She kept her eyes trained ahead, grateful that the street was not very busy. Those who meandered by did so quickly, as if eager to get out of the cold. With the dark clouds overhead, she wouldn’t be surprised if it began snowing soon.
“Many ladies would consider that a successful Season,” Elizabeth pointed out.
“Many ladies did not have much hope for a love match,” Caroline countered.
“Love?” Elizabeth gasped. “What need do you have for love? What a lady needs is security.”
Caroline saw no point in arguing. She hadn’t said anything then and she wouldn’t say anything now, only because Elizabeth was never going to see things her way.
Besides, she’d given up on the idea of love. From the moment her mother told her that she had accepted Lord Winterbourne’s proposal, Caroline knew it was never meant for her. Her purpose on earth was to inspire that same longing for love in others who had read about it in books like she had. Not to experience it herself. It had only taken her three years to realize that.
And she had no intention of letting go of it. She craved her freedom, her passion for it like an inferno eating her up on the inside. She needed to release herself in her writing as much as she needed to eat or sleep.
That passion began mounting in her as they lapsed into silence. Now, she wanted nothing more than to forget about themilliner’s and head back home so she could pore all these rising emotions out onto paper.
“Lady York!”
Caroline looked up in surprise. She’d been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed that someone had approached.
She met a pair of ice-blue eyes.
There was an older lady at his side, but Caroline could hardly think about acknowledging her. Not when she was standing in front of the Earl of Colenhurst again. Not when it suddenly felt as if it had been ages since she’d seen him so close, even though their dance had only been a few days ago. Not when he was staring at her so intently, as if didn’t care to acknowledge anyone else either.
That longing she’d allowed herself to forget about, that needed for passionate romance, sprouted new leaves. It budded into something she’d never felt before, spreading its vines throughout her and taking root. The longer she stared up at the earl, the more out of control she felt.
“Lady Hutton,” Elizabeth greeted happily, pulling Caroline back to the present. She blinked and looked away, focusing on the lady on Lord Colenhurst’s arm.
Lady Hutton was looking at her as if she could tell exactly what she was thinking. But then she turned her attention back to Elizabeth.
“I have not seen you since Lady Maria’s ball,” Lady Hutton commented. “I thought that you would have paid me a visit during your short time in London.”
“Oh, I had every intention of doing so, my lady,” Elizabeth told her with a laugh. “But I had my hands full with my daughter, you see.”
“Oh?” Lady Hutton’s perceptive gaze came to rest on Caroline. “I do not think we were introduced, my lady, though I have heard much about you.”
“The Dowager Viscountess of Winterbourne, my lady,” Caroline said, curtsying respectfully. “It is nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you as well. It is interesting that I have been such a good friend of Lady York and it is my nephew who gets the chance to meet you before I have.” Lady Hutton looked up at thequiet earl. “Cedric, you know Lady Winterbourne, do you not? You danced with her during the ball. And this is her mother, Baroness York.”
Lord Colenhurst gave a curt nod. “Lovely seeing you again, my lady,” he said to Caroline. “And lovely meeting you, my lady.”
Caroline quelled the surge of disappointment as soon as it came. It was just like when they’d seen each other at Gunter’s. Clearly she was more interested in seeing him than he was in seeing her.
“Where are you two heading?” Lady Hutton asked.
“We were on our way to the milliner’s,” Elizabeth told her.
“What marvellous news,” she exclaimed. “We shall go with you then.”
Caroline frowned. “Were you not going in the opposite direction?”
“Quite so. But hearing about the milliner only reminds me that there is a hat of mine that needs mending. So we may as well walk together.”
Caroline’s frown only deepened. Neither Lady Hutton nor Lord Colenhurst had a hat box with them, and there was no maid trailing behind them.
Caroline glanced curiously up at the earl, expecting him to protest. Surely there were other things he would rather do than accompany three ladies to the milliner’s. But he was quiet. Patient, almost.
“Are you certain?” Elizabeth asked, sounding uncertain herself.
