Chapter 4 #4
At least once a week, and sometimes more, everyone in the family who was in town, from the youngest to the oldest, was seated around the table. The main topic over dinner that evening was the offer of marriage Genevieve had received earlier in the day from Viscount Brockham.
With her parents still in the country, Genevieve had been staying with Theo’s parents at Melton House. The moment he’d heard the news, Theo had experienced a number of emotions, none of which had been pleasure. He knew Brockham, and the man was less than suitable in his opinion.
Not only was the viscount boring, but the man had a tendency toward condescension where women were concerned. The only outcome their marriage ensured was that either Brockman would become a lap dog or Genevieve would be miserable with the man, more than likely, both outcomes would occur.
Excitement at the prospect of a wedding had the younger members of the family chattering like magpies at the table.
Theo had studied Genevieve throughout the meal, and she’d appeared oblivious and unaffected by the lively questions and speculation.
The cacophony had made even Theo wince once or twice, but Genevieve’s expression had remained serene, even uninterested in the discussion.
Theo wasn’t the only one who’d noted her blasé demeanor, and he’d seen looks of concern exchanged between his aunts.
When Aunt Louisa had asked if Genevieve intended to accept Brockham’s offer, she’d shrugged and stated she hadn’t decided.
But Theo had seen an odd look flitting across her beautiful face.
It was such a brief flash of emotion crossing Genevieve’s stoic expression that he wasn’t certain what it was.
But to him it had looked as if the question horrified her.
He and Peter had remained at Melton House for a few hours more before hailing a hackney cab to go home. On their way back to their townhouse, Peter had exploded with an anger unlike anything Theo had ever witnessed in his friend.
“I hope you’re happy, Selbourne.” Peter’s anger made Theo start as he jerked his head toward his best friend in bewildered amazement.
“Happy? About what?”
“Are you truly that blind, man?”
“Apparently I am when it comes to whatever has you so outraged.”
“Christ Jesus, you really don’t see it, do you?” The look of disbelief on Peter’s face made Theo frown in puzzlement.
“Exactly what am I missing in this conversation?”
“God help me,” Peter exclaimed with deep frustration. “You need to have your head examined, Selbourne. If you don’t do something, she might actually marry that half-wit.”
“What the devil are you talking about?” Theo asked with growing irritation. “Do you mean Brockham’s proposal to Genevieve?”
“Yes, Brockham’s proposal. How can you stand by and let Ginny marry that imbecile when you’re in love with her?”
Stunned, Theo stared at his friend in open-mouthed disbelief.
Deep inside, a voice shouted out an agreement with Peter’s accusation.
He crushed the sound. What he felt for Genevieve was lust, nothing more.
It was a physical desire that had been a part of him ever since that fateful day at the pond on Aunt Matilda’s estate in Scotland.
With a firm shake of his head, Theo denied the charge.
“I’m fond of Genevieve, but I’m not in love with her, Peter.” Lust, yes, but not love.
“Do you honestly expect me to believe that?” his friend bit out fiercely. “I know better. I remember how you looked at her that day at the pond.”
This time, Peter’s assertion sent a bolt of shock and humiliation blasting through him.
Theo met his friend’s fierce gaze for a moment before he jerked his gaze away to stare out at the street.
Peter had never mentioned that day at the pond before, and he’d always assumed his behavior had been missed by him and Genevieve.
Now, the thought of his best friend having witnessed his arousal made Theo’s gut knot up with a sickening twist. That day had been the last time he’d ever agreed to let Genevieve trail after the two of them like a puppy following the bigger dogs.
As was their habit on summer holidays, he and Peter had set off to explore the Abbey’s estate, and the heat had driven them to the pond.
Genevieve had swum with them many times before, in fact, he and Peter had taught her how to swim.
They’d not been in the pond for long when Theo had climbed out, preparing to launch himself back into the pond as if he were a human cannonball.
When he’d turned around, he’d frozen in his tracks as Genevieve rose up out of the water with a sylph-like grace.
It was the first time Theo had thought of her as a desirable young woman, not Uncle Percy’s ward or his cousin.
Dumbstruck, he’d been unable to do anything but stare, while she remained oblivious to his gaze.
Her wet bathing costume had clung to her figure, emphasizing a body blossoming into the lush, full-figured shape of a woman.
Nipples hardened by the cool water had been clearly outlined as the garment had molded itself to the gentle swell of her breasts.
Soft, rounded hips supported by long legs and lush thighs had been exquisitely and erotically delineated by the wet material clinging to her body.
The bathing costume had detailed the line of her inner legs right up to the apex of her thighs.
The sight had sent a surge of lust blasting through him.
It was the first time in his life he’d ever hungered for a woman both mentally and physically.
Theo was well-acquainted with lust. His older cousins had shared numerous photographs of scantily clad women with him.
Those images had aroused and titillated him.
He’d even envisioned more than one of those scandalous pictures while pumping his cock in private.
But his reaction to those decadent photographs paled in comparison to what he’d experienced as his eyes had stayed riveted on Genevieve.
Not even when he’d been thinking of the women in those photographs had his cock been as hard as it had been that day at the pond.
Unable to control his body’s reaction to Genevieve, he’d been forced to disappear into a nearby grove of trees to hide his erection.
Even when she was no longer in view, Genevieve’s body and beautiful face had remained vividly etched in his mind.
When he’d failed to make his body obey him, Theo had resorted to fisting his cock until he’d spilled his seed. The entire time he’d capitulated to his body’s demand for satisfaction, he’d imagined Genevieve beneath him, her beautiful face glowing with passion as he made love to her.
From that point on, he’d refused to let her join him and Peter when they ventured out onto the Abbey’s grounds.
He’d also maintained his distance from her during family gatherings for fear his body might betray his attraction to her.
Embarrassed, Theo sat rigid in the hack.
Fingers digging into his thighs, he stared out at the passing scenery.
“And I recognized how inappropriate my reaction was that day. I’m just as fond of her as I am of my other cousins, and I have no wish to cause her embarrassment,” he said icily, before he turned his head and narrowed his eyes at Peter’s look of disbelief.
“I solved the problem by keeping my distance from her, whether it was my refusing to let her accompany the two of us or my avoiding her company when we’re in the same place. ”
“Oh, it’s been blatantly apparent that you’ve kept your distance. But perhaps you could explain why you’ve been standing guard at social functions with me and rescuing her from unsuitable men?”
“Christ almighty, Peter. Genevieve isn’t just a Rockwood.
She also happens to be the most beautiful woman in London.
It’s why every man in the family does the same thing I do if they see someone unsuitable approaching her,” he snarled as he tried to convince his friend he wasn’t in love with Genevieve.
“No one wants some libertine taking advantage of her. I care what happens to Genevieve, just like I do my sister and all my cousins.”
“We both know she’s not related to you by blood. And you sure as hell don’t look at your sister or our cousins like you do Ginny.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he bit out through clenched teeth as he scowled at Peter for a moment, then returned his gaze to the buildings lining the street. He didn’t like the direction this conversation was going and struggled fiercely to find a way to end the conversation.
“It means, you imbecilic oaf,” Peter exclaimed with angry exasperation. “Whenever I see you looking at Ginny, it’s as if she’s the only woman in the world that matters to you. Your eyes never stray from her no matter what direction she heads.”
Stunned more by Peter’s observation than his best friend’s fierce, acid tone, Theo jerked his gaze back to the man seated beside him in horrified astonishment.
Christ Jesus, was his best friend right?
Had he actually been acting like one of her lovesick suitors?
Theo dismissed the thought. He wasn’t in love with Genevieve.
Lust, that’s what Peter was seeing—unadulterated lust. Tension flooded his limbs. In truth, he wasn’t much better than the old men whose lascivious gazes stripped Genevieve bare in their heads. Every time the woman filled his thoughts, he envisioned making love to her.
That wasn’t love. It was an obsession, and he’d managed to control it successfully for a long time. A voice in the deep recesses of his mind protested, but he silenced it with a vicious blow. When he didn’t respond, Peter threw his hands up in the air in a gesture of angry defeat.