Page 72 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
“Oh no you don’t,” Leo said. “I’ll take my little sister off your hands, Grandmama. Come along, Georgie.”
“Georgiana!” she said with a groan.
“Leo,” Simon began in a warning voice.
“Don’t worry, big brother,” Leo said. “I’ll never letGeorgianaout of my sight.”
“Leo!” Georgie said, exasperated.
They continued to exchange heated whispers until their voices faded away.
His grandmother said, “Miss Shelby, I could use your help right now. After we say hello to Margot—and it will take all I have not to berate her for her foolish announcements—I need to speak with another of my friends. You and Simon can wander the party for refreshments, if you don’t mind.”
Softly, Louisa said, “If Lord Wade doesn’t mind.”
He smothered the last of his self-pity and remembered that Louisa needed his help tonight, too. If she weren’t with him, she would sit in a corner with the companions and chaperones and old ladies, where lascivious men would look her over. She deserved more than that.
Their hostess greeted Simon cheerfully, if a bit forcefully. She made sure to tell him that her granddaughter was almost engaged. He got the impression he was supposed to stay away from her, which was fine with him. He might forget houses, but he remembered women. When the granddaughter had visited him in London after his accident, she had shouted every answer, and had made it plain that she was only visiting because she’d been forced.
When Louisa took over for his grandmother, there was an awkward silence as they began to move into the room. People greeted him in passing—some shouting, some sounding hesitant, as if he might not want to talk.
Most of the time, conversations were awkward: the women didn’t seem to know what to say, and the men laughed too forcefully at any word out of Simon’s mouth. But Louisa was able to turn every conversation to something pleasant, and he found himself appreciating her thoughtfulness.
When they left a couple behind, Simon leaned close to Louisa and whispered, “Find me a glass of anything, and then let’s stand in the corner somewhere—or even better, behind a palm.”
She laughed softly, and soon there was a glass of champagne in his hand. They retreated to a corner of the ballroom, where the air was cooler and the voices softer.
“It will get better, Lord Wade,” she said. “People are just not used to you yet. Another party or two, and they’ll be back to normal.”
“I’m not sure I’ll make it through another party or two.”
“Shall I tell you about your sister?”
He tensed. “Is something wrong?”
“I don’t think so. She’s attached to your brother, which means she’s meeting people. I saw her dance a quadrille, although I do wish she wouldn’t look like she’s concentrating so hard.” She paused. “She’s seen us and is coming over.”
Simon heard his sister breathing hard as she approached. “Georgie, have you even rested this evening?”
She laughed. “Of course I have. I am not as popular as some of the ladies here, although maybe this is a little more enjoyable than I thought it would be.”
Louisa squeezed his arm, but Georgie’s words weren’t exactly a ringing endorsement for success.
“My dance card is almost full,” Georgie said dubiously.
“You can’t be surprised by that,” Louisa said. “You’re a lovely, eligible lady.”
“Perhaps, but some of these men are strangers to me, recently arrived from London. When one of them heard that I was acquainted with you, Louisa, he signed my card right away. I thought that was nice of him, though I can’t seem to remember his name just now.”
As Simon listened to his innocent sister, his smile faded. Men from London who knew Louisa?
“You’ll have to point him out to me,” Louisa said.
“When I see him again, I will. Simon, even Lord Keane wants to dance with me—and a waltz, yet. Oh, the music is starting. I have to go!”
“Damn, of course he chose the waltz,” Simon said grimly after his sister left. He was so upset that he spoke without thinking. “Louisa, this is what I’ve been worried about from the moment of your arrival.”
When Louisa said nothing, he realized what had come out of his mouth.
