Page 36 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“Lord Colenhurst.” Linton’s voice sounded on the other end of Cedric’s office door. Cedric didn’t respond, knowing that his secretary would simply enter the room if he did not receive a verbal response.
Just as he’d expected, the door opened and he stuck his head in, looking around before coming in fully.
“You have a visitor, my lord,” he announced, his voice uncertain. Cedric couldn’t blame him. Standing by the window with his hands clasped behind him like an imposing statue was bound to strike fear into Linton’s heart.
“Who is it?” Cedric asked, turning slightly to look at him. “Mr. Thatcher?”
“No, my lord. A Mr. Ambrose Sinclair.”
Cedric’s heart sank. It has been days since he’d last seen Ambrose and he was the last person on earth he wanted to speak to right now. Not when his mind was in such turmoil.
But there must be a reason Ambrose came to see him at his office. Cedric only hoped that it had nothing to do with that insane proposal to marry his daughter.
“Show him in,” he told Linton, who nodded and left immediately to do just that.
Cedric stayed by the window, staring out at the unusually empty Bond Street. It was a particularly cold day, which he could only assume was the reason there weren’t many people out and about. Which of course brought his mind back to Lady Winterbourne and their odd first encounter. Not to mention when he’d seen her yesterday.
He was thinking of the fact that he’d gone to Gunter’s in the hopes that he would stop thinking about her and he’d run into her instead. Between that and his run in with Simon and Isabella, Cedric had been in no mood to do any more work. He’d gotten his ice—which did very little to cheer him up—and headed home to sleep off the rest of the day.
Which meant that he had to put in twice the work today. If only that persistent hazel-eyed lady would leave his thoughts alone.
Thankfully, he was distracted from them by Ambrose’s entrance. The portly man swaggered in with his arms clasped behind him, looking around the room with a scrutinous eye.
“Ambrose,” Cedric greeted, heading over to him. “It has been a while.”
“Yes, that is true.” Ambrose accepted Cedric’s hand. “I wondered if I might have scared you away after our last conversation.”
“Certainly not,” Cedric told him, though he didn’t like how close to the truth Ambrose was. “I simply had a number of matters on my plate to deal with.”
“Yes, so I have come to realise.” As if he could no longer manage standing, he flopped into a nearby armchair. “I hear that one of your shipments has gone missing.”
Cedric’s blood ran cold. The last thing he’d wanted was for news about what happened to reach others in the business. Not only was it bad publicity but he was certain that others would do whatever they could to take advantage of the vulnerability.
“How did you hear that?” Cedric asked slowly, knowing better than to deny it.
“I have many ears and eyes in the industry, Cedric,” Ambrose stated offhandedly. “It was only a matter of time before it got back to me. I must say though, I am disappointed that you were not the one to tell me. I thought we had developed an understanding with each other.”
Cedric knew better than to believe those words. But he also knew how to play the game.
“Forgive me,” he said. “I had hoped to take care of the matter on my own.”
“With a missing shipment, I do not think it is a matter you are capable of taking care of on your own. You’re going to need my help.”
“What help can you offer me?” he couldn’t help but ask.
Ambrose didn’t respond right away. His eyes fell on the sideboard instead. “Is that a bottle of port I spy?”
Sensing what he was asking for, Cedric made his way over to the sideboard to fetch the port and two glasses. He had no intention of drinking however, despite the fact that he poured himself one.
He watched as Ambrose swished and tasted the wine on his tongue, swallowing loudly. Cedric tried to hold on to the last vestiges of his patience.
“Lovely port,” he commended. “Yes, quite lovely.” Then he set it down and cleared his throat. “As I was saying, I do think I would be able to help you.”
“In what way?”
“I could provide you with two of my ships to make up for the loss you incurred and then some money as a small grant to allow you to staff it.”
Cedric waited for the rest of it. When it was clear that no more would be coming, he frowned. “You would give me two ships and enough money to find crews for them without anything in return?”
