Page 23 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
“Hello there, Lord Harrington.” Sophie’s father leaned across to shake his hand, because he already liked him too. “Good to see you again. Of course you already know my daughter, but this here is my father…”
Sophie took a little step back as she watched her family interact with George. It was clear that her grandfather took to him quickly as well, as he discussed science, exploration, and adventure with the lord. He did not often like people this quickly. Sophie walked along behind them, enjoying listening in to the conversation, wishing she could be the one to talk to him…
A chance that came only when her grandfather got distracted by another gentleman his age, and a gorgeous African painting.
“I had an interesting talk with your brother today,” she declared, deciding that if she was only going to be given a moment to ask what she wanted to, then this would be it. She was going to take full advantage of it. “And he told me that you are already planning to head back to Sweden.”
Nerves zig zagged inside Sophie as she waited for him to respond.
There was more hanging on this than she had even realized when she first opened her mouth.
Perhaps she should not have asked this after all.
“Eventually, I will.”
Sophie’s heart sunk.
So he really was going to leave her here? She did not like that at all.
“But not yet,” he continued with a smile. “I think I will stay in London for a little while first.”
The eye contact was intense.
He might not have been saying it, but Sophie could feel in that moment the reason he was staying was down to her.
She felt a powerful heat rushing to her cheeks as she smiled back.
“You know, I think I would like that.”
Chapter 10
Guilt flowed through George as he recalled the moment that Sophie smiled at him. She had blushed lightly as he let her know that he may well be planning to stay in London for a while, to see what the English city could offer him.
He felt bad because he liked the way her smile made his heart flutter, because her eyes lighting up spread a warmth through his chest that he simply could not ignore, and because he wanted to get closer to her every time she talked.
He realized that while talking to Sophie, it was difficult for him to recall that this was all just a plan, and that he was doing everything that he could to woo her, to keep her away from his scoundrel of a brother. He got so lost in her beauty that everything else simply ceased to exist. It was as if they were the only two people left on the planet, and that was just fine.
But alone, all George could think about was how this was only going to create an even bigger divide between himself and his brother. As soon as Gregory worked out what he was doing, he would never forgive him. Perhaps they had not spoken in years, but deep down George had always hoped that would change. He had never wanted to accept the idea that they might never speak again.
He wanted a relationship with Gregory, that man was the only family he had left.
But right now, it was more important for him to save poor Lady Dashwood, who had no idea what she might be walking right into. He felt compelled to do this because they had built up a friendship, and he knew that Sophie did not deserve any of this. She was worth so much more. If saving it severed things with Gregory completely, well that was something George would be forced to accept.
Hard as it would be, he had to accept that it would not change his life too much. Gregory hardly spoke to him at all at that point.
George glanced at his reflection in the mirror, before straightening up his tie once more. He already knew that Sophie would be attending the ball of Lord and Lady Jones that night. It had come up in conversation while they were at the museum, so of course he was going to be there too. He would take any opportunity that he could to spend more time with Sophie, and to keep her away from Gregory.
He had also secured the first dance of the evening.
He had felt a little forward, asking if he could be the first name on her dance card, but she had seemed very keen. She had not even hesitated before agreeing. She even seemed a little thrilled by the idea. George felt like she wanted to dance with him first too.
George did not want to get too carried away with himself, but he felt like Sophie was drawn to him just as much as he was to her.
It is time to go,he told himself once he was certain that he looked the best that he possibly could.Time to dance once more.
It was a little funny to find himself heading out for another fancy London ball. He truly did not think he would entrench himself in the events of the ton. After the funeral, he had been planning to quickly board a ship home, back to Sweden, where he did not have to worry about being watched and judged by the elite of London.
Yet there he was, throwing himself into the middle of the social scene.
