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“We have an agreement.” With these words, the man hurried out again, not even glancing at Rosaline as he passed her. Rosaline instead followed the man to the door and locked it behind him, turning over the sign to declare the shop closed before she turned back to face her father.
“No—”
“Now, Rosaline, listen to me—”
“Listen to you? I was just listening! I know what I heard.” She waved a mad hand at the door through which the writer had left. “You paid him to destroy my friend’s reputation. Father, how could you do that? Why? Why on earth would you do such a thing?”
“Because the business was dying!” Alfred barked the words so loudly that Rosaline trembled. He waved a mad hand around the shop, so frantic in his actions that he nearly knocked over a nearby stand of lace. “People were going straight from here to Miss Green’s shop. They weren’t hesitating. She had all the business.”
“Things would have calmed down. It’s London, for goodness’ sake. There is space, and also more than enough people for both businesses.” Rosaline could hear her tone was desperate, but her father didn’t seem to register that desperation.
“I had to make something happen, Rosaline. I had to get the business backnow,not wait to see if it would sort itself out in time.” He shook his head so madly that his mustache quivered on his upper lip. “It was all simply done. One article, that was all, and it has worked, for people are returning to my shop. Slowly, they are coming back.”
“At a price!” Rosaline shouted the words, determined to be heard by her father as she stepped forward. “Father, do you not understand what you have done?”
“I have done what was imperative to keep my business afloat.” He pointed a finger at her, almost in an accusatory manner. “You would have done the same.”
“How little you know me, father. How little indeed. I would never have done anything that was somalicious.”
The word seemed to pull Alfred up short. He stood straight behind the counter, his eyes going wide.
“It was not malicious,” he insisted, though his voice as quiet.
“Good lord, can you not see past the end of your nose?” Rosaline crossed to the counter, so that she was standing directly in front of her father. “You not only ruined her business, but her chance of a good livelihood, and tainted her friends. People who liked her and came to the shop have now turned their backs on her. She is facing cancelled orders, an empty shop, and refunds.”
“It is for the best,” Alfred said quickly, nodding, as if half attempting to convince himself.
“So, you wouldn’t care if this article cast Chloe out on the streets?”
“It would not come to that.”
“Wouldn’t it?”
“You said she’s the daughter of a baron.” Alfred waved a hand at Rosaline.
“A baron who no longer has a good income or a vast estate. In fact, he has little money at all. I told you that, father. I told you all of that.” She paused, breathing heavily, watching and waiting for her father’s reaction.
He looked away from her, fidgeting on his feet, looking suddenly nervous.
“She will not be destitute, Rosaline. It will not come to that.”
“How do you know when you have not seen her as I have?” Rosaline asked, tilting her head to the side to watch her father. For the first time, she saw him as a rather small man. He was no longer a self-assured and skilled shopkeeper, but a desperate man who had acted out. “You have behaved like a child.”
“A child!?” Alfred spluttered, stepping out from around his counter. “I have not.”
“Yes, you have. A child who has thrown all their toys out of the pram just because the ton were admiring a new designer, someone whoearnedtheir praise. Yes, father, she earned it.” She grabbed his arm and made him turn back to look at her when he threatened to walk away. “She never pulled such tricks as this. She never deceived anyone. Her success was because of her own merit, and you have destroyed it so that it is all just . . .” Rosaline splayed her fingers outward, showing how he had left Chloe’s life shattered to pieces. “Do you not see the damage you have done? How this was nothing more than a selfish and cruel act?”
Alfred said nothing. He didn’t deny it, but neither did he confirm it. He seemed quite lost, with his eyes darting about the room, unable to settle.
“I cannot forgive you for this, father.” Rosaline stepped away from him, heading to the door.
“What? Rosaline?” Alfred ran after her, having to maneuver around some of the display tables and step over the bolts Rosaline had knocked into earlier. “I am your father. You cannot hold this against me.”
“That is where you are wrong.” Rosaline turned the key in the lock, preparing to leave. “Just because I am your daughter does not mean I am blind to your faults and your errors.” She paused, turning back to hold his gaze. “Badly done, father. Never have you behaved as selfishly as you have this week.”
With these words, Rosaline flung open the door and stepped out. She could see that Alfred didn’t know what to say, for he stared after her. He didn’t call to her as she ran down the street, neither did he follow her, he just let her go.
At first, Rosaline didn’t know where she was heading. All she knew was that she had to escape. She had to get away from her father and the revelation of his deception.
