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What am I doing?
There was something about seeing Leo now that made her heart ache. She had come here not only to escape London, but to try and escape what she felt for him. It hadn’t worked, but now she had drawn him here as well.
“Why are you here?” she whispered, her hands fidgeting together.
“To bring you home.”
“This is my home.”
“It hasn’t been for some time.” Leo stepped nearer to her. When he came close, she lifted her chin, startled by his proximity. “Oh, Chloe. You cannot turn your back on London yet.”
“Can’t I?” She backed up from him and turned away, pacing along the garden path. “They have as good as ousted me, Leo. What is so wrong with leaving London and the ton? I am not welcome there. I might as well find somewhere new to be.”
“You are welcome there!” Leo’s sudden words were bold and full of vigor. She froze and looked back toward him. He was moving toward her once again, hurriedly. “Chloe, please, listen to me. You can take comfort. Your friends have been working hard and have improved things.”
“What do you mean?” Chloe didn’t dare believe it. She remembered too clearly the cloud she had left London under, dark and black.
“I mean that Lord Gloucester and Benjamin found the writer of the article. He has printed a retraction. It turns out a threat against his livelihood accomplished a lot,” Leo said with the start of a slow smile.
“A retraction?” Chloe scoffed at the idea. “Let me guess, it is one paragraph on page four?”
“Well, two short paragraphs on page three.”
“That is hardly much better,” Chloe shook her head.
“Yet it is something.” Leo stepped toward her once again.
Why is he coming so close?
Chloe felt her heart leap in her chest at his proximity. It was with hope, and longing, but she knew the truth. Her good sense reminded her that he had avoided her for days. That could only mean one thing.
“Maeve and Lady Shrewsbury have been persuading the ton that of the rumors are false, and people are believing them. With the retraction, much is changing. I even saw the merchants myself yesterday and this morning, to persuade them the rumors were lies, and some readily believed me,” Leo spoke passionately, clearly keen to persuade her, but she still noticed the words he had chosen.
“Some? Not all.” She pointed out with raised eyebrows.
“These things can take time. Yet if you are willing to weather the storm for a little while, it will get better, Chloe. Please, I beg of you, come home.” He held her gaze, not once blinking.
Chloe was tempted to say yes. When Leo was here, speaking so passionately, his charm showing through, she longed to place her hand in his and let him lead her back to London, but she couldn’t.
I cannot go back to that life, to hoping that Leo will look at me as I do him. For that is what I truly want, isn’t it? My dream is this business, but with Leo at my side!
“I do not think I can bear it, Leo.” She broke the connection of their gazes and looked down at her fidgeting hands. “I am sorry, truly, especially after all you have done for my business, but I am not sure I can weather thestorm, as you call it.”
“Then . . . you would abandon your dream?” His voice was deep, so near she could have sworn he was practically whispering in her ear.
“I think I might.” Chloe’s words shook with the revelation.
“Then please, let me beg of you one thing.” Before Leo went on, his hand appeared in front of Chloe’s. He took one of her hands, slowly, his gentle fingers stopping her from fidgeting anymore. “If you wish to turn your back on this business, then that is your desire, and I will help you to close it, but please, I beg you, do not turn your back on me too.”
His words shocked her to her core. With his hand moving against her own, she watched as he slid their fingers together.
“I beg your pardon?” she whispered, lifting her gaze to meet his. There was a blush to his cheeks and a smile that was beginning to grow.
“Oh God, Chloe, for so long I have been nervous of saying these things.” He shifted his weight between his feet, abruptly nervous.
“What things?” Chloe asked, her impatience bubbling through.
“I was scared to say them,” Leo continued on. “In case they made you run from me, but you have already run, so now, I fear I must say them, before you turn your back on me completely.”
