Page 48 of Ruthless with a Rogue
She waved away his response.“That wasagesago.I expect you to visit on the morrow.”She retook Lord Rutledge’s arm and, though the man did his best to escort her, she led him into the dining room.
28
Livy
Poppingabiteofroasted duck in her mouth, Livy soaked in the bubbly atmosphere of the dinner.Her lips curved as she chewed discreetly.Lord Dunmore had been correct; she was thrilled with those she’d been introduced to so far this evening.The guests filling Lord and Lady Rutledge’s table were a mixture of ton, trade, and academia.
She glanced at Lord Dunmore beneath her lashes.There was such depth to him.He was a pond one jumped in, not realizing their feet would never touch the bottom.He knew this crowd would accept her.The stupidly handsome, surprisingly thoughtful man.
The man to her right, a Mr.Benton, scoffed, bringing her attention back to her dinner partners.“You cannot possibly think a machine could ever do the calculations that the human mind can,” Mr.Benton said.
“I don’t see it as that improbable,” said the gentleman sitting across from them.He had a bulbous nose, slightly mussed hair, and a serious mien.And he was also the one and only Mr.Frederick Hodge.Livy had nearly knocked her wineglass over when she’d seen with whom she’d been seated.“If there were a way to somehow construct the machine so that it could alternate through various algorithms, it would be quite possible.It is just a matter of how.”
Livy’s ears perked up.“How fascinating!If there were a way to construct such a machine using recursive functions, it would allow for the possibility of all sorts of computations.”
Across from her, Mr.Hodge cocked his head as he studied her.“What an interesting thought.I am Mr.Frederick Hodge.I don’t believe we were introduced earlier.May I ask to whom I have the pleasure of speaking?”
Livy almost squealed at being addressed by one of her idols.“Mr.Hodge, it is an honor.I have devoured every bit of your published work.The algorithms and methods for differentiation and integration have been nothing short of enlightening.I am an ardent admirer.Oh, and Miss Forester.I am Miss Forester.”She rushed out, stumbling over her words.
A smile broke across the man’s face.“Thank you.Not a typical subject of passion for a young miss.I would love to hear more about your thoughts on these recursive functions you speak of.”
Livy sat in shocked awe as the discussion continued around her.Not once during this dinner had anyone maligned her for her intelligence, for speaking on subjects reserved for men.She hadn’t known a world like this existed.She hadn’t realized how thrilling something as simple as a dinner could be.
Back at home with Papa…many dinners had passed in silence while she’d had a book opened next to her plate because Papa had been lost in thought, in the middle of some great breakthrough.There, but not there.So, this dinner, full of laughter and conversation, felt like everything she'd been missing.For once, she belonged.This is all she so desperately wanted for her future.Simple meals with smiles and merriment.
The footmen cleared the second course, changing the table out for dessert.A wide array of fruits, cheeses, jellies, and nuts was set upon the fresh off-white linen table covering.Various custards and cakes were laid out, the smell of butter and burnt sugar wafting up to Livy’s nose.Glancing hopefully around the table, she searched for her favorite dessert.Her shoulders slumped slightly as she didn’t spot any shortbread biscuits.
Laughter rang out at the end of the table where the hosts sat, and her gaze flitted over, landing on Lord Dunmore.
“I see I should have had one pie prepared just for you, my lord.”Lady Rutledge’s laughter-laden voice danced across the table as she smiled at Lord Dunmore.
Lord Dunmore’s lips curled slightly as he took up a forkful of the slice of gooseberry pie on his plate.Livy blinked.He had almost half the pie in front of him.
“I’m a man of healthy appetites.”He glanced up then, his eyes locking on hers across the table.
Her skin prickled, the heat in his gaze so strong it assaulted her from all the way across the table.There was the Marquess she knew.The one bent on seduction.The more she learned about the man, the more dangerous he became.
To her.
She jerked her gaze away, politely accepting a piece of trifle Mr.Benton was proffering.
“So, Mr.Hodge, please tell me more about this analytical machine idea of yours.”Livy leaned forward again, pushing Lord Dunmore from her mind.“I’m fascinated by the concept.”
“Only if you agree to expand on your computation ideas.”He raised a dark bushy brow at her, the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile.
“Consider it done.”She raised an answering brow.“Who could complain with a dessert of calculations and custards, after all?”
“Hear, hear!”Mr.Benton and the gentleman sitting to her left said at the same time.
Mr.Hodge lifted his glass of wine in salute.
Sighing happily, she picked up acannolothat looked especially delicious, the golden waffled shell beckoning her.She took a bite, and a small amount of the inner custard gushed out the end.She caught it with her finger and popped the digit in her mouth.She closed her eyes, savoring the rich vanilla bean custard paired perfectly with the crispy-coated buttery shell.Divine.She loved vanilla.Her eyes fluttered open.The taste, the scent—
Her gaze clashed with Lord Dunmore’s, and her lungs refused her air.His hooded gaze was harsh, penetrating, and fixated on her.His jaw ticked, clenched tight, almost as tight as his fist currently attempting to strangle his fork.
She swallowed and licked her lips.The remainder of hercannolohung suspended in mid-air, forgotten.His eyes tracked the movement of her lips, and their carriage ride afterThe Devil’s Eyecame roaring back, every word he’d uttered about her mouth and what he wanted to do with it.He bared his teeth, and though too far to hear, she would wager her future voucher to Almack’s that he growled.She didn’t understand it, but it was almost as though his stares this evening held more heat, carried more weight, more potency.Almost as if he had a renewed determination to have her.
Livy turned away and reached for her glass of water, her fingers trembling lightly.
