Page 5 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“The last thing I want is for the man to thrust his daughter on me hoping to get her married,” Cedric complained but Harrison was already shaking his head.
“You needn’t court his daughter, Cedric, but you must accept that invitation. As problematic as he may be, he does hold quite a lot of influence in the shipping world and he is hoping to make a foothold amongst nobles. If spending one evening in his company will be enough to give you the information you may need, then it sounds worth it.”
“Why don’t you go then?” Cedric grumbled.
Harrison drained the glass, giving Cedric a lopsided grin. “And miss out on a night of debaucherous fun? You hardly know me, Cedric!”
Cedric only shook his head and realized a little too late that the world was spinning. Maybe those three glasses of whiskey had been a bad idea. His aunt was sure to notice if he was intoxicated when he arrived for dinner.
“I shall be certain to lend an attentive ear to the murmurs of the earth as well,” Harrison continued as he approached the door. “Nonetheless, fret not about it this evening. Relish the company of your aunt and the rest of your kin. Strive to keep your mind from dwelling on the distressing matter of your enterprise being assailed.”
Cedric stared balefully at Harrison as he left, who threw one hand over his shoulder in farewell. He was right though. It made no sense thinking about this any longer. Especially not when it was clear he would get no closer to the truth tonight.
It was easier said than done, however. Once that line of thought began, there was no stopping, nor was there any stopping the familiar tendrils of anger that curled within him at the memory of Simon and Isabella’s betrayal. And now his steward.
It seemed his life was bound to be full of betrayal. He tried shielding himself from it. He kept others at a distance, was always limited in his speech so as to never form any friendships or worthwhile relationships. It had earned him the moniker ‘Ice Earl’ and Cedric was grateful for it. It kept him protected.
That protection was being threatened however, and he couldn’t stand by and let it happen. Not again.
Chapter Three
His aunt Grace’s townhouse had always been a familiar and welcoming sight growing up. Cedric spent a lot of his youth in the beautiful townhouse and it was only when his carriage was pulling up in front that he realised that it had been far too long since he’d last visited.
Because of that, he tried to tuck aside his dour demeanor before heading to the front door. He didn’t want to be here. He’d much rather spend the rest of the night poring over the ledgers so that he could figure out a way to fix it. Cedric knew it would be weighing on his mind all evening otherwise.
But Grace had been asking him to come to dinner for a while now and he was all out of excuses.
The moment he stepped into the foyer, he was assaulted by a flurry of blond hair and petticoats.
“You’re here!” Lily threw her arms around his neck, forcing Cedric to bend uncomfortably. She was rather short and he was quite tall, which made embraces very difficult to maneuver.
“Yes, I am,” Cedric responded with far less excitement than he’d received. He pulled away. “Do you think it wise to throw yourself at others in your state?”
Lily stepped away, eyes sparkling as she rested her hand on her rotund stomach. “Oh, come now, I am still as sprightly as I was before I became with child. This tiny thing won’t hinder me.”
“Perhaps it should,” Cedric murmured but his words went unheard when Lily’s husband, Jacob, came to her side.
Cedric watched Jacob slide his arm around Lily’s waist and pull her into his side. He rested a tender kiss on her temple and Lily flushed furiously despite the fact that they had been married for two years.
Finally, Jacob managed to take his eyes off his wife long enough to acknowledge Cedric. “I have been advising her to take it easy, but she remains obstinate in her ways. Perhaps you might have greater success in persuading her.”
***
“Doubtful,” Cedric admitted. “She’s never listened to me, even when we were younger.”
“That is because you were always trying to act as if you were older and wiser than me,” Lily protested.
“That is because Iamolder and wiser than you,” Cedric countered but she only rolled her eyes.
“You may be older in your years but I do recall being the one to hold your hands at nights because you were afraid of the dark.”
“Is Aunt Grace in the drawing room?” Cedric asked, pretending Lily hadn’t spoken at all. He walked past her and ignored the laughter trailing after him. He was used to such teasing, after all. Lily was the type of lady who never recognized danger even if it was standing in front of her with a dark scowl and a threatening aura. If it hadn’t been for the fact that Jacob, her husband and a baron, had enough connections to ensure his protection for his wife and her playful tongue, she might have found herself in serious trouble for her sharp wit and penchant for speaking her mind in mixed company.
Not that Cedric would ever lash out at her. They’d grown up together, even though they were five years apart, and she was the closest thing he had to a sister. He would lay down his life for her if necessary—though he would never admit that out loud. Lily would never let him forget it.
They followed behind him at a much slower pace since Lily was heavily pregnant and Jacob was determined to stay by her side. Cedric entered the drawing room far before they did and had enough time to go over to his aunt, sitting by the window and give her a kiss on the cheek.
Grace studied him as he took a seat across from her. In his youth, Grace’s scrutinous eyes could always put him on edge, making him feel as if she knew every dark secret he possessed. Now, he was far better at hiding how unnerved she could make him.
