Page 18 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
Sophie could not seem to stop her eyes from staring longingly after him.
“I hope it was not his brother you know,” Katherine jumped in warningly. “He has a very similar look to the viscount from what I have heard, but none of the prospects.” Sophie stared at her imploringly, wanting to know more about the charming man’s family. “He is a rake who gambled away the family fortune and vanished. Lord Gregory was quite upset when it all happened. He never wanted the family name to be ruined, but you cannot help who your family is.”
“Maybe now he can make things better,” Victoria joined in. “With his father now gone and him inheriting the title, who knows?”
Katherine pursed her lips thoughtfully for a moment before continuing. “You know, he would make a very good match for you, Sophie. You are both very well respected people who come from families with titles. I could see the pair of you together.”
Sophie pondered on this for as moment, trying to work out if this was a good idea. He was a very handsome gentleman, there was no denying that, and if he had good prospects then her family would most certainly be happy.
But she did not feel the samesparkshe had experienced on the boat when her hero rescued her. There was definitely something more intense about being around George. While Sophie could not exactly put in to words the rush of energy his presence gave her, she knew it meant something.
It had to.
But George was not here, and he had merely declared that he had wanted friendship from her, so maybe it was time to push silly fantasies to one side.
“Oh my goodness,” Katherine suddenly declared as she gripped on to Sophie’s arm. “I think he is coming over here. I believe he wants to ask you to dance.”
“What do I do?” Sophie exclaimed in a panic. It did not matter that she had danced with plenty of gentlemen tonight. Something about this felt incredibly different. There was a lot more resting on whatever happened next.
“You dance with him of course,” Katherine laughed. “See if you like him!”
Just as Katherine suggested, the moment Gregory reached her, he extended his arm to her, silently offering her a dance.
She could not say no, and she found that she did not want to. As she linked her arm through his, her stomach began to flip flop with nerves. But she could not deny that she liked holding on to this man, being this close to him.
It feltrightto be following him on to the dance floor, especially when it was very clear that all eyes were upon them. If this was to be a pairing, then the ton would be very interested in them, which was typically a good sign, according to her father.
Chapter 8
“You never know, George, you might even end up enjoying yourself at the Thompson ball,” Sebastian teased as he practically dragged George along with him. “We might as well have some fun while we are here in London.”
Fun?George wanted to scoff, because he could not imagine having any fun while he was here. Nothing about being in London had been fun so far. The funeral had been just as terrible as he had expected, and then learning about the damage Gregory wanted to continue to do to his family’s legacy… it was utterly unbearable.
The only reason that George had agreed to come to this ball at all was the fear that his brother was going to start on with his devious plan. To make some poor wealthy lady fall in love with him, simply so he could destroy her family fortune as well as his own.
It was a terrible thought.
But Sebastian, in his typical light hearted manner, was trying to turn it in to a good time.
George had little doubt in his mind that Sebastian would spend most of the night on the dance floor, laughing and charming all the ladies and duchesses there. He would have a good time even if George spent the night scowling in the corner.
They were welcomed in to the ball warmly. George might have been impressed with how friendly the Thompson family were, had his eyes not already been scouring the dance floor, trying to see what his tyrant brother was up to now.
There he is.A tight knot of anger formed in George’s chest as he witnessed his brother smiling adoringly at the woman before him. A lady who seemed very much in step with Gregory, much to George’s chagrin. She had no idea what she was letting herself in for.
“My, my,” Sebastian teased. “Gregory is not wasting any time on his little mission, is he?”
Sebastian could make jokes about what was happening, but George was not in the mood to join in.
“Wait…” Sebastian grabbed George’s arm hard. “Is that…?”
George had been so focused on his brother, that he had barely wasted any time looking at the beautiful blonde woman in his arms. But now that Sebastian had drawn his attention there, a thick lump formed in his throat. Now he was not just angry, but jealous too. So much so that he felt sick to his stomach.
“It is!” Sebastian concluded delightfully. “That is Lady Dashwood in his arms. How on earth do they know one another?”
George was speechless.
Sophie had been on his mind ever since they set foot off the ship. He had not been able to forget her haunting blue eyes as she held on to him for dear life while he attempted to rescue her. Nor had he been able to push aside the sheer determination on her face as she demanded a chance to repay him somehow.
