Page 29 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
Gregory lit up at the interest. “Oh well, in our childhood he was a very lost boy. I always felt most sorry for him. It was obvious from the moment that we were born that he was jealous of me.”
“It was obvious?” Sophie was a little confused and she could not help but express it.
“Oh yes. He followed me around like a dog, always wanting to be involved in whatever I was doing. He wanted to be friends with my friends, and work where I worked. Yet he was far too clumsy and foolish to ever do anything. It was quite embarrassing really. I tried my best with him, but it was too difficult. I could not seem to mold him in a way that would make him fit in at all.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes.” Gregory leaned in to whisper conspiratorially to her. “He always wanted to be in my position. To be the one who inherited everything. Finding out that I would end up being the lord that I am today almost crushed him.” He shook his head looking a little sad now. “It was terrible when I had to cut him off financially, but he had spent far too long gambling away our fortune and it was breaking my father’s heart. We had to leave his gambling debts to him, since he was the one who created them. I can assure you, Lady Dashwood, that having to cut your own twin brother from the family is utterly heart breaking. Not a choice I ever wanted to make, but I had to. It was the only way I could protect my family name.”
“But your brother has made a success of himself in Sweden, has he not? He has worked hard and built up businesses…”
Gregory’s eyes darkened once more. “Well, I do not know if success is the word that I would use to describe it, but I understand where you are coming from. He left to escape his debts here, and I see that gave him a chance to start over. But I can assure you what my brother considers success is not what anyone else thinks.”
Sophie was incredibly confused. She did not know what to think about any of this. Gregory’s words were terribly convincing because he spoke them with such conviction. If he were saying them about anyone else, then Sophie would have had no trouble believing him.
But until she spoke to George herself, she would not fully accept anything. She could not embrace Gregory’s story, it was too strange for words.
“What is that fuss?” Gregory suddenly asked, pointing across the park.
Sophie narrowed her eyes curiously. “I am not sure. It looks like new people have arrived.”
“Someone who has caused quite the stir.”
As soon as the crowd parted a little, Sophie caught a little glimpse of the new visitors to the park. Her heart immediately leaped into her throat. There was Lord Sebastian Akerson and the man she had spent all morning hoping to see.
Lord George Harrington.
Gregory’s face fell once more. He clearly was not happy to see his brother here, which only piqued Sophie’s interest. Did the brothers not get along? Why would that be? The gambling story made the most sense because losing a family fortune would upset anyone. But she still could not envision it.
Not from the man who had most definitely captured her heart, whether he knew it or not.
Chapter 13
“I think finding business in this country is a very good idea,” Sebastian agreed as they left the meeting George had set up for the morning. “You should always be thinking about expanding your empire, and London is the perfect city for that, is it not?”
“Why did you ask that as a question?” George demanded. “Yes, it is always good to have business meetings, especially with those who do not trust my brother’s word about me. Or who have been lucky enough not to hear the lies that he has spilled. I did not think that I would find people like that in the city, but I am grateful that I have.”
But that did not seem to be enough to deter Sebastian from his line of questioning. “Because I am left wondering if you are simply looking to expand your business, or move it completely.”
George paused for just a second, before he continued walking. “I do not know what you are talking about, Sebastian. You know that meeting was about trade and shipments. You were sitting in there with me. You know I would never want to live in London. I left this city for a reason, and I do not wish to return.”
“And yet, you are here longer than you planned to be…”
George shot Sebastian a glare. “You know why that is. I have to protect Lady Dashwood from my brother.”
“So, why are you in business meetings today instead of at the park?”
“What on earth are you talking about, Sebastian?”
“It is a day filled with sunshine, and that means the ton are all out socializing. They will be at Hempstead Park because that is the best place to be seen today.”
That really did make George stop in his tracks. If the ton were all going to be at the park, then Lady Sophie would likely be there too. His brother might also be in attendance which was going to give him plenty of time to woo Sophie. To charm her and act like he was not fake.
Other gentlemen would also have that opportunity, but George was not worried about that. As long as she did not fall for Gregory, that was all he cared about…
At least, that was what he wanted to keep telling himself, but his heart did not agree with that sentiment.
His heart did not wish for Sophie to be wooed by anyone.
