Page 50 of Ruthless with a Rogue
“Oh, Phi!What an un-Phi-leivable idea!Livy, you must play tennis with us.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know how to play,” Livy said, her spirits deflating.
“Oh, don’t fret,” Phi said with all seriousness.“We are tennis Fran-atics.We will teach you.With a little instruction, you will pick up on it quickly.”
Franny nodded vigorously.“Yes, a little instruction will be quite bene-Phi-cial.We will e-Liv-ate you to tennis excellence beyond your wildest dreams.”
The three ladies glanced at each other and promptly dissolved into a fit of mirth.
“H-Horrible,” Livy said through gasping laughs.
Franny gulped.“Phi-Phi-Phi-ble attempts,” she stammered, and they all lost it.
Livy smiled at her new friends, dusting off the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes.“I think I need a bit of air after all of this.”
“Oh, yes.Go enjoy that cool night air, dear.We still have some time before the men are done with their port.Take advantage while you can,” Franny said.
“Yes, because we all know as soon as Lord Dunmore sees her, she’ll be overheated all over again,” Phi said with a wink.
Franny and Phi snickered.
Livy grinned.She could get used to this playful teasing.
“Ah, Franny spoke too soon.The gentlemen are done with their port.And my, my… A certain rogue is already looking Livyloo’s way,” Phi said, a devilish glint in her blue eyes.She caught Franny’s gaze, and then both women began rapidly fanning their hands in Livy’s direction.“Hurry, she’s overheating!”
Livy smothered her laughter with her hand.What a great night this was turning out to be.
29
Derek
Shewashavingfun.
He didn’t know what the troublesome duo was up to, but they had clearly swept Miss Forester into their fold.The three of them were all dancing eyes, flushed cheeks, and overloud laughter.She didn’t need to hide with them.Lady Rutledge might be in a favorable spot on Miss Forester’s tree of the ton, but more than anything, Derek had known the wildness of Lady Rutledge would mix wonderfully with his lively minx.
The women’s laughter instantly faded, and Lady Pennington’s smile turned brittle.Lord Pennington approached the trio, two glasses of wine in hand.Derek barely held back his growl.He didn’t like that man anywhere near Miss Forester.The man passed off the drinks, one to his wife and one to Miss Forester.
Derek would hand it to her, she smiled politely.He could tell she was wary, uncomfortable, even if it wasn’t outwardly obvious.It was there in the hesitance of her smile, the way her fingers fidgeted with the stem of the wineglass, the way she hid behind the glass, using it as a shield as she slowly sipped it.
“Interesting.”
Derek stiffened at the playful tone.
“You seem awfully focused on something,” Lord Kozington murmured.“By the direction you’re facing, I would assume it’s that golden-haired woman.But it can’t be.An innocent miss stealing the Marquess of Dunmore’s attention?The world must be ending.”
Derek turned to the dirty-blond-haired man who’d come to stand at his side.“Koz, you are beyond annoying.”
The man laughed.Even though Derek meant it.Lord Kozington and his younger twin brothers were instigators.Koz less so than the twins—well, Koz was more discreet about it, being an Earl and all.Appearances were everything, especially for men like Kozington.
“She’s the one you asked for my assistance with?The one I’m to dance with at the Monteith Ball?”
“Mhm.”
Kozington’s brows lifted suspiciously.“And you won’t rip off my ballocks for touching her?”
“Depends on where you touch her, Koz.”
The man grinned wolfishly, his hazel eyes sparking.“You’re totally going to bed her.”
