Page 41 of Ruthless with a Rogue
Lord Dunmore’s turbulent gaze clashed with hers.He lifted a jet-black brow expectantly.She mulled it over, her brain working frantically.She loved the pressure of calculating on the spot.The thrill, the adrenaline.“It means you would have paid 917 pounds 17 shillings, instead of the 930 pounds if you had agreed to the two-year contract.”Warm satisfaction spread through her.Oh, that had been fun!
“Did you hear that, Pennington?I actually paid 12 pounds 3 shillings fewer out of pocket.Now, I was dealing in much larger amounts, so those savings begin to accumulate.That is creative investing.That issmartinvesting.”
Lady Pennington and Lady Rutledge both hid their smiles behind their fans.Lady Pennington caught Livy’s eye as she bounced on her toes.She looked positively gleeful at her husband’s set-down.She threw a wink Livy’s way.Livy’s lips twitched, and she inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.She may not have ingratiated herself with Lord Pennington, but his opinion of her wasn’t the one that mattered.
“Since it seems you have nothing else to say, Lord Pennington, I will take Miss Forester back to her aunt.”He turned to the ladies, bowing over their hands.
“We do hope to see you again, Miss Forester,” Lady Rutledge said.“I will ensure that an invitation to my next dinner party makes its way into your hands.”
Happiness bloomed inside Livy.Even setting aside her aim to ascend society, a part of her hoped she would have a chance to see these ladies again.Right now, she was a curiosity, an unheard-of unmarried miss in society.She was subject to whispers behind fans, calculating stares, wary distance, unsure if she was a threat or an asset.But these ladies—Lady Rutledge, with the mischievous hazel eyes, and Lady Pennington, with hair as fiery as her personality—had treated her differently.She liked these ladies.
She beamed at Lady Rutledge and looked around at everyone in the group, curtsying and saying her goodbyes.Lord Pennington’s glare burned into her, and her smile faltered.
She hastily glanced back at Lady Rutledge.“Th-Thank you, my lady.I am looking forward to it.”
24
Livy
“Idon’tthinkhe’scoming, dear,” Aunt Mellie said from where they stood in their small parlor.Pacing.Waiting.
Livy deflated with a heavy sigh.Aunt Mellie was right.Lord Dunmore had been expected to arrive at four to escort them to Ranelagh Gardens for promenading and then dinner.It was now half-past five.No note, no servant sent with regrets.But his absence was loud enough.
“I suppose we should change into something more comfortable.I’m sorry your efforts on my coiffure will be wasted.”She hated the dejection in her tone.Hated the hollowness that had stolen over her; like when she’d deflated, finally accepting he wasn’t coming, a part of her had whisked away with it.
She’d been so looking forward to tonight.And if she were honest with herself, it had nothing to do with her social standing.Would it have helped to be seen with the illustrious Marquess of Dunmore?Be introduced to more influential members of the ton and have word trickle back to Warren?Certainly.But she’d truly wanted to see the gardens, hear the music, view the entertainment.And more than anything, get more glimpses of the true man behind the mask.The man behind the Marquess.
Silly, foolish Livy.
“Nothing to apologize for, Olivia.I love spending time with you.I don’t care if we get all done up just to sit at home sipping wine.Would you like a glass of claret?We can have our own little supper, dressed to the nines.”
Livy smiled.“I’d like that.I think I’ll change first.It was the gardens and music more than anything I was looking forward to.But I’ve always liked comfortable.I think I’d prefer curling up on the settee in the parlor with claret and supper.”
Her aunt reached out and squeezed her hand.“I’m so sorry, dear.After Hyde Park and the dresses… I truly thought he’d keep his word.I was skeptical when you’d enlisted his help, and he did seem different from what I expected.Yet…”
Aunt Mellie’s words trailed off, but she didn’t need to say more.It was all there in the heavy silence.Yet this is what one must expect of a man with his reputation.A man whose only care was for his next conquest.Rude.Arrogant.A man who didn’t honor his promises.Not for a woman he could only steal a kiss from, especially when other women practically fought to share his bed.
The thing was…Livy was fairly certain the Marquess of Dunmore was nothing likethatman.He tried to be, but every time they’d been alone together, he’d slip.Something genuine would surface, and he’d hurry to cover it up.
This world loves to hate.
But she had a feelinghedidn’t.He just wanted everyone else to think he did.
There was something about him, something she couldn’t quite name, but it felt familiar.It went beyond matched minds, a shared interest in numbers.There was a likeness between them, a glimmer of herself reflected in him.Distant, blurry, something she wasn’t able to make out, but she could feel it—the quiet kinship.She’d thought they were becoming something like friends before tonight.
Her stomach whirled, unsteady and uncomfortable.A question murmured in the recesses of her mind:
What if he wasn’t here, not because he’d gone back on his word, but because something was wrong?
She followed her aunt upstairs to change, twisting her fingers in front of her.She hoped he was all right.
25
Derek
Derekgazednumblyacrosshis study.He could just make out the outline of the door in the pitch-black of the room from where he sat on the floor next to his sideboard.His attention slowly slid away, and he dropped his head to his knees, wrapping his arms around his shins.He squeezed his eyes shut, and a ragged, broken breath burst from him.
His leaden limbs were a weight he couldn’t fight, dragging him down.It was why he was on the floor.He’d meant to make it to his room.But then…he just didn’t care to any longer.What did it matter?
