Page 14 of Taken By the Duke of Stone

Lady Hartfield tsked. "Neither of you should be on the sidelines. You are both beautiful girls. Jenny I can understand, the poor girl may just cause a mishap out on the dance floor. But you, Lavinia, you have no excuse."

Lavinia frowned. "The whole thing is ridiculous. It makes me feel like a commodity."

"Everyone is a commodity in some way. Right now, you have the power to be the one to sell yourself."

Before she could open her mouth and give a retort, her aunt cut her a sharp look, "save it, Lavinia. I'll be escorting you to the ball."

"Escorting me? That will not be necessary. Noah is doing a fine job being my escort."

Lady Hartfield nodded, "Of course he is. He is also doing a fine job of being wrapped around your little finger. I shall be escorting you to the ball tonight and that is that."

She watched the older woman with a feeling of mounting dread.

Just a few hours ago, she had complained to Jenny about her guardians' sudden interest about her marital chances, but the current exchange with her aunt left her feeling less annoyed and more panicked.

"O-of course," she stammered, "I'll be honored to have you there with me."

Her aunt's smile was small but sincere, "you look stunning, darling. If the gentlemen don't come running, then I shall know that they are blind as bats."

She gave her aunt a stiff, closed lip smile, annoyed by the fact that she even had to participate in this whole farce tonight.

Lavinia allowed herself to be led out to the waiting carriage and handed up into it, all the while keeping her smile fixed. Tonight, she had a plan to secure her position as a wallflower or as a thoroughly unmarriageable miss and her aunt's presence wasn't going to change that.

It was simple really and the best part was that she didn't need to get involved in a scandal.

The carriage deposited them at the front steps of Livingston house and the two women made their way up the stairs and past the front door.

"Lady Hartfield, is that you?" Lady Livingston exclaimed as they got to where she and the viscount were welcoming guests, "I did not think you would make an appearance. You have been rather scarce in public."

Lavinia's aunt chuckled, a nervous sound that caught the girl's attention and she turned to the older woman worriedly.

"I've been busy is all," the Countess replied, "Have you met my niece, Miss Proctor?"

The golden-haired woman turned to Lavinia, "Welcome to Livingston house. Have you met my son?"

It was then that Lavinia noticed the slender, baby-cheeked gentleman beside the viscountess.

Her son couldn't be a day above twenty, but from the calculating look in the woman's eyes, Lavinia saw that she was eager to foist him off to the first respectable lady she got her hands on.

She held back her shudder.

Mr. Livingston was trying and failing to make eye contact and she decided to get him out of his misery.

"Ahn, we seem to be holding up the line," she said with mock regret, "If you'll excuse us."

Grabbing her aunt's arm, she managed to steer her away and into the ballroom.

"Bless you, Lavvie," the older woman's eyes twinkled, "I was looking for the most polite way to leave that conversation. I do not wish Lady Livingston's wet behind the ears boy on you."

The girl laughed. How ridiculous it was that at her age she was an adult and at his, he was a child.

"I think I see Beatrice, come, let us say hello and get an introduction to her brother. He's an earl," Lady Hartfield said and began to lead them to a voluptuous, dark-haired woman.

Moments later, Lavinia was in the arms of an Earl whose name she couldn't remember. He was about her height and pudgy and he had stared unnecessarily too long at her chest.

"Where has the countess been hiding a beauty like you?" the man cooed.

"I have been doing the hiding all on my own," she shot him a smile.

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