Page 10 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“And you do not strike me as the type of lady to slip twice in the span of a few minutes.”
“I did not slip twice,” she corrected. “I slipped once and negligently stepped out into the street on the second occasion.”
“My apologies,” he caved easily. “Each instance would have left you sprawled out on the ground, injured and in pain.”
She decided not to mention the fact that her ankle was still throbbing, though markedly less than it had been at first.
“But if you do not wish for my assistance, miss, I shan’t force it,” he continued. “I only ask one thing of you.”
“What is that?”
“Please don’t lose your footing again until I am well out of sight.”
Caroline didn’t know whether to laugh or scowl. So she simply stared blankly at him, which left him staring back at her.
“It was meant as a jest,” he told her.
Still, she stared at him, not allowing the tickle of amusement make her lips curl. The Ice Earl was making a joke? Surely the rumors could not be true then? She’d never heard of a cold and unfeeling person having a penchant for teasing.
Before she could think of a response, a carriage rolled up beside them. Caroline would have stepped away and ignored it if the curtain hadn’t been pulled aside, a man popping his head through the window.
“Ah, Cedric, what a pleasure.”
The air turned chilly. Caroline blinked, watching with rapt fascination as the teasing earl transformed before her very eyes, bringing forth the man from the tales. He somehow appeared taller, as if he’d pulled himself to his full height. His chin lifted slightly, eyes narrowing and turning to blocks of ice. He put his hands behind his back and she was filled with the insane urge to look to see if they were curled into fists.
“Simon.”
Caroline shuddered. She took a tiny step back, looking furtively at the man in the carriage.
The man was smiling. A broad, happy-to-see you smile as if he wasn’t staring into the face of danger. Was he insane?
He was certainly handsome, that smile of his tilted in a manner that gave him a boyish charm. He raked his hand through sandy curls, leaning halfway out of the carriage window, his green eyes glittering. Next to him, Caroline spotted a lady but couldn’t see her very well from the angle from which she stood.
“Fancy seeing you here, old friend,” Simon said jubilantly. “Were you going for an afternoon stroll in this weather? Though Isuppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You’ve always enjoyed wintertime.”
“Were you not going for a carriage ride with your beloved wife?” Lord Colenhurst asked, his low baritone sending shivers down Caroline’s spine. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
The lady leaned forward. Caroline resisted the urge to suck in a breath.
She was utterly gorgeous. With eyes the color of warm brandy, a heart-shaped and blemish-free face, she would have made a younger, more insecure Caroline long to be like her. In fact, they were complete opposites. Caroline had once longed to have such gorgeous honey-blond hair that cascaded down her back but she’d learned to love her chestnut brown hair, which she usually kept twisted in a chignon. Caroline’s nose was adorned with brown freckles that she’d hated for half her life, and her eye were neither brown nor green, but a confusing mixture of both. Caroline was willing to bet this beautiful lady was wonderfully petite as well, while Caroline was a little more on the taller side.
Though, standing next to Lord Colenhurst, she didn’t feel quite so large. Her late husband had been only a few inches taller than her. The earl stood nearly a complete head above her.
“It is lovely to see you too, Cedric,” the lady purred. Her eyes slid to Caroline with a mixture of curiosity and…was that dislike? “Who is your companion?”
“She is none of your concern, Isabella,” Lord Colenhurst responded dismissively.
Isabella raised her chin, eyes sliding back to Lord Colenhurst. “I did not know you’d begun courting. Are you looking for a wife?”
“She has become quite inquisitive, Simon,” Lord Colenhurst drawled. “Is it your influence?”
“Certainly not, my friend,” Simon chuckled. “You know, Isabella is far too headstrong to take after my mannerisms.”
Isabella clearly didn’t take kindly to their comments because she rolled her eyes and sat back. But Caroline saw when her eyes fell back on her, narrowing to slits.
She should leave. This clearly wasn’t a situation she should be witnessing. Whatever history these three had between them had nothing to do with her, but indeed, she was curious. Shesoaked up every bit of tension and tight politeness as inspiration for her novel.
“You should be on your way, Simon,” Lord Colenhurst said. “I neither have the time nor the ability to stand here and talk with you.”
