Page 54 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
“Was he not an old man?”
“He was,” Grace confirmed, not at all put off by Cedric’s bluntness. “But he was kind and I hear they had a rather comfortable marriage.”
“Comfort and love are too different things.”
“I thought you did not care about love,” Grace drawled. “Ever since that woman broke your heart—”
“Enough,” Cedric cut in. “I do not want to have this conversation with you right now and I’m certain this is not the conversation you wished to have with me.”
Grace studied him silently for a moment, then said, “You’re right. I hope you intend on asking Lady Winterbourne to dance.”
Cedric released a slow breath, letting his gaze drift back to Caroline. She was smiling at something Lord Sotheby was saying, but it didn’t hit her eyes. As soon as the viscount looked away, the smile fell.
“I am,” he confessed finally. “As soon as I get the chance.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Grace said and he could hear the smile in her voice. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to keep Lady York away from you two.”
With that, she walked off. Cedric didn’t pay her much mind, his attention resting solely on the beautiful lady in blue. He supposed it might seem rather odd to anyone who noticed him that he was staring so intently at her, but he didn’t care. Many people present were still talking about the waltz between the Ice Earl and the Dowager Viscountess. It would only add to the discourse already sounding their name.
He would simply wait. They were limited to how many dances they could share. He didn’t care so much about what others said about it but he didn’t want to make it difficult for her. So one, perhaps two. But once she got away from Lord Sotheby, Cedric would make it his mission to keep her by his side for the majority of the night.
Caroline pointed at something over Lord Sotheby’s shoulder. Cedric watched as she quickly set her untouched lemonade down and, when Lord Sotheby turned back to her with a look of confusion, she laughed and said something, gesturing behind her instead. His confusion only deepened and she seemed to be taking advantage of it, backing away as she spoke. Without giving him much of a chance to say anything, she turned and walked away.
Cedric grinned, seeing his chance.
Just as he was about to step away, a familiar figure slid into his path. Cedric took a step back, irritation crawling over him as he looked down at Isabella.
She only gazed back at him for a long moment, saying nothing. Cedric scoffed, preparing to walk away from her, but then seized his sleeve.
“Wait,” she pleaded. “I wanted to speak with you.”
“There is nothing we need to speak about,” he said, brushing her hand off him.
“Cedric.” Her tone was low, apologetic. Cedric hated hearing it. “It doesn’t have to be like this.”
“It didn’t have to be like this,” he corrected in a cold tone. “You were the one who ensured that we would never be cordial with each other ever again. Not me.”
Sadness seeped into her expression. Once upon a time, that pouting expression would have had him in the palm of her hands. He would have been willing to do anything for her just to put a smile on her face again. Now it only filled him with disgust and lingering resentment.
She blinked rapidly as if she was fighting back tears. “I hear the rumours about Lady Winterbourne and you.”
Cedric only stood there in stony silence.
When she looked back up, her eyes were dry. “They say that you are smitten with her. Some even say that she has stolen your heart. Is that true?”
He still didn’t respond. The only reason he wasn’t walking away from her was to know what she was actually getting to.
A sad smile touched her lips. “I suppose it is not my place to comment on your life. Not after what I did.”
“If you know that, then why are you here?” Cedric couldn’t help but ask in a snide tone. “I’m surprised Simon let you out of his sight in the first place.”
Isabella’s shoulders slumped as she glanced over one side. “I had slipped away while he was talking to one of his friends. He truly does not let me out of his sight, but I simply had to come and speak with you.”
“As I said, we have nothing—”
“We do,” she insisted. And then she stepped closer, dropping her voice to a whisper, “You need to know the truth.”
“The truth is, Cedric,” Simon said as he appeared, sliding a territorial arm around Isabella, “we miss you.”
