The Bachelor Bargain (Secrets, Scandals, and Spies) by Michaels, Maddison (short books to read TXT) 📕

sponsoring a young lady shortly.” Demelza again raised a haughty eyebrow. “I must pay close attention to the men in Society and a publication that’s sole purpose is to expose nefarious bachelors will make my endeavors a great deal easier. So why is it you wish to speak with Daverell?”

Livie turned back to Demelza. “Because I believe he is the scoundrel who ruined Alice and if so, I intend to ruin him in turn. Now if you will excuse me, Aunt, I must go and talk to the man himself, as I have just spotted him in the crowd.”

Surprisingly, Demelza didn’t seem the least bit fazed by Livie’s bold statement, as she gave her aunt a kiss on the cheek before striding down the staircase.

It took her only a few minutes to find the man heading out to the balcony for presumably a cigar. Perfect. Following him through to the balcony, Livie glanced around, making certain there was no one else in earshot.

“Ah, Lady Olivia, how good to see you,” Daverall said, catching sight of Livie.

Feelings of rage and revulsion clawed up her throat as she stared at the man. She could scarcely see what had attracted Alice to him, but love was blind after all, and she could only imagine Alice would have been bowled over to have been paid attention to. And Daverell was handsome, in a rather slick and slimy way.

“Does Lady Claire know?” she found herself asking him. Though she’d intended to speak with him, she hadn’t intended to reveal her hand. But now she was in front of him, the very thought of this man destroying Alice by seducing her and then abandoning her, and possibly killing her, had Livie’s good sense fleeing. She wanted the man to be punished. She wanted him to know that she knew he truly was a villain.

The man seemed taken aback. “Know what, my lady?”

“Of your philandering ways.”

He blinked a few times, his posture stiffening as he eyed her warily. “I’m sorry, Lady Olivia, but I’m not certain what you mean. If you will excuse me, I think I shall return to the ball.”

“Alice was my friend, Lord Daverell.”

Daverell stopped in his tracks as he went to walk past her. “Is that name meant to mean something to me?”

He was but an arm’s length from her, and Livie had to resist the urge the club him with her cane. She’d never experienced such a strong urge to hurt anyone before. “Considering you seduced and then abandoned her? Yes, I rather suspect her name would mean something to you.”

His jaw clamped tightly, and she could see the anger mounting in his gaze.

“You’re not referring to Lord Chilton’s sister-in-law, are you? The poor girl who jumped to her death after her ruination? Is that the Alice of whom you speak?”

“You know it is. But did she actually jump?” Livie questioned, knowing saying such a thing was potentially unwise, especially if it were as she thought and he’d pushed Alice. But her grief for her friend was outweighing her good sense. “Or was she in fact, pushed?”

The man shrugged. “If I am to be perfectly honest with you, Lady Olivia, I really don’t care. Jumped, pushed. It matters little to me.”

“Perhaps it should matter.” She shrugged. “Especially as she was carrying your child at the time.”

She could tell that piece of news had shaken him but not surprised him. He was the man who seduced Alice, of that she was now certain.

“You are talking nonsense,” he stated.

“Am I though?” Livie replied. “Her death came at a very convenient time for you, didn’t it?”

“If you are daring to infer I pushed her,” Daverell ground out, “you are completely mistaken.”

“You have a lot to lose at the moment with your recent engagement, don’t you?”

“Are you threatening me?” he asked, taking a step closer to her.

Livie stood her ground. “I’m not threatening you at all. I simply want you to know that I will not rest until Alice’s killer is brought to justice and is locked away for his crimes. Until he suffers and is ruined just as she was. If you had nothing to do with her ruination and death, then you have nothing to worry over, do you?” She smiled at him, hoping he could see how serious she was. “But if you did have something to do with either, you will not like the consequences of your actions.”

“You are mad, just as she was,” he growled before striding to the balcony doors and disappearing inside.

“Was that wise?” It was Sebastian’s voice that spoke from the shadows.

Livie spun around with a gasp. “How did you know where I was?”

“As I was arriving, I saw you following Daverell out here.” He shrugged. “I guessed you were going to confront him, so I followed to be certain you were safe.”

That he was protecting her sent a feeling of pleasure through her. “He wouldn’t try anything at a ball.”

“You’d be surprised at what people will do when threatened, Livie. Regardless of where they are,” Sebastian replied. “You should have more care for your safety.”

“I didn’t actually intend to confront him so boldly,” she admitted. “My anger got the better of me, but as you can see, I didn’t need protecting, though I do thank you for thinking of me.”

“I find myself thinking about you a great deal.”

She gulped, not quite certain how to respond to such a comment. “You do?”

“Yes, I do.” He glanced over his shoulder at the open French doors leading back to the ballroom. “Dance with me?”

Her heart started pounding like a steam train. No one had actually ever asked her to dance before, her cane usually scaring them away. “I don’t dance.”

“Why? Because of your leg?”

“Yes. That’s exactly why.” Was the man daft? Of course her limp prevented her from dancing. How could it not?

“Those fops out there might not be strong enough to support you, but I can.” He held his hand out to her. “Dance with me?”

Her breathing quickened and