An Icy Christmas Engagement (Christmas Matches of Worth #1)

Chapter Six

“My lord, why don’t we retire to the parlour? I have a glass of brandy that I think you would enjoy.”

Cedric would have fallen to the floor in dramatic thanksgiving for those words. That meant this terrible night of false niceties and forced conversations was coming to an end. After the dinner, the guests gathered in the oversized drawing room for more conversation, more wine, and entertainment. Miss Alice certainly showed her skill in both song and the pianoforte and perhaps Cedric would have been able to enjoy it if he hadn’t been too busy contemplating the consequences of throwing himself out the nearest window to escape.

The guests had dwindled down until there was only Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Sinclair—a withdrawn and pallid woman whom Cedric didn’t meet until well into the dinner—and Miss Alice. He had just considered announcing his leave before Mr. Sinclair’s invitation.

“We shall take our leave then,” Miss Alice said as she got to her feet. “Tonight was wonderful, Father. I bid you goodnight. My lord,” she turned to face Cedric and he tensed, “it was a pleasure spending this evening with you and I hope we will be able to do so again in the future.”

“Good night,” Mrs. Sinclair said softly as she stood and followed her daughter out of the room.

Mr. Sinclair waited until they were gone to stand and indicate that Cedric should follow him. They made their way to another door off to the side, which led to that parlor Mr. Sinclair had spoken of. It was a far smaller room with dark wallpaper and decorations, a large sideboard occupying the back wall. Cedric claimed a high-backed armchair and watched as Mr. Sinclair ambled over to the sideboard to retrieve the glass of brandy and two glasses.

He came over, sat in the chair across from Cedric, and poured a hearty amount into both cups .

“This is a sipping spirit, my lord,” Mr. Sinclair said. “But I must say, I enjoy it so much that I tend to drink it far faster than it was intended to be consumed. I hope you can handle your spirits, my lord.”

“I believe I’ll be able to hold my own,” Cedric murmured as he took a sip. It was indeed strong but smooth as it went down. He watched as Mr. Sinclair took a few gulps then struggled to hide his grimace.

Mr. Sinclair set his cup on the end table next to his chair. “After tonight, I believe I have earned the right to speak informally to you, Cedric. We are friends, are we not? Friends with mutual goals.”

Cedric didn’t like the insinuation behind his tone but something told him that it would be better to play along for now, even though the thought of doing so felt like a pistol was being pushed into his side.

“Mutual goals?” he queried.

Mr. Sinclair shrugged, nonchalantly, his gaze razor-sharp. “Well, we are both large figures in the shipping business. And I must say that I do hold my own against a man who was born into a legacy, wouldn’t you say? I grew my business from the ground up, but I doubt you know anything about that.”

Cedric sipped his brandy to hide his sneer. “It is quite commendable, Ambrose.”

Ambrose nodded as if he had expected nothing else. “Yes and our alliance would be rather beneficial to us both. You have connections in the House of Commons and prestige attached to both your name and your business. And of course, my growth in this cutthroat industry has earned me quite a number of allies that I’m sure would aid you.”

“Such an alliance could prove helpful, I agree.”

“Marvellous. I am delighted that we are of one accord. Joining our families will certainly ensure that our businesses become a force to be reckoned with.”

Cedric clenched his glass to keep the scowl off his face. “Joining our families?”

Ambrose looked at him as if what he was saying should be obvious. “You should know that I am hoping to get my daughter married before the end of the year. You would be a perfect match for her and I suppose it doesn’t hurt that she seems to like you as well. You two could court for a short while as the wedding is being planned but my hope is that by the end of the year, she becomes the Countess of Colenhurst.”

“Your ambitions are rather grand, Ambrose.”

“It is what has brought me this far.” He leaned closer, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands. “Do you not agree that our alliance could make us formidable, Cedric?”

The dominance in his posture irritated Cedric. Clearly this man thought that Cedric could be intimidated. Cedric wanted to show him just who he was trying to play with. His body nearly vibrated with the urge. But, seeing the bigger picture, he calmed himself and said, “You are correct. However, you must appreciate why a momentous occasion such as marriage might cause me to hesitate, particularly for one as youthful as I.”

“Ah, I know,” Ambrose said, leaning back. “I was not very thrilled to marry my wife either but she was from a wealthy family and I needed the funds. I do not expect you to give up your life. Though I am certain a gentleman as dashing as yourself has scattered his wild oats throughout London, matrimony need not preclude you from indulging in a mistress or two.” As long as my daughter produces a child, I will be satisfied.”

The disgust Cedric felt upon hearing those words was choking him. Every ounce of his strength went into keeping Ambrose from seeing it.

“Wise words, my lord.” Unable to stay a moment longer, he stood. “We should talk about this another day. I’m afraid my exhausting day is beginning to catch up to me.”

Ambrose stood. Cedric realized he was a rather short man yet from the way he spoke, one would think he stood at eight feet tall. “The butler shall see you out. Next we speak, Cedric, I hope we can straighten out the details of this arrangement.”

Cedric declined to answer that with anything other than a curt nod before he left the room. As he’d promised, the butler was indeed waiting outside the door, the tired-looking man pulling himself off the wall where he’d clearly been resting. Cedric felt a smidgen of pity as he followed the butler to the front door .

The fresh midnight air chased away some of the upsetting emotions, but it wasn’t enough to rid him of that uncomfortable sense of dread. Ambrose was right. That was the most difficult part to swallow. He was a formidable character in the shipping industry and gaining an alliance would only prove beneficial for them both. But to think that alliance came on heels of an arranged marriage felt like a noose around Cedric’s neck.

Duty and marriage. He hated that those two often walked hand in hand. Cedric had been trying to avoid it for years now but somehow he knew that one day he would have to face the latter if he wanted to perform the former.

***

Sleep didn’t come easy for Caroline that night but when she woke the next morning, she remembered two crucial things. One: she was meant to begin her volunteer work at the orphanage today and two, her mother had always been an oversleeper. Which meant she should have enough time to have a quick breakfast and sneak out of the house before having to face her mother. Small mercies considering the mental turmoil Elizabeth had put her through last night.

Caroline moved quickly. She got dressed in only ten minutes and rushed to the drawing room to break her fast. Louisa was already there and seemed to find endless amounts of amusement in the fact that Caroline was doing everything in her power to keep from seeing her mother this morning. But Caroline knew Louisa understood her plight. Louisa knew more than anyone else that freedom was not an easy thing to give up. If the roles were reversed, Louisa might have left London altogether.

Thankfully, Caroline managed to eat a few toasts and swallow a couple sips of hot chocolate before she rushed out the door with Louisa, saving herself from a morning encounter with her mother. Considering the fact that Elizabeth wanted nothing more than to go on and on about Caroline getting remarried, Caroline wouldn’t be surprised if that was the first topic on her mind upon coming downstairs. Caroline wouldn’t be able to handle it. Not after she’d spent all night tossing and turning with that weighing on her mind.

How could her mother even think to reconsider marriage? Caroline had told her about the dull and loveless marriage she’d endured with Harold and had quickly learned that Elizabeth was incapable of understanding her plight. To Elizabeth, marriage was a rite of passage. A lady was incapable of becoming a woman until she was married. She was utterly useless on her own if she did not have a man to take care of her. It was a wonder how she and Louisa got along at all, seeing that they had such opposite ideals.

“Stop thinking about it,” came Louisa’s light chastisement. “It will do you no good to wear that frown into the orphanage.”

Caroline blinked, making a concerted effort to relax her features. She glanced over at Louisa who seemed content in her light blue coat, her nose flushed an adorable pink from the cold. Caroline, on the other hand, was contemplating if she should turn back for another layer of clothing, hating the fact that she could almost feel the cold snow through her boots.

“I cannot help it,” she sighed. “How could mother think to ask me to remarry?”

“Honestly, Caroline, I am not sure why you are surprised. I was certain she was up to something like that when she appeared at my doorstep.”

“I thought she was only worrying about me like she usually does.”

“I’m certain she was,” Louisa agreed with a nod. “But you must admit that it is a bit odd for her to come all the way to London just because you told her that you would be delayed a few weeks. I thought it was obvious that she had other ulterior motives afoot.”

Caroline’s shoulders slumped. She could see the orphanage in the distance, a grey and dismal looking building tucked between two other establishments and marked only by the dilapidated sign hanging lopsided above the door.

“I cannot remarry,” she protested. “It will ruin everything I have created so far. I will only go back to that mundane life I lived with Harold.” Feeling a little guilty, she added, “May he rest in peace. ”

Louisa smiled and took Caroline’s gloved hand, saying, “Put your mind to rest for now. We are here for the children. Afterwards, we can think of how best to approach Lady York.”

Caroline nodded. Louisa was right, as she always was.

But pushing the thought to the back of her mind as she neared the steps of the orphanage was no easy feat, she realized. That feeling of dread that had been lingering deep within her bones clearly had no intention of going anywhere.

The moment the door opened, however, she plastered a bright smile on her face. She could at least fake it, she thought.

A middle-aged woman with a cherub face opened the door, wiping her hands in her apron. “Oh, Lady Winterbourne! Miss Tilbury! Welcome, welcome.”

“Good day, Mrs. Henry,” Caroline greeted as they stepped into the narrow hallway. Her nose was immediately hit with the smell of sugar and vanilla, but it was subtle enough for her to wonder if it came from the matron or simply lingered in the air.

Mrs. Henry smiled broadly, tucking a few curly loose strands behind her ear. “The children have been so excited for your arrival,” she said. “They have been bothering me all morning about when you two would show.”

“Then lead the way,” Louisa urged with a smile. “We do not want to keep them waiting a moment longer than necessary.”

Mrs. Henry nodded happily and slipped by them, pressing herself close to the wall since the hallway boasted a limited amount of space. They followed her to the end where there was a narrow staircase to the left and a door. She headed through the door.

What laid on the other end seemed like a drawing room and library in one. It was rather sizeable—especially when coming from such a cramped hallway. Bookshelves that were only half-filled with worn books were tucked to one end of the room, toys littered in front of them. A few small children were already playing over by that end, while the older children were busying themselves by the table and chairs on the other side. As soon as they entered, however, they all stopped what they were doing and raced over. Caroline counted eight of them .

“Mrs. Henry!” squealed a little girl with gangly arms. She could be no older than seven years old, missing a front tooth, and might be one of the most adorable children Caroline had ever seen. She led the charge despite the fact that she clearly was not the eldest.

“Hannah,” Mrs. Henry spoke in a gentle and patient tone. “This is Lady Winterbourne and Miss Tilbury. They have come to spend some time with you today.”

“What will we be doing?” asked an older boy—perhaps ten years old—standing to the back.

“Whatever you’d like,” Louisa said amicably, wearing that bright smile that was capable of charming children and adults alike. “What’s your name?”

“Joshua,” the boy said.

“Well, Joshua, is there anything you would like for us to—”

“Let’s play forts!”

Without waiting for a response, Joshua and a few of the other children ran off to the window where there were a few empty trunks and blankets.

“Well, I suppose I have no choice, do I?” Louisa chuckled before making her way over to them.

Caroline was about to follow suit but a tiny hand caught hers. She looked down to see Hannah peering up with her with round, brown eyes.

“Will you read to us?” Hannah asked nicely. “Please?”

There was no denying her. Hannah could have asked for every pence in Caroline’s name and she would have given it, even though she’d already donated as much as she could to the orphanage.

“Of course,” she told her. “Is there anything in particular you would like to hear?”

“Read us the nursery rhymes!” a little boy squealed excitedly.

“No, I want to hear Romeo and Juliet!” Hannah protested, shooting a scathing glare at the boy.

“Romeo and Juliet?” Caroline echoed with a laugh. “Is that your favourite story?”

Hannah beamed. “Yes, yes, yes! Will you read it? ”

Caroline came to a stop at the bookshelves, studying the disappointing selection. The book of a few of Shakespeare’s stories was the only thing of value. She would have to look about donating a few books as well.

“How about I read the nursery rhymes first?” Caroline suggested. “And then we end with Romeo and Juliet?”

Hannah pouted, crossing her arms. Caroline lowered to a squat and whispered conspiratorially in her ear, “We have to save the best for last, don’t we? It will be our little secret.”

For a moment, she thought Hannah wouldn’t budge. But then a smile stretched across her face and she nodded before putting a finger to her lips. Caroline mimicked her with a wink.

She settled into the closest chair while the children gathered around her and began to read. By the time she made it to the next page, she couldn’t at all remember what she had been trying to forget.