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.
He remained at the dock for a little while, just gathering up his thoughts, trying to work out what his next move was going to be. He knew that he needed to find Sophie, to tell her how he really felt, he just had not yet done it.
What he did not expect was to see her tearing towards the dock, weeping and calling out his name. His heart had skipped a beat. For a moment, he thought he was dreaming. But then he found himself seated in a carriage next to Sophie, with her hand in his, and he knew that everything was worth it. It might have been very scary to put his heart on the line like that, and to confess his feelings for her, knowing that it would change the rest of their lives, but since he was truly content for the first time in his life, he knew it would be fine.
"I am very happy for you," Gregory told them from the other side of the carriage. "And I am so grateful that none of my meddling ruined things. I do hope that you will eventually find it in your heart to forgive me."
The moment George spotted Gregory with Sophie, he knew that he really did mean it when he said sorry, and he really did want to make it up to him. Which was why he found it in his heart to give him another chance. After all, all he had really wanted was to have his brother back in his life.
"Now that I am going to be staying in London," he said to his brother with a sly smile playing on his lips. "I think it might be a good idea for me to expand my business, and for that I am going to need a business partner."
Gregory nodded, interested but possibly a little confused as to why the subject had been changed.
"I was hoping that I might be able to go into business with the honorable Viscount Harrington."
As soon as Gregory realized what George was saying, he beamed with happiness. "Oh, George, I will not let you down."
George nodded, knowing that it was a risk to trust Gregory. But since his last leap of faith had worked out so well for him, he could only assume that it was going to happen again. Gregory needed an olive branch, and it might be just the thing to keep the family name out of the mud, to help Gregory repair the family finances, and to also make up for all the mistakes of the past at long last.
Once they reached Sophie's home, nerves started to zigzag through George once more. He was glad that Sophie had forgiven his misgivings, but would her parents do the same? He was already a disgraced lord without the land and titles other gentlemen had, and now he had made their daughter cry. But she kept squeezing his hand reassuringly, silently trying to let him know that everything was going to be just fine.
He stepped out of the carriage and helped Sophie down, admiring her gorgeous beauty as she moved. He noticed how lovely she was the very first moment he laid eyes on her, and the more he got to know her, the lovelier she became. Now he could not imagine living life without her.
George waited with Sophie in the drawing room for her father to come. He wondered if she could hear the intense racing of his heart as they stood. She must have been able to sense the tremor of anxiety in his body… but luckily all of that vanished the moment Sophie's father entered the room with his warm and inviting smile. He had always been a welcoming man who went out of his way to make those around him feel warm, which was what had drawn George to him in the first place.
"Good afternoon, George," he said happily, extending his hand to greet him. "It is wonderful to see you, as always. To what do we owe the pleasure?"
George sucked in a sharp and anxious breath before he finally managed to blurt out the words. "I am here to ask for permission, for your daughter's hand in marriage."
Sophie's father immediately looked to her for confirmation before saying anything. It was nice to see that he was taking Sophie's feelings into consideration for this. Not all fathers did that. Some made the decision without worrying what their children felt.
But the giant smile spread across her face must have immediately reassured him that this was exactly what she wanted too.
"I give you my permission and my blessing. This is wonderful to hear, I am sure you will be very happy together."
He embraced them both, silently welcoming George into their lovely family.
"If it pleases you both, then I think this is something we should announce to the ton at the next ball."
Sophie's eyes immediately lit up. "That sounds perfect. I cannot wait for Katherine and Victoria to know. I am sure they will be very happy for me."
She looked up at George and gave him the most heartwarming smile ever. He found himself also excited to tell the ton that he had found the love of his life, and that Sophie was his, forever more. He never could have left her behind and carried on as he was before. His life would not have been worth living without her. She really had become absolutely everything to him.
***
The ton was abuzz with gossip at the ball, and for the first time in his life, George did not mind being the center of attention. In light of the good news, it seemed like everyone had forgotten all about the fight he'd had with Gregory at the last ball.
Mind you, Gregory was his main supporter tonight. He had said nothing but positive things about George and Sophie all night long, which had brought smiles to everyone's faces.
"Well, I have just shared the most wonderful dance," Sebastian declared, surprising George. "With your wife to be. She is quite the lovely lady, and the way that she speaks about you is great to hear. As your best friend, I am officially very happy for you."
George let out a light chuckle. "Well, we would not be here were it not for you and your endless encouragement. I do not know what I would have done without you."
Sebastian clapped George on the shoulder. "Then I am sure you will be pleased to hear that I am also going to be staying in London for the foreseeable future. I have found some great business opportunities that I am sure will be quite beneficial for me, financially."
George smiled at that. He and Sebastian were only supposed to be in London for a short time. Neither of them planned to be in England very long, but it seemed the country had something to offer them both. George could only hope that Sebastian eventually went on to find love while he was here as well, because it truly was the most fantastic feeling in the whole world.
"Oh, it looks like I am needed for yet another dance," Sebastian chuckled as Victoria drew nearer to him. "I cannot help myself, I am always needed to be the center of attention. You know how it is!"
As George laughed at his friend, he could not help but notice his brother was also in the middle of the dance floor with Sophie's other friend, Katherine. It surprised him to see that there might be some sparks flowing between the pair. They were in a deep conversation, and now that Gregory had much less weight pressing down on his shoulders, Katherine was responding to him in a much happier manner. It seemed like she was smiling at him because she was impressed by him, which was really nice to see.
George did not want to get carried away with himself, mentally forging relationships that were not there, but it thrilled him to think that there could be something to give Gregory all that he wanted and deserved in life. After some bumps in the road, he was grateful to finally have his brother back in his life.
They had missed out on so many years, and he most certainly did not want to miss out on anymore.
Spotting Sophie on the other side of the dance floor, George smiled and walked over to greet her. He had already shared the opening dance with her tonight, but now that he was lucky enough to be her fiancé, he could ask for another without sparking the gossip of the ton.
"Good evening, Lady Dashwood," he declared in an over-the-top formal fashion, teasing her playfully. "I was wondering if you might do me the honor of sharing the next dance with me."
She curtsied playing along with him too. "Well that sounds delightful, Lord Harrington. I cannot think of anything that I would rather do."
As he took her hand and he led her out on to the dance floor, he could feel all the eyes of the ton upon him, and it was nice to know that they were being celebrated for their love. But his own eyes were only on Sophie, as he rested his hands upon her. She was the only person in the room who mattered, and thankfully, she was his.