Page 11 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
“Not my hero?”
He chuckled lightly. “I did not really do anything heroic. Only what anyone else would have done.”
“Well, I think it was heroic.”
“Which is why I would like you to simply think of me as a friend.”
Confused, Sophie knew that the only thing she could do was agree with him. If this was really what George wanted, then so be it. “Fine, I will offer you friendship.”
There was a flame flickering deep inside of her. it seemed to be sitting in the pit of her stomach, and something about George’s words only inflamed that fire. Was this the spark that she had read about in books? Was this how it was supposed to feel? Much as she had enjoyed talking to Sebastian, she did not feel anything like this.
This was far closer to attraction than anything she had felt with Sebastian.
Actually, it was closer to desire than she had ever felt before.
Did George mean it? Did hereallyonly want friendship with her? Because there was a glimmer in his eyes that told her otherwise.
The way that George was looking at her, it reminded her of the stories that her aunt used to tell her when she talked about being courted, before she married the king. She told Sophie tales of men that bored her, and made her want to run in the other direction, but she also talked about fire.
The fire had to bethis.
With a heat in her gaze, she nodded at George, glad that they had come to some sort of agreement. It might not have been what she was expecting out of this conversation. Far from it, if she was honest with herself. But it was something. It gave her a glimmer of hope that she would in fact see this man again once the boat docked.
“Alright, well I suppose I should return to the dining hall,” she declared as she backed off a little. “I do not want my parents to worry any more about me than they already have.”
He smiled understandingly. “Ah yes, I am sure they will be looking for you already. Best not give them anything else to panic about.”
Sophie backed away, keeping her eyes on him the whole time. She found herself quite unable to drag her gaze away. It was almost as if there was an intense magnetic tug between them, some kind of invisible string that was intent on pulling them back together no matter what.
If that was true or not, she supposed she would simply have to find out once they docked.
***
The afternoon came far too quickly.
Sophie might have packed up all of her belongings, ready to head for Gracemeadow Estate, but she was not quite prepared to be on dry land just yet. The boat trip itself had been such an adventure, and she was worried that she might forget it all once in London. Her life might be so swept up in balls and operas that she pushed all of this out of her mind.
Including the way that her new friend, George, made her feel.
Surely, I would never forget that,she thought anxiously to herself as she followed her parents to where they were to disembark.Not when it was so strong and fiery, so exciting…
“Ah, Sebastian…” As soon as her father called out that name, Sophie’s eyes snapped up. But not because she wanted to see Sebastian himself, she actually just wanted to spot George again.
Relief and excitement flooded her as she saw him there, with his friend, with that strange little smile playing on his lips. It was a smile just for her, and she knew it. No one else could possibly understand what that meant.
“I suppose this is where we part ways,” her father continued as he clapped Sebastian on the back. “It has been wonderful sharing dinner times with you, you are a very interesting fellow. And of course I must say a final thank you to Lord Harrington for saving my daughter. I will always be grateful to you for that. You have no idea. You are a gentleman, Lord Harrington. One of the best.”
Sebastian’s brows furrowed in confusion as he darted his eyes between Sophie’s father and his friend.
It was obviously not something that George had gone off bragging about. She suspected as much after their little talk earlier in the day, but it was nice to see this in action. It felt like they had a little secret, just the two of them, that no one else could understand. A little bubble that only they could enter, and no one could leave.
Unfortunately, she could not discuss their little secret because the crowd had started to move now, and there was no chance they could have a moment alone.
Their eyes locked in for as long as they could, but it was not long before they were driven apart by everyone, and Sophie had to concentrate on getting off the boat and not falling.
The last thing she wanted to do was have her first steps on London soil her tumbling to the ground. That wouldnotbe a good first impression.
But she could not shake George out of her mind. She could not stop thinking about him. She could not stop wondering if she was ever going to see him again…
