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“He is now the Earl of Gloucester, Simon Bingley. Have I never spoken of him before?”
“Oh, yes, you have.” Leo nodded, remembering the few words Benjamin had spoken of the man. “Maeve mentioned him too once. Is he not the gentleman who owned the club you attended as part of the writer’s circle? Where Maeve first appeared as Mr. Nathan Buckley?”
“That’s the one.” Benjamin pointed his glass at Leo in agreement.
“How has he not noticed yet that you have married the famed Mr. Nathan Buckley?” Leo asked, his deep chuckle overtaking him. When Leo had first discovered Maeve’s deception, of dressing as a man to be accepted as a writer, it had seemed unreal to him that any man could have believed she was another man. Then again, Leo had grown up with Maeve. He knew her face better than anyone. He had not been taken in by the ruse for long.
“Well, Bingley may have only seen Maeve as Mr. Buckley the couple of times, but I cannot have him recognizing my duchess’ face, can I?” Benjamin laughed too. “Now Maeve will write under her own name, there will be no need for her to hide. I just want to make sure Bingley has forgotten what Mr. Buckley looked like.”
“I understand.” Leo was serious for a moment. He watched as Benjamin fiddled with his brandy glass, turning it back and forth on the table in front of him so the light that shone through the window dazzled off the dark brown liquid within the glass for a few seconds.
“It’s just . . .” Benjamin sighed. “I am glad the deception is at an end. As impressive as it was to see her success as Mr. Buckley, without people judging her for being a woman writing, I want her to have the praise she deserves.”
“As do we all.” Leo nodded his head. “Yet may I remind you of the secrecy that must remain on her first book? If the truth were ever discovered, the law would come down on us all.”
“Yes, yes, I know.” Benjamin held up a hand in surrender. “I know it can never happen, but sometimes, I like to think about it.”
“I don’t.” Leo spoke heartily and sat forward. “As your lawyer, and Maeve’s, I’d be the first one with my head on the block, as they say.”
“Leo, you are being dramatic.”
“Who knows the law here?” Leo asked, peering at his friend over the brandy glass with such a narrowed glare that Benjamin fell about laughing a second later.
“Alright, you win,” Benjamin said, trying to control his mirth. “Yes, you know the law, and I wouldn’t dare argue against you about it.”
“Not to mention I do not have the protection of a dukedom.” Leo raised his eyebrows as he placed down his glass. “Your involvement would cause a scandal, but you could survive it. As for me . . .” Leo paused. He did not like to dwell on these matters. It made him fidget with the brandy glass in such a way that it rang in the air.
“Need I remind you that you are the son and heir of an earl? Anyway, we need not worry anymore. Her future works will be in her own name. Strangely, publishers are happy to publish a duchess,” Benjamin said with humor as he leaned forward and placed a hand over Leo’s glass. It made the ringing abruptly stop and the glass fall still.
“What was that for?”
“Just to make sure you don’t tip the glass over,” Benjamin said in friendly warning and sat back again. “Well, now that is enough conversation concerning business for one night. I wish to speak to you of something else.”
“What is that?” Leo lifted the brandy glass to his lips and took another sip.
“Care to tell me why you turn into such a fool around Miss Green?” The words made the brandy lodge in Leo’s throat. He felt the burning liquid go down the wrong way before he choked harshly.
The coughing and spluttering came without delay, and the brandy glass was quickly taken from his grasp before it could be dropped, then a hearty clap fell upon his back, clearing his lungs.
“Thank you,” Leo said in a strained voice, coughing into his napkin another time as he attempted to get rid of all the brandy from his throat. It left a burning sensation behind. He rather hoped the coughing was enough to explain the reddening of his face, for it had turned a strange color at Benjamin’s words.
“I think have my answer.” Benjamin laughed. “Would you like another brandy or are you intending to choke on that one too?”
“Benjamin, what did you say?” Leo pretended perfect innocence, fiddling with his napkin and leaning back in his chair so far that it creaked dangerously beneath him.
“You know very well what I said.” Benjamin shook his head as he topped off Leo’s glass. Leo had no wish to drink again though, and he slid the glass away from him before he could put it in any more danger. “I have had my suspicions before, of course.”
“Suspicions? Suspicions of what?” Leo asked, pushing his chair out. This time the chair leg slid across the floor loudly. As Leo bent over the arm, fearful he had done some sort of damage to the floorboards, the chair began to tip.
Benjamin reached out a hand to him. It was that hand and Leo’s outstretched grasp on the table that stopped him from falling. Leo right himself in the chair, coming back up to see his brother-in-law smiling at him, barely containing his mirth.
“Try not to fall over when you are sat down, Leo. It would be an achievement indeed,” Benjamin mused, making Leo glower in his direction.
“I blame the chair. It is far too rickety.”
“Of course, you do. Now, let us talk of Miss Green.”
“Let us not.” Leo spoke firmly and stood to his feet. He was not prepared for this conversation and had no wish to take part in it.
