Page 12 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
Chapter 5
George’s heart raced as he stood outside of the church, knowing that this was the moment he had been waiting for, trying to plan, and wrap his head around, ever since he left Sweden.
His father’s funeral, the time to face his twin brother once more.
But also, the time to make sure everything passed on smoothly from his father to Gregory. Remembering his purpose helped a little, but the nerves were still very much there, zig zagging in the pit of his stomach.
This was not going to go well, and he already knew it.
But that did not mean he could avoid it. Sebastian would never forgive him if he had brought him all the way to England, just tonotfulfill his duty.
Matthew had written to him for a reason. Heneededto be here.
So with one more final, deep breath. George gathered himself up and stood tall, ready to tackle this moment.
He pushed open the door to the church, to see crowds from the London elite, talking and sharing condolences. The funeral had not yet started so he was not late, thank goodness, and he would not have to spend a lot of time exchanging false sincerities with people he had left behind so long ago.
Unfortunately, the crowds did not continue to talk, nor allow him to slip in without any eyes upon him as he had planned. George always liked to stand on the sidelines for a moment, to get a lay of the land. To see who was talking with whom and how everyone was behaving.
But the silence hung heavy in the air as everyone looked at him, until it was permeated by whispers.
“What is happening here?”
George swallowed hard as he heardhisvoice. It was incredibly familiar, but there was a newness to it as well. Something George had never heard from Gregory before. A grandeur which felt incredibly misplaced. Especially to George.
“Oh my!” Gregory’s eyes almost popped out of his head in surprise as he ran his imploring gaze up and down George. “You are… here?”
George nodded. “I am here. It is my father’s funeral.”
He could not stop himself from being icy with Gregory. It was not fair that Matthew had to be the one to let him know that his father passed away. Gregory would never have let him know.
Gregory’s hands balled up into fists, but he kept them to himself. He must have learned his lesson this time around. He must have decided that it was better to behave in the way that was expected of him in front of the ton.
This also suggested to George that he had not been drinking which was a relief. Perhaps they would be able to get through this with some dignity and give their father the send-off that he deserved. Even if George had been hurt by his father’s actions, he still wanted him to get the calm, considered funeral that he deserved.
“I… I simply had no idea that you would return for the funeral,” Gregory declared through gritted teeth. “You did not send word that you would be able to make it. I have not made adjustments for you.”
George offered him a pleasant enough smile and a one shouldered shrug. “I thought I might arrive before any letter, so there was no need. I most certainly do not need any adjustments made for me. I am simply here to say a final farewell and to pay my respects to Father.”
George watched intently as his brother glanced around at everyone in attendance. It was very clear that he wanted to make a good impression on the people around him, he wanted to fit in these days, and leave his past behind him.
But how much of his past had been left behind?
Did Gregory still spend far too many nights in seedy bars? Gambling and making a scene whenever he could? Wasting money and losing it as if he had an infinite amount?
He certainly hoped not, but it was hard to imagine that the man could change. Not when he was so deeply intrenched in bad behavior.
But maybe learning that he would get the title, getting exactly what he wanted, had shifted something within him and he had grown up. George could only hope so.
“Well, it looks to me like the service is about to begin.” George pointed towards the other side of the church, thankfully dragging all the attention off himself. He simply wanted to sit in a pew at the back of the church, while he said a final farewell to his father, just as he had suggested.
His words had the desired effect, and everyone took their seats at long last, but George could almost feel the room abuzz with gossip. Even if the members of the ton were not able to talk at the moment because it was time for the vicar to pray for his father’s soul, he could feel the eye contact and the electrical excitement buzzing in the air. The words were on the tips of everyone’s tongues, and they simply could not wait to get a chance to let it all out.
But George did not care.
The gossip and judgement were things that he most certainly did not miss. In Sweden, he did not have to put up with any of this, as long as he kept his head down and worked hard. He did not need to worry about being a disgraced lord who did not inherit his father’s estate, despite being in line for it.
He jutted his chin out and held his head up high, thinking only of his father and the wonderful times he’d had with his family before everything went wrong. George lost himself in the nostalgia, smiling to himself because he truly did have some good memories. Even with Gregory…
