Chapter 28 Livy
Livy
Popping a bite of roasted 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 a cannolo that 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 her cannolo hung suspended in mid-air, forgotten.
His eyes tracked the movement of her lips, and their carriage ride after The Devil’s Eye came 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.
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 the cannolo,” 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’t something between 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.”
“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.