Page 20 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
“So, what are you going to do?” Sebastian asked George, sensing the inner turmoil that he was suffering through. “How are you going to end this?”
“I need to protect her,” George insisted. “I have to keep her far away from Gregory or he will destroy her.”
“Yes, I agree. Lady Dashwood is too lovely for that.”
George met Sebastian’s eyes and spotted the knowing smirk there. George might not be ready to admit how deep his feelings ran, but it seemed like his best friend understood it anyway. That was a relief, it meant he did not need to explain himself.
“I cannot allow Gregory to marry her,” he continued. “So, I will need to woo her myself.”
“To marry her?” Sebastian asked in obvious surprise.
George’s heart skipped a beat. Oh, how lovely it would be if he could even consider that possibility. But of course he could not.
“I am merely a lord. I am not worthy of a lady like Lady Dashwood. But I can break off the pursuit as soon as Gregory has moved on, allowing Lady Dashwood to marry someone who really deserves her.”
Sebastian paused on this for a moment. George could almost hear the cogs ticking around in his brain before he started to speak once more. “I do not know about this, George. This does not feel like a good plan to me. There is far too much on the line…”
“What is on the line?” George demanded. “She will be far worse off if she is left to Gregory’s whims.”
“When it comes to matters of the heart…”
“Matters of the heart?” George could feel himself growing increasingly frustrated because he honestly could not see any other way to make this work. Hehadto get Sophie away from Gregory if it was the last thing he did. “I do not have to make her fall in love with me…”
“But you will be courting her and trying to woo her. You will be showing her affection. You have to be careful not to ruin her reputation throughout all of this. It might not matter too much to you because you will be headed back to Sweden eventually…”
George shook his head stubbornly. “I will be careful. You do not need to worry aboutme. As long as I keep her away from Gregory.”
“I only wish for you not to get blinded by this. Or not to cause unnecessary hurt along the way.”
George dismissed his friend’s worries. He knew what he was doing, and he would not fail. No matter what happened, she would soon understand why he had done this. Rescuing her from Gregory was the best thing he could ever do for her.
His eyes sought out Sophie and he watched her laughing and talking with her friends in her sweet, regal manner. She really was lovely. The most adorable woman that he had ever met, who would not understand the manipulations that could come along with the London ton.
She might not even realize that so many men were trying to woo her just because of her title and her link to Swedish royalty, and in his brother’s case, all for her money.
Mentally, he tried to plan how he would woo her, but his brain kept drifting off and thinking aboutotherthings. Such as what it might feel like to have her in his arms, dancing with him instead. Or how much he would like to dip his head down and to brush his lips against hers, a little like he wanted to when he first pulled her over the bars of the ship.
He might have just rescued her, and it was most definitely not the right time, but all he had wanted to do in the heat of the moment was kiss her… invite her back to his bedroom, and to unravel that woman in a way that was wholly inappropriate for a lady of her stature.
Maybe hewouldneed to be a little careful with his heart around Sophie because he might be a little more attached to her than he should be. But that would all subside once he returned to his real life in Sweden. Then he could forget all about his time in London and the beautiful Lady Dashwood, safe in the knowledge that he had done the right thing.
Chapter 9
Twins.
Sophie could still not believe it.
Gregory and George were twins!
No wonder they looked alike.
What were the chances?
Sophie was not sure, and she had spent the whole night tossing and turning, barely sleeping as she tried to figure it all out in her head. Her mind was blown. What were the chances that the two gentlemen she enjoyed the company of were related so closely? The night had been such a strange one.
Gregory was kind and handsome. She had enjoyed talking with him and dancing too. He made her feel calm and relaxed, like she did not need to worry about a thing.
But when she was around George, her whole body set on fire. Seeing him again at the Thompson’s ball had only intensified and confirmed that. She was nervous around him, anxious and excitable, like her whole body was trembling with desire.
