Page 109 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
She’d obviously decided on a course of action. She’d protect him from unscrupulous women—as if he couldn’t protect himself.
And she wanted to protect him from Louisa. It was almost laughable. Who was going to protect Louisa from him?
He was the one who’d hurt her.
He was the one who was in love, and didn’t want to take the chance that she might love him in return.
He was worried about accepting pity—God, was he really so much like his mother?
That eased his anger somewhat. “Promise me that you will not bother Louisa. She is a good woman with only the best of motives. She doesn’t deserve your censure.”
She remained silent.
“Mother.”
“Oh very well, Simon, I will say nothing to her. But if she betrays herself—”
“I will handle it.”
“But Simon, the house will be full of people! I know how difficult that will be for you. You need me.”
Maybe she was trying to make amends in her own misguided way. He sighed. “Mother, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how well I’m getting used to people again. At the last ball, I even danced a waltz.”
“Youdanced?” she said, not sounding happy about it.
That revelation might have been a mistake.
Suspiciously, she said, “I didn’t think Georgie capable of such confidence.”
He just smiled. But his mother was clever.
“Your grandmother doesn’t waltz anymore. It had to be—oh Simon,” she said with heavy disappointment. “It is a good thing I’m here.”
ChapterTwenty-Three
That night, Louisa was glad to finally retreat to her room. During a tense dinner, Ellen had stared daggers at her. Leo had obviously found the whole thing amusing, and paid more attention to Louisa than normal. Their mother almost had apoplexy, so red in the face had she become. Simon had seemed quieter than normal—except whenever his mother overstepped her bounds.
Louisa had wanted to sink under the table at being the object of so much attention. Yet the sweet way Simon continued to distract his mother in protection of Louisa almost brought tears to her eyes.
She would definitely be going home after the weekend, for her fragile heart couldn’t bear anymore.
But her room contained no solace, for it was full of memories of Simon: the night he’d lost his way and she’d brought him inside to comfort him; the nights they’d sat and talked in the dark; and the tender way he’d worshipped her body with his lovemaking.
And then she heard a tap on the balcony door. Before she could run lock it against him, he was inside. He said nothing as she stared at him, feeling the swell of desire and the sweet ache of love that suffused her. But she couldn’t give into these feelings; the consequences could be worse.
“Simon—”
“I know you didn’t want me to come.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Then why are you here?”
“I came to apologize for my mother’s behavior. Her treatment of you was appalling.”
“I expected nothing else from her.”
He lowered his head. “I think she’s trying to make amends by protecting me.”
Louisa sighed. “Well, she won’t need to worry for long. I’m going to return to London with my sister after the weekend.”
