Page 101 of Ruthless with a Rogue
The three scrambled up and chased after the puppies, spurring the little round-bellied pups to run and tumble even faster.
A deep chuckle came from her side.She turned to him—and time stopped.He smiled after the children, his green eyes glowing in the sunlight, deep grooves crinkling around his eyes, all his usual hardness absent.
“How different you are here,” Livy murmured.
He looked at her and cocked a brow.
She adopted a stern, foreboding tone.“The notorious Marquess of Dunmore, the most vile of blackguards, rude and with a cutting tongue as sharp as a blade, a master of cuckolding…” She trailed off as he gave an amused shake with his head and laughed, loose jet-black waves swaying around his face.
“You make me sound like a circus entertainer,” he said in a low voice.
Her lips twitched.“Well, you are performing for the world, aren’t you?”
His eyes searched hers.“But not with you.”Not any longer.There was no artifice between them.
“Nor these children.”
He pursed his lips as he leaned back on his hands, staring up at the sky.“None of the children here deserve that kind of treatment.Members of the ton, on the other hand…” He bobbed a shoulder.“These scamps have suffered through things those people couldn’t begin to imagine.In the ton,woe is meif the weather is too hot, or the tea too cold, or my diamond’s too small.”He let out a huff of disgust.“These children don’t need another dark cloud in their lives.I visit as often as I’m able while I’m in London and do my best to provide a few surprises during my stay for the season.”
“It would seem that it does all involved quite a bit of good.”
“That it does,” he murmured.“But it can be heavy at times.There are countless more who need saving that we just don’t have the room for—and there’s been the disaster of the funding.”
She discreetly slid her hand over his in the grass and squeezed.“Not a disaster anymore.”
He smiled at her, genuine and easy and free.He tapped his head with his forefinger.“Because of you, clever girl.This sponsorship auction is truly becoming something exceptional.”They'd made much progress on planning the auction over the past few days.They'd been meeting at the Rutledges' every day.
“You’re the one who came up with the idea to appeal to the upstarts.It’s amazing to me what individuals are willing to pay for an item just knowing it once rested in a peer’s home.Thatwas a brilliant strategy.”
“Yes, but then you took that and expanded on it.Auctioning offexperiencesalong with the items people are donating.Tea with the dowager.Admittance to exclusive balls.A night in the Rutledges’ theater box.Nowthatwas pure brilliance.”
They grinned at each other.
“I suppose we’re both brilliant,” Livy whispered.
“I fear for the world now that we’ve joined our minds.”
“Unstoppable.”
Sunlight glittered over green irises, ones that were fixated on her.So many shades of green.Striations of emerald over soft moss, vibrant grassy shades.Soft breath dusted over her cheek.She couldn’t look away.
“Lovely place you have here, Lord Dunmore.”Quinton threw himself down in front of Livy and Derek, smiling ear-to-ear at the two of them.
Livy jerked back, eyes flying wide.She’d been moments away from kissing him.In full view of everyone in the garden.For someone with quite a bit of intelligence, she was incredibly stupid.Quinton’s smile somehow grew even wider.He hadn’t missed that fact.
Ah, and there was Derek’s glower.He nodded stiffly.“Mr.Sheffield.”
“Lord Dunmore.”Quinton studied Derek, an amused glint in his mahogany eyes.“So, what are your intentions with my dear Miss Forester?”
Derek’s jaw slackened.It took him a moment to find his voice.“I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve known Miss Forester a long time.Let us say I consider her to be like a younger sister.And considering you were just about to kiss her, I’d like to know what your intentions are.”
Derek’s gaze bounced between Livy and Quinton, a scowl tightening his features.She hid her smile behind her gloved hand.She could practically see the war Derek was having with himself.He wanted to be an arse, put the over-confidentpupin his place.But Quinton was important to Livy, so he hesitated.
“It’s true,” she murmured.“Quint has always looked out for me.He’s the one who taught me how to throw a punch.”She shot Derek a saccharine smile.
He threw her a dry look.Minx.
