Page 14 of Ruthless with a Rogue
Grinning, she arched a brow.She twisted the doorknob, its audible click echoing through the room.“I’ll give you your clothes back…”
He halted, silent, stiff, still except for his flaring nostrils.
“I’ll give you your clothes back.But I want something from you in return.”
He raised one imperious coal-black brow.“And what is it you want?”
Livy took a deep breath.Here we go.“Society loves you.Your presence is coveted at every dinner table.You—you are the pineapple of the ton.”
His mouth went slack.
Yeeps, Livy, that was not your finest comparison.
She hurried on.“I have read all about your escapades and indiscretions.You’re rude.You’re arrogant.You sleep with other men’s wives, sometimes multiple in the same night.Yet, they always want more of you.You are of the uppermost echelon of society, and I want you to bring me there with you.I need the ton just as desperate for me as they are for you.If you put your weight behind me, I think we could make that happen.”
He grinned, one that promised wicked sinful things.“While, trust me, darling, I wouldloveto put all my weight behind you,” he purred.Livy’s eyes widened.“I find it hard to believe that you—miss dainty angel with the blue eyes—want to be notorious.”
Livy slashed her hand through the air impatiently.“No.I want my reputation to remain impeccable.But I need to become someone everyone in society wants at their dinners and balls.I need to be sought after.”
“Why?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Oh, love.I really think it does.I don’t do anything without knowing all the facts.I’ll ask again.Why?”
A heavy sigh slipped from her, and her gaze fell to the floor.She supposed she did have to answer the question.“There’s a certain gentleman I wish to marry.He believes me to be un—unsuitable.”She tripped over the painful word.
Lord Dunmore’s gaze drilled into her, and she fidgeted under the weight of it.
“Unsuitable how?”
Strength Livy.She lifted her chin and stared into those green eyes.“No one of consequence.Poor.Not worthy of his title.”
“And you are sure he will marry you if you achieve this?”
“Most definitely,” she said with a decisive dip of her chin.“We grew up on neighboring estates and have been sweethearts for years.He told me he wished he could marry me, but a man like him cannot lower himself with someone like me.It is a difficult fact to accept, yet I understand.”
The man started slow clapping.“What a beautiful love story.I can completely understand why you would want to marry this man.He sounds like the next Lord Byron.”
Livy glared at him.It wasn’t as though Warren had a choice in the matter.A poor, lowly baron’s daughter who was no better than a country bumpkin wasn’t exactly a prize marital prospect.Tonight had been quite the eye-opening revelation of that.Her lack of dance partners had unfortunately proven Warren’s assessment correct.She might not like it, but she understood facts when they were presented to her.She currently brought nothing to a union.She’d change that with a standing in high society.
And to prove her point… “Would you marry me?”she demanded.
His mouth fell open again.“Did you—Are you proposing to me?”
She let out a soft groan while sending a silent prayer heavenward.“No, I’m not proposing to you.I am merely making my point.It doesn’t matter that it isn’t romantic; it is the way our world works.He won’t marry me as I am.You wouldn’t marry me as I am.”
“I wouldn’t take offense, darling.I wouldn’t marry anyone.Though with those legs and those lips, I might be tempted.”
Oh, dear heaven.This man was exasperating.His presence was much more agreeable when he wasn’t talking.“Regardless, your feelings on the matter are inconsequential,” she huffed out.“Will you assist me, or do I need to abscond with your clothing?”She smiled sweetly at him.
He studied her, and her heart thrashed against her ribcage.What would it be?
He stepped toward her, and she opened the door slightly, ready to bolt.
He raised his hands in a gesture of good faith, but the gleam in his eyes said she’d be a fool to trust him.
He stepped toward her again.“I will assist you.”
