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She sealed up the letter quickly and pushed it away.
Maybe he has turned his back on me like the rest of the ton after all.
* * *
Leo
“What is all that banging?” Leo murmured, rising off his rococo settee to hear the door being knocked on so much that it sounded as if someone was hammering.
Stumbling off the settee, Leo turned to see his reflection in the nearest mirror.
God’s wounds, I look a mess.
He hadn’t made it to bed the night before. He’d been out for most of the day, trying to throw himself into work as much as possible. He’d even seen new clients, in the hope that work would distract him from thoughts of Chloe, though little good it had done. When he had eventually made it home, he hadn’t made it to bed but fallen asleep on the settee.
His clothes showed the state he was in. His tailcoat was gone, his waistcoat unbuttoned, and his shirt scruffy. Even his hair stuck up at odd angles.
“Leo!” a voice demanded at the door, along with another heavy knock.
“Maeve?” Leo would know that voice anywhere. Stumbling out of the room, he discovered he was clumsier than usual in his sleepy state. He managed to fall over a nearby footstool, then hastily pull himself up, as the knocking became even louder. He hastened through the room, keeping himself standing by running a hand along the wall, before he eventually reached the hallway and the door, flinging it open.
Not only Maeve’s face greeted him from the other side of the door, but Benjamin’s as well. Benjamin immediately smirked at him.
“What happened to you?” Benjamin asked. “Did you stay up all night?”
“Not quite,” Leo said, eyeing the two of them as he took note of the anger in Maeve’s face. “What did I do?”
“You can tell I’m angry?” Maeve asked.
“You’re as red as the ribbons on your bonnet.”
“Good, then that will make this easier.” She stepped into the flat and grabbed his arm, dragging him all the way back to his sitting room. This time he was able to avoid tripping on things along the way.
“Release me, sister, please. I need some coffee before starting my morning.” Once they reached the room, Leo rang a bell for the one maid he had and asked for a coffee. Whilst they waited for the maid to return, he sat heavily down in the chair he had spent the night in, his eyes dancing between his sister and brother-in-law.
“She’s not just mad,” Benjamin whispered as he walked past Leo. “She’s fuming!”
“Too right I am, and do a better job whispering next time, Benjamin,” she challenged her husband before taking off her bonnet and turning to fix Leo with a stare. “Leo, why are you avoiding Chloe?”
Leo froze. He didn’t think it would be so noticeable after just a few days of not going to see her.
“Who said I was?”
“Leo,” Benjamin was the one to speak this time, his voice firm. “You were visiting her every day. I hardly think those meetings were just about business.”
“What?” Maeve said distractedly. Benjamin smiled, evidently trying to clue his wife into what was really happening, but Leo shook a hand at Benjamin, urging him to be quiet. “What am I missing here?”
To Leo’s relief, before more words could be said, the maid returned with the coffee. She was sent away again, and Leo took his time pouring coffee for the three of them.
“How is Chloe?” Leo asked, wanting to know.
“If you really desired to have an answer to that question, why would you not go see her yourself?” Maeve asked pointedly, taking a seat nearby. “You have known Chloe since we were little, Leo. It doesn’t make sense to me why you are suddenly avoiding her.”
“I can make a few guesses,” Benjamin said, reaching for his coffee.
“Benjamin . . .” Leo warned.
“Glare at me all you like, it won’t stop me from guessing,” Benjamin declared, shaking his head.
