Chapter 18 Livy #2
She bit her lip, tried to keep her expression impassive, and tried to ignore the strange heat flooding her.
He’d caught her. But she knew the deck was running rich with high cards.
And while everyone at the table technically played against the dealer, who had an Ace showing, Livy had been secretly playing against Lord Dunmore as well.
As in…she’d been tracking the deck, how many high and low cards had been dealt, and occasionally hitting or staying when it wasn’t recommended, just to try to steal a winning card from the man beside her.
Apparently, he’d been keeping his own tally of the table.
A King was dealt on one of her tens, and her smile broke free. One more. Her knee bounced under the table as the dealer dealt the next card. She leaned forward…
An Ace!
She squealed and met Lord Dunmore’s gaze. His eyes, as green as the baize, glittered back at her. Amusement was a good look for him.
“And you, my lord?” the dealer asked of Lord Dunmore.
He swept his hand over his count of nine. “Hit me.”
Livy leaned forward at the same time Lord Dunmore did, and their shoulders met.
Their heads tilted toward each other as they impatiently awaited the card.
The dealer slid the card off the deck slowly, then paused.
Dunmore grunted, and Livy wasn’t far from letting out her own growl of frustration.
The dealer seemed to be having as much fun with this as they were.
The man finally flipped the card over. A six.
A sound of glee erupted from Livy, and she clapped rapidly, bouncing in her seat.
Lord Dunmore let out an exaggerated sigh. He was sitting at fifteen. He had to hit again.
“Hit,” he said defeatedly. Like he knew, just as Livy did, how likely it was he was going to get a high card and bust.
The dealer slapped down a Jack. “Bust.”
Lord Dunmore flipped back a roguish wave with a flick of his head, his gaze sweeping over her. “Minx,” he mouthed.
Livy winked, and he barked out a laugh.
She swallowed hard. Maybe amusement wasn’t a good look for him. It was too dangerous.
She shook her head. Focus on the game. Now to see how she faired.
The dealer reached for his face-down card.
Livy’s hand shot out and gripped Lord Dunmore’s wrist. Squeezed.
She knew the dealer didn’t have twenty-one, because he would have announced that at the start, but if he had an eight or less…
she’d win both hands. Adrenaline simmered under her skin, swirling inside her, faster, faster.
She leaned forward. She desperately wanted to win it all. This was intoxicating.
The dealer flipped over his card…
“An eight!” She turned to Lord Dunmore. “An eight. I won both!” She leaned toward him and arched a brow. “And you busted.”
“Awfully proud of yourself, minx,” he drawled, but his lips were twitching. That roguish wave fell over his brow again.
She rolled her bottom lip in, her teeth sinking into it. She popped a shoulder nonchalantly.
His stare locked on her mouth, and his lids sank low.
She immediately let her lip go. Her heart rate fluttered in her neck.
All of a sudden, air was near impossible to draw in.
Had they always been this close together?
His whisky-scented breath danced over her skin.
Her gaze dipped to his lips. Warning bells went off distantly in her mind.
Her attention flicked back up to his eyes, dark and green and heady.
She shook her head lightly, and he froze.
This wasn’t a good idea. It wasn’t a strategic use of a kiss.
“Lord Dunmore,” a low voice boomed.
Livy jumped back. She snatched up her whisky and took a large gulp. Her eyes burned along with her throat, but the distraction was welcome.
All light-heartedness, all traces of amusement instantly fled Lord Dunmore. The sardonic marquess was back. “Lord Pennington,” he murmured, and Livy didn’t miss the disgust in his tone.
She discreetly glanced at Lord Pennington, but he didn’t seem aware of Lord Dunmore’s distaste. Though Livy supposed Lord Dunmore seemed to hate the entire world, so perhaps no one took it personally?
The gentleman standing before them was a lean, middle-aged man, with a narrow face, a slightly bulbous nose, and an unfashionable mustache.
His attention landed on her and boldly roved over her figure, locking on her legs.
It was all she could do to stop from squirming and covering herself.
But in the next moment, she found herself yanked into Lord Dunmore’s lap, his forearm pulling her tight to his chest as a growl vibrated against her back.
Pennington grinned, top lip curled back to show a row of tiny dull teeth. The hairs on the back of Livy’s neck stood on end.
“Excellent choice for your…entertainment tonight, Lord Dunmore. I had wanted to pick your brain over some investments, but I see you have your hands full.” His gaze settled on Livy’s mouth, and Lord Dunmore’s arm tightened.
She pressed back into him, as if she pressed hard enough, she’d disappear.
“When you’re done with her, just let me know. ”
“Her price is well beyond your reach, Pennington.”
The man’s smile vanished, and his nostrils flared. “Perhaps for now.”
Derek abruptly stood, tucking Livy to his side in the process. “If you’ll excuse us. We need to get back to our evening.” He quickly told the dealer to have their winnings sent up to his rooms and then ushered Livy away from Lord Pennington.
The entire walk to the door, she could have sworn she felt Lord Pennington’s gaze burning into her back. She chanced a glance as Lord Dunmore opened the door—and her eyes clashed with Lord Pennington’s from across the gaming room.
Heart quickening, she hurried into the hall. For all the scandalous whispers the ton made about the notorious Marquess of Dunmore, Livy hadn’t once felt unease in his presence. Nothing like the discomfort she’d just experienced under Lord Pennington’s watchful leer.