Page 26 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
Grace’s question threw him. He straightened suddenly, feeling as if he’d just been caught doing something wrong. Grace raised a single brow at him.
“Nothing,” he pushed out, avoiding her critical eyes. “I simply want to be done with this evening.”
“You may leave then, if it bothers you so much to be here.”
“Mother, you can’t suggest that he should leave,” Lily gasped. “Especially since the final waltz hasn’t begun yet.”
“I do not think Cedric has any intention of dancing with someone,” Jacob pointed out.
“Of course he does,” Lily objected. “It would make no sense to attend a ball without dancing at least one set. I have already done dozens and I am bursting at the seams!”
Jacob chuckled at his wife’s exaggeration. “That is because you love to dance and Cedric…well…”
“One would think he has two left feet,” Harrison jumped in.
Cedric sighed. “Why must I always end up the topic of discussion?”
“That is because there is always something interesting to say about you,” Harrison explained with a shrug. He drained his glass. “Pardon me. I have run dry.”
They watched him walk away before Lily spoke again. “All this talk about dancing is getting me energized again. Jacob, let’s join this set.”
“Goodness, my dear, have you no need for rest?”
“I have energy for two, remember?” She laughed as she dragged him towards the other dancing couples.
Cedric’s eyes drifted once again to the mysterious lady. He hadn’t gotten her name that day. The thought occurred to him only after they’d parted ways and had been haunting him ever since.
“Lily is right, you know.”
He tore his eyes away from her to look down at his aunt. “Right about what?”
“You should at least dance once before the night is over. I believe the final waltz will be playing soon. You should ask someone.”
“I do not need to do anything,” Cedric protested. “If I do, ladies and their ambitious mothers will only swarm me thinking that I have announced my intentions to marry.”
“Is that so bad?” Grace caught the look he gave her and added, “I highly doubt a single dance will be enough to say that you are looking for a wife.”
“Why do you want me to dance so much?”
“I wish for you to cease conducting yourself as though you are destined to solitude for all eternity,” she remarked to him. “Mayhap a dance shall serve as the initial step towards your reawakening to the joys of companionship.”
“There is no need for me to open up.”
“You say that now. Let me know if your opinion changes after you’ve danced the waltz.”
She didn’t give him the chance to answer. Which was a good thing because he couldn’t think of a response to that anyway. She simply walked off and Cedric was once again left alone to his thoughts.
Which meant his eyes eventually drifted back to her.
She must hate dancing. She did it perfectly, however, moving with swan-like grace. Her beauty stood like a beacon in the midst of everyone else, so much so that it was a wonder no one else was staring at her like he was.
Would she hate dancing with him as well? Suddenly, he was eager to know the answer.
He bided his time, waiting for the inevitable routine. The dance came to an end, she took a step back, curtsied to her dance partner as her lips moved—likely to thank him for the dance—before she turned and swiftly left the scene, not giving the man a chance to say or do anything.
Cedric headed in the same direction. She was going back to her friend—as she’d done the last five dances—who stood on the outskirts of the ballroom watching everything with a mild disinterest. Cedric headed towards her, guests parting around him. He wanted to make it to her before she reached her friend’s side.
He slid into her path and watched with satisfaction as she came to a halt to stare up at him, recognition in her hazel eyes.
