Page 28 of When the Viscount Seduces
The music ended, and he escorted her from the dance floor. “Thank you,” she said. “For everything. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, but he knew it didn’t match his. She was eager to help him with reading while he was thinking of all the ways he could touch her when they were alonetomorrow. He was worse than a rogue. But he was going to keep himself in check.
There was simply nothing else he could do.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening, Miss Price.” He bowed and took his leave.
Then he spent the remainder of the ball flirting with every woman he met. He’d never felt more hollow.
CHAPTER 6
Gwen arrived before Somerton at Tamsin and Isaac’s house the day after the Phoenix Club ball. Tamsin accompanied her to the library to await Somerton’s arrival. On the way, Gwen told her about being the queen of the medieval ball at the Phoenix Club.
“Oh, I wish I’d been there,” Tamsin said. “Was it spectacular?”
“It was beyond my imagination.” Gwen was still giddy—not just from being the center of everyone’s attention, but because her mother had been so happy. That was all Gwen had wanted. To see the pride and joy in her mother’s eyes had meant everything. “And today, I hadthreecallers.”
Tamsin beamed at her. “That’s wonderful, Gwen! It seems this plan with Somerton is working.”
“Yes, I can hardly believe it.” Gwen went to set her bag down on the table before turning to face Tamsin.
“Tell me about the callers,” Tamsin urged, moving toward the seating area.
They sat together on the settee, and Gwen told her about each one, starting with Mr. Thaddeus Markwith. Before she could finish, however, Somerton arrived.
“I’ll tell you about the last one later,” Gwen said to Tamsin as they stood.
“The last what?” Somerton, garbed in a bottle-green coat, brown-and-gold waistcoat, and dark brown breeches that would have revealed a host of imperfections on any other man, asked jovially as he strode in the library.
“My callers today.” Gwen grinned at him. “Thanks to you, I had three!” She laughed, unable to contain her glee. “My mother was beside herself. She didn’t even care when I told her you weren’t really courting me.”
“I’m pleased to hear it. Should we begin?” He glanced toward Tamsin.
“Sorry, cousin!” Tamsin said to the viscount. “I’ll see myself out.” She turned and left the library, closing the door behind her.
When they were alone, Somerton surveyed her a moment. “Three callers, eh?”
“Yes, can you believe it? I cannot.”
“I absolutely can,” he said. “I suppose you don’t need my help any longer.”
“I don’t know that I would go that far, but this is a huge improvement from where I was a week ago. I can’t thank you enough.” She moved toward him and was going to hug him, but stopped herself.
He narrowed his eyes briefly. “What?”
“I was going to hug you, but I realized that wouldn’t be appropriate.”
“Is it any more intimate than the waltz?” he said with his signature flirtatious smile.
“Are you flirting with me?” she teased.
His features sobered, but he didn’t appear any less handsome. Gwen wasn’t sure he could even if he rolled about in mud. “Probably. And I should not.” He looked away from her, and she sensed a change in him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m concerned that since you won’t be needing my help much longer that we won’t be able to continue meeting like this. For my…problem.”
Gwen touched his sleeve, and he met her gaze once more. She saw the flicker of anxiety in his expressive green eyes. “I am committed to helping you—now and as long as you need it.”
