Page 18 of A Christmas Miracle for the Frosty Marquess
“It’s not a topic I’m inclined to discuss, Clara,” he said with an inflexible finality. “The decision has been made. That is all there is to say.”
A chill ran down her spine, and Clara felt her cheeks warm with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She had hoped, naively perhaps, for an ounce of warmth, a hint of shared anticipation. Instead, his words seemed to be an effort to build yet another wall between them. She looked down at her plate, the food suddenly unappetizing. Around them, the conversations continued, but between Clara and Julian, an icy silence settled. She wrestled with her emotions, seeking the right words to respond, but none came. The rest of the meal passed in the same cold silence, each course a testament to the immovable distance between two people bound by a future that neither of them could reconcile.
When dinner blissfully drew to a close, the ladies gracefully rose from the table, leaving the gentlemen to their port and cigars. Clara found herself ushered into the drawing room, where chandeliers identical to the ones in the ballroom cast light over plush furnishings and an array of delicate porcelain figures.
She took a seat on one of the ornate chairs, pulling at her gloves to ensure they were perfectly smooth. As she did so, she felt a gentle touch on her arm. Turning, she was met with Elizabeth’s warm gaze, so different from the icy stare of her brother.
“Clara,” Elizabeth said, her gaze sympathetically curious. “Forgive me for intruding, but I couldn’t help noticing your unease during dinner.”
Clara’s eyes flicked away for a moment, the memory of her attempts at conversation with Julian humiliating and uncomfortable. That alone had been shameful enough. But to know that Elizabeth had noticed the tension between them was almost too much to bear. However, Elizabeth’s sincere demeanor encouraged her to meet her gaze once again.
“It is all right, Elizabeth,” she said. “It’s just that Julian and I haven’t seen each other in so long. It will take time for us to become familiar with one another again.”And the circumstances seem to be making that more difficult than it ever would be otherwise,she added silently.
Her future sister-in-law nodded knowingly. She reached out and patted Clara’s arm with warm kindness and a sweet smile.
“Well, I wanted to take a moment to express how delighted I am that you will soon be my sister-in-law,” Elizabeth said, her voice genuine. “And to say that, if anyone possesses the grace and warmth to melt Julian’s, at times, frosty exterior, it is certainly you.”
Clara’s smile was hesitant, the ghost of her earlier conversation with Julian still looming. She didn’t know what had prompted Elizabeth to say such a thing, especially in that moment. But she felt a warmth seeping in at Elizabeth’s comforting words, which sounded much like what Hannah had said. Perhaps, the two women could see something that Clara couldn’t yet. She wanted to hope that was true. But Julian’s coldness only served to confirm all her fears about their marriage.
“Thank you, Elizabeth,” she said. “Your words mean more than you can imagine.”
Elizabeth leaned in, her voice lowering conspiratorially.
“Julian has always been reserved, more so since Mother died,” she said. “But deep down, beneath that guarded facade, there’s a heart capable of profound love and tenderness. All he needs is time and understanding.”
Clara nodded, her resolve strengthening.
“I know he has struggled in recent years,” she said. “My heart breaks for him. I promise to exercise patience with him. I truly wish to understand the man Julian has become.”
Elizabeth gave her an approving nod, still smiling.
“And you will, Clara,” she said. “Remember, it’s just a matter of time.”
Clara squeezed Elizabeth’s hand in gratitude. For the first time that evening, she felt a glimmer of hope for the future. She still wasn’t sure if she could believe what Hannah and Elizabeth were saying. While they might know her, they couldn’t possibly know that Julian would, or would not, decide to open himself up to her. But with someone so close to Julian as certain that she could get through to him as her own friend’s mother was, she made a decision. She would make it her mission to give him all the time, patience and understanding that he needed. If she could prove herself to him, she fully intended to do so. No matter what.
Chapter Eight
When the gentlemen retired to the drawing room, Julian found himself unable to share in the merriment of the conversations and tale telling around him. He hadn’t expected to do so. But having to sit in a room full of people and feel so alone and burdened was, in his mind, worse than offering a weak excuse and leaving the party early. He was just settling into a high-backed chair near the window, considering that very option, when Thomas approached him. His cousin gave him a playful, though concerned, smile.
“You seem rather distant tonight, Julian,” Thomas said, handing him a glass of brandy. “I can only presume it has something to do with this whole betrothal business.”
Julian accepted it with a soft nod, his fingers wrapping around the crystal.
“It has everything to do with that,” he said. “And after seeing Clara tonight, I am even more convinced that this whole thing is a terrible mistake.”
Thomas settled in the chair opposite Julian, sipping his drink thoughtfully.
“Marriage, especially in our circles, often comes with its share of obligations and responsibilities,” he said. “It’s not just about personal sentiments but rather aligning families, assets, and legacies. Rarely does a man find a woman whom he loves before he marries her. That is just our reality, I am afraid.”
Julian let out a quiet sigh.
“I envy those who find love and are free to pursue it,” he said. “I confess that I never thought much about marriage. But now, I wish I had a choice.”
A moment of contemplative silence passed between them. Then Thomas spoke.
“Julian, we are not like other men,” he said. “From birth, our paths are paved by duty. Remember, while love is a gift, respect and understanding are equally valuable in a marriage. And from what I gather, you and Clara share the latter, at least in friendship.”
Julian rubbed his temple, feeling the weight of all the pressure bearing down on him.
