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Chloe froze with her hands upon the silk. She was careful not to react too strongly, keeping any thoughts or great fears to herself.
“I only ask, because you seem to know so much of it,” Rosaline said, encouraging her on.
Chloe felt as if she was back in the shop the day Leo had showed it to her.
“I wish to be married.” That is what he had said he wanted in life.
The words crushed her, for she feared why he had told her this information. All day, she had thought there was something between them. Had he not taken her hand to lead her through the market? Had he not spent all day showing her the shops? It had all seemed so promising! Until that moment.
What if he intended to put me on my guard? Has he noticed his sister’s young friend cares for him, and he fears giving hope where there is none?
The mad thoughts had plagued her ever since, to the extent that she had often struggled to sleep at night, as she replayed events from that day back in her mind.
It didn’t seem to matter how often Leo came to see her in the shop now. Since he had told her he wished to marry, she was convinced that someday soon he would walk into the shop to announce he was betrothed to another young lady.
How will my heart cope then?
“Chloe? Is all well?” Rosaline hurried to her side.
“Yes, perfectly.” Chloe attempted a smile, but it felt false. That fact was evidently noticed by Rosaline too, who stayed put with raised eyebrows.
“You do know of love, do you not?” Rosaline asked, her voice very gentle.
“I know of . . . caring for a man.” Chloe looked down at the laces, busying herself with the soft fabric in the hope that her expression did not give away as much as she feared it might.
“Oh, Chloe.” Rosaline sighed, as if sensing Chloe was in pain. “Did he break your heart?”
“Not intentionally.” Chloe bent her head even more forward. “To answer your question: Yes, I know what it is like to care deeply for a man, to hope for a return of your affections, and then to feel that hope is in vain.” She clenched her hands around the lace, determined not to reveal too much. “Yet that is not what we should focus on today. Let us think of you and Lord Gloucester.” She made her tone buoyant and stood straight once again. “The gentleman was certainly very attentive toward you the other day at the ball, so let us not abandon hope just yet.”
Rosaline smiled, giddy as a child.
“Here, would you help me put these out?”
“Of course.” Rosaline took the box of laces and hurried across the room, leaving Chloe behind at the table. Chloe leaned on the wood, with her palms flat against the surface, as her mind went back to Leo.
Involuntarily, her eyes slid to the glass windows, searching amongst the passersby for Leo’s tall figure and that charming smile, but he didn’t appear. The eagerness with which she looked for him, and how much she had been heartbroken at his words two weeks ago, showed her something.
What I feel for him is out of my control.
As fast as she thought she could rein it in, the thought grew. To the point that she could barely take her eyes off that glass in anticipation of seeing him. Her affection for Leo was being carried away, like a wild horse, and it seemed nothing was going to stop it.
“I’m letting myself in for a broken heart,” Chloe murmured to herself.
“What was that?” Rosaline called from across the shop.
“Nothing.” Chloe forced a smile in place and walked across the shop to help set up the laces on a stand. “I am just nervous about opening the shop.” She gestured to the layout of the room. “In truth, I do not even know if this is the best arrangement. I wish I could talk to someone who could give me some advice. Yet I know if I went to any other modiste for advice, they would not give it. Imagine them giving advice to someone who might end up taking business from them?”
“Yes, they are just as likely to sabotage as to help you.”
“Perhaps more so,” Chloe added uncomfortably. Her hands hovered over a particular piece of lacework. It was embroidered beautifully to reflect a pastoral scene of a young man and a lady dancing together, hand in hand.
Leo . . .
She chewed her lip, thinking of the way Leo’s hand had pressed into hers at the ball and the thrill that had passed up her arm at that touch. It was as if his barest touch against her skin started a fluttering feeling deep within her chest.
“There may be someone you could speak to,” Rosaline said abruptly, tearing Chloe’s thoughts away from Leo and bringing them back to the shop. “For advice.”
“Who?” Chloe asked, keen to hear the answer.
