Enticing An Earl

Part 9

The three men were gathered in William's study to brainstorm. Max and Brandon enjoyed the fact that their friend was distracted. He was finally acting like a man of his age should, being distracted by a beautiful woman living under his roof. They had given up on finding the woman who would break William's legendary concentration and were pleasantly surprised to see him so taken with their George.

George woke up rather late after her nap. It was unplanned as her body had decided that it was about to gave out and some rest was a must. Despite the fact that she only slept for four hours, she felt refreshed. It had been impossible to sleep for more than an hour at a time with her nightmares and four hours seemed like an eternity.

Her maid arrived to dress her for dinner and unknowingly gave George a worrisome piece of information. Cook's son's best friend had an uncle who worked as a coat hanger at White’s. He said that a very injured Lord Cooper had left White's a few days ago. George had noticed the bruised knuckles of Lord William's hand around the same time. She urged her maid to hurry so that she could find out what really happened but still managed escape before her maid could arrange her hair.

"Is Cooper behind my father's murder?" George asked as soon as she entered William's study. She looked vulnerable and fragile, like she could break at any moment. She would never forgive herself if her father had died because she said no.

"I'm sorry my dear, we thought that he was but we are not so sure anymore. Don't you worry, we'll catch the man who killed your father. In the meantime, you just look after yourself." Max replied empathetically.

"Don't worry!? How can you tell me not to worry? My father was murdered and my mother is missing!" With that George burst into tears. It was a common occurrence nowadays but it still managed to scare Max and Brandon, this was a completely uncharted territory for them. William expected them to get up and console their friend but they were frozen like statues.

Before he could think about it, William stepped forward to place a comforting hand on George’s shoulder but she stepped closer and embraced him. William stood frozen for two seconds but soon regained his composure and returned her hug. He saw that his arms weren't enough, she needed his words as well.

"Your father raised you like a fighter. .I don't remember Lady Georgiana cowering and crying in a corner when Lord Cooper decided to hunt her down, she took a stand. I know that you are hurt and mourning but the Lady Georgiana I knew would be helping us solve this mystery instead of crying. We have to find your mother before something bad happens to her and you are the only one who can guide us in the right direction. We need you to be strong, your mother needs you to be strong."

William gently said all that he wanted to, his gentle but strong voice along with encouraging words comforted George. She left his arms and gave him a thankful smile. William felt his heart go still in his chest for a moment, then start working extra as he realized that he was the reason she smiled for the first time since her father died.

"You don't have to rescue me from my destructive self every time." She said with a smile.

"It's a pleasure, always. I told you, I plan on saving damsels in distress, it's a career move or or have you forgotten already?" William's smile was so big that it was a miracle that his jaw didn't hurt.

Someone cleared their throat in the background and that drew her attention to other occupants of the room. George realized that she was standing too close to William and stepped away from him to leave some space.

"So what are we planning?" George said in an attempt to distract everyone from her momentary lapse of judgement.

"We are planning nothing until I know for sure that you have had a full meal and a complete night's sleep. You are absolutely useless to us in your current state." William said in a gentle commanding voice. George scowled and stuck her tongue out like a toddler. They tried to stare each other down until Max cleared his throat again.

"Fine but I'll eat because I'm hungry and I'll sleep because I'm tired. Your orders are useless because I was about to do these things anyways." George said in a haughty voice.

"That's my girl! Stay the same, it suits you. Now hurry, it's almost time for dinner. you still have to dress up properly." William said indulgently. He looked so proud of himself as George scowled but she left.

William turned to his two best friends who stared back at him open mouthed. The annoying action was becoming a habit with them.

"Now what? Don't you two have anything else to do?" William's features darkened with anger.

"My girl? Really, my girl? Since when are you the comforting type? And how do you like her? How should she stay?" With every question Maximilian's smile got bigger and William's scowl deepened.

"You are such an i***t, you had to clear your throat to break their concentration. You did it on purpose, I swear, you want me to lose the bet. They were leaning towards each other slowly and William looked at her lips at least 6 times. A kiss was inevitable between them." Brandon whined but William was concentrating on something else.

"Wanted you to lose? How much did you lose exactly? And when was this bet placed?"

"The winner gets a grand if he wins the bet. Last night I said that you'll kiss George by the end of the week, Max said by the end of the month and your sister said that the two of you will be married in a months time. A bet was inevitable." Brady replied in a matter of fact manner, which further infuriated William.

"My own sister is betting on me? It's your influence I tell you, you have spoiled her. I'm taking my family and George back to our country state. I have been toying with the idea for sometime. Protecting her will be easier in the country as everyone knows everyone. A Londoner would stand out in a crowd and the villagers near the estate will man the perimeter. Max will come with us, in case we get into trouble on our way there. You will continue your investigations in London." Brandon was smiling at the end of William's speech, but the smile was one you would give a naive child who was being stubborn.

"You'll have to take me with you no matter what. I just came back from my last adventure and was away for some years. I don't know that many people and most of them would never talk to the "bloody bastard". I'll be a hindrance in this case. Max is more appropriate for the London investigation." Brandon finished triumphantly.

William cursed and came up with a hundred different useless plans that involved Brandon staying in London. When Emma found them bickering an hour later, she resolved the whole problem with a single statement.

“I'm inviting Brandon as my guest. I can do that brother dear as the pile is still my home. Now come along, all of you, mother is waiting for dinner.”