Page 22 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“Mother, I do not think—”
“Now, don’t tell me you won’t be able to make it,” Elizabeth cut in. “I have already promised Lady Maria and Lord James Sotheby.”
Caroline’s heart sank. “Who is Lord James Sotheby?”
“He is that lovely gentleman I have been telling you about.” Elizabeth paused, frowning. “Or have I not gotten the chance to tellyou about him yet? In any case, he is a smart and handsome gentleman who is eager to meet you.”
“Mother, you are acting without informing me again,” Caroline said wearily.
“I am your mother, Caroline,” Elizabeth told her. “I know what is best for you.”
Caroline was thankfully saved from having to respond when the maids entered with the tea service. ELizabeth scrutinized them as they set everything out and departed, but Caroline couldn’t find the strength to care about her mother’s natural propensity to judge others. She was still reeling from the information she’d just gleaned from her meddling mother.
Not only was she expected to be in attendance at a ball this afternoon, but Elizabeth had already matched her with a gentleman. She was bound to be hounded by Elizabeth all night if she did not entertain that gentleman to her liking. The thought sent a shudder down Caroline’s spine.
Elizabeth began spooning sugar into her tea. “As I was saying, Caroline, Lord James is the second—”
Caroline stood suddenly. She didn’t dare look down at her mother, pressing her hands against her thighs to keep them from curling into fists. It took all the strength in her body to keep the anger and frustration from her tone as she said, “Pardon me, Mother, but I am quite tired after the morning I had. I think I may take a nap.”
“Right now?” Elizabeth sounded disappointed. “But we have only just begun talking. Oh, well I suppose you should rest up now. You will need all the energy you can muster for this evening.”
Caroline couldn’t conjure a proper response without showing her irritation, so she simply nodded stiffly and made for the door. She didn’t release her pent-up breath until she was heading up the staircase, stomping her foot into the wood with each step.
She’d spent most of her life with her mother and yet Elizabeth was still capable of shocking her into her anger. At this point, Caroline should have expected it. But she wouldn’t let it eat her up. Not this time.
Right now, the only thing she wanted to do was write until her hands cramped and ink adorned every inch of her palm.
***
The smell of pine and cinnamon hit Caroline’s nose the moment she stepped into Lady Maria’s ballroom. She would have stopped to appreciate it had it not been for the fact that nearly everyone standing nearby was now looking at her.
Or rather, them, since they did not make a common sight. Caroline, the widow who had returned to London but had not been seen at any ton event since her wedding to the late Viscount of Winterbourne. Louisa, the spinster who boldly enjoyed her marriage-less lifestyle. And Lady York, the ambitious baroness.
For a moment, they entered to a small hush, eyes falling on them. And then the whispering began.
“I did not miss this in the slightest,” Louisa murmured in Caroline’s ear. “Are we so riveting that we must be the subject of everyone’s conversations?”
Caroline tried not to heave a sigh. She’d been dreading attending from the moment Elizabeth told her about it and it was even worse than she’d imagined.
Granted, the ballroom was beautifully decorated, marigolds and warm candlelights casting an ethereal glow across the expansive room. The quartet played a low, simple tune as the guests who had already arrived mingled with one another, a hum of chatter hanging in the air. Caroline watched as gentlemen wrote their names on the dance cards of smiling ladies in anticipation for when the dancing commenced and she prayed that she would not have to endure such a thing. She had nothing against dancing, but she’d been against attending from the very beginning, so she was not looking forward to anything this evening may entail.
There was only one silver-lining. “Thank you for coming with me, Louisa,” she whispered back to her. “I know you hate these things far more than I do.”
“It is not the balls that I hate,” Louisa corrected. “It’s the people. They are dreadfully scandalous, you know. I can hardlybreathe without wondering if I am doing something that may land me in tomorrow’s scandal sheet.”
Caroline laughed, shaking her head. Louisa often underestimated how naturally graceful and ladylike she was. Coupled with the fact that she wore a lovely gold gown that brought out the color of her eyes, she was bound to be approached by a number of gentlemen hoping to turn her from a spinster into a wife.
She didn’t bother saying so, though. She didn’t want to risk Louisa turning around and heading back home.
“What are you two whispering about?” Elizabeth asked, poking her head closer to them. “I hope you are not conspiring to leave at the earliest opportunity.”
“What a marvellous idea, Lady York,” Louisa drawled. “It shall certainly be considered.”
“I didn’t mean to suggest it!” Elizabeth protested but Louisa pretended to be too focused on something across the room.
“I spy the refreshments stand. Would you ladies like a glass of lemonade?”
Caroline hid her smile as Louisa walked off without waiting for anyone’s response. Elizabeth huffed.
