Page 130 of Ruthless with a Rogue
His rich timbre slid over her like a caress.Oh goodness.She wasn’t sure what was headier, the possessiveness and raw desire in his tone, or the fact that the reason behind it was because of her intelligence, because of her success.She couldn’t believe this.A presentation.Side-by-side with Mr.Hodge.
“What’s going on here?”The befuddled question filled the library, and in the next moment, Livy was toppling to the floor as Derek thrust her away from him and jumped to his feet.
“My lord,” he squeaked.He squeaked.The Marquess of Dunmore.
Livy swallowed down her mirth and got to her feet, dusting off her skirts.Her gaze landed on a familiar worn brown waistcoat, the buttons done up in the wrong holes.A smile teased her lips.
“Papa,” she whispered.
His white hair was overlong now, in desperate need of a trim, but she hadn’t been home to do it—to remind him it needed to be done.A smile broke free on his rosy cheeks, and she hurried to him.
“Ollie-girl…heavens, look at you—oomph.” She squeezed him in a tight hug, and he patted her head awkwardly.He gently extricated himself from her embrace and held her out at arm’s length.“Safe.Whole.Thank God.Are you well?”He scanned her, eyes searching, his furry white brows pinched together.
“I’m more than well, Papa.”She tried to quell her smile and glanced toward a very awkward, very fidgety marquess.
“And why is that?”But her father wasn’t looking at her any longer; his gaze was on Derek.
Derek opened his mouth, but nothing surfaced.Panic flashed in his green eyes.Heaven help her.“I…urm…I had planned to have a m-meeting,” Derek stammered.“In a study.”In other words, he was caught completely off-guard and was now scrambling for purchase.The notorious Marquess of Dunmore, ladies and gentlemen.
Fortunately for him, he had her.“This is Roderick, Papa, Lord Dunmore.He wants to marry me.”
A choked noise came from behind her.
“Marry, you say?”Papa turned back to Dunmore.“Lord Dunmore?And what manner of lordship is that, sir?Are you able to support my daughter?”
Derek blinked dumbly and then looked at Livy, disbelief clear as day in his wide eyes.She could hear his arrogant thoughts:He doesn’t know who I am?Really?
“Well, I supposehereis no place for discussion.Let’s sit down together while I’m here.I’ve only just arrived, so I want to go look in on Mellie’s welfare as well.”His gaze went distant as he turned for the library door.Livy knew that look—and sure enough, instead of the door, he veered toward the desk in the library.Out came the familiar notebook he always kept on him, and he was scribbling furiously before she could speak.
Livy cleared her throat.Nothing.“Papa,” she said loudly.
He blinked up at her.“Yes, Ollie-girl?”
“You were on your way to see Aunt Mellie…”
He glanced down at his notebook.“Ah, quite right.”He dashed some last note with a flourish and then pocketed his notebook.“I’ll just do that now.”
Livy’s lips twitched.“An excellent notion, Papa.”
She watched him shuffle off, a warm fondness wrapping around her.The question was, how long would it be until he actually made it to Aunt Mellie?
Derek sidled up to her.“Should I be insulted he doesn’t know who I am?Can I provide for you?Truly?I’m as wealthy as bloody Croesus.My pride is feeling a mite hurt at the moment.”
She arched a brow at him.“Oh, we remember who we are now, do we?I’m not sure I can blame Papa for not knowing who you are.I didn’t even know the Marquess of Dunmore was in this room a moment ago.”
“I got a bit mixed up,” he grumbled.
She snorted, and he glared at her.She glanced toward the hall, and then quickly rose on her tiptoes to place a soft kiss on his lips.“I like that you get all mixed up over me,” she whispered.
He lifted a hand and cupped her face, his thumb sliding softly over her cheek.“Only ever with you.”
“My rogue,” she murmured.
“Yours.”
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Epilogue - Derek
