Page 17 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
“My friend, Lady Victoria Brown is just over there. I am sure that she would like to meet you too, and I mean that because you seem like a nice, friendly person. Not because of whom you may or may not be related to.”
There was something about Katherine which just drew Sophie in. She had a sunny, witty personality. She realized that she wanted to befriend her, and perhaps this Victoria too. Kind people with big hearts who saw her as much more than just related to Swedish royalty.
“I would love to meet her, thank you.”
Katherine chuckled. “We can fill you in on Lady Emily Black and the other members of the ton you should avoid, that is if you do not like drama in your life.”
It was as if Sophie could breathe easier around Katherine. She reminded her of the friends that she had left back at home. So as Katherine took her to meet the sweet brunette with a lot of freckles smattered across her face, Sophie decided to trust her gut, and to be open with these women.
That was a trust that quickly paid off…
“So, the brunette behind Lady Emily Black is her best friend, Lady Sarah Smith,” Katherine pointed out, trying to catch Sophie up on all the so called essential gossip to help her navigate the London scene. “She is very interested in Lord Daniel Humphreys, but I believe his affections lie more with Lady Emily herself. He has this way of looking at her which convinces me that she is the woman of his dreams.
“Oh, I had a dance with him earlier on,” Sophie realized. “And he did spend a lot of time talking about Lady Black. I think you might be right.”
“She is always correct,” Victoria laughed. “I have never known someone quite so perceptive. Especially when it comes to the feelings of other people.”
“Well, that is quite an interesting power to have,” Sophie giggled. “Does it ever work in your favor?”
“Oh well that is a question…”
Katherine continued to answer her, but the words had gone fuzzy in Sophie’s ears because it had finally happened. The moment she had been waiting for all evening long.
He is here!
Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted the man she recognized all too well. Much as she had been trying to prepare herself for the moment that she saw him again, she still felt dizzy and a little giddy. It was hard for her not to let that overwhelm her completely.
“Excuse me,” she mumbled to her new friends as she started to move, absolutely unable to play it cool around George. “I have just seen someone that I know…”
She could not contain the excitement as she rushed over to the man. Sophie knew that she had quite the smile playing on her lips. By the time she reached out to actually touch his arm, real life had seemingly ceased to exist. It had become dream like all over again. Only this time she could actually touch him.
“Oh!” But as soon as he turned to face her, Sophie’s heart sunk. “I am terribly sorry, you look like someone I know…”
He looked incredibly like George, but Sophie could not ignore the differences. This was more certainly not him,
“Not at all.” The gentleman offered her a friendly smile. “It happens all the time. But I most certainly do not mind being stopped by a beautiful woman such as yourself.”
A heat rose to Sophie’s cheeks. Now that was quite the compliment.
“What is your name?”
“Sophie,” she declared without really thinking about it. For a moment, she had forgotten how to properly give her name in London. She had to give her title and surname.
But thankfully, the gentleman before her did not seem to find about rules and regulations.
“Good to meet you, Sophie. I am Gregory.”
They shook hands and as Gregory bowed down to Sophie, she did the same, smiling at this charming, kind seeming gentleman. But because she had embarrassed herself in front of him, she quickly took a step back and excused herself.
“I must return to my friends, but it has been wonderful to meet you. Thank you, Gregory.”
She watched him walk away, wondering more about him. A part of her wished that she had not made an excuse to go, and that she had stayed around for long enough for him to ask her to dance. She could only imagine that someone with his charm knew just how to spin a lady around the dance floor.
Thankfully, Katherine and Victoria were still waiting for her by the refreshment table when she returned, eager to know everything.
“How do you know the new viscount?” Victoria asked her eagerly. “He is a very fine gentleman.”
“As it turns out, I was mistaken. That is not the gentleman I know after all. But he seems very lovely…”
