Page 40 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“It isn’t,” Caroline mumbled, flushing. “I only wanted to show you that you are utterly beautiful and any number of gentlemen would be clamouring for your hand in marriage if they weren’t so certain that you would turn them down.”
“It is a part of my charm,” Louisa laughed. Caroline joined in after a moment, but her laughter died the moment she realized that Elizabeth had spotted her hiding in the corner.
“Goodness, she’s coming,” she whispered hastily, looking around for any means of escape.
“And she has three gentlemen following her.” Louisa sounded impressed. “If I didn’t feel so bad for you, Caroline, I would commend her tenacity.”
Caroline didn’t get the chance to respond. Her mother was already in front of her, eyes bright with excitement as she said, “Caroline, dear, I did not realise that you were here.”
“That is because she’d hoped no one would notice,” Louisa chimed in a droll tone.
Everyone looked at her and she raised her hands in defeat, even though her eyes glimmered with humor. “I shall seek out another soul to vex,” she said before slipping away.
Caroline waited until she was gone before saying, “I had only just arrived.”
“Well, these lovely and handsome gentlemen were hoping to be introduced. This is Lord Jenson,” she gestured to the tallest one, “Lord Frederick,” the hairiest one, “and Lord Cillian,” then the slimmest one. Caroline smiled politely at them all.
“They were hoping you would offer your company throughout the course of the evening,” Elizabeth went on with a hopeful smile. “And they would love to share a dance or two, I’m sure.”
Caroline knew there was no way out of it, especially not with these men standing in front of her. So she nodded and said, “I believe I could find the time…perhaps…”
That was good enough for Elizabeth. “Marvellous! Lord Cillian, why don’t you—”
“But I think I see Lord Sotheby nearby,” Caroline said quickly. “I would like to greet him first.”
“Lord Sotheby?” Elizabeth swiveled, craning her neck to see over the sea of people. “He has already arrived? I did not see him.”
“I’m certain I spotted him by the parlour doors. If you would excuse me.”
She didn’t give her mother a chance to say anything, ducking her head and slipping away without another word. She moved quickly, threading her way through the guests as she scanned her surroundings. She was looking for Louisa, of course. But she was also hoping to see someone else.
Caroline didn’t think her mother had invited the earl. She knew that even as she made her way through the dining room and yet she could not help the tingle of hope that she would walk in to see his brooding face from across the room. The fact that she hadn’t, and was yet to catch sight of him, told her that her suspicions were true. The disappointment she felt at that fact was a little embarrassing, to say the least.
She headed in the direction of the refreshments table, hoping to have a glass of lemonade before dinner began. Caroline kept close to the walls, however, spying one of the doors that led into the parlor and wondering if she should just make her escape now.
“Did you see Lady Winterbourne and Lord Colenhurst at Lady Maria’s ball?”
She stiffened. Caroline instantly lowered her head, sliding her eyes to the left to see who had spoken. Two ladies stood a few feet away, completely oblivious to Caroline’s proximity.
“I did!” the other gasped, then lowered her voice when she was shushed by her friend. “They were quite the sight, were they not? I could hardly believe that the Ice Earl himself would dance with anyone at all, let alone a widow.”
“Perhaps that is the reason he did,” the other said. “You know he has no interest in marriage. At least not yet. And her husband is hardly cold in the ground yet.”
“Oh, goodness, you know that is not the truth. I, for one, think the dowager viscountess and Lord Colenhurst would make a lovely couple.”
Caroline nearly allowed herself to smile at that, but stopped at the other lady’s exclamation.
“They most certainly would not!”
“You are only saying that because you secretly fancy the earl.”
“I know better than to long for a man who hardly knows how to smile,” she protested, her voice fading. Caroline glanced back up to see that they were already walking away.
“He seemed more than happy to smile with Lady Winterbourne, though,” the other mused and then they were gone.
Caroline straightened, pulling herself from the corner she’d sequestered herself in. She should have known that others would be talking about her and the earl’s dance. And yet she didn’t know how to feel about it. The thrill of excitement that raced through her at the memory combated with the slight twinge of embarrassment the lady’s disapproval had brought her. She sipped her lemonade and wondered what Lord Colenhurst would think about what they’d said.
“What is on your mind, my lady?”
