Page 25 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
Cedric struggled to keep from simply walking away at that comment. He stayed where he was, hands in his pockets, his eyes trained dead ahead.
Harrison’s laughter grated his nerves. “He most certainly is, gentlemen. He’s just ignoring us.”
Clearly the other men did not find that as amusing, judging from the disgruntled murmurs that sounded afterwards. Cedric still didn’t pay them any mind. After all, they were the ones who approached him and began talking about the races and who would win at cards at White’s after the ball. Useless chatter that Cedric saw no reason to take part in, especially when he had more pressing things on his mind.
He said nothing as he watched the gentlemen—a wealthy earl and viscount—meander off when they realized that their presence was not welcomed. Harrison, of course, stayed behind.
He heaved a great sigh. “This is not what we agreed on, Cedric,” he said.
“I do not recall agreeing to anything save for attending this infernal ball,” Cedric responded simply.
“There is no reason to attend if you will not mingle and converse with others. Do you want to be labeled an outcast?” Before Cedric could respond, Harrison sighed and shook his head. “Don’t answer that. I should have known better than to ask you that question.”
“I did not tell them to go bother someone else. Is that not enough?”
“You know that it is not,” Harrison sighed. “I would berate you a while longer if I didn’t find the entire ordeal quite funny.”
“There is not a situation on earth you would not find humour in,” Cedric drawled.
“I beg to differ. After all, there is nothing humorous about how Lady Hutton looks this evening.”
Cedric turned his head to see Grace, Lily, and Jacob approaching. Grace smiled a little, reaching out to embrace Harrison.
“It is always a pleasure seeing you, Harrison,” she said warmly. “You always know the right thing to say to a lady. Cedric could learn a thing or two from you.”
“Do not be fooled, Mother,” Lily spoke up, one hand resting on her stomach while the other was resting on her husband’s forearm. “That is only because Harrison is a dreadful rake who will grasp at any opportunity to flirt with the opposite sex.”
“Are you saying I shouldnotflirt with Lady Hutton?” Harrison asked.
Jacob looked rather appalled by the question. “She is twice your age!”
“And yet she looks as beautiful as the day she debuted,” Harrison purred.
Grace shook her head, lips quirked with mirth. “You would not be aware of that, as you were still rather fresh and inexperienced when I made my debut.”
“Your beauty stands the test of time, my lady,” Harrison answered smoothly, earning him a rare chuckle from Grace.
Cedric knew it was only a matter of time before his aunt’s attention turned to him. It happened far sooner than he’d expected however.
“Must I beg for you to greet me?” Grace asked, her tone far sharper than when she spoke to Harrison.
“Good evening, Aunt,” Cedric greeted, then looked at his cousin and her husband. “Lily. Jacob.”
“You look rather uncomfortable, Cedric,” Lily pointed out, adopting that playful look in her eyes. “If you wish, Jacob could fetch you a glass of wine.”
“I have no need for wine,” Cedric mumbled.
Harrison gasped. “Shocking!”
The others laughed. Cedric might have too if he hadn’t caught sight ofheragain.
She was once again being led onto the dance floor. The night was well underway and he’d watched as she danced nearly every set since the dancing began. And yet each time she was led to thecenter of the ballroom, she looked disappointed, as if she wished she could be anywhere else.
Cedric willed her to look at him. Their eyes had met five times—he’d kept count—since the night began, mostly because he had been following her around the room. It was the only thing that kept him entertained. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her as she danced with Lord Sotheby, not missing the way the gentleman had stared after her the moment their set ended. Again and again, she appeared in his line of sight on the arm of a different man, looking more and more disenchanted with each one.
He supposed he had begun to look out for her somewhere along the line. He didn’t know why, but he didn’t bother to question himself either.
“What are you looking at?”
