“That’s only to be expected,” Charlotte agreed. “Especially after Lord Chilton’s arrest the other day. You must be both grateful that you are getting justice for your friend, but sad, too, after discovering the involvement Chilton and Alice’s sister had in her death.”
“Yes, that must be it,” she lied, with a small smile plastered on her face. How could she tell the girl that it was Livie’s own cowardice regarding Sebastian that was the true cause of her distraction?
“Ah perfect,” Charlotte declared, looking over Livie’s shoulder. “Mr. Colver, perhaps you will be able to divert Lady Olivia from her woes.”
At the mention of his name, Livie’s whole body stilled, and a prickling awareness danced along her spine. She could smell his aftershave as he stopped behind her. Slowly, she turned to face him.
In his formal suit, he looked so dangerously magnificent that Livie’s breath caught. She’d missed him so much, she was aching for him.
He was looking at Charlotte. “Miss Hastings,” he acknowledged his sister formally, presumably so as to keep their relationship a secret. Then he turned his full attention on Livie, and she was lost in his deep gray eyes. “Lady Olivia.” He picked up her gloved hand and placed a chaste kiss upon her knuckles before straightening.
“Mr. Colver,” she managed to mumble with a feeble curtsy, belatedly realizing he hadn’t let go of her hand. But she didn’t pull her hand back; instead she reveled at his touch.
“Dance with me?” he asked, his voice low and thick, the pulse at the base of his neck thumping.
To anyone listening it was a simple request, but considering the last ball they’d attended and her refusal to dance with him then and the reasons why, Livie knew he was asking a great deal more than to simply dance with him.
He leaned in closer to her ear. “I promise to keep you safe and to never let you fall. Dance with me, Livie. Please.”
Holding his hand out to her, Livie knew in that moment that she could be either brave and take a leap, or stay safely in her comfort area.
Taking in a deep breath she reached her hand out and placed it in his. “Yes, Sebastian, I will dance with you.”
She felt the slightest tremble in his hand as his fingers grasped hers. Gently, he took her cane from her other hand and passed it to his sister for safekeeping, before he led her to the dance floor.
Livie could see the avid looks of speculation from all those around them as Sebastian took her in his arms. And as nervous as she was to actually be dancing, when she’d never done so at a ball before, the truth was, she trusted Sebastian completely. He would not let her fall. As the orchestra struck up a waltz, she felt excitement surge through her.
Ignoring all the whispers and veiled glances aimed at them, she allowed herself, for the first time in her life, to be caught up in the moment. Effortlessly, Sebastian swung her in his arms, supporting most of her weight with his strength, and he swept her across the dance floor.
As the other dancers caught sight of them and abruptly stopped dancing and moved to the side, Livie felt a pang of anxiety. She also felt the sudden tension in Sebastian as he caught sight of their actions, too.
But then the very feeling of having Sebastian’s arms around her, for all the world to see, filled her with such a sense of freedom that any qualms she’d had were washed away.
So what if Society shunned her? She loved this man. And she was not going to give him up ever again. Society be damned.
“I’m going to make them all bloody pay,” he whispered to her. “How dare they stop dancing because we are.”
“It’s all right.” Livie smiled up at him, willing him to see that she didn’t care any longer. “Truly it is. I don’t care about them. Any of them. What I care about is you.”
“You do?” he asked as his hand tightened on her waist, a hint of vulnerability flickering in his eyes.
“I do.” But then her attention was caught by the sight of her godmother being led onto the dance floor by her father.
Demelza never danced; it was one of her rules.
But she was dancing now with Livie’s father. Both of them showing clear support for Livie dancing with Sebastian.
And then her brother Alexander led Charlotte onto the floor, joining them. Followed by Justin and Gregory, each with partners of their own. And even Etta had found a partner and was joining the dancing, too.
Livie felt the tears welling in her eyes with love for her family and their show of unity.
“Livie, please don’t cry,” Sebastian begged. “I wouldn’t have asked you to dance if I’d known how upset it would make you.”
There was such torture in his voice that her heart lurched.
“It’s not that,” she assured him, as some tears fell down her cheeks. “I’m crying because I’m so overwhelmed with happiness right now. Do you see all my family dancing in support of us? It fills my heart with joy to know that I will not have to give them up. That they have accepted my decision and will support us.”
“And what decision is that?” he asked, looking hopeful but hesitant, too.
“The decision that I will be brave with my heart, Sebastian Colver, King of the Rookeries, Bastard of Baker Street,” she replied. “That’s if you still love me? As I love you.”
A huge smile spread on his face, genuine happiness radiating in his eyes. “Still love you? There hasn’t been a day since I met you that I haven’t loved you, Lady Olivia Haliford.”
Gently, he pulled them to a stop in the middle of the ballroom, caring little for their audience, which was most everyone at the ball, as he stood staring down at her.
“I love you with all my heart, Livie. I never thought to love someone as
