Page 70 of An Icy Christmas Engagement
Cedric nodded slowly. It would be easy to let his anger consume him. He wanted nothing more than to take it out on Simon the way he deserved.
But right now, there was something more pressing he had to deal with.
“Harrison, I shall leave that matter to you then,” he said. “I’d like some time alone with Caroline.”
Grace raised her brows at that but said nothing. Harrison nodded and together, they left the room, Mr. Thatcher on their heels.
Alone, Cedric’s mind filled with a hundred things to say. Before he could choose a single one, Caroline leaned in and pressed a kiss against his lips.
He melted against his pillows. “Why?”
“Don’t you ever frighten me like that again,” she said, though her voice held none of the fire needed behind that threat. “I was worried sick. I thought I would never get the chance to tell you how I feel about you. Cedric, I—”
He put a finger to her lips. “Before you say anything else I should apologise.”
She frowned, the sight so adorable that he wanted nothing more than to kiss her again. “Apologise? For what?”
“I feel responsible for what Ambrose did to you. I can only assume he targeted you because of what I felt for you.”
“I don’t understand.”
He didn’t want to say it but… “He wanted me to marry his daughter. My shipping business was under attack by an unknown saboteur and he offered his assistance in exchange for joining our families. I believe he revealed your secret that night because I told him I could not marry her.”
“Why?” she breathed.
“Because I am in love with someone else.” He moved his hand to her cheek, rubbing his thumb gently across it. “Because I am in love with you.”
“Cedric…”
“I thought myself incapable of loving again. I had once courted Isabella, you see, and wanted nothing more than to marry her. But she was caught in a compromising position with Simon, someone who was supposed to be my friend, and their betrayal struck a chord in me. I suppose that is when they began calling me the Ice Earl. I did not think I would ever find myself in this position again. And then you came along…”
His hand wandered up to her hair, tucking a stray strand behind her ear. The endearing blush on her cheeks made it hard for him to keep still.
“You were like a breath of fresh air. I admired how easily you navigated the world around you, how quickly you smiled and frowned and asked questions simply because you wanted to knowthe answer in that moment. I could not stop thinking about you after our first encounter and it only grew worse after that. You consumed my very being from the moment we met, Caroline. I had no choice but to fall for you. You gave me no choice.”
“But now you know my secret,” she murmured, hesitant.
“And what a secret it is. I did not think I could fall any deeper in love with you, but as I watched you face the accusations with your head held high, I vowed to make you mine. I wanted to run after you right then and there, but I had to take care of Ambrose first.”
Hope filled her eyes. “So you aren’t horrified at the thought of me being a novelist?”
“I admire it,” he told her. “I support it. If it is your passion, I shall build a room just for you to fill your books in.”
A smile stretched across her face, warming him. “It would be rather odd to have a room dedicated to another person when we are not cohabiting.”
“That can be remedied.” He reached for her hand, kissing her knuckles. “Marry me.”
Her smile slipped. “W-what?”
“Become my wife. Let me shower you in love and adoration. Let us grow happy together.” He hesitated. “Unless you do not feel the same way…?”
“Oh, Cedric, yes!” Caroline threw her arms around him, nearly knocking him over. “Yes, I want nothing more than to marry you!”
Cedric laughed. He pulled her into his lap and kissed her deeply, simply because he wanted nothing more at that moment.
“Shall we do it next week?” he asked her softly. “I would become your husband tonight if possible.”
Caroline giggled. “I think my mother will not take it well if I do not give her the chance to plan the wedding. And it will give you enough time to convince her that you are the perfect match for me.”
