Page 43 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“Quite so.” Lady Hutton released her nephew’s arm and slipped herself between Caroline and Elizabeth, easily prying them apart. She took Elizabeth by the arm and said, “Besides, I think there is much we need to talk about, Lady York. Let us go, then. You two, make sure not to fall too far behind.”
Lady Hutton didn’t wait for their response, only set off with just a squeak of protest from Elizabeth, leaving Caroline staring after them.
“If we are not careful, they will surely get away from us.”
Her heart skipped a beat. She looked at the earl and hoped that her body’s reaction to him was not evident on her face. “I assume she wants us to walk together. And alone.”
The side of his lips twitched into a wry smile. “You would assume correctly. She is nothing if not meddlesome, though she likes to pretend otherwise.”
“Mother is the same way, I’m afraid,” Caroline sighed.
“Come along, you two!” Lady Hutton called from in front.
Lord Colenhurst gestured for Caroline to go ahead. She did so, chest constricting a little when he fell in step next to her. The smell of his cologne washed over her.
“I am disappointed, my lady.”
Caroline looked at him in surprise. “Disappointed in me?”
“Who else? I do recall you being the one who said you would suggest a few novels for me to read. And yet…”
She blinked. It took her a moment to realize that he was teasing.
“Oh, forgive me, my lord. Was I to appear on your front step with a pile of books in my hands?” she asked lightly.
“Yes, I would have expected no less.”
She laughed. “Well, I am happy to know that you are as excited to partake in the novels as I am to share them with you. I only hope that you enjoy them.”
“It is quite refreshing to meet a lady so interested in reading. I find that I do not come across many these days.”
“How odd.”
He looked at her, brows raised. “Odd? Is it not common knowledge that many ladies are expected to turn away from books unless it contains poetry?”
“No, not at all,” she said with a shake of her head. “Unfortunately, that is the reality we live in. I only find it odd that you would come across many ladies at all. There is a reason you are dubbed the Ice Earl, you know. I thought ladies would cower in your presence.”
“And yet you do not.”
“Would you rather it that way?”
“It would be rather refreshing to know that my reputation stands. Though the name is rather explicit.”
Laughter rushed from her lips with such ease that it surprised her a little. Who would have thought the Earl of Colenhurst liked to jest?
“I am terribly sorry to disappoint, my lord. But I am not easily intimidated.”
“How would you know that I would not be the exception? I have not attempted to intimidate you.”
“I thought it came naturally to you,” she challenged with a raised brow.
“It does,” he confirmed easily, nodding. “And yet with you, there is none of that usual bout of annoyance I tend to feel with other people.”
She flushed, avoiding his eyes and staring into her mother’s back instead. As if she sensed the weight of Caroline’s gaze, Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder at them and frowned.
“You make me sound more special than I am, my lord.”
“You are far more special than you think,” he said immediately.
