Page 36 of Ruthless with a Rogue
And perhaps Lord Dunmore liked who she was without alteration, and yes, that was thrilling—new and rare and a surprise.She plucked at her worn skirts.But that was because the man didn’t want her as a wife.It didn’t matter if she didn’t fit the mold if she was just one of his many bedpartners.It wasn’t real, his appreciation of who she truly was.Well, it was real.But was of little consequence.
And she needed to remember that.Focus on the facts.
If she wanted a future that wasn’t as lonely as the life she’d lived thus far, she needed to change.
Lord Dunmore had found her weakness and knew how to exploit it.It was smart on his part.
She needed to be smart too.
She lamented the world for condemning her for having a brain.Now wasn’t the time to fill it full of feathers just because a handsome devil happened to like her quick sums.
A knock sounded on her door.“Come in, Aunt Mellie.”
The door swung open, and her aunt stood in the doorway, a bewildered expression on her face.Behind her stood multiple young women carrying large white boxes.
“In here, please.”Her aunt waved an arm toward the interior of her room.
Livy scrambled off the bed, her foot catching in her skirts in the process, and she ended up half-hopping, half-stumbling to her aunt, who now stood off to the side in her bedroom.So, notalwaysgraceful, a hint of ungainliness still lingered.
“What is the meaning of this, Aunt Mellie?”Livy murmured.
“I haven’t the faintest idea,” she said weakly.
A voice sounded from the hallway.“Maria, you have the special-order boxes as well, yes?Good, good.Now let us see what we are working with.”
A finely dressed woman in a deep violet dress strode into Livy’s bedroom.She was short with an hourglass figure.Despite her height, she had a commanding presence.She scanned the room, and when she caught sight of Livy, she beamed.
“Ah, it all makes sense now.You must be Miss Forester.I am Mrs.Bean.”She dropped a deep curtsy, the ruffled and frilled fabric of her gown fluttering around her like the petals of a flower.“It is my pleasure to work with you.”
Livy barely had the presence of mind to close her gaping mouth.She glanced at her aunt, who looked just as confused.“I… I think you may be mistaken.I mean to say, I am Miss Forester, but… I didn’t hire you to do…” She waved a hand helplessly at the women rearranging the furniture of her room, setting up a small stand in the middle of the room.“Whatever it is you do.”
Mrs.Bean laughed and rapidly clapped her hands, artfully placed tendrils of her dark brown coiffure bouncing in delight.“Oh, lamb, he didn’t tell you?He hadn’t mentioned it was a surprise.”She shook her finger back and forth.“What a naughty boy.”Her gaze grew distant, and she sighed wistfully.“But how romantic of him.”
She snapped back to attention with another clap that echoed throughout the room.“We do not have much time, so we must get started, yes?Off with the clothes.”
Livy’s eyes widened.“Pardon?”
Mrs.Bean winked at her.“I am here on the orders of the Marquess of Dunmore.He said you needed a wardrobe.”
Livy lifted the back of her hand to her brow.What on earth?What was the man up to now?
“We cannot afford this,” Aunt Mellie said softly from behind Livy.She stepped forward and cleared her throat.“My apologies, Mrs.Bean, but we do not have the money for your services.We are sorry to have wasted your time.”Her aunt’s cheeks reddened as she said the words.Livy reached out and found her aunt’s hand in the soft fabric of their intertwined skirts, giving it a squeeze.They may be poor, but they were proud.
“Oh, do not worry, my lady!All is already taken care of.By His Lordship himself.He said nothing but the best for the blue-eyed angel.I can see why.”She looked Livy up and down, her lips curling in a small approving smile.
Livy blinked.Blue-eyed angel?
Aunt Mellie hovered at Livy’s ear.“Darling, you cannot accept such a gift.As much as I want this for you—Lord knows you deserve something nice for once in your life—the talk it will cause…it will ruin you.”
Livy’s gaze landed on a length of champagne and gold glittering fabric, and the little girl inside her wanted to wrap herself in it like a cocoon.But her aunt was correct.The tiny glimmer of excitement she hadn’t even realized had sparked to life fizzled out.
“Oh, but who would ever find out?”Mrs.Bean said, her eyes glinting mischievously.“Behind every powerful man is a more powerful woman keeping him in line.Us women deserve to be draped in nice things for all our hard work, yes?”She winked.
“Isn’t that the truth?”Aunt Mellie murmured from Livy’s side.“There are quite a few people in this room, Mrs.Bean.I mean no insult, but if word were to get out…”
Mrs.Bean gave a dismissive wave.“You have nothing to fear, lovelies.Gossiping about patrons is bad business.We’d be packing up shop quicker than a gentleman could gamble his fortune away.”She raised her hand and snapped her fingers above her head.Her battalion of assistants jumped to attention.“Now, let us begin.”
Her smile was gone, her jaw set, as her gaze bored into Livy.She held out a hand.
