Her chest began to rise and fall with every breath as the back of his fingers brushed against her skin sensually.
Benedict licked over his bottom lip before taking a step back. “You look beautiful, Miss Campbell. The dress suits you well. I asked a dressmaker in the village to take it in a bit; I can see I made the right choice.”
Heat coursed through her body and culminated in her core. The attraction was certainly mutual as she looked at him in his neat black tails. His dark hair had been combed to the side, giving his usually rugged appearance a cleaner look. Her heart fluttered from the compliment.
He offered his arm to her with a heated look in his eyes that drank in her appearance.
Livinia hesitated for a moment before accepting his arm and allowing herself to be led down the hall.
Taking her by surprise, he paused at the end of the hall and leaned in closer, his lips mere inches away from her ear. “I will protect you this evening.” His breath was hot against her skin, sending shivers of pleasure down her spine.
Coming up straight, he glanced at her lips with a veiled expression before continuing to the stairs.
“Miss Campbell, you look amazing!” Theodora gasped, reaching up with both hands to cover her mouth. Her giddy sounds of joy caused a blush to spread over Livinia’s cheeks once again.
“Thank you, Lady Theodora,” Livinia breathed with a shy glance in Benedict’s direction. She wanted to know what he was thinking, if he still saw her as just the governess, or if the dress along with her transformation had shifted her into a different place in his mind.
Lady Theodora lifted the rustling fabric of her puffy pink dress and hurried forward. “I made these for us; I know it’s more traditional to purchase the masks from a proper dressmaker, but I figured I could make them since I know how.” She shot an accusing look at her brother.
Benedict rolled his eyes and shook his head, ignoring his sister’s silent yet blatant accusation.
Livinia suppressed the laughter that threatened to bubble over. Lady Theodora had used some of her time in isolation over the years to learn how to sew and even knit. Her practice hadn’t been in vain as she held up the elegant mask to Livinia.
“Lady Theodora, this is beautiful,” she uttered in astonishment before accepting the gift.
The mask was velvet black with bright beads of gold around the edges.
“I didn’t know what colour dress you would be wearing, so I went with black. I’m glad I did; it goes perfectly with the dress,” Theodora proclaimed triumphantly. “I know it’s customary to have the mask on a stick so that it may be lowered for convenience, but I thought you might want something a little more fixed considering the situation.”
Turning the mask over in her hand, Livinia noticed the two strands of ribbon fastened to the sides of the mask. It was a clever idea to conceal that she was no more than a governess to the family.
The thought tugged unexpectedly at her heart as she looked up with a sad smile.
“Don’t you like it?” Theodora’s smile turned into a frown.
“I love it,” Livinia quickly snapped out of her daze and held it out for Theodora to help.
“Perhaps Benedict can help you while I fasten my own.” She nodded towards her brother as she lifted a light pink mask in her hands and began fastening it behind her head, taking care not to disturb her hair.
The earl seemed hesitant at first but stepped forward and took the mask from her hands. Motioning for her to turn, he lifted the mask and placed it over her head. The tips of his fingers lightly brushed the back of her neck as he worked, gently moving whisps of hair aside.
Her lips parted with a soft gasp as heat flooded her body. Images of his lips pressed against her neck as he pulled her against his body filled her mind. What would it feel like if he cupped her breasts in his palms and gently squeezed the flesh?
“There.” His deep voice made her snap out of her inappropriate thoughts with a sudden rush of heat that crept up the back of her neck.
Lady Theodora watched the interaction with a strange look partially hidden behind the mask covering the top half of her face. The ones she had made for Livinia and Benedict were simpler in comparison to the featured one she’d made for herself.
“Here, you can help Benedict fasten his.” She retrieved a third mask that was identical to Livinia’s and only differed in size.
Accepting the mask with a sharp feeling of angst in her chest, Livinia stood on her toes to fasten the black ribbons at the back of Benedict’s head. His dark hair was surprisingly soft as her fingers brushed the strands. The thick waves seemed inviting enough to tangle her fingers in the lengths.
She wondered if Theodora had made their masks identical on purpose. Benedict had told his sister the night before that Livinia would be accompanying them in disguise, but it felt like she was stepping over the line.
“I think we should get going.” Benedict turned to Livinia with the same veiled look in his eyes that Theodora had used.
Her breath suddenly stopped as she caught sight of the handsome figure he cut in his mask. The black design brought out his eyes with shocking clarity. Every woman who saw him like that would undoubtedly swoon just as she was doing. He looked like the heroes described in novels.
Holding her gaze, he offered his arm to her. Livinia accepted his gallant offer and made her way towards the front doors, but not before catching a glimpse of Thomas’s disapproving scowl from the corner of her eye.
Chapter 13
Benedict felt his body tensing the second the carriage neared the ball. Why had he agreed to this when it had been years since he’d left the high life of Society behind?
The carriage jolted, bustling them all in their seats. Theodore stared out the window with youthful excitement while Livinia kept shooting worried glances in his direction from beneath her mask.
God, she’s beautiful.
He felt his desires taking flame once again as his eyes swept over her body. The dress had been altered to the point where the swelling of her breasts was visible above the neckline. Her tight corset had pushed her ample breasts together in a deliciously enticing way. There had been more than one instance now where he’d wanted to take her in his arms and sample the delights of her flesh.
His dreams leading up to the ball had been filled with visions of her naked body pressed against his. Then, there had been the one where his hands had wandered over her body in the parlour, feeling each curve with its delectable smoothness. He’d placed her on the sofa and allowed his tongue to travel down her body until …
“We are here!” Theodore bounced up and down in her seat excitedly, startling everyone in the carriage.
“Ladies do not jump and squeal,” Livinia admonished her gently, giving his sister the feminine guidance she’d been lacking.
Livinia turned her focus back to the window on her left, but not before allowing her eyes to wander over Benedict’s muscular thighs clearly visible through his breeches. The light blush that spread over her cheeks as she averted her gaze made the corner of his mouth hook up in a grin. The sexual tension between them was fairly noticeable to anyone with a pair of good eyes in their heads.
The carriage stopped in front of a large mansion on the outskirts of London. Guests were already filing through the main doors like cattle being herded in for the slaughter.
