Page 49 of Ruthless with a Rogue
Being the object of that kind of attention…it wasn’t something she could allow herself to linger on.It was too intoxicating.
She avoided looking at that end of the table for the rest of the meal.
Livy sipped her tea, staring out the window at the torch-lit garden.It called to her.The excitement of the night coursed through her, her nerves jittery.What she wouldn’t give to stretch her legs, even for a brief moment.
“It appeared you enjoyed dessert, Miss Forester.”
Livy looked up to see Lady Rutledge standing before her, green eyes twinkling.Lady Pennington came up next to the woman, locking arms with her friend.
“It was divine, my lady.I quite enjoyed thecannolo,” Livy said.
“Lord Dunmore appeared to enjoy you enjoying it as well,” Lady Rutledge said.
Lady Pennington snorted softly.“I’ll say.”
Livy froze, heat washing over her skin.Oh my stars.Her heart pattered frantically.“I-I…”
Lady Rutledge waved her hand.“I am only teasing.Though, you can’t deny, as you did in Hyde Park, that there isn’tsomethingbetween the two of you.If there isn’t yet, I’m placing all my coin on Lord Dunmore winning you over.”
“Oh, please let him win you over!”Lady Pennington leaned forward, dragging Lady Rutledge with her.“I will live vicariously through you.”
“My ladies, I—”
“Oh, none of that now, dear.Please call me Franny,” Lady Rutledge said.
“And call me Phi, short for Sophie,” Lady Pennington piped in.
Livy’s hand came to rest against her chest, lost for words.Had she just…made friends?For so long, Quinton and Warren had been her only company.It’d just been her, Papa, and the servants.And her sweet Bonny.Could this be the start?
“I am honored, my ladies—Franny, Phi.”
Phi’s sapphire blue eyes sparkled.“And what are we to call you, Miss Forester?Or shall we come up with our own nickname for you?”
Franny clapped her hands.“Oh, how fun!Let’s come up with a nickname!I am exceptionally talented when it comes to nicknames.”
“I’m most often addressed as Liv or Livy, but I am happy to try out something new,” Livy said with a hesitant smile.Trying new things was becoming a trend as of late, wasn’t it?
“Livykins,” Franny said.
“Livyloo,” Phi threw out.
“Livid Livy!”Franny bounced up and down on her toes.
Livy snorted, lifting her fingers to her lips as a chuckle broke free.
“What about Ollie?”Phi offered.
Livy wrinkled her nose.“That’s what my father calls me.”
“Definitely not, then.”Franny shook her head.“Honestly, Livy just fits you so perfectly.Though I reserve the right to throw in a Livykins or Livyloo here and there as I see fit.”
A smile pulled at Livy’s lips.“I suppose I can allow that.”She wiped her face of emotion and said solemnly, “They are such Fran-tastic, Phi-nomenal names, after all.”
Franny and Phi glanced at each other, owl-eyed, and then swiftly burst out laughing.
“Oh goodness,” Franny said, wiping a tear from her eye.“That was gloriously atrocious.”
“You know… I quite like them,” Phi said thoughtfully, tapping her bottom lip.“They would be quite fitting on the court.I do have a Phi-nomenal serve.”
