Enticing An Earl

Part 15

 For the next few days, William was painfully aware of the fact that George had seen him in nothing but his small clothes. He would stammer and blush in her presence which would embarrass everyone around him and make the situation awkward for all. After three days, Brandon finally took William  aside to set him straight. 

"If I did that with every woman who saw me naked, almost every husband in London would be after me for laying with their wives. All she saw was you half dressed, you weren't even naked. Get a grip man, don't act like she is the only woman who has seen you naked." Brandon's exasperation was clear.

"This is completely unrelated! George is a friend, a dear one, and I never had a female friend, let alone a female friend who has seen me naked! And you can not compare her to the so called Ladies of ton, they are all high class whores." William angrily retorted. He didn't like the fact that his friend would compare a true Lady with someone of loose character. According to him, Lady Georgiana could shame the darlings of ton with her modesty and kindness.

Brandon, who knew a man in love when he saw one, rolled his eyes at his friends behavior. Somehow, he always imagined William would be savvy and charming with his lady love. 

"Well, if you are bent on twisting my words then let me rephrase myself, George has seen me and Max half dressed and has never reacted like this. You are making her uncomfortable." Brandon wanted to shock his school friend and said the first thing that came to his mind.

He expected William to look confused as he had intentionally left out the part explaining why George had seen him and Max in such a state of undress. What he never expected was the punch that he got for his efforts. He silently thanked God that William  punched his stomach and not face, he needed his looks if he wanted to woo Emma.

"Why would you walk half dressed in front of a Lady? Then you ask me to trust you with my sister. You expect me to believe that you will treat Emma better then you have treated George? " Brandon realized his mistake a little too late but by then the damage was done. He didn't want William to throw him out or to stop him from ever having a private conversation with Emma. To salvage the situation, he tried to say as nonchalantly as possible.

"She saw almost every boy in our class half dressed, she would have already seen you if only you would have accepted an invite from Max. Every summer, she would stay at Max's while we were there. He had a lake on his lands, in which we would all go for a swim in our undergarments. George caught us a few times and never reacted like she did with you. Now stop acting like a knight saving a Lady's virtue and start acting like a man. I have had enough! If I see you stammer near George one more time, I swear I'll throttle you."

Brandon's voice increased in volume with every sentence. By the end of his little speech, he was practically shouting. When George and Emma heard Brandon shouting, the first thing that came to their mind was that the two men had finally lost it. They knew that Brandon had been goading William for days. They ran to stop them from hurting each other and were surprised to hear the actual topic of discussion.

When Brandon stopped shouting, they entered the room to face a surprised William and a red faced Brandon. Emma could not help herself and said in a teasing manner,

"We get what you mean, if you want the whole country to know that young George has seen so many men in their drawers then be my guest." Brandon smiled at the teasing twinkle in her eyes.

"And don't you dare make it sound like I used to spy on you, that lake was the only good spot for a picnic on the whole estate. You should have been careful, anyone would have seen you all." George tried to reply sternly but failed. 

"Am I so ugly that you fainted? I thought that I was better looking than this i***t, now I'll have self doubts." William sounded so serious that everyone in the room stopped smiling.

"We were kids and y-you are a man. I-I have never seen a m-man in …..  and you were ........" George stopped when William started laughing.

George stared. William’s laugh transformed his whole face and made him into an approachable young man. His normally good looks were breathtaking, his smile made him look more human and less fallen angel. George felt her heartbeat pick speed, all the blood rushed to her head, her hands felt cold and clammy and there was a pain in her chest, but the pain felt good, it made her feel.... things. She realized that this was the first time that she saw him laughing and felt proud of herself for some reason. She could make William laugh and this knowledge filled her with confidence, she knew that she would never blush or stammer around him.`

George was also positive that she would never forget his perfectly toned body, the kind that she had never seen. It was perfect, something an artist should capture for every common man. It could have belonged to those stone sculptures that were displayed in museums but William was a living breathing man. She remembered every boys lanky or overweight frame and realized why the sophisticates of ton were obsessed with differentiating between a man and a boy. They had nothing on him. She didn't even know why Brandon would even compare the two, there was no competition.

William stopped laughing and stared at the only woman he ever called a friend. He couldn't remember the last time he felt so exhilarated and carefree. He felt like she was his responsibility but it didn't feel like a burden, not like his duties as an Earl sometimes did. He knew that every moment spent in her company will be enjoyable and relaxing, talking to her bought him peace of mind. William questioned his decision to stay away from her. Three days wasted because he was a coward and an i***t. He missed their debates, the times she would read to him or the times they would play cards He denied himself a pleasure that few men have, of a true female friend. He was ensnared by George and guileless friendship.

Feeling like a boar, who had not only hurt himself but also made George's stay uncomfortable, he said the only thing he could think of,

"I'm sorry, I promise to make it up to you. There will be a spring festival in a sen-night in the nearby village. We will all go as my cast will be off by then. You will be free to buy anything your heart desires, it will be my pleasure to buy you pretty trinkets and bows."

Brandon and Emma shared a knowing look as George blushed prettily. The love that was starting to bloom between two friends was obvious on their faces and the other two occupants just enjoyed the show.