Page 39 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“Well, I had been hoping to have a quiet evening but it seems those plans will not come to fruition.”
“Oh, I know how much you enjoy your quiet evenings,” Elizabeth said. “I could leave you alone for the entire day as long as you had your books and you were so determined to read no matter how hard I tried to get you interested in other things.”
“I’m sure you will be saddened to know that that habit has not died,” Caroline mumbled but Elizabteh shook her head.
“Not saddened. It is who you are.” She reached forward, taking Caroline’s hand. “You do understand that I am only doing this for your own good, right?”
Caroline squeezed her mother’s hand, softening. “But I do not need this.”
“Yes, you do,” Elizabeth insisted. “Everyone needs someone they can lean on.”
“I have you. And Louisa.”
“And we can only offer so much. There are things that a husband will be able to offer that a friend and mother would not be able to.”
Caroline saw no more reason to protest. Her mother would not be dissuaded and it certainly didn't help that she wasn’t wrong. There were things only a husband would be able to provide. But Caroline didn't have much faith that she would receive those things if she married. She was much better off alone with her freedom.
Unbidden, Lord Colenhurst appeared in her mind. She thought of the way she’d felt dancing in his arms, the world around her disappearing to nothing. Caroline let her mind wander to what it would be like to be the earl’s wife. Would he scowl at the world and save a smile for her? Would he give her secret kisses and rub her back as they read together in the library?
A pang of longing hit her chest so hard that Caroline blinked in surprise. It had been a while since she’d yearned for love. She’d given up very quickly, realizing that a lady of her stature could not afford it.
Thus, she was bound to continue experiencing love only through the words she wrote.
Chapter Twelve
The dinner party was decidedly not the simple affair the way Elizabeth had made it seem. One look at the packed dining room and Caroline wondered if they’d somehow gone back in time to the London Season earlier this year.
“Lady York has certainly outdone herself,” Louisa commented lightly, appearing at Caroline's side. She already had a glass of lemonade in her hand, eyes scanning the full dining room. “And to think she had such a limited amount of time to plan this. Then again, those still in London are bored and desperate for any sort of entertainment so it is no wonder they would accept such a last minute invitation.”
Caroline looked over at her. Louisa looked beautiful, as usual, her hair styled in perfect ringlets on top of her head and donned in a green and gold gown.
“I’m surprised you even agreed to it,” she commented, making her way into the corner of the room.
Louisa followed suit. “You know your mother far better than I do. You know how hard it is to deny her whatever she wants. She insisted on it the moment she arrived.”
“And you did not think to warn me of it?” Caroline asked in a slightly accusing tone. “I only learned of it this afternoon!”
“I thought it would be better if you were surprised,” Louisa confessed with a cheeky grin. Catching Caroline’s glare, she sighed. “The truth was that I forgot about it. She planned it quite silently and didn’t make mention of it again until today as well. Truth is, I was hoping she might have forgotten.”
“It would be far better to hope that the sun never sets,” Caroline sighed. She spied her mother amongst the guests, flitting from group to group with the broad smile of a happy hostess. “She loves nothing more than to host events. Especially if it gives her the opportunity to weed out the best gentlemen for her daughter.”
“I thought she had her heart set on Lord Sotheby.”
“I’m sure she does,” Caroline said. “But Mother will not put all her eggs in one basket. Don’t you recall Lady Maria’s ball? Idanced the entire night and many of those gentlemen would not have approached me had it not been for her encouragement.”
“Or your beauty,” Louisa added.
Caroline scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“It is the truth,” Louisa insisted as she finished her lemonade. “You are the young and beautiful Dowager Viscountess of Winterbourne. What gentleman would not want a chance to share in your company?”
“And what of you?” Caroline asked, turning to face her directly. Louisa’s brows raised in surprise.
“What of me?”
“Your popularity far outshines mine, despite the fact that you are a veritable spinster and quite happy about it. Yet men flock to your side the moment you walk into a room.”
Louisa blinked, then laughed. “I was not aware that it was a competition of beauty.”
