Chapter Five

The meeting with Mr. Holloway went as dismally as she’d expected it to be. Caroline would have felt far worse about it had it not been for her interesting encounter before the meeting, the memory of the Earl of Colenhurst lingering in her mind an hour later. As she hurried back to Louisa’s townhouse, her excitement mounted with every step. Louisa would love hearing all about it.

Her steps slowed as she neared. There was a carriage outside the gate, unmarked. Louisa was not one to entertain guests so who could that be?

Her curiosity mounted when she neared and spotted the coachman tending to the horses. He tipped his hat at her in recognition and Caroline did so in return, even though she didn’t have a clue who this man was.

Something washed over her the moment she made it onto the porch. Something told her that she was not about to like what she saw on the other end of the door.

Bracing herself, Caroline entered.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. She strained her ears for the sound of voices. If Louisa did have a visitor then she should be able to hear them in the main drawing room. But there was nothing but Caroline’s breathing.

And then, just when she relaxed, a familiar figure came from the other side of the staircase. Caroline’s heart plummeted to the floor.

“Caroline! Goodness, my dear, where have you been all afternoon? I have been in a state of anxious anticipation for ages.”

A heavy-set woman made her way over to Caroline in quick steps, pulling Caroline into a hug. In her surprise, Caroline remembered to embrace her back. Otherwise, she was sure to be scolded about it later.

The woman pulled away and Caroline found herself staring into her older self. Only this woman’s brown-green eyes were filled with a mixture of relief and anger. She kept her hands on Caroline’s shoulders, shaking her slightly .

“Do you know how worried I was about you? Especially when I learned that you went out without a carriage. Which meant you walked! Do you know how dangerous London can be, Caroline?”

“Oh, there’s no need to worry any longer, Lady York.” Louisa’s calming, slightly amused voice sounded from behind. She approached with a serene smile on her face. “Caroline is here now, safe and sound.”

“Yes, but she should have known better. I was in a state of great distress!”

Louisa shot Caroline a glance. Caroline would have looked back at her if she wasn’t still completely shocked by this turn of events.

Not for one second had she considered that her mother would come to her.

She should have known, of course. Lady Elizabeth York was nothing if not a worrier. Caroline should have known that when she sent word that she would not be able to make it in time for Christmas, her mother would have conjured up some insane reason for it.

Louisa came to her side, nudging her lightly with her elbow. Caroline blinked. “Mother,” she quickly said. “What a pleasure it is to see you. What is the purpose of your visit?”

“What is the purpose?” Elizabeth echoed incredulously. “I am here to see you, of course. Imagine my surprise when my one and only daughter tells me she will not come to see me for Christmas.”

“I did not say I would not come to see you,” Caroline said as patiently as she could. “I said I would not be able to come in the time we originally planned.”

“It is one and the same, is it not?” When Caroline didn’t answer right away, Elizabeth looked at Louisa. “Is it not?”

Louisa only smiled. “Let us continue this conversation in the drawing room, shall we? I’m sure you must be weary after your long trip and I have prepared tea.”

Louisa was very good at engaging others and Elizabeth was no different. Caroline watched with a mixture of relief and dread as her mother was carted off to the drawing room. The only thing she wanted to do was go to her writing desk and get to work. With her mother here, she doubted she would be able to get anything done at all.

With leaden feet, Caroline followed after them.

“How was your trip, Lady York?” Louisa asked companionably, settling on the sofa across from her. Caroline chose to sit next to her best friend, facing her mother. She hoped the distance would help a little.

“It was long and tiresome,” Elizabeth sighed as she plopped spoonful after spoonful of sugar into her tea. “You know how much I dread travelling long distances, especially when there is snow everywhere. It is such a hazard, you know. I never would have done it if I had any other choice.”

“You did have a choice,” Caroline couldn’t help but say. “You could have waited until I came to you.”

“And let the worry send me into an early grave? I think not.”

“Mother, I’m sure you will be worrying about me for the next thirty years, until you are old and feeble.”

“As long as you know it.” Elizabeth sipped her tea, paused, and then nodded in acceptance. Caroline kept stirring in her one spoonful of sugar, waiting for the inevitable question.

“Why did you decide to remain in London for a while longer?” Elizabeth asked her. “Do you not want to spend time with your mother? We see each other so little as it is, especially after you moved back here.”

With a sigh, Caroline set her tea down. Louisa remained quiet next to her, nibbling on a cucumber sandwich.

“Mother, it has nothing to do with you. I had agreed to do volunteer work at the orphanage and I did not wish to disappoint them. That’s all.”

“So disappointing your mother is better.”

Caroline could already feel a megrim climbing up the back of her head. “My trip was only delayed a few weeks, Mother. The snow will still be adorning the streets when I leave here.”

“I am simply concerned about you, that is all,” Elizabeth sighed. “I’m sure you can understand my plight. My only daughter decided to live so far away from me so soon after her husband’s death, and I said nothing about it. ”

Caroline and Louisa exchanged looks. Caroline could distinctly recall the hysteria her mother displayed when she’d told her of her plans to live with Louisa, but she declined to bring that up.

“And you agreed that you will write to me often and come to see me on special holidays.”

“And I have upheld my end of that agreement, have I not?”

“If I recall correctly,” Louisa chimed in. “This house feels particularly empty on holidays.”

Elizabeth looked back and forth between them, clearly realizing that she might be acting unreasonable. But her mother was not one to apologize unless she was backed into a corner and had no choice.

“Very well,” she sighed with a theatrical air. “You have caught me in my ruse. I suppose I must be forthright and confess the other reason that prompted my visit.”

Caroline’s spine went straight with apprehension. “You mean you were not just worried about me?”

“Of course I was. Even more so now that I know that you prance about London without any company on your own two feet. It only proves to me that you need protection.”

Oh Heavens, she didn’t mean…

“What do you think about getting remarried?” Elizabeth asked.

Caroline felt the blood drain from her face. Even Louisa stilled.

“I, for one, think that it is a splendid idea,” Elizabeth went on, completely unaware of how still the ladies sitting before her had become. “You are still so young, Caroline. You did not have long to enjoy your marriage before your late husband, may he rest in peace, left you. And with very little, I might add. And you remain as enchanting as the day you first graced society. I have no doubt you shall encounter no difficulty in securing another suitor.”

Caroline was at a loss for words. She could only gape at her mother, not wanting to believe what she was hearing.

Louisa cleared her throat. “You’ve seemed to have given this a lot of thought, Lady York,” she said .

“I have,” Elizabeth responded excitedly. “As a matter of fact, I have been considering hosting a dinner and I have already invited a number of bachelors for Caroline to consider. All men who are up to my standards, of course, so you needn’t worry about that.”

That wasn’t what Caroline was worried about.

Her old life had been unfulfilling. Long, seemingly endless days of her hiding who she truly was, trapped in an arranged marriage with an older gentleman whom she could barely conjure up a friendship with. The thought of ever going back to that, of losing who she was in another loveless union, made it feel as if her chest was caving in.

Elizabeth kept going, clearly taking Caroline’s silence as agreement to this plan. Caroline stared at her mouth as she talked, remembering how tiresome her days had once been as a married woman. This blissful taste of freedom she had as a widower wasn’t something she was willing to give up just yet. If she was going to remarry, Caroline would only do it for love.

Suddenly, the Earl of Colenhurst popped into her mind. She remembered the sensation of being pressed against his chest, albeit for the purpose of saving her from potential disgrace and harm. Her heart had raced, skipping several beats as a rush of warmth flooded her cheeks. For a brief moment, she found herself captivated by his presence, her gaze lingering on his undeniably handsome features, searching for any flaw but discovering none. If ever she were to fall in love, it would surely be with a man of such remarkable gallantry—a man who could make her feel like the most beautiful and cherished lady in all of England.

But that wasn’t likely. So the only thing she truly wanted was to live out the rest of her life with her best friend and her quill. She had to tell her mother she couldn’t remarry. Caroline braced herself, gathering the strength, knowing the battle she would have on her hands the moment she voiced her concerns.

In the end, she simply sat in silence.

***

Mr. Ambrose Sinclair surely knew how to display his wealth. He’d managed to secure a good spot on the outskirts of Piccadilly and his townhouse was draped in gold. Gold gates, a giant gold door-knocker, the gold outlines on the bay windows. Cedric hated the sight of it.

It was too gaudy, too showy. Obviously Mr. Sinclair wanted everyone passing by to know that he was not only rich enough to secure a spot in one of the most prestigious communities in London but had the ability to show off his flashy decorations.

Or perhaps Cedric was only viewing the house with such disdain simply because he didn’t want to be present. The dinner party he had been dreading all day was set to begin shortly and here he was considering turning around even though he’d already arrived. Manners be hanged, he had no desire to pass the evening in the company of Mr. Sinclair and his daughter.

But he would only be returning to his own house, where his ledgers still sat in his office, taunting him. He’d made some headway in sorting through the mess, but that fixing his ledgers wouldn’t help him get to the bottom of who was behind it in the first place.

He needed to know what Mr. Sinclair knew. That was his reason for being here. Cedric wouldn’t let himself forget that.

With a sigh, he trudged up to the front door and knocked. He waited for a few seconds and was very close to turning around when the door opened, revealing a tired-looking butler. He was admitted into a large foyer with shining gold and white floors and massive chandelier hanging overhead.

“Right this way, my lord,” the butler said to him before veering off to the left. “The party has already begun.”

Cedric sighed and followed. He was happy he chose to arrive a little later than the invitation said. Hopefully, he would not be noticed when he entered.

That hope flew right out the door when he was admitted into the opulent dining room. It was certainly under full swing. Chatter buzzed around the room and it seemed the main course had already been served. Despite the hubbub, a portly man who had been sitting at the head of the table shot to his feet.

“Lord Colenhurst! ”

Cedric schooled his expression into a passive one, since he couldn’t quite manage a false smile. He watched as Mr. Sinclair ambled over to him.

“Here I thought you would not be able to make it, despite having accepted the invitation,” Mr. Sinclair said as he approached. There was a light sheen of sweat on his bald spot, the rest of his dark, wiry hair combed towards his neck. He had tiny eyes, a thin mouth, and a pointy nose. An unfortunate combination.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Cedric responded. “Though I should apologise for my lateness. It was unavoidable.”

He’d been sitting in his study with a glass of whiskey for a while before he finally decided to leave his house, but his host did not need to know that.

Mr. Sinclair accepted his apology with a nod. “Thankfully, we did not save your seat in vain. Come, sit up here, next to my daughter.”

Cedric had no choice but to follow Mr. Sinclair to the head of the table. He murmured his greetings to the others nearby as he sat, feeling a pair of eyes boring into him.

“Lord Colenhurst,” Mr. Sinclair said gaily as he reclaimed his seat. “Meet my daughter, Miss Alice Sinclair.”

Cedric looked at her at last. She was stunning, there was no doubt about that. Beautifully styled brown hair, lovely blue eyes, and a polite and demure smile on her lips. She bowed her head respectfully and said, “It is my pleasure to meet you, my lord. Father has told me much about you.”

“The pleasure is mine, Miss Alice,” Cedric responded respectfully and left it at that. He had no intention of entertaining anything else.

She was lovely, yes. Lovely indeed. But, considering the fact that Cedric had met someone far lovelier this afternoon, he couldn’t help but compare them. The mysterious lady he’d saved during his walk hadn’t smiled at him once and somehow, he imagined she possessed one of those smiles that lit up an entire room. He’d thought about her all day, which made working through his ledgers a far more difficult task than it already was. But every time he set his pen to paper, working out another calculation, he thought of the way she stared at him as if she was trying to commit every detail to memory. He’d found it fascinating then and was a little surprised at the fact that he still could not stop thinking about it—and her—even now.

“As I said, my lord,” Miss Alice spoke again. “I have heard much about you.”

Cedric began eating. If he was going to put himself through this, he might as well fill his stomach.

“Is that so:?” He drawled.

“Indeed so,” she went on, her voice barely audible over the raucous laughter of her father, who was already engaged in conversation with someone on the other side of the table. “I must say that you are far more composed than the rumours suggest.”

“Thank you.”

“I do not mean to create the impression that I engage in idle gossip, however, my lord,” she went on. “But one cannot help but listen when a person one is interested in becomes the topic of interest.”

“You do not know me, Miss Alice,” Cedric pushed through gritted teeth. “You cannot show interest in someone you do not know.”

“And I wish to change that,” she countered with ease. “You do seem like an interesting character. Not many would be so apathetic about joining my father’s dinner party late.”

Cedric couldn’t help looking at her at that. She ate with perfect poise and posture and when she looked at him in return, she peeked through lowered lashes.

“Is your father so formidable that I should never consider being late?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“That is what he believes. So others believe so as well.”

“I am not like others,” Cedric grunted, returning his attention to his meal.

“I can tell, my lord. What are your interests?” He didn’t respond so she added, “Do you fancy horseriding, or perhaps fencing? I know many noblemen partake in such activities. I for one have grown quite fond of my needlework and I am very adept on the back of a horse. What about you, my lord?”

“I enjoy eating my meals in silence.” Or whatever silence he could gain from such a hearty dinner party .

“Are you two enjoying yourselves?” Mr. Sinclair leaned towards Cedric suddenly to ask, his eyes sparkling with intrigue. “Should I trust that all proceeds most agreeably?”

Clearly Cedrics’s curt response wasn’t enough to deter Miss Alice because she eagerly said, “I am already enjoying Lord Colenhurst’s company, Father. I’m happy you invited him.”

Mr. Sinclair hardly paid his daughter any mind, eyes trained directly on Cedric. “And you, my lord? How do you finding your repast?”

“It is quite…” He struggled to find a word of praise. “Decent,” he ended at last.

“Decent?” Mr. Sinclair pulled away, mouth twisting to the side. “I daresay your palate is accustomed to more exquisite food?”

Sensing he might have wounded the other man’s ego, Cedric quickly thought of a way to fix it. “On the contrary, sir, this meal is quite like what I would have in my own home. Are we sharing cooks, by chance?”

The growing frown on Mr. Sinclair’s face dissolved immediately as laughter bursted forth from his lips. “Oh, if there was a person alive capable of cooking for two major people in London then I would love to meet them,” he guffawed. “The fact that you enjoy it pleases me greatly. And I see that Alice and you have gotten acquainted.”

Cedric nodded stiffly.

“Has she told you of her skill on the pianoforte?” Mr. Sinclair asked. “She’s been afforded the best education England has to offer and has spent a number of years at a seminary in Bath. Maybe she could play for you later this evening.”

“I am sure I shall enjoy that,” was all Cedric could think to say. Mentally, he cursed Harrison and his aunt for convincing him to come here in the first place.

“I am an adept singer as well, my lord,” Miss Alice chimed in, wearing that smile that didn’t touch her eyes. When their eyes met, however, he sensed something else behind her eyes, something that disappeared a moment later.

“You are quite talented then,” he said to her, focusing on eating .

“Yes, Father has ensured that I was given the chance to explore my natural capabilities. Which I am sure you will come to appreciate as we explore a friendship in the future.”

Cedric glanced up to make sure Mr. Sinclair was no longer paying them any mind, clearly having grown bored of the conversation, before he said, “I am in no need of friendship.”

“Perhaps a wife then.”

He choked. A small hand reached out and slid his glass of wine closer to him. “Please drink, my lord. I do find the beef a little dry as well.”

Cedric frowned at her as he accepted the glass. But she kept eating as if she hadn’t said anything odd.

So he chose to ignore it. That felt far better than committing himself to a conversation about marriage with a woman he’d only just met.

Thankfully, she didn’t try to bring it back up and continued the conversation talking about her love for poetry as if she hadn’t said anything at all. Cedric found himself grateful for it, though he would have much rathered if they could stop talking altogether. Mr. Sinclair interjected now and again, clearly just checking in to make sure they were engaged in conversation before leaving them be. Cedric couldn’t help but think that he was being pushed into a courtship with no say in it.

The night was bound to be a long one. Between stroking Mr. Sinclair’s ego every time he set up a compliment about himself and trying not to shut Miss Alice out completely, he was utterly exhausted—and he was yet to begin what he’d come here for in the first place.