Page 18 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“This goes far beyond just sabotaging my ledgers,” Cedric said. He turned, crossing his arms. “At this point, whoever is behind this is beyond forgiveness.”
Harrison huffed a mirthless laugh. “As if you would have attempted to forgive them in the first place.”
“You’re right. But when I find out who they are, they will regret ever attempting to ruin me in the first place.”
Furious was an understatement. Rage was not good enough to describe what he was feeling. It felt as if vengeance was burning in his veins, longing for escape.
As if he sensed the direction of his dark thoughts, Harrison sighed and made his way to the sideboard. “How was Ambrose’ dinner party?”
Cedric resisted the urge to groan. He’d been trying not to think about Ambrose’s insane proposal all day but had very little success. “He wants me to marry his daughter.”
Harrison winced visibly as he made his way back to Cedric with two glasses of brandy in his hands. “Ouch. I’m sure he did not take your response well.”
Cedric said nothing, sipping the brandy instead.
Harrison was silent for a moment too, and that was all it took for him to catch on. “You didn’t turn him down?” he gasped.
“I didn’t say yes,” Cedric mumbled.
“But you didn’t say no either. Surely you aren’t considering marrying her? I mean, I hear that she is a lovely girl who is quite on par with other ladies of our peers but I thought you were against the idea of marriage after everything that happened.”
“I am,” Cedric bit back.
“And yet you did not turn him down the moment he fixed his lips to suggest that you marry. That is quite…” Harrison paused, frowned, and then sipped his drink as if giving himself time to think of the right word. At last , he ended with, “Odd.”
Cedric didn’t want to talk about this anymore. “As far as I am concerned, I am neither betrothed nor have I promised myself to anyone. Let us focus on the matter at hand instead, shall we?”
Harrison said nothing at first, watching Cedric closely as he made his way to the desk. Cedric ignored him. He pushed aside the offensive report and brought forth clean sheets of paper. His first order of business was to write to his suppliers about the missing shipment, as much as he loathed to do so.
“To be honest, Cedric, I did not have much faith in your ability at all,” Harrison said at last. “You are not one to dally with others for too long. Heaven knows how we ever became friends.”
“I am beginning to reconsider that myself,” Cedric grumbled but Harrison only laughed.
“You shall soon find yourself regretting those words, Cedric," he remarked casually, settling into the chair opposite the desk.
A moment later, someone knocked on the door.
“Oh?” Harrison sat up straight, eyes sparkling. “I wonder who that could be.”
Cedric narrowed his eyes. Harrison was up to something. And Harrison being up to something never spelled well for Cedric.
“Come,” Cedric called, already on edge.
The door opened and his secretary, Linton, strolled in. He always wore an anxious look on his face as if he was afraid to be within ten feet of Cedric. Cedric had seen Linton talk with Harrison and his other employees and he’d never looked so apprehensive.
Linton came up to the desk bearing a white letter bearing a seal. “There might have been a mistake, my lord,” Linton said, placing the letter on the desk then taking two large steps back. “This was received for you just now.”
“And not my residence?” he asked, looking balefully at the letter. He could already tell it was an invitation, though to what and from whom, he hadn’t a clue.
Linton began rubbing his hands together. His mouth opened and closed as he thought of how to respond. Cedric stared at him with one raised brow, waiting.
“Oh, the man does not know anything,” Harrison quickly came to his rescue. “You’re making him nervous.”
“He is not nervous,” Cedric contested. “Are you nervous, Linton?”
“No, my lord,” Linton responded quickly.
Harrison rolled his eyes. “Terrified might be a better description.”
