Page 45 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
He put a hand to his heart. “Never.”
Georgie rushed forward. “My turn!”
Louisa gladly backed away and let her pupil dance with Simon. He was all smiles and decorum for his sister.
“Now, Georgie,” he said patiently, “the men you’ll dance with will lead you. But with me, you’re going to have to lead. Otherwise we’ll ram into a wall or go through a window.”
“Oh.” She controlled her giggle. “I don’t know how to lead.”
“It’s all done with pressure. I’ll show you.”
Louisa sat down beside the piano and exchanged smiles with Mrs. Calbert as the woman began to play another waltz. Louisa reminded herself that it was good to see Simon instructing Georgie, to see him taking a risk by dancing. Maybe it was one step closer to seeing him attend a ball again. Although it would be much riskier for him to dance with dozens of couples at once. But this was a good start.
Though she wanted to see him thrive, she didn’t want to be the woman he turned to because she was the only one available.
ChapterTen
In the morning, all three ladies left for London, and Simon remained at home. Georgie had tried to talk him into joining them for the day, but he claimed visiting dressmakers was a woman’s duty, not a man’s. Louisa and Georgie would be well chaperoned by his grandmother, who loved to shop.
When they had gone, the house seemed empty. Oh, there were servants bustling about, and a bailiff from a nearby estate who needed to speak with him.
But Simon accepted the fact that he was lonely. He reminded himself that his grandmother and sister brought him happiness with their conversations and their caring.
But somehow Louisa Shelby had become important to him. Her no-nonsense compassion moved him, rather than making him feel beholden to her.
And he didn’t know what to do about it.
How could he be worried about her reputation one minute, and wanting to ruin it himself the next?
The women were home in time for dinner, and Simon joined them. He liked listening to the sound of their voices talking about the coffeehouse they’d stopped at for luncheon, or the old friends they’d met on the street. Louisa had praised Georgie’s new wardrobe, until he could practically hear his sister’s pleased embarrassment. Whatever he might think of Louisa’s effect on Georgie’s acceptance in society, her cheerful, helpful company was doing Georgie a world of good.
He was her brother; he should be helping as much as he could. When they retired to the drawing room, he listened to her plink the piano keys, as if her thoughts were turning sad. He wanted her happy.
“Are you going to play a real song?” he asked. “I can’t make myself sing tothat.”
There, he’d said it; he couldn’t take it back now. And the audience was only his family—and Louisa. Once upon a time, dozens of young ladies had stared enraptured as he sang. Surely this couldn’t be too difficult.
“You’ll sing with me?” Georgie said, her delight returning.
“Only if we sing a duet—one I know.”
Lady Wade gave a loud sigh. “My favorite way to spend an evening. You children are so good to me.”
When Simon rose to his feet, Manvil was there to guide him to the piano. He could hear Georgie paging through sheet music, and at the opening chords, he knew the song immediately. She had a musical ear, but a weak singing voice that she could never seem to make louder. He had the lungs to belt out anything he sang. He concentrated on her voice, trying to drown out his doubts and insecurities.
Why did he feel on display? Louisa was a woman he’d kissed, for God’s sake. But he’d come to hate being the focus of attention.
But Georgie had been so thrilled to accompany him, just as she’d done her whole life.
When the song ended, the butler announced Paul Reyburn, and Simon was relieved.
“Don’t stop on my account,” Paul said. “It’s good to hear you sing.”
Louisa tried not to show her disappointment at the arrival of Simon’s friend. She’d been enjoying the opportunity to stare freely at Simon. He kept his eyes closed while he sang, and she wondered if he was seeing the music in his head.
Or if again, he didn’t like to think of people staring at his blank eyes. Didn’t he understand that he was so easy to look at—and it had nothing to do with his eyes.
Georgie closed up the piano and escorted Simon over to sit near Mr. Reyburn.
