Page 37 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
Ambrose sipped his wine. “Now I didn’t say anything about that.”
Cedric tensed. He didn’t bother to say anything, just waited.
“I’m sure you recall our last conversation,” Ambrose went on, eyes boring into Cedric. “Regarding my daughter.”
It took every ounce of Cedric’s strength to keep from groaning aloud. “I do.”
“This is all contingent upon the fact that we become a family, of course. I would not do such a generous thing for anyone else. But last time, I received no certain answer on what you thought of my idea to join families.”
Even though Cedric originally had no intention of drinking the wine, he couldn’t help downing half the glass now as he racked his brain for something to say.
Still at a loss, he set the cup down and made a show of topping up Ambrose’s wine, knowing that the other man was watching him carefully.
At last, he said, “I do think it would only make sense to be so kind to one you intend to make family.”
“So we are on agreement on this matter?” Ambrose asked with a raised brow.
Cedric wasn’t about to fall for that. “I think I have much evaluating to do, especially considering the fact that the loss within my business may have become public knowledge.”
Ambrose drained his glass and got to a stand. “Understandable,” he said. “If I were in your position, I would be jumping at any opportunity I get to scrape myself out of this mess. But then again, I would never be in such a position.”
Cedric nearly let his sneer go free. “Of course. And because of my position, I am unfortunately not able to host you for much longer.”
“Get right to work then, Cedric. It would be such a shame to see this legacy come to an end.”
Ambrose chuckled to himself and Cedric had to resist the urge to grab the man by his lapels and throw him out the door. He escorted him there instead, managing only to keep his face still even though he knew he should offer a polite smile. That was what Harrison would have wanted him to do, after all.
Cedric let the facade fall the moment Ambrose was out the room. He sighed, thinking back on Ambrose’ offer.
It was tempting. Very tempting. Even though Cedric did not like taking hand-outs, he knew better than to put his pride over his business. He wasn’t the only one at stake here after all. The livelihood of his employees depended on getting himself out of this situation.
And Cedric was beginning to think that he was incapable of doing so on his own.
***
Caroline kept her portfolio tucked securely within her coat as she hurried through the foggy streets of London. It would be much harder to see Mr. Holloway’s publishing house with her limited vision, so she relied heavily on her natural sense of direction.
She had a pep in her step today, simply because she had written so much since her last meeting with the publisher that she was beginning to think that she would make the deadline. Not tomention the fact that she had been so inspired lately that much of her writing was borderline perfect, though she knew that Mr. Holloway was bound to find some fault or other.
She found the heavy knocker in the dense fog and knocked eagerly. A few seconds later, the door opened to reveal the gruff Mr. Holloway.
Caroline slipped into the warm space without waiting, pulling her portfolio out. “I have made much headway,” she told him happily as she made her way over to the fireplace. “I’m sure you’re going to enjoy it.”
“You should not make it a habit of entering someone’s establishment without invitation,” he grumbled as he approached from behind.
“You say that every time,” Caroline pointed out.
“Because you continue to do it.” He took the portfolio she held out to him and paused, eyebrows raising slightly. “This is markedly thicker than the last time.”
“That is because I have done nothing but write since you last saw me,” she said with a broad grin. She leaned towards the fire, warming her fingers. “Pray, indulge yourself in the reading of it, and share your thoughts with me thereafter.”
Mr. Holloway sank into the other chair by the fire and began to read. Caroline paid more attention to the fire than she did him, even though his silence put her on edge. She had a lot of confidence in what she had written but that didn’t mean it was objectively good. And it didn’t mean it was publishable.
It didn’t help that Mr. Holloway’s face never gave anything away. The long silence that ensued the moment he began reading only lessened Caroline’s confidence and increased her anxiousness.
“It’s good.”
She gasped dramatically, a smile stretching across her face. “Do you truly think so?”
