Page 65 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“Oh, there is something I wanted to tell you, my lady,” he sang before draining his glass of wine.
“What is that?” she pushed through gritted teeth.
“You really must take care when walking along the street. It would be quite a shame if you continued to get your pretty dress dirtied by muddy puddles.”
Caroline’s eyes widened. The realization that dawned in her eyes only made pleasure flint in the eyes of Mr. Sinclair but he walked off before she could say anything else. She stood there, stunned. He was the one who had splashed her that day. He had to be. But why?
She started after him. Cedric could wait. She had to find out what she must have done to this man to warrant such mistreatment.
Mr. Sinclair moved quickly, slipping through the crowd and heading towards the dais at the front of the ballroom. Caroline drew to a halt when he stood on top and cleared his throat. When only a few people acknowledged him, he grabbed a glass from an unwitting gentleman and clinked his watch against it. The sound filled the room.
All eyes turned to face him. Caroline watched as his gaze roved over the guests and fell on her, his lips twitching. Oily dread settled into the pits of her stomach. She had half a mind to run, sensing that she wasn’t going to like what he said next.
“Esteemed guests, I ask for your attention for just a moment,” Mr. Sinclair began, his voice carrying across the room. “Believe me, I do not wish to interrupt the festivities, but I do believe this is a matter of utmost importance as I have discovered something that will change your opinion on a certain renowned figure who stands amongst you.”
Again, he looked at her. It was brief and with her standing in the midst of the crowd, it would not be easy to determine just who he was looking at. But Caroline knew. The vindictiveness in his eyes told it all.
“You see, there is a female novelist hiding amongst you.”
It felt like the wind had been whipped out of her lungs. Caroline’s knees buckled and she unconsciously reached her hand out for something to steady her. She didn’t take her eyes off him, this man whom she’d never met but was clearly enjoying tearing her world apart.
Murmurs rushed through the crowds as everyone began to speculate. She caught snippets, names of other ladies who were in attendance. Even Louisa’s.
“This lady has mastered the art of deception,” Mr. Sinclair continued to say. “She walks amongst you, smiling in the faces of you and your companions as she files away bits and pieces of your life for her inane stories. She is a blight on the elite class, degrading herself in every manner of the word by engaging in such salacious acts!”
The whispers grew until it was a loud drone in the air. Caroline swallowed past the lump in her throat, looking around for an escape.
“Why don’t you just tell us who it is?” a gentleman bellowed.
“Yes, tell us!” someone else agreed.
Mr. Sinclair’s grin was stolen right from the devil himself. “Lady Winterbourne, why don’t you step forward?”
All heads swiveled to her. Those standing close pulled away as if they didn’t want to be near the scandalous novelist. Caroline felt as if her entire body was vibrating, sweat pooling on the back of her neck. She tried but failed to meet their eyes confidently, their judgment like a mallet waiting to come down on her head.
She couldn’t move. So she just stood there, staring at Mr. Sinclair who looked back with satisfaction. Slowly, she looked away, catching the condemnatory looks of those around her. She spied Elizabeth staring at her in horror. She spotted Louisa frantically pushing her way to her. She noticed Lord Sotheby and his look of disapproval.
And then she saw Cedric.
Caroline couldn’t understand what she was seeing on his face. She started forward, an explanation ripe on her tongue, one that was only meant for him to hear. But just then, Louisa was at her side.
“What is wrong you people?” her friend hissed as she slid her arm through Caroline’s. “You are all acting as if she committed a heinous crime. She is a writer, and it is her passion—there is nothing amiss in this regard. Should you find fault, merely due to her possession of a title, it is you who ought to engage in some introspection, rather than she!”
Caroline knew her words were falling on deaf ears. The ton didn’t care about anything but upholding an image. And Louisa’s reputation as a spinster did not give her much sway.
“Come, Caroline,” Louisa said softly. “Stand tall. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
That was easier said than done. The words rang true. Caroline knew, deep down, that she should have no reason to hang her head in shame. As Louisa said, they were the ones who needed to look within themselves if they truly saw something wrong with what she was doing.
She pulled her shoulders back, she fixed her eyes ahead, she tried not to think about what they would say about her once she was gone.
She managed it all the way to the carriage. But once the carriage set off, Caroline let the thoughts back in. They could all ostracize her if they wanted, she decided quietly.
All except one person. All except him.
Chapter Twenty
“No, it is a terrible idea. I forbid it.”
