Page 41 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
Caroline gasped and jumped, nearly spilling her lemonade. She quickly set it down and looked up at Lord Sotheby.
“My lord,” she said breathlessly. “I did not see you approach.”
“You appeared to be lost in thought,” Lord Sotheby commented. “I had half a mind to wait until you noticed me first.”
Or perhaps you could have just left me alone?
She shoved down that pang of guilt as Lord Sotheby smiled down at her. “Would you like to talk about it?” he asked kindly. “I have been known as a great confidante by my peers.”
“It is nothing, my lord,” she told him. “I have already forgotten about it.”
“Then perhaps you would not mind sharing this dance with me?”
Caroline was about to protest when the sound of a harpsichord filled the room.
Lord Sotheby grinned. “I specifically asked Lady York to accommodate a bit of music this evening, since I longed to dance the waltz with you. We did not get the chance to at Lady Maria’s ball.”
Thank goodness, Caroline thought. Or else she would not have gotten the chance to dance with Lord Colenhurst.
She plastered a smile onto her face, ignoring the reluctance that kept her hand by her side. With more effort than she would have liked, she held out her hand.
Lord Sotheby grinned broadly as he took it and led her out amongst the other dancers. She couldn't help but think about what others would say if they saw her with Lord Sotheby. They would deem them a lovely couple, she was sure. They would have no reservations about them. There would be nothing bad to say because why would there be? Lord Sotheby was a perfect gentleman and Caroline would be lucky to be married to him. At least, that was what they all would think.
But dancing with Lord Sotheby, Caroline knew she would forget about it the moment they were apart. The dance would be as unremarkable as he was. Nothing like her time with the earl.
No, compared to Lord Colenhurst, Lord Sotheby was no one.
***
She didn’t write last night. Even after sneaking away from the dinner party earlier than it was expected to end, feigningexhaustion, Caroline could not think of a single thing to write. It was as if she’d hit a wall.
So when Elizabeth suggested that they go shopping the next day, she happily agreed. Getting out of the house might help serve as inspiration.
Louisa, of course, had stated that she would much rather spend her day listening to screeching cats than go shopping during the wintertime. Caroline couldn’t help but understand the sentiment and neglected to point out how odd it was that Louisa was willing to garden during this time instead.
Elizabeth clearly didn’t mind that Louisa hadn’t come along. She all but skipped down Bond Street, arm in arm with Caroline, talking incessantly about her successful dinner party.
“I had almost forgotten how popular you had been during your debut, Caroline,” she went on. “Last night only reminded me of it. Nearly every gentleman present approached me asking about you.”
“Was that not the reason you invited them in the first place?” Caroline asked wearily. She tucked her arms closer to herself to ward off some of the cold.
“Yes, of course,” Elizabeth stated boldly. “I do think Lord Sotheby would be a marvellous match for you, but it would not do to put all of one’s hope on a single gentleman. They are notorious for disappointment, after all.”
Caroline smiled wryly. “At least we can agree on one thing.”
“Then can we not agree on the fact that my dinner party was successful?” Elizabeth asked. “You received four bouquets of flowers just this morning!”
“But no gentleman had called,” she couldn’t help but point out, even though she was grateful for that fact. “Not that I am complaining.”
“I’m sure they will on the morrow,” Elizabeth dismissed, waving a gloved hand. “This was how it was during your debut as well, wasn’t it? After your first ball, the gentlemen did not appear immediately. But after a few days, they began coming in swarms.”
“And I hardly had any chance to enjoy it because you married me off to the viscount.”
Elizabeth was quiet for a moment. Caroline realized a little too late than she’d sound far more bitter than she’d intended to.
“It was what was best at the time,” Elizabeth said after a moment. Her voice did not have that tinge of excitement any longer, it was only matter-of-fact. “We may have prestige but we are not a rich family. Lord Winterbourne was willing to accept your meager dowry and marry you instantly, while the gentlemen hoping to court you were never a guarantee. I could not take the risk.”
“You did not give me much of a chance,” Caroline murmured. “I was married within three weeks.”
