Page 31 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
But for now, all he could do was step back and watch. Watch as they walked around the park together, spending the time that George wanted to be getting close to Sophie, with him talking to her instead.
This was all terribly frustrating. Standing on the side lines made him feel sick to his stomach, but he would not give up. He would not let Gregory win. Not when Sophie’s heart was on the line. That was far too precious.
***
“He has not let her out of his sight for even a second,” George complained to Sebastian. “It is as if Gregory knows that I am trying to speak with her, and he will do anything that he can to prevent that from happening.”
Sebastian nodded understandingly. “I know, I can see exactly what you mean, but it does not have to be today.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, until anything serious happens with your brother and Lady Dashwood, there is plenty of time for you to talk to her. You can visit her in the morning, and perhaps bring her some gifts. Something like that. Then you will be given a chance to talk with her without anyone getting in the way. You do not need to worry about Gregory then.”
George felt a little defeated. But he knew that Sebastian was right. Just because his plans had not gone the way that he wanted them, did not mean he had been foiled. Sophie had not shown any sign that she was falling for Gregory as yet, and there was no marriage proposal on the horizon. Perhaps he was worried that Gregory would move far too quickly because of his desire to sort out the family’s financial situation.
The situation that Gregory was solely responsible for.
But there was time, and that was all he needed to remember. He could still woo her.
“What gift should I get for the lady?” he asked Sebastian, since his friend had a much cooler head than George. “How can I stand out among the throngs of people who seem to have taken an interest in Lady Dashwood?”
“Something meaningful,” Sebastian shot back immediately. “She will likely receive lots of flowers from gentlemen who want to court her, but have not yet learned anything about her. You have spoken with her, quite a lot, so you must know something.”
Books.
That was the first thought that came to George’s mind.
She loved reading and it was something that they shared as well. Since they had met on the boat, perhaps he could incorporate that as well. He could search for a novel which involved a daring boat trip, and perhaps a rescue. A hero pulling the heroine to safety, causing her to fall for him.
Would that be possible?
With this new and very exciting idea playing in his mind, George felt a surge of determination. Hecoulddo this after all, he could continue to woo Sophie, whipping her away from Gregory before his brother could do any real damage to her.
Surely, she would find him far more charming than Gregory? Everyone else always had. The only reason people tolerated his brother now was because of his title. The one that he had won unfairly.
Perhaps this was not going to be the easiest mission of his life, but he was sure that he could succeed anyway. He had never been defeated in life before, and he most certainly did not wish to start now.
Chapter 14
George remained on Sophie’s mind for a long time after returning from the park. Just because she had spent the time walking and talking with Gregory, did not mean he had made an impression. The only thing that stuck out to Sophie was the fact that he did not seem to want to let her go. He did not want to leave her to speak with anyone else. It was very frustrating, especially when George was around.
But she honestly could not recall anything they had talked about. It had all been a blur.
Gregory was nice enough and he treated her well, but he did not spark anything like excitement within her. She could not help it, her heart simply did not feel a thing. She had spent all evening long after the picnic trying to work out why, but she could come up with nothing. Even if the rumors did turn out to be true, and George was not the man she assumed him to be, Sophie was still not sure if she would be able to see Gregory in that way.
But the rumors… she still could not switch off her gut feeling. She did not believe them.
Waking up in the morning had done nothing to change her mind. She did not feel any clearer at all.
“Lady Dashwood.” She was suddenly interrupted from her thoughts by the house foot man, who dragged her eyes away from the window. “You have a visitor.”
“I do?” She stiffened her spine a little. “Who is it?”
“Lord Harrington.”
Oh my!
Would it be Gregory or George? Sophie had no idea and that made her whole body tremble with nerves. She was worried that it might be Gregory, because she honestly was not sure what else they would have to talk about. Of course, her anxiety that it might be George was for a completely different reason.
