Page 64 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
Chapter Nineteen
Lady Hutton’s invitation to her Christmas ball could not come quickly enough. The moment she received it, it was the only thing Caroline could think about, longing for the moment she could see Cedric again.
Now that the moment had arrived, she was trembling in anticipation and anxiousness.
Caroline walked into the grand ballroom between Louisa and Elizabeth, like she had done many times in the past few weeks. But, unlike those other times, Elizabeth did not cling to Caroline, eyes scanning the room to single out the potential husbands she could foist onto her daughter. She simply swiveled on her heels and walked away, continuing the silent treatment she had been giving Caroline since their dinner two nights ago.
At first, Caroline didn’t mind it. It gave her the chance to breathe without Elizabeth’s constant pressure bearing down on her. But as she watched her walk away, Caroline felt a pinch of remorse.
“She will come around,” Louisa said at her side. “I’m sure she has a lot to think about herself.”
“I thought she would have been over it by now,” Caroline confessed. They’d never been angry with each other for this long. Elizabeth York was not the type of lady to hold grudges. Caroline had expected Elizabeth to show up at her door later that same night.
“Give her some time,” Louisa said gently as they made their way deeper into the ballroom. “This is the first time you have been honest with her so I’m sure it is a lot for her to take in.”
“Perhaps I was too harsh,” Caroline said worriedly. Elizabeth had disappeared already.
“From what I heard, you were exactly harsh enough. Now, that isn’t the reason you’re here, is it?”
Caroline frowned. Louisa sighed patiently.
“The man you have been pining over for the past few days?”
Caroline’s face went hot and Louisa laughed.
“Goodness, look at you,” Louisa said between giggles. “So adorable. Run along now. He’s already looking your way.”
She tilted her head slightly to the left then turned in the opposite direction. Caroline looked to see Cedric standing a few feet away, watching her. The moment their eyes met, he smiled invitingly.
Warmth spread through her chest. All of a sudden, she couldn’t see anything but him. The crowd of guests melted away, the music fading into nothing. Her feet began to move on their own accord, a smile pulling at her lips.
The trance she fell under ended abruptly when someone stepped in her path. Caroline caught herself before she scowled, looking at who had approached.
A bald-headed man gave her an unnerving smile, running his face down the length of her before it broadened. “Lady Winterbourne, a pleasure.”
Caroline frowned. He struck her as familiar but she was almost certain she’d never met him before. Certainly they ran in the same circles then, but never interacted.
“Have we met?” she asked politely, fighting the urge to step around him and head to Cedric.
“We have not had the pleasure, no,” he purred, though the sound grated on her ears. “But I have always found you interesting.”
“Me?” she squeaked.
“The Dowager Viscountess of Winterbourne. A withered rose still on the vine. Do you not find that interesting?”
Caroline couldn’t fathom what this man was talking about, but she maintained a polite demeanor. “Our opinions differ, Mr…”
“Sinclair,” he said, bowing slightly. “Ambrose Sinclair.”
“Mr. Sinclair,” she finished. “But if your words were meant to be complimentary then I shall accept it in good faith.”
“Oh, you do that, my lady,” he chuckled. “It shall make this all the sweeter.”
“This?”
His grin widened and he sauntered away without saying another word. Caroline watched him go, unease slithering up her spine.
She shook off the feeling and looked at where Cedric stood, finding him frowning in the direction of Mr. Sinclair as well. Caroline took one step forward and was stopped when Mr. Sinclair slid back in front of her. She bit back a sigh.
