Chapter 50 #2
“I daresay he is going to provide stiff competition,” Derek murmured as he ruffled the boy’s hair.
The puppies began wandering off, meandering over to where Quinton and the two boys were running and hopping around with Dash. Livy touched her fingers to her soft smile. They clearly didn’t want to miss out on the fun.
“You lot best hurry up, or you’re going to lose your puppies,” Derek warned.
The three scrambled up and chased after the puppies, spurring the little round-bellied pups to run and tumble even faster.
A deep chuckle came from her side. She turned to him—and time stopped. He smiled after the children, his green eyes glowing in the sunlight, deep grooves crinkling around his eyes, all his usual hardness absent.
“How different you are here,” Livy murmured.
He looked at her and cocked a brow.
She adopted a stern, foreboding tone. “The notorious Marquess of Dunmore, the most vile of blackguards, rude and with a cutting tongue as sharp as a blade, a master of cuckolding…” She trailed off as he gave an amused shake with his head and laughed, loose jet-black waves swaying around his face.
“You make me sound like a circus entertainer,” he said in a low voice.
Her lips twitched. “Well, you are performing for the world, aren’t you?”
His eyes searched hers. “But not with you.” Not any longer. There was no artifice between them.
“Nor these children.”
He pursed his lips as he leaned back on his hands, staring up at the sky.
“None of the children here deserve that kind of treatment. Members of the ton, on the other hand…” He bobbed a shoulder.
“These scamps have suffered through things those people couldn’t begin to imagine.
In the ton, woe is me if the weather is too hot, or the tea too cold, or my diamond’s too small.
” He let out a huff of disgust. “These children don’t need another dark cloud in their lives.
I visit as often as I’m able while I’m in London and do my best to provide a few surprises during my stay for the season. ”
“It would seem that it does all involved quite a bit of good.”
“That it does,” he murmured. “But it can be heavy at times. There are countless more who need saving that we just don’t have the room for—and there’s been the disaster of the funding.”
She discreetly slid her hand over his in the grass and squeezed. “Not a disaster anymore.”
He smiled at her, genuine and easy and free.
He tapped his head with his forefinger. “Because of you, clever girl. This sponsorship auction is truly becoming something exceptional.” They'd made much progress on planning the auction over the past few days.
They'd been meeting at the Rutledges' every day.
“You’re the one who came up with the idea to appeal to the upstarts. It’s amazing to me what individuals are willing to pay for an item just knowing it once rested in a peer’s home. That was a brilliant strategy.”
“Yes, but then you took that and expanded on it. Auctioning off experiences along with the items people are donating. Tea with the dowager. Admittance to exclusive balls. A night in the Rutledges’ theater box. Now that was pure brilliance.”
They grinned at each other.
“I suppose we’re both brilliant,” Livy whispered.
“I fear for the world now that we’ve joined our minds.”
“Unstoppable.”
Sunlight glittered over green irises, ones that were fixated on her. So many shades of green. Striations of emerald over soft moss, vibrant grassy shades. Soft breath dusted over her cheek. She couldn’t look away.
“Lovely place you have here, Lord Dunmore.” Quinton threw himself down in front of Livy and Derek, smiling ear-to-ear at the two of them.
Livy jerked back, eyes flying wide. She’d been moments away from kissing him. In full view of everyone in the garden. For someone with quite a bit of intelligence, she was incredibly stupid. Quinton’s smile somehow grew even wider. He hadn’t missed that fact.
Ah, and there was Derek’s glower. He nodded stiffly. “Mr. Sheffield.”
“Lord Dunmore.” Quinton studied Derek, an amused glint in his mahogany eyes. “So, what are your intentions with my dear Miss Forester?”
Derek’s jaw slackened. It took him a moment to find his voice. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’ve known Miss Forester a long time. Let us say I consider her to be like a younger sister. And considering you were just about to kiss her, I’d like to know what your intentions are.”
Derek’s gaze bounced between Livy and Quinton, a scowl tightening his features.
She hid her smile behind her gloved hand.
She could practically see the war Derek was having with himself.
He wanted to be an arse, put the over-confident pup in his place.
But Quinton was important to Livy, so he hesitated.
“It’s true,” she murmured. “Quint has always looked out for me. He’s the one who taught me how to throw a punch.” She shot Derek a saccharine smile.
He threw her a dry look. Minx.
Quinton leaned forward, eyes wide with curiosity. “Oh, he’s familiar with your right hook? How lovely. When did that happen?”
“First time we met.” Livy grinned.
“You know what they say,” Quinton said seriously. “If it begins with a blow, love is sure to grow.”
Livy couldn’t hold back her burst of laughter. Derek, on the other hand, stared dumbly at Quinton. He turned to Livy. “Truly? Is this interaction really happening? Or am I soused?”
“I am sure Mr. Sheffield comes as a bit of a…” She glanced at Quinton, and he winked at her. She turned back to Derek. “Shock. Considering your usual sardonic, broody nature. But he’s family.”
Derek grimaced, and his eyes slid shut briefly. Then he met Quinton’s gaze, and his lips did something that Livy thought was supposed to be a smile but definitely fell short. “I look forward to furthering our acquaintance, Mr. Sheffield.”
Quinton chuckled and flicked back his overlong curls with a toss of his head. “That sounded like it pained you.”
“It did,” Derek said bluntly.
Quinton turned to Livy. “He’s funny. Sunny personality. I see why you like him.”
Livy snickered. Even Derek’s lips twitched. She had no doubt Quinton would win him over. It wasn’t possible to not like Quint.
“So, Lord Dunmore. I’m waiting. Do you plan to court Miss Forester?”
Livy’s eyes widened. Her friend had been serious in his interrogation then.
Derek’s gaze flicked to hers. “It’s been complicated,” he murmured. “But I had thought the Montgomery Ball might serve well to declare my intentions.” He turned back to Quinton. “But, no, Mr. Sheffield. I do not plan to court Miss Forester. I plan to marry her.”
Oh.
Oh goodness.
There were a lot of fluttery-flippy things happening inside her right now.
“And does Miss Forester get a say in this?” Quinton asked wryly.
Livy patted Quinton’s arm. “He’s working on his requests. Don’t worry, I won’t say yes until he asks properly.”
“Trust me, Miss Forester. When I ask, the only thing you’ll be capable of saying…” His green eyes darkened. “Is yes.”
Quinton’s eyebrows disappeared. In his curls. Perhaps in the sky somewhere, alongside Livy’s. Because that had been quite the statement.
“As the stand-in brother here, I think I’m supposed to call out the innuendo in that declaration.”
“Take it as the declaration it is. Miss Forester will be well taken care of in my hands.”
“Merciful heavens, the innuendo.” Quinton mock-fanned himself as he turned to Livy. “If he lays it on any thicker, I’ll be swooning too.”
Once again, a laugh bubbled out of Livy, then she caught sight of Derek’s scandalized expression and promptly doubled over.
“Apologies. I’ll try to control myself.” Quintin quelled his smile and cleared his throat. “So, your matron told us the house currently accommodates fifty children. I admit to being shocked you can fit that many in the space.”
“Yes,” Derek said slowly, still watching Quinton with a semblance of alarm. “We currently house more children than is comfortable, along with another five-and-twenty we have in families generous enough to take them in temporarily.
“We had a second home in development. But unforeseen circumstances arose, and we had to put a stop to it. Some of the children here were to be moved to that home.” Derek’s attention landed on Livy. “We have plans in place for raising funds, though. Thanks to Miss Forester.”
Quinton rubbed his chin, his forehead furrowing. “That’s excellent news. If there’s any way I can assist, please let me know.”
The two conversed about the home, and Livy leaned back, basking in the sun’s rays and the moment—in the soft glow of contentment warming her skin. Her past and present intertwining, melding together into something that felt like a very hopeful and promising future.