Page 40 of The Duke of Seduction
“Here we are back where we started,” Mr. Jeffries said.
Lavinia withdrew her arm from his. “Thank you for the promenade, Mr. Jeffries.”
“As I said, I’m only in London for a few days, but perhaps we’ll meet again.”
“I’d like that,” she said.
He smiled and offered her a bow before departing. She watched him walk right out the door and suspected he wasn’t coming back.
Lavinia went to join Sarah whose eyes were sparkling. “You look as if you’re having a splendid evening,” Lavinia said.
“Oh yes. But you were right that it’s strange. I find myself wanting to ask people if they never noticed me before. I don’t, however, in fear of their answer.” She grinned.
Lavinia laughed softly. “Best not to ask.”
“Who were you with just then?” Sarah asked. “I didn’t recognize him.”
“Mr. Horace Jeffries from Oxford. He’s a botanist.”
“A scientist? However did you manage to meet him?”
Lavinia couldn’t actually say without revealing her association with Beck. “Lady Reeves introduced him.”
Sarah blinked with interest. “And did you like him?”
“I did, actually.” She thought back over their conversation and realized most of it had been about Beck. Had she liked him because of that? She glanced around to see if Beck was still there but didn’t see him. That didn’t mean he’d gone, just that her eyesight at a distance was as terrible as ever. She focused on Sarah. “So you’re enjoying yourself overall?”
“Yes, it’s very busy. In fact, here comes another gentleman. But perhaps he’s here for you.”
“I doubt that,” Lavinia said with a smile. She hoped not. She wasn’t in the mood for another spin around the drawing room. Not unless it was with Beck.
Was that true?
She took her leave of Sarah and went in search of him. It did seem that he’d gone already. And since Mr. Jeffries hadn’t come back to the drawing room, she wondered if they’d left together. Where had they gone? Probably to a club or wherever Beck went to do rakish things. Although she couldn’t imagine Mr. Jeffries joining him in such activities. Or maybe she just didn’t want to think of them doing that.
Disappointment curdled in her gut. It had been five days since she’d walked with Beck in the park, and they hadn’t needed to correspond. She realized she missed him and that she had nothing to look forward to with him. It wasn’t as if he could meet her in the library.
Lavinia left the drawing room and nosed around until she found the library. Beck wasn’t there, of course. In fact, it was open to the rout and there were several people inside, mostly older men, conversing. Which meant she couldn’t peruse Lord Reeves’s bookshelves.
There was nothing for it. She’d have to return to the drawing room and suffer the rest of her evening. Alone. No, not alone. Thanks to Beck’s pen, she was rarely ever that anymore. And damn if she didn’t miss that.
* * *
Shortly after Beckentered his study the following day, Gage came in with his the day’s post. “There’s a package here, my lord,” the butler informed him as he set it and a small stack of letters on Beck’s desk.
Beck picked up the parcel and found it to be a bit heavy. “I asked my stepmother to send some things from Waverly Court.” He was keen to open it, but he was also eager to play. His gaze drifted to his guitars in the corner.
“I’m sure the household would enjoy it if you played. Of late, your music has taken on a livelier tone. I caught one of the maids dancing as she worked yesterday.” Gage said this with humor, his eyes twinkling.
Beck hadn’t realized it, but what Gage said was true. His writing was also lighter and…easier. The poem for Miss Colton had flown from his fingertips.
“Whoever she is, I hope you’re able to continue the association for quite some time.” Gage was well aware of Beck’s preference for short-term love affairs and disinclination to marry.
“There isn’t anyone,” Beck said even while his mind drifted to Lavinia. Her brazenly witty smile and her sharp, intelligent eyes formed an image in his mind.
“I’m surprised to hear it. Changes in your music are almost always accompanied by a new affair.”
Beck glanced up at him. “There is certainly no affair.”
