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“Where was he?” Leo asked, longing to know more.
“In a gentleman’s club in Soho,” Lord Gloucester began.
“It seems the man has some gambling debts,” Benjamin continued. “He wrote the article because Mr. Baker offered him a substantial sum that would have paid off a lot of that debt.”
“Ah . . .” Leo felt his body go still and his shoulders slump. “Then how are we to get him to print a retraction?”
“That has been accomplished,” Benjamin said with a wide smile and nodded his head at Miss Baker. “It seems a single threat from me that promised he would never work in London again made him rather eager to publish the retraction.” At the words, Miss Baker stepped forward, releasing Lord Gloucester as she presented the sheet of paper that she’d had clutched in her hand ever since she stepped out of the carriage.
“It is quite the read,” she giggled.
Leo took it quickly. On the front page, there was a small article heading that read, “Retraction concerning Miss Green, the modiste, on page three.”
“Retractions never make the front page, do they?” Leo scoffed as he turned the pages. It niggled him. If anyone couldn’t be bothered to read the whole scandal sheet, they might never see the retraction. Turning the pages quickly, he landed on the retraction.
“This writer admits fault.
“This writer must humbly admit that concerning the recent article about Miss Green, the writer was fed false information from an unreliable source. We hope Miss Green’s personal affairs and her business have not been damaged by our error.”
“That’s it?” Leo snapped as he looked up from the article. Benjamin grimaced at the sharpness in Leo’s voice. “Good lord, these writers are animals, hungry for more gossip and not inclined to share their meal with another. They do not even specify what lies they told.”
“We must pray it does some good.” Benjamin reached forward and took Leo’s shoulder. It was an attempt at comfort, but one that did not get very far, for Leo still held himself very tensely. “At least now, people will begin to realize they were fed lies. If a few people read it, then they will spread the news amongst others.”
“Yes, you are right. That is a good start at least.” Leo nodded, trying to find comfort in the moment. Yet there was something hollow about the victory.
It is because Chloe is not here.
“Tea? Coffee?” he offered, trying to remember his manners. As the others nodded, he led them to his sitting room and rang the bell for his maid. She was quickly dispatched to make the drinks whilst Leo sat on the windowsill, his knee bouncing up and down so restlessly that he struggled to find much peace at all.
Miss Baker and Lord Gloucester, on the other hand, looked excessively relieved. They reclined back on Leo’s chesterfield settee, sitting close together. Leo couldn’t help his eyes dancing over them, feeling that envy burn, until Benjamin appeared at his side.
“They did good,” Benjamin whispered, so only Leo could hear them. “You know that.”
“I do, it’s just . . .” Leo couldn’t find the words. He looked away from the way Miss Baker was smiling at Lord Gloucester. “We need to know where Chloe is, Benjamin. I will not be settled until that is accomplished. Quite frankly, I couldn’t care less if she has the reputation of a demon and everyone thought ill of her. What matters to me . . . All I care about is that she is safe and well.”
It was a burning longing that he couldn’t satisfy.
Where is she? What if she is hurt? What if she has run off for good?
All these questions merely left him sadder than before.
“Trust me, my friend. We’ll find her. We’ll make sure of that.” Benjamin clapped Leo on the shoulder another time, then turned away as the maid appeared with the drinks. Leo moved to the dumbwaiter table to serve, but Benjamin offered to do it instead, and Leo found himself agreeing.
He much preferred to stare out of the window in the hope that Chloe would appear from nowhere.
“Wait a minute . . .” He peered down through the crowds. It wasn’t Chloe who had emerged and was hurrying toward the building, but another face entirely, followed closely by her maid.
“What is it?” Benjamin said, placing the coffee pot down and passing round cups as he looked to Leo.
“It’s Maeve!” Leo stood up off the windowsill, recognizing the intensity of Maeve’s movements. She was practically running, with so much speed that her maid was struggling to keep up.
“Maeve? Already?” Benjamin moved to Leo’s side.
“What do you mean, already?” Leo asked.
“She was going for an early promenade and breakfast this morning, invited by Lady Shrewsbury, who seems to have taken it upon herself to try and restore Chloe’s reputation. As I understand it, Maeve and Lady Shrewsbury were going to try and persuade all the ladies present that the rumors being spread about Chloe were false. Perhaps she has had some success?” Benjamin said and passed a coffee cup into Leo’s hands.
Leo hastily put the cup down again and hurried through his apartment, opening the door as he waited for Maeve to appear. A few seconds later, she did so, with her maid stumbling in behind her and clutching the nearest chair, catching her breath.
