Page 60 of A Wicked Viscount's Stormy Affair
But as she reached the edge of the dock, almost tumbling head-first into the water herself in her desperation, it started to hit her.
Fate had struck again. And it had taken George away from her.
“Oh my, Lady Dashwood.” She felt the reassuring hand of Gregory on her shoulder, but she felt nothing but heart ache. “I am so terribly sorry. I cannot believe that we did not make it. Perhaps you could write to him. He will receive the letter once he is back in Sweden, and then he can make up his mind about what to do next.”
Sophie hung her head low, a tear leaking from her eye and splashing into the water below her.
“I am quite sure that he will come back for you,” Gregory continued. “I have never seen my brother care for someone as much as he does you.”
His kindness was truly appreciated, but not enough to make her feel any better. This was a heartbreak that she did not think she would ever recover from. They had both been foolish, she could feel it now. They should have simply communicated their feelings in a much more effective manner earlier on. Then all of this would have been sorted. They might have found a way to be together, then they both could be happy.
She remained where she was for a little longer, sadly watching the boat continue to float away from her. Taking away the man that she adored with every ounce of her being. But it soon got to the point where she could not continue to watch any longer, it was just too agonizing.
“Take me home,” she mumbled disappointedly. “I need to go home.”
With Gregory not far behind her, she started the long and slow walk back to the carriage. Her footsteps were heavy, her heart thundering slowly. In that moment, Sophie knew that she would never be the same again.
“Sophie!” someone called out her name, but Sophie did not even have the strength to life up her head. “Sophie, wait, it is me.”
Was it…?
Could it be…?
She was too afraid to even lift up her head because she thought she might have been imagininghisvoice. But when he yelled again, she had no choice but to look.
“George?”
He was there. It was him!
She could not believe it. Her head was spinning with joy. This was so wonderful, she hoped it was not a dream. She had not lost him after all. For some reason, he was still here.
Sophie did not even think about who was around and who might see her. She raced to George and threw her arms around him, embracing him hard.
“I thought I had lost you,” she sobbed. “I thought you were on the boat, and I would never see you again.”
“I almost was,” he admitted. “But I realized I could not leave without first truly knowing how you feel. Having your words of love in my mind from the ball kept me here. I need you to know how I feel as well.”
Sophie pulled back and stared into his eyes. “And how do you feel about me?”
This was it.
The moment that she had been so desperately waiting for. Now that it was here, she was convinced that her head was going to explode from the intensity of the anticipation. Finally, George was going to let her in, and give her what she so desperately needed.
“Lady Dashwood, I am head over heels in love with you.”
Relief flooded through her as he declared the words she so desperately wanted to hear.
“I am so terribly sorry that I did not tell you sooner. I was a fool, scared of my feelings.”
Just as everyone had told her. She could not stop herself from smiling at him.
“George, I hope you know that I very much love you too.”
In that moment, everything felt absolutely perfect. Just as it was supposed to be. Being brave and chasing down love had all been worth it for that one, single, glorious moment.
Chapter 30
George was not sure what would happen when he did not set foot on the ship. All he knew was that his feet would not move. He could not do it. He might not have had a lot of love for London, but he could not leave Sophie behind, hurt and betrayed, not knowing that he really did love her.
