Romantic Tales of My Lords and Ladies

To Slay a Dragon (Ch3)

'What are you doing here?' Georgiana gasped.

Tom seemed to have turned temporarily speechless. When he did speak, it was not to answer Georgiana's question.

'Well. This is definitely an interesting turn of events!' he said through his crookedly handsome smile.

'You two know each other?' Mathilda's eyes swivelled from one face to another.

'I have a strange notion that we do, princess!' said Tom, giving the said lady a long scrutiny.

Georgiana blushed. Her heart was racing. She had been momentarily thrown off-kilter at the sudden appearance of Thomas. Besides, he had never looked as handsome as he did today. Her eyes travelled over his immaculately back-brushed hair, those strong shoulders encased in an elegant suit and quickly returned to settle on his warm and intelligent brandy eyes.

She had always found herself attracted to a man who exuded confidence and intelligence. But such specimens were rare among her social circles. Either the gentlemen were knowledgeable but lacked the ability to string two coherent words together. Or what they lacked in intelligence, they made up with over-confidence. That's why Georgiana preferred books.

But here was someone who was both. Here was someone who treated her as an equal in matters of intelligence, who valued her arguments and actually listened. So was it really surprising that she had fallen in love with him?

Her heart gave another jolt. She was in love with him. And as astonishing as it may sound, now that she was aware of this wonderful fact, she realized she had been in love with him ever since the day she met him.

Her eyes settled on his lips on their own volition. Dare she defy society? Dare she confess all? Dare she slay her dragons and claim her prize?

'Anyway,' she rushed on, blinking quickly to dismiss the sight of his strangely enticing lips from her head. 'What are you doing here?'

Tom's eyebrows shot up. 'I would say it's quite obvious. I was invited, same as you, I believe.'

'You know the Earl of Brampton?'

Tom grinned. 'Most intimately. He is one of my closest friends. I'm practically family. Aren't I, princess?' he said, swinging Mathilda around. The child shrieked in delight.

Georgiana's mouth resembled an 'O'. She had never thought Tom had friends among the titled.

'Alright. Let me get this straight,' she said, over the giggles. 'You were invited to Lord Siddons's ball because you are friends.'

'Old friends.'

'How old?'

Tom paused. Then he smiled. 'Would you believe me if I said we were friends since student days?'

Both her eyebrows shot up. This was getting more and more astounding!

'What I am interested to know, however, is –'

Georgiana stopped him. 'Not here.' She needed to know more too. But not here, with the risk of discovery, and especially with a child looking on. She looked towards the back of the nursery. What if the nanny heard every word and gossiped about it with the other servants? That would be the beginning of a fine scandal.

She drew a calming breath and turned to Mathilda, 'I heard you have a lovely library in your castle, my lady. I would love to take a look. Would it be alright?'

Mathilda nodded, her curls bobbing to and fro.

'Thank you, my lady,' Georgiana gave the child her most winning smile and excused herself.