Roxburg this last spring and Isabella married Mr. Nathaniel Storm not long after.”

“The sons enjoy the career of their choice while your sisters did their duty.” It was the same no matter the circumstances of one’s birth. The woman was always expected to marry.

“Duty had nothing to do with their marriages,” he insisted. “Rosalind was quite happy as a governess, Bianca is a pianist and had employment with a school of dance, and Isabella had found a place to work at a home for veterans injured in war. They were taken by surprise to fall in love and marry.”

“I am surprised that was even allowed—them having positions,” she clarified. How freeing it must have been to choose what one wished to do.

“I am afraid the entire family is stubborn and we do as we wish.” His warm brown eyes twinkled with humor in the candlelight and matched the low chuckle.

“That includes you?” she questioned.

“I am most determined in pursuing what I want.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask what else he wanted, but Lavinia was not certain she wished to know and feared that she might be disappointed in his answer if it was not her.

Goodness! Where had that thought come from? She had not asked Demetrius to dine with her for any reason other than to come to know him better.

“I understand you lost a brother at Waterloo. I am sorry for that.”

The humor in his eyes faded away, which was understandable and perhaps she should not have mentioned the death.

“Thank you. We still miss Bertram, but he wanted to serve King and Country and nobody could keep him from doing so.”

“That leaves one other sister, does it not?”

“Yes, Perdita.”

Demetrius did not smile as he had when speaking of his other living siblings. Had something happened to her?

“She enjoyed her position at Westbrook House taking care of orphans but is now traveling. Much like you, she is in search of something for herself.”

It was unusual for a miss to travel, but perhaps she was with a chaperone or friends who watched over her. Clearly, he was concerned for her welfare, but Lavinia did not know him nearly well enough to inquire further. Though, Perdita’s decision did give her an idea. Maybe she should travel. Maybe then she would find something to fill the loneliness inside by discovering wonders that she’d been denied on account of duty.

“I do hope she is enjoying herself and finds what she needs,” Lavinia finally offered with all sincerity.

As the servant took the now empty plates from the table, Lavinia stood. “Would you care to join me in the parlor?”

Demetrius came to his feet. “I would like that very much.”

He followed her out of the dining room and into the parlor where he waited while she poured more wine then settled across from her.

“I am rather curious about one matter, however, given you were raised by a vicar.”

“What would that be?” he asked.

“What does he think of you being a rake?”

He nearly spilled his wine. “Rake?”

“Yes, Rake. It is what you are.”

Demetrius wasn’t certain if he was angered or humored to be called such. “Why do you believe that I am a rake?”

“I fear that if I tell you that you will become angry with me.”

He nearly laughed because if she had not been able to anger him since they first met, it was unlikely that she would now. A thorn in his side, often, and perhaps there was some irritation. If anything, Lavinia offered a challenge that he had not encountered in anyone else.

“Why would I be angry?”

“I had you investigated.”

“Investigated?” If that was true, how the blazes did she come to the conclusion that he was a rake?

Worse, what else had she learned? There were secrets in his family that needed to remain just that—secrets. At least until Perdita wed. If she wed.

“Yes. I had you followed and while I was assured that you were honest, intelligent and trustworthy, I also learned that you frequented brothels and regularly visited lightskirts and actresses as well as widows.”

All he could do was stare at Lavinia. This was certainly not a proper topic to discuss, especially since her investigator had made errors in his assessment.

“I find no fault in your actions as you are a man and that is what men do.”

Except, he did not. Well, he had lovers in the past, but did he explain as such to Lavinia?

Would she even believe him? Demetrius wanted to defend himself and explain, but to do so might reveal too much about his past because the truth was the only thing that would explain why he was not a rake, which he was not willing to do.

“If my reputation is such, would yours not be harmed by dining with me alone?” he countered.

Lavinia pursed her lips and frowned. “I suppose, if we were in London, but we are not and I doubt Seaford is aware.”

“I would think you’d be scandalized to know this about me.”

“I am not.”

“Why?” What was she about? The longer they spoke the more he came to realize that he had never seen the true Lavinia until tonight, if this was who she truly was.

It could also be the wine. They were on their second bottle and he suspected that she was not used to drinking so much. Then again, until dinner, he had made many assumptions that had been wrong.

He really must stop assuming anything.

When she sipped her wine and did not answer the question, Demetrius asked it again. “Why does my supposed reputation not scandalize you?”

Color rose in her cheeks and she glanced away before she shrugged.

If Lavinia believed him to be a rake and still invited him into her home, did she want something more from him? Did he dare hope?

Afterall, she was a widow and it wouldn’t be unusual if she missed the intimacies of marriage. Could that be the case with Lavinia, even if she had not enjoyed her marriage?

“You never answered my question,” she said after a moment. “Does the vicar who raised you not mind that you are a rake?”

All he could do was grin. “If he knew, then he would certainly object and likely be very disappointed in me.”

Lavinia leaned forward and grinned. “Then we shan’t tell him.”