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.
51
