Page 25 of Seducing an Earl under the Mistletoe
He paused, and she felt at a loss for words. He seemed to feel the same way, because all they could do was stare at each other, surprised that they had reached this point.
Then, his eyes twinkled with sincerity, although there was a mischievous gleam to them. “In fact, if you ever find yourself in need of inspiration, I would gladly offer my assistance.”
“You would?” she replied playfully, lifting an eyebrow.
“Indeed,” he nodded, then continued to clarify. “But that doesn’t mean that I am a rake who relishes scandalous affairs. On the contrary, I was thinking of even—”
This was where she cut him off. She wanted to make it clear that she was not looking for a courtship, although she wasn’t certain whether his next statement was leading them both in that direction.
“Your offer is most kind.” She nodded. “I value my independence above all else, and although it is obvious that there exists a connection between us, I do not seek a courtship.”
She wanted to remind him of the presence of another woman in his life, namely Margot, but he probably didn’t need to be reminded of her. Still, she wanted to assure him that she did not ask anything of him, apart from a bit of country romance.
“But a writer always needs a bit of inspiration,” she said with a chuckle, and he couldn’t help but join in.
Just as he was about to say something, the door to the drawing room opened, and Catherine’s father appeared in the doorway. There was a young man standing next to him. He possessed a tall, dignified stature with a distinguished posture that commanded attention. His well-groomed appearance was indicative of a man who took pride in his image and status.
“Ah, you are all here,” Lord Saltdean announced, clapping his hands together once in delight. “It is my pleasure to inform you all that Cedric Aldwin, Lord Thornton, will be staying with us over Christmas. I expect you will all make him feel very welcome because he is the son of one of my old friends.”
Marcus approached the man first, and Arthur seemed to seize this chance to lean closer to Catherine and whisper. “This man is bad news, Catherine.”
Catherine frowned. “He is?” she whispered back, watching as Virginie and Marcus chatted with the man. Soon, it would be their turn to greet him as well, but for the time being, they had a few moments to themselves.
“I recognize him from a pub your brother, and I went to while in London,” Arthur clarified with a hushed tone, their eyes not leaving the man in question, who was smiling cordially at his hosts. “It was a seedy place, and I doubt that anyone with good intentions would go there.”
She turned to him with a puzzled look. “Why did you go there then?”
Before he could explain, Lord Thornton approached them.
“And you must be the lovely Lady Catherine I’ve heard so much about,” he said with a voice as sweet as honey. His tone was warm and inviting, his eyes holding a charm that seemed to captivate those who engaged with him.
“I suppose I am,” she replied politely, offering him a little curtsey to match his bow.
“I am so grateful for being accepted into your family with open arms for the holidays,” he announced. “I cannot imagine a more welcoming place.”
“It is a pleasure to have you,” she replied with another courteous greeting, as a well-mannered host ought to do.
“Why don’t we all sit down and call for another round of tea?” Lord Saltdean suggested, and Virginie immediately nodded, rushing to call for the servants. Aunt Prudence had already informed them that she would be staying in her chamber, excusing herself with a headache. Although Catherine suspected it was merely her aunt’s way of locking herself up with a good book and not allowing anyone to disturb her.
Everyone got comfortable, and as the conversation unfolded, Catherine noticed that everyone’s attention was gradually being drawn towards the mysterious Lord Thornton. She had to admit that his stories were engaging, his wit sharp, and his mannerisms exuded a refined confidence. Everyone seemed to be drawn into the tales of his travels and experiences.
“Just imagine,” Lord Thornton enthused, “an open-air market in Marrakesh, the colors and scents swirling in the air, a true feast for the senses.”
“How extraordinary!” Virginie gasped in awe.
The rest of the gathering mirrored her fascination. The room was a mixture of curiosity and awe, each person hanging onto the fascinating narrative spun by the charismatic nobleman. His tales were like a well-crafted play, with everyone playing a part in the audience, completely absorbed in the unfolding drama.
“Ah, but the most exhilarating part was encountering a tribe deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest,” Lord Thornton continued, the excitement in his eyes reflecting the adventures he spoke of.
“You traveled all the way around the world?” Virginie asked again, but before Lord Thornton could reply, Catherine’s father took the reins.
“Yes, he has,” Lord Saltdean said proudly, as if the feat had been his very own. “And not only that, but he is a gentleman of the finest standing, intelligent, eloquent as you could have seen, well-read and well-traveled. A perfect specimen for a husband-to-be.”
As soon as her father said those words, he looked at her. Catherine didn’t like the sound of that. But she had little time to give it more thought, as Arthur cleared his throat.
“I must excuse myself,” he announced, sounding solemn and grave. “It was a pleasure to see you all.”
She wanted to talk to him more, but there was no time. She could only hope that he sensed her dilemma, torn between her role as a gracious hostess and her desire to spend time with him.
