Page 8 of Seducing an Earl under the Mistletoe
“There is nothing to tell, really,” Catherine replied politely. After all, that much was true. Publicly, she hadn’t done anything worth being praised.
“Well, I do suppose that it has a lot to do with whether someone has traveled abroad or not,” Amaury continued. “And, I do have an exceptional talent for recognizing such opportunities, which I seize immediately, for I know their worth.”
Catherine frowned. She wasn’t sure whether he had just insulted her for not having traveled outside the confines of England if he was merely boasting of his own travels. Not that it mattered, after all. Catherine could not fail to notice with what affection Virginie gazed at the man, so she decided to ignore this comment.
“Virginie tells me you write,” Catherine commented merely to be polite, although she was already trying to come up with excuses to leave his company.
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I always strive to surround myself with the best that life has to offer, and this is where I draw all my inspiration.”
Catherine couldn’t help but notice the emphasis on material possessions and personal achievements. Amaury seemed more interested in showcasing his affluence than in understanding other people’s perspectives or interests.
Their conversation continued in the same direction, this time including Virginie, but Catherine couldn’t shake off the feeling that his values were misaligned with Virginie’s, who cherished simplicity, kindness, and genuine connections. Amaury’s arrogance and preoccupation with materialism stood in stark contrast to what Catherine believed was essential in a life partner for her sister.
As the conversation carried on, Catherine couldn’t help but hope that Virginie would see through the veneer of Amaury’s vanity and consider what truly mattered in a relationship—mutual respect, shared values, and love based on genuine understanding and care. She wished for nothing more than to see her sister happy, and she fervently hoped that love would guide Virginie in making the right decisions for her future.
At that moment, she felt her father’s hand on her shoulder. “Catherine, would you mind accompanying me to the refreshments table?”
“Of course, Father.” Catherine smiled at him, nodding at Virginie, grateful for the opportunity to leave the haughty gentleman’s company.
However, what she hoped might be a more or less private conversation between her and her father, turned into her own struggle as she navigated the sea of potential suitors, each conversation feeling more forced than the last. Her father had thrown her into the circle of affluent gentlemen, reminding them that this was his daughter who now resided in London, but who was back for the holidays.
Catherine knew exactly what this was. He wanted her to reconnect with some of the wealthy gentlemen in the area in hopes that one of them would spark an interest in her. Unfortunately, no such thing was possible. If anything, his efforts had the opposite effect, and all Catherine wanted was to get as far away from everyone as possible.
Marcus seemed to have sensed his sister’s discomfort immediately, even from across the vast ballroom. Within seconds, he appeared by her side, greeting those gentlemen he had not greeted already. With gentle understanding of his sister’s feelings, he was there to intervene and offer her some reprieve.
He interjected into the conversation his father was leading and politely addressed everyone present. “You gentlemen won’t mind if I steal my sister away for a moment? I promise to bring her back shortly.”
The gentlemen murmured their agreement with smiles, but Marcus didn’t wait for outright permission. Instead, he locked arms with his sister and led her in the opposite direction.
“Thank you,” Catherine whispered, feeling relieved.
“I could see you were in desperate need of some help,” he teased her. He seemed to be searching for someone in the crowd while he was talking to her. “I actually wanted to take you to see someone.”
“Who?” she wondered, intrigued.
He remained mysteriously quiet as he led her through the crowd, a subtle smile on his lips. At that moment, she saw her friend Isabel engaged in conversation with a group of acquaintances, her eyes lighting up as she spotted Catherine.
“Catherine!” She excused herself and rushed over to her friend with open arms. “It has been far too long!”
“Indeed,” Catherine replied, reciprocating the warmth, embracing Isabel tightly. “I’ve missed you so much.”
As they caught up, sharing stories of the time they had spent apart, Marcus observed from a distance. While his face displayed happiness for his sister’s reunion, a twinge of sadness tugged at his heart. He had orchestrated this meeting to reunite the friends, but it was obviously bittersweet for him. Catherine could see it clearly, although he was doing his best to hide behind a façade of polite indifference.
He obviously wanted to be in Isabel’s company, but he did not know how else to go about it. She could not blame him for it. She realized the sacrifices her brother had made for the happiness of their family, and the delicate balance they all tried to maintain in the intricate dance of their feelings.
Marcus joined the conversation, engaging with Isabel and Catherine. Despite the bittersweet undertones, the trio shared laughter and recounted fond memories, momentarily forgetting the complexities of their emotions. Shortly after, a gentleman had walked over to him, and after a short, hushed conversation, Marcus excused himself, giving the ladies some privacy, which they both welcomed.
Catherine and Isabel found a more secluded corner where they could converse freely. The mood shifted to a more serious tone as they delved into Isabel’s recent experiences and her newfound courtship.
“Catherine, I’ve recently met a fine gentleman,” Isabel began, her eyes reflecting a mixture of excitement and concern.
“That’s wonderful news, Isabel! Tell me more about him,” Catherine encouraged, genuinely curious about her friend’s prospects.
Isabel took a deep breath, grappling with her emotions. “He is a kind and respectable man, attentive and thoughtful. We share similar interests and values.”
Catherine sensed there was more to the story than Isabel was letting on. “But?”
Isabel hesitated, her gaze shifting as if grappling with her inner conflict. “But, in truth, my heart has longed for someone else for quite some time.”
