AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have.” This gentleman was handsome, that was clear to see as he walked forward. Leo felt something in his stomach curdle in jealousy. It was an ugly feeling, almost making him feel sick and angry, all at the same time. His eyes darted to the flowers and then back to his gift of the sketchbook, not sure what to think.
“Chloe is indeed popular this morning,” Miss Baker seconded as she leaned beside the other seamstress on the counter. “Well, we should fetch her.”
“If only we could.” Leo saw an opportunity and stepped forward, prompting both gentlemen to look toward him.
What am I doing?
Leo couldn’t’ understand why he was thinking of lying. Later, he would try to reason out what he had done, play it out with logic, but he soon realized logic took no part in this lie. It was emotion and jealousy that ruled the day.
“Miss Green is not here, so regrettably, none of us can see her today.” Leo spoke boldly, looking at the two gentlemen. The first looked a little more disappointed, suggesting to Leo that the first cared more for Chloe already than the second. His flowers tilted down a little, as the second man still hovered in the doorway. “It seems we will have to leave and come back another time.” With these words, Leo walked toward the door, indicating that he planned on departing.
“Oh, very well.” The first man sighed, then turned to Gretchen before he left. “Perhaps you could give these to your mistress for me? I have left a card with them.”
“Yes, of course.” Gretchen smiled and took the flowers from him.
“And mine too.” The second man hurried forward, proffering his flowers. He spent a few seconds sizing up the different bouquets, and clearly took pride in the fact that his was the largest of the two.
Leo watched, fidgeting on his feet, before he became aware of a pair of eyes on him. He angled his head to see Miss Baker standing nearby, staring at him. Those eyes didn’t blink but were calculating. Fearing what she thought of him, Leo tore his own eyes away.
“You will tell her I came by?” The first gentleman was most insistent as he hovered in the doorway, calling back to Gretchen.
“I promise, sir.”
The second man hurried to the door, and pushed past the first, exiting quickly, before the first man followed him. Together, they moved down the street and through the window. Leo could see a natural argument breaking out between the two of them. He wouldn’t have been surprised if it was over who had bought the better flowers.
I still think she’ll like the sketchbook more.
Leo looked down at the gift another time, just as Miss Baker cleared her throat. Slowly, Leo looked up from where he was standing, stock still, barley moving a muscle.
Miss Baker and Gretchen exchanged an intrigued look, before turning as one back to Leo.
“That was most curious, my lord,” Miss Baker said with the hint of a smile on her lips. “We had just told you Miss Green is upstairs. Why would you lie?” Gretchen looked ready to laugh, clearly suspicious of Leo’s feelings.
Leo’s eyes flicked to the stairs, above which Chloe was working, then he looked down at the flowers on the counter, and shame blossomed like one of those fine blooms.
That was cruel. I should not have done that.
“Forgive me, that was an error on my part. I . . .”
“You . . .?” Miss Baker encouraged him on. “Why did you do it, my lord? You told a lie.”
Leo stepped forward and placed the sketchbook on the counter beside the flowers.
“Please see that Chloe gets this.”
“But you can give it to her yourself, my lord,” Gretchen said very quickly, her smile vanishing.
“Not today. I . . . I must go.” Leo was ready to invent any reason to leave now. He felt flustered, foolish, and very selfish.
I should not have done that!
“Go? But you have only just arrived.” Miss Baker stepped out from the counter as she spoke, as if intending to stop him from parting. “Please, stay a minute more whilst I fetch Chloe.”
Leo backed up at once, determined to escape.
“No, I must go. Thank you, but I . . .” He wasn’t looking where he was going. In his eagerness to get away from Miss Baker, he collided with the very table he had been avoiding earlier. Once again, Leo felt a clumsy fool. He almost fell over the table, barely managing to stay standing thanks to the hand he had thrust onto the table edge, clinging to it. The heavy thud was so loud, he feared Chloe would hear it far above them in her sewing room.
Scrambling to stand straight, Leo hurried, then looked over the mess he had made. Bolts were skew-whiff, lace had fallen to the floorboards, and beads were rolling away, about to be scattered to the floor too. He hurried to catch it all, pushing it back in place, as Miss Baker appeared at his side, helping him with the mess.
