isPc
isPad
isPhone
An Icy Christmas Engagement (Christmas Matches of Worth #1) Chapter Twelve 46%
Library Sign in

Chapter Twelve

The dinner party was decidedly not the simple affair the way Elizabeth had made it seem. One look at the packed dining room and Caroline wondered if they’d somehow gone back in time to the London Season earlier this year.

“Lady York has certainly outdone herself,” Louisa commented lightly, appearing at Caroline's side. She already had a glass of lemonade in her hand, eyes scanning the full dining room. “And to think she had such a limited amount of time to plan this. Then again, those still in London are bored and desperate for any sort of entertainment so it is no wonder they would accept such a last minute invitation.”

Caroline looked over at her. Louisa looked beautiful, as usual, her hair styled in perfect ringlets on top of her head and donned in a green and gold gown.

“I’m surprised you even agreed to it,” she commented, making her way into the corner of the room.

Louisa followed suit. “You know your mother far better than I do. You know how hard it is to deny her whatever she wants. She insisted on it the moment she arrived.”

“And you did not think to warn me of it?” Caroline asked in a slightly accusing tone. “I only learned of it this afternoon!”

“I thought it would be better if you were surprised,” Louisa confessed with a cheeky grin. Catching Caroline’s glare, she sighed. “The truth was that I forgot about it. She planned it quite silently and didn’t make mention of it again until today as well. Truth is, I was hoping she might have forgotten.”

“It would be far better to hope that the sun never sets,” Caroline sighed. She spied her mother amongst the guests, flitting from group to group with the broad smile of a happy hostess. “She loves nothing more than to host events. Especially if it gives her the opportunity to weed out the best gentlemen for her daughter.”

“I thought she had her heart set on Lord Sotheby.”

“I’m sure she does,” Caroline said. “But Mother will not put all her eggs in one basket. Don’t you recall Lady Maria’s ball? I danced the entire night and many of those gentlemen would not have approached me had it not been for her encouragement.”

“Or your beauty,” Louisa added.

Caroline scoffed, rolling her eyes.

“It is the truth,” Louisa insisted as she finished her lemonade. “You are the young and beautiful Dowager Viscountess of Winterbourne. What gentleman would not want a chance to share in your company?”

“And what of you?” Caroline asked, turning to face her directly. Louisa’s brows raised in surprise.

“What of me?”

“Your popularity far outshines mine, despite the fact that you are a veritable spinster and quite happy about it. Yet men flock to your side the moment you walk into a room.”

Louisa blinked, then laughed. “I was not aware that it was a competition of beauty.”

“It isn’t,” Caroline mumbled, flushing. “I only wanted to show you that you are utterly beautiful and any number of gentlemen would be clamouring for your hand in marriage if they weren’t so certain that you would turn them down.”

“It is a part of my charm,” Louisa laughed. Caroline joined in after a moment, but her laughter died the moment she realized that Elizabeth had spotted her hiding in the corner.

“Goodness, she’s coming,” she whispered hastily, looking around for any means of escape.

“And she has three gentlemen following her.” Louisa sounded impressed. “If I didn’t feel so bad for you, Caroline, I would commend her tenacity.”

Caroline didn’t get the chance to respond. Her mother was already in front of her, eyes bright with excitement as she said, “Caroline, dear, I did not realise that you were here.”

“That is because she’d hoped no one would notice,” Louisa chimed in a droll tone.

Everyone looked at her and she raised her hands in defeat, even though her eyes glimmered with humor. “I shall seek out another soul to vex,” she said before slipping away.

Caroline waited until she was gone before saying, “I had only just arrived. ”

“Well, these lovely and handsome gentlemen were hoping to be introduced. This is Lord Jenson,” she gestured to the tallest one, “Lord Frederick,” the hairiest one, “and Lord Cillian,” then the slimmest one. Caroline smiled politely at them all.

“They were hoping you would offer your company throughout the course of the evening,” Elizabeth went on with a hopeful smile. “And they would love to share a dance or two, I’m sure.”

Caroline knew there was no way out of it, especially not with these men standing in front of her. So she nodded and said, “I believe I could find the time…perhaps…”

That was good enough for Elizabeth. “Marvellous! Lord Cillian, why don’t you—”

“But I think I see Lord Sotheby nearby,” Caroline said quickly. “I would like to greet him first.”

“Lord Sotheby?” Elizabeth swiveled, craning her neck to see over the sea of people. “He has already arrived? I did not see him.”

“I’m certain I spotted him by the parlour doors. If you would excuse me.”

She didn’t give her mother a chance to say anything, ducking her head and slipping away without another word. She moved quickly, threading her way through the guests as she scanned her surroundings. She was looking for Louisa, of course. But she was also hoping to see someone else.

Caroline didn’t think her mother had invited the earl. She knew that even as she made her way through the dining room and yet she could not help the tingle of hope that she would walk in to see his brooding face from across the room. The fact that she hadn’t, and was yet to catch sight of him, told her that her suspicions were true. The disappointment she felt at that fact was a little embarrassing, to say the least.

She headed in the direction of the refreshments table, hoping to have a glass of lemonade before dinner began. Caroline kept close to the walls, however, spying one of the doors that led into the parlor and wondering if she should just make her escape now.

“Did you see Lady Winterbourne and Lord Colenhurst at Lady Maria’s ball? ”

She stiffened. Caroline instantly lowered her head, sliding her eyes to the left to see who had spoken. Two ladies stood a few feet away, completely oblivious to Caroline’s proximity.

“I did!” the other gasped, then lowered her voice when she was shushed by her friend. “They were quite the sight, were they not? I could hardly believe that the Ice Earl himself would dance with anyone at all, let alone a widow.”

“Perhaps that is the reason he did,” the other said. “You know he has no interest in marriage. At least not yet. And her husband is hardly cold in the ground yet.”

“Oh, goodness, you know that is not the truth. I, for one, think the dowager viscountess and Lord Colenhurst would make a lovely couple.”

Caroline nearly allowed herself to smile at that, but stopped at the other lady’s exclamation.

“They most certainly would not!”

“You are only saying that because you secretly fancy the earl.”

“I know better than to long for a man who hardly knows how to smile,” she protested, her voice fading. Caroline glanced back up to see that they were already walking away.

“He seemed more than happy to smile with Lady Winterbourne, though,” the other mused and then they were gone.

Caroline straightened, pulling herself from the corner she’d sequestered herself in. She should have known that others would be talking about her and the earl’s dance. And yet she didn’t know how to feel about it. The thrill of excitement that raced through her at the memory combated with the slight twinge of embarrassment the lady’s disapproval had brought her. She sipped her lemonade and wondered what Lord Colenhurst would think about what they’d said.

“What is on your mind, my lady?”

Caroline gasped and jumped, nearly spilling her lemonade. She quickly set it down and looked up at Lord Sotheby.

“My lord,” she said breathlessly. “I did not see you approach. ”

“You appeared to be lost in thought,” Lord Sotheby commented. “I had half a mind to wait until you noticed me first.”

Or perhaps you could have just left me alone?

She shoved down that pang of guilt as Lord Sotheby smiled down at her. “Would you like to talk about it?” he asked kindly. “I have been known as a great confidante by my peers.”

“It is nothing, my lord,” she told him. “I have already forgotten about it.”

“Then perhaps you would not mind sharing this dance with me?”

Caroline was about to protest when the sound of a harpsichord filled the room.

Lord Sotheby grinned. “I specifically asked Lady York to accommodate a bit of music this evening, since I longed to dance the waltz with you. We did not get the chance to at Lady Maria’s ball.”

Thank goodness , Caroline thought. Or else she would not have gotten the chance to dance with Lord Colenhurst.

She plastered a smile onto her face, ignoring the reluctance that kept her hand by her side. With more effort than she would have liked, she held out her hand.

Lord Sotheby grinned broadly as he took it and led her out amongst the other dancers. She couldn't help but think about what others would say if they saw her with Lord Sotheby. They would deem them a lovely couple, she was sure. They would have no reservations about them. There would be nothing bad to say because why would there be? Lord Sotheby was a perfect gentleman and Caroline would be lucky to be married to him. At least, that was what they all would think.

But dancing with Lord Sotheby, Caroline knew she would forget about it the moment they were apart. The dance would be as unremarkable as he was. Nothing like her time with the earl.

No, compared to Lord Colenhurst, Lord Sotheby was no one.

***

She didn’t write last night. Even after sneaking away from the dinner party earlier than it was expected to end, feigning exhaustion, Caroline could not think of a single thing to write. It was as if she’d hit a wall.

So when Elizabeth suggested that they go shopping the next day, she happily agreed. Getting out of the house might help serve as inspiration.

Louisa, of course, had stated that she would much rather spend her day listening to screeching cats than go shopping during the wintertime. Caroline couldn’t help but understand the sentiment and neglected to point out how odd it was that Louisa was willing to garden during this time instead.

Elizabeth clearly didn’t mind that Louisa hadn’t come along. She all but skipped down Bond Street, arm in arm with Caroline, talking incessantly about her successful dinner party.

“I had almost forgotten how popular you had been during your debut, Caroline,” she went on. “Last night only reminded me of it. Nearly every gentleman present approached me asking about you.”

“Was that not the reason you invited them in the first place?” Caroline asked wearily. She tucked her arms closer to herself to ward off some of the cold.

“Yes, of course,” Elizabeth stated boldly. “I do think Lord Sotheby would be a marvellous match for you, but it would not do to put all of one’s hope on a single gentleman. They are notorious for disappointment, after all.”

Caroline smiled wryly. “At least we can agree on one thing.”

“Then can we not agree on the fact that my dinner party was successful?” Elizabeth asked. “You received four bouquets of flowers just this morning!”

“But no gentleman had called,” she couldn’t help but point out, even though she was grateful for that fact. “Not that I am complaining.”

“I’m sure they will on the morrow,” Elizabeth dismissed, waving a gloved hand. “This was how it was during your debut as well, wasn’t it? After your first ball, the gentlemen did not appear immediately. But after a few days, they began coming in swarms.”

“And I hardly had any chance to enjoy it because you married me off to the viscount. ”

Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. Caroline realized a little too late than she’d sound far more bitter than she’d intended to.

“It was what was best at the time,” Elizabeth said after a moment. Her voice did not have that tinge of excitement any longer, it was only matter-of-fact. “We may have prestige but we are not a rich family. Lord Winterbourne was willing to accept your meager dowry and marry you instantly, while the gentlemen hoping to court you were never a guarantee. I could not take the risk.”

“You did not give me much of a chance,” Caroline murmured. “I was married within three weeks.”

She kept her eyes trained ahead, grateful that the street was not very busy. Those who meandered by did so quickly, as if eager to get out of the cold. With the dark clouds overhead, she wouldn’t be surprised if it began snowing soon.

“Many ladies would consider that a successful Season,” Elizabeth pointed out.

“Many ladies did not have much hope for a love match,” Caroline countered.

“Love?” Elizabeth gasped. “What need do you have for love? What a lady needs is security.”

Caroline saw no point in arguing. She hadn’t said anything then and she wouldn’t say anything now, only because Elizabeth was never going to see things her way.

Besides, she’d given up on the idea of love. From the moment her mother told her that she had accepted Lord Winterbourne’s proposal, Caroline knew it was never meant for her. Her purpose on earth was to inspire that same longing for love in others who had read about it in books like she had. Not to experience it herself. It had only taken her three years to realize that.

And she had no intention of letting go of it. She craved her freedom, her passion for it like an inferno eating her up on the inside. She needed to release herself in her writing as much as she needed to eat or sleep.

That passion began mounting in her as they lapsed into silence. Now, she wanted nothing more than to forget about the milliner’s and head back home so she could pore all these rising emotions out onto paper.

“Lady York!”

Caroline looked up in surprise. She’d been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed that someone had approached.

She met a pair of ice-blue eyes.

There was an older lady at his side, but Caroline could hardly think about acknowledging her. Not when she was standing in front of the Earl of Colenhurst again. Not when it suddenly felt as if it had been ages since she’d seen him so close, even though their dance had only been a few days ago. Not when he was staring at her so intently, as if didn’t care to acknowledge anyone else either.

That longing she’d allowed herself to forget about, that needed for passionate romance, sprouted new leaves. It budded into something she’d never felt before, spreading its vines throughout her and taking root. The longer she stared up at the earl, the more out of control she felt.

“Lady Hutton,” Elizabeth greeted happily, pulling Caroline back to the present. She blinked and looked away, focusing on the lady on Lord Colenhurst’s arm.

Lady Hutton was looking at her as if she could tell exactly what she was thinking. But then she turned her attention back to Elizabeth.

“I have not seen you since Lady Maria’s ball,” Lady Hutton commented. “I thought that you would have paid me a visit during your short time in London.”

“Oh, I had every intention of doing so, my lady,” Elizabeth told her with a laugh. “But I had my hands full with my daughter, you see.”

“Oh?” Lady Hutton’s perceptive gaze came to rest on Caroline. “I do not think we were introduced, my lady, though I have heard much about you.”

“The Dowager Viscountess of Winterbourne, my lady,” Caroline said, curtsying respectfully. “It is nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well. It is interesting that I have been such a good friend of Lady York and it is my nephew who gets the chance to meet you before I have.” Lady Hutton looked up at the quiet earl. “Cedric, you know Lady Winterbourne, do you not? You danced with her during the ball. And this is her mother, Baroness York.”

Lord Colenhurst gave a curt nod. “Lovely seeing you again, my lady,” he said to Caroline. “And lovely meeting you, my lady.”

Caroline quelled the surge of disappointment as soon as it came. It was just like when they’d seen each other at Gunter’s. Clearly she was more interested in seeing him than he was in seeing her.

“Where are you two heading?” Lady Hutton asked.

“We were on our way to the milliner’s,” Elizabeth told her.

“What marvellous news,” she exclaimed. “We shall go with you then.”

Caroline frowned. “Were you not going in the opposite direction?”

“Quite so. But hearing about the milliner only reminds me that there is a hat of mine that needs mending. So we may as well walk together.”

Caroline’s frown only deepened. Neither Lady Hutton nor Lord Colenhurst had a hat box with them, and there was no maid trailing behind them.

Caroline glanced curiously up at the earl, expecting him to protest. Surely there were other things he would rather do than accompany three ladies to the milliner’s. But he was quiet. Patient, almost.

“Are you certain?” Elizabeth asked, sounding uncertain herself.

“Quite so.” Lady Hutton released her nephew’s arm and slipped herself between Caroline and Elizabeth, easily prying them apart. She took Elizabeth by the arm and said, “Besides, I think there is much we need to talk about, Lady York. Let us go, then. You two, make sure not to fall too far behind.”

Lady Hutton didn’t wait for their response, only set off with just a squeak of protest from Elizabeth, leaving Caroline staring after them.

“If we are not careful, they will surely get away from us. ”

Her heart skipped a beat. She looked at the earl and hoped that her body’s reaction to him was not evident on her face. “I assume she wants us to walk together. And alone.”

The side of his lips twitched into a wry smile. “You would assume correctly. She is nothing if not meddlesome, though she likes to pretend otherwise.”

“Mother is the same way, I’m afraid,” Caroline sighed.

“Come along, you two!” Lady Hutton called from in front.

Lord Colenhurst gestured for Caroline to go ahead. She did so, chest constricting a little when he fell in step next to her. The smell of his cologne washed over her.

“I am disappointed, my lady.”

Caroline looked at him in surprise. “Disappointed in me?”

“Who else? I do recall you being the one who said you would suggest a few novels for me to read. And yet…”

She blinked. It took her a moment to realize that he was teasing.

“Oh, forgive me, my lord. Was I to appear on your front step with a pile of books in my hands?” she asked lightly.

“Yes, I would have expected no less.”

She laughed. “Well, I am happy to know that you are as excited to partake in the novels as I am to share them with you. I only hope that you enjoy them.”

“It is quite refreshing to meet a lady so interested in reading. I find that I do not come across many these days.”

“How odd.”

He looked at her, brows raised. “Odd? Is it not common knowledge that many ladies are expected to turn away from books unless it contains poetry?”

“No, not at all,” she said with a shake of her head. “Unfortunately, that is the reality we live in. I only find it odd that you would come across many ladies at all. There is a reason you are dubbed the Ice Earl, you know. I thought ladies would cower in your presence.”

“And yet you do not.”

“Would you rather it that way?”

“It would be rather refreshing to know that my reputation stands. Though the name is rather explicit. ”

Laughter rushed from her lips with such ease that it surprised her a little. Who would have thought the Earl of Colenhurst liked to jest?

“I am terribly sorry to disappoint, my lord. But I am not easily intimidated.”

“How would you know that I would not be the exception? I have not attempted to intimidate you.”

“I thought it came naturally to you,” she challenged with a raised brow.

“It does,” he confirmed easily, nodding. “And yet with you, there is none of that usual bout of annoyance I tend to feel with other people.”

She flushed, avoiding his eyes and staring into her mother’s back instead. As if she sensed the weight of Caroline’s gaze, Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder at them and frowned.

“You make me sound more special than I am, my lord.”

“You are far more special than you think,” he said immediately.

Heat coursed through her body like a roaring river. Caroline tucked her arms closer to her, fighting the sappy smile that was desperate to be set free.

“Are you cold?” he asked her.

“Hm?” A little dazed, she looked up to see him already shrugging out of his coat. “Oh, no, you do not have to—”

“It isn’t a bother. I run hot.”

Without giving her a chance to protest, he draped his coat around her. It hung heavily on her shoulders, the hem almost brushing her ankles.

She should thank him. That thought whispered through her mind as she gazed into his eyes—then it was gone. Her mind emptied completely, lost in the icy blue that warmed her from the inside out.

She would have forced herself to look away. Aware of where they were, that they were not alone, and that the others were getting far ahead of them, Caroline knew that the right thing was to thank him and move on.

And she would have if she thought for a moment that he wanted to as well. Instead, he stared at her as if he too could not break out of a trance. As if she had him under the same spell he cast on her.

“My lord…” she breathed without thinking and his eyes dipped to her lips.

She had been kissed before, of course. Chaste meeting of the lips that meant nothing and left her feeling empty inside. But when Lord Colenhurst’s eyes darted to her mouth, Caroline felt as if every nerve in her body had been lit. And if he dared to take that step towards her, to meet their lips, she would simply combust.

“Caroline!”

Caroline jerked away, her heart tripping over itself at her mother’s bark. She took a step back, looking up to see Elizabeth waving her over.

“Oh, don’t bother them,” she heard Lady Hutton say. “It seems they are having a rather intense conversation.”

“Far too intense, I would say,” Elizabeth muttered, though not low enough.

Caroline felt her face grow hot. “Forgive me,” she said hastily. “I shouldn’t have—”

“Should not have what?” Lord Colenhurst cut in. “We did not do anything wrong.”

“Yes, but—” She broke off, eyes lowering. “Well, I suppose so.”

“Will I see you at Lord and Lady Whitmore’s Christmas ball in a few days?”

“I had received an invitation, yes.”

“Good. Save me a dance.”

Then he took her arm, tucked it within his, and led her to where her mother and his aunt stood. It didn’t seem as if he was expecting a response to his last statement. Which was perfect because she could not think of any.

“You two were so engrossed in your conversation that I’m sure you did not realise we’d arrived at the milliner’s,” Lady Hutton commented upon their approach.

“Forgive us,” Lord Colenhurst apologized smoothly. “I find that Lady Winterbourne and I have much to talk about.”

“I cannot imagine what about,” Elizabeth grunted, but thankfully, everyone decided to ignore her .

“This is where we part ways, I’m afraid,” Lady Hutton went on. “I had completely forgotten that I had not brought the hat that was meant to be mended with me. I’m afraid my old age brings unforgetfulness with it.”

Caroline didn’t believe that for a second. She doubted anyone else did.

“Then let us be on our way,” Lord Colenhurst said. “I think we have taken up enough of their time already.”

“They won’t mind if we stay to keep their companies a while longer,” Lady Hutton protested. She looked at Elizabeth and Caroline. “Would you?”

Before either one of them could respond, Lord Colenhurst continued, “I must be returning to my office. I’m sure you will have more than enough time to continue catching up at Lady Whitmore’s ball. Lady Winterbourne tells me that they will be in attendance.”

“Is that so?” Lady Hutton seemed pleased by that. “Then we shall meet again at Lady Whitmore’s ball. Perhaps we could get a chance to speak with each other a bit more, my lady.”

Caroline smiled. “I would enjoy that, Lady Hutton.”

She returned her smile. “Goodbye then.”

Lord Colenhurst gave them a simple nod in farewell, but Caroline didn’t miss the way his eyes lingered on her. She doubted her mother missed it either, but she didn’t care at the moment. She savored the feeling, her heart still racing from what could have happened before they had been interrupted.

“Lord Sotheby will be at the gala as well,” Elizabeth said, breaking into Caroline’s thoughts.

“I’m sure he will be,” Caroline sighed.

Elizabeth harrumphed but thankfully said nothing more, entering the shop. Caroline followed suit but knew that she wasn’t going to be able to focus on anything for the duration of time there. Lord Colenhurst was the only thing on her mind.

Chapter List
Display Options
Background
Size
A-