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Leo hadn’t seen Chloe for a while, but it seemed that time apart hadn’t done anything to soften his admiration for her.
No. It has only made it stronger!
“Well, it sounds like a thorough plan to me,” Benjamin mused as he sat back in his seat, with Nathan now firmly asleep on his lap. “The ball will announce Chloe’s designs to the world, and Leo will help secure a shop.”
“You really think you could help me with that, my lord?” Chloe asked, turning to look at Leo once again.
“I am certain of it.” Something built within Leo at the words, this swelling emotion he was unsure how to describe. All he knew was that this was an opportunity. It was a chance to show Chloe that he could be of use. That he was capable of more than just being a bumbling fool who left carnage in his wake.
Is it so mad to hope for her to see me as I do her?
The mere thought made hope build within him, so that the hairs on his arms stood up beneath his shirt and black tailcoat.
“What do you think, Chloe?” Maeve asked, holding onto her friend’s hand and encouraging her for an answer. “You will have a shop and a ball to announce you to the ton.”
“As for the ball . . .” Chloe paused, her nerves clearly getting the better of her as she shifted her weight from side to side. “Do you think people will notice the gowns?”
“Notice them?” Leo laughed as he gestured to the dress slung over the settee across the room. “I think there is little doubt of that. Maeve has not stopped gushing about that dress since you ran into the room with it.”
“I did not run,” Chloe said, looking back to him with an innocent look. When he held that gaze and raised his eyebrows, she capitulated. “Well, I wasn’t running fast.”
“What do you say, Chloe? Are you up for the challenge?” Maeve asked, drawing Chloe’s attention away from Leo again.
Chloe looked between them all, one at a time. Leo could have sworn she looked at him a little bit longer than the others, but that was probably just his imagination.
“I am ready for this challenge. So, how do we begin?”
Chapter 5
Leo
“Goodnight, Nathan,” Leo said one last time as Maeve raised her son in her arms and left the room. She cradled the boy against her shoulder as if he was the most amazing thing in the world. Nathan’s eyes were already closing, seconds away from sleep. When a soft snore escaped the small boy’s lips, Leo chuckled, as did Benjamin.
Turning his attention away from the boy and his mother, and the door that closed behind them, Leo shifted his focus to his brother-in-law. Benjamin sat at the head of the table, where they had just finished their dinner. As it was summer, the evenings were still bright and streaked orange light from the sunset cascaded through the windows onto the table of empty plates and finished glasses. Well, they had all been finished, but then Benjamin leaned forward and brought forward new glasses with brandy.
“You sure you wish to give me this glass?” Leo said, very aware of the quality as he took the brandy glass with its cut crustal embellishments.
“I trust you,” Benjamin said, smiling. “Just don’t break it.”
“I hardly intend to drop things all the time, you know.” Even as Leo said it, the glass slipped in his hold. He cursed and adjusted his grip, aware that Benjamin was chuckling beside him.
“Now that Maeve is gone, there is a matter I wish to discuss with you.” Benjamin said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table .
“What is it?” Leo was distracted. His eyes were turned on another empty chair at the table. Earlier that day, Benjamin had invited Chloe to join them for dinner, but she had politely declined, saying she had too much work to do. Leo couldn’t help wishing she had not turned the invitation down.
I hope she did not say no because I am here.
The thought gutted him.
“The figures you brought us today concerning Maeve’s sales,” Benjamin’s words tore Leo’s attention back to the matter at hand. Hearing they were to discuss business, Leo sat upright, feeling his spine go rigid.
Yes, this is where I am comfortable.
“They are good, aren’t they?” Leo confessed with a smile.
“Excellent. I have never seen a relatively new author doing so well.” Benjamin shook his head in bemusement. “Bingley will be startled by it too.”
“Bingley?” Leo said, not quite recognizing the name.
