“Not exactly. I’ve told her if she wants me in a physical way, then she only has to ask. And if she doesn’t want me, then I’ll leave her alone. Even if it kills me.”
“But what about your problem?” Harry asked.
“If she accepts, I won’t break my vows and go to another woman. I’ll hide it from her and barricade myself in the wine cellar or get one of the footmen to restrain me if I have an episode.”
“Why not just tell her?” Lucien asked, his expression serious.
“And have her look at me as if I’m mad?” Dev scoffed. “No thank you. There’s no reason for her to ever know. It’s easy toavoid fireworks, and thunderstorms are pretty rare. I’ll just stay away from her if I think there’s one coming.”
Harry shook his head, a pitying look in his eyes. “If you really love her, you’ll let her see all of you. Even the broken parts. You might find she loves you despite them. Maybe evenbecauseof them.”
Lucien and Justin both nodded, but Dev had no time for their philosophy. “I don’t plan to find out. If she wants to marry me, then I’ll protect her to the best of my ability. And if she doesn’t, then I’ll do whatever it takes to make her life better.”
“You’d let her marry someone else?” Lucien drawled.
Dev gritted his teeth. “As long as I thought whoever it was would treat her well, then yes.”
Lucien grinned. “Liar! You’re like a dog in the manger. You don’t want anyone else to have her.”
Dev scowled, hating that he was right. “Just don’t say anything, all right? Not even to your wives.”
His three friends looked mildly offended at the suggestion that they might break his confidence, but there wasn’t much they didn’t share with their wives.
Dev held up a warning finger. “I’m serious. And no meddling, either. I’ve only got a couple of days to convince her to marry me, and I don’t need your dubious help.”
“Very well,” Justin sighed, but there was a sparkle of gleeful anticipation in his eye. “We’ll leave you to your own devices. Good luck!”
Chapter Thirteen
Livvy gasped as Daisy pulled the dress Dev had ordered from the box and held it up in front of her.
“Oh, dear God! It’s almost transparent. He can’t seriously expect me to wear that.”
Daisy’s lips split into a delighted grin. “It’s not as bad as it looks, I promise. Carys Davies wore one like this a couple of years ago, and half the men in the room swore their undying love to her before the night was through.”
“I don’t want men swearing their undying love to me,” Olivia protested.
Just one in particular,her foolish heart added.
“It’s meant to look as if you’re almost naked,” Daisy said, clearly enthralled, “but look, there’s a clever skin-toned underdress that preserves your modesty. Well, most of it. Go on, try it on.” She gestured to the dressing screen and Olivia took the dress with a resigned sigh.
“It’s scandalously sheer,” she muttered as she wriggled into it. “And half my back’s exposed. Who am I even supposed to be?”
“One of the Greek or Roman goddesses, I expect,” Daisy shrugged. “You’ll have to ask Ellie, she’ll know. She loves readingabout stuff like that. There’s a crown of golden oak leaves here, and a pair of sandals.”
“I can’t even wear any stays or drawers underneath.” Livvy stepped out from behind the screen. “Only an actress or a courtesan would wear something like this.”
Daisy sucked in an awed breath, her eyes wide in admiration. “Liv! You look wonderful. I’ve never seen you look so good. Who knew you had a figure like that hidden beneath all those starchy petticoats?”
Liv’s cheeks heated at the compliment. Daisy would never lie to her—she was disarmingly frank—so if she said she looked good, it was undoubtedly true.
She turned to the mirror and gave another gasp. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. The white fabric was flecked with strands of gold that caught the light and flickered whenever she moved, and it flowed over her body like water. The neck was a scooped drape low enough to show a tantalizing glimpse of her breasts, and her shoulders and back were scandalously bare. The long skirts flowed over her hips right down to the floor.
Livvy blinked, overwhelmed by a rush of wicked feminine power. She looked like an Amazon, fearless and composed.
“I’m going to freeze,” she grumbled, trying to bring herself back to earth.
Daisy snorted. “You’ll be fine as soon as we get downstairs. It’ll be boiling in the ballroom, with hundreds of people, plus all the candles. And the fires in the grates. Dev never lets his guests lack for comforts. He’s an excellent host. Now, sit down and let your maid do your hair, and I’ll see you downstairs. I’ve got to get ready myself.”
