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“That you are so enamored with Chloe; your happiness is wrapped up in her own!” Maeve proclaimed with vigor. “Come, Leo. For both our sakes, we need to get out of here. My feet are killing me after all of this walking, and if you continue as you are, you will knock everyone in Covent Garden over.”
Leo didn’t bother arguing as he let Maeve lead him to the carriage that awaited them at the end of a lane. They entered quickly, and Maeve gave the directions for Leo’s flat.
Not a word passed between them the whole journey there. Leo didn’t know what to say. He was too caught up in his fears, and his anger, but all that anger was directed at himself.
Why was I such a fool? My own fears made me turn my back on her, at a time when she needed me most. I am a great fool indeed!
His thoughts kept going round in circles, until they pulled up outside his building to find someone there waiting for them.
“Miss Baker?” Leo said as he stepped out of the carriage then reached back to help Maeve down too.
Miss Baker looked as disarrayed as they felt, with her hair somewhat wild and her cheeks red. She had told them the other day exactly what she had discovered about her father and his interference in Chloe’s life. Since then, Leo was certain she had spent nearly as much time searching for Chloe as he had.
“Is everything well?” Maeve asked, reaching for Miss Baker with concern.
“Have you found her?” There was hope in Miss Baker’s eyes as she flicked her gaze between the two of them. Their silence on this matter told her all she clearly needed to know, for she sighed and looked down. “Neither have I, but I have had an idea, if you care to hear it.”
“Right now, I will hear any ideas,” Leo said, his desperation plain in his tone. “Do share, Miss Baker.”
“Lord Gloucester has connections in the writing circles of London,” Miss Baker spoke with eagerness. “It is possible that he might be able to find the name of the writer who wrote the article.”
“In the hope to make him write a retraction?” Leo asked, seeing where this was going.
“Just so! Do you think it could work?” Miss Baker’s voice was high pitched in her own desperations.
“It is possible,” Maeve mumbled, nodding. “Benjamin could help the search too. At least, it is something to try.”
“It is a way to help Chloe,” Leo said, then he looked out to the road, searching the faces amongst the busy crowds and passersby. “Though it still doesn’t help us to find her.”
* * *
Chloe
At least I am away from it all now.
The thought brought Chloe some comfort as she lifted her chin, pushed back the ribbons of her bonnet and peered through the window of the carriage. She’d hired the carriage rather hastily with what money she had been able to find around the shop. It had taken her a long way through the countryside, and now, at least, she was close to where she longed to be. She’d had to spend a couple of nights on the road, thanks to the late hour setting off and a broken wheel, but now, she was nearly at her destination.
The Sussex countryside dominated the view. No longer could she see the tall and narrow buildings of London’s busy streets, but the rolling green hills of the country, dappled with the occasional thatched cottage and red-bricked house. She had even passed one or two windmills, with their struts moving fast in the vigorous wind.
The closer she got, the more she leaned and peered through the window.
It has been too long. I should have come back sooner.
She knew it to be the truth, even as they passed through a village. More than one villager turned to look at the mysterious carriage, their brows wrinkled in curiosity. Everyone knew everyone around here, and everyone’s carriage too, so the unknown carriage was something of a talking point.
Chloe smiled a little when she passed the local school and a small haberdashery. It was the first place she had ever gone to buy materials when she was young. She knew the owner, a Mrs. Davies, of old. A kindly lady who was always eager to stand and talk about fashion for hours. Chloe made a note to go and see Mrs. Davies soon.
Maybe she can rekindle my love for fashion again.
Chloe found her love for the profession somewhat subdued at the moment. Her portmanteau was beside her in the carriage, along with her reticule and the sketchbook that Leo had gifted to her. At one point, she had lifted up the sketchbook, hoping to find solace in drawing new designs, but she had closed the sketchbook up again rather quickly and discarded it. No new ideas would come today.
The village began to disappear, and they passed into a country lane, which was very familiar to Chloe. She leaned forward, practically pressing her face through the window, when she recognized the woodland and the gravel path that opened out to the side of them. The carriage turned upon this path and drove towards a house at the far end.
“Home,” Chloe whispered the word aloud as she saw the house. She knew her father often wished he could have owned something larger, but to Chloe’s mind, no other house would be their home. It may have been small, but it was perfectly proportioned and well cared for. Even the gardeners were out, tending to the roses that trailed the walls, and an arch covered in climbing hydrangea blooms.
When the carriage pulled up, Chloe didn’t wait for a footman to appear to help her down but thrust open the door herself.
“It’s Miss Green!” one of the gardeners cried then hurried to the door, knocking on it with haste. “My lord? My lord! It is your daughter.”
