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“Leo, what things?” Chloe needed to know. Her heart was in her mouth with hope now, fully aware of the way his hand was firm in her own, sending a tingle up her arm.
“Chloe . . .” Leo stopped fidgeting and stared straight at her, his eyes never once leaving hers. “I love you.”
Chloe blinked, certain for a moment that she had heard him wrong.
“You love me?” she whispered, her voice breathy.
“I do.” He nodded firmly, before more words escaped him in a rush. “Good lord, I do not truly know how long I have been in love with you, some time, I imagine, though I only recently realized how much I am devoted to you. I would do anything for you. Why do you think I spent every day at your shop? Trying to help you in any way that I could?”
Chloe smiled, finding the gesture took over her face completely.
“But . . . this last week, you avoided me.”
“I was afraid. Nothing more than that, just afraid that one of the other men I had seen in your shop stood a better chance of winning your heart than I did.”
“Leo . . .” Chloe wanted to tell him that was foolish, but he was going on again, speaking fast.
“I’m sorry if this upsets you. If you do not want to hear me utter such things again, then tell me so, and I promise to be silent on this subject forever. But please, Chloe, please tell me this. . .” He paused and breathed heavily. “Do I ever stand the chance of winning your heart?”
Chloe held her breath, feeling tears spring to her eyes, but for a change, they were tears of happiness.
“Chloe?” With concern, Leo lifted a hand to her cheek. When a tear escaped, he brushed it away with his thumb.
“I cannot believe it,” she whispered. “Leo, you do not need to ask me if there is achance.”
“I do not?” Leo asked, his lips quirking into a smile.
“I love you too, you fool.” Her tone was so soft that her words made him laugh at once.
“Only you would tell me you loved me and call me a fool at the same time.” He looked so happy that she could not remember seeing such a smile on his face before.
“How could I not?” Her hand clung to his all the more. “Leo, I do love you. I just did not know how you felt.”
“Now, you know.” Leo bent toward her. Chloe could feel what was coming and held her breath, the anticipation thrumming through her body. “I love you too.” When he pressed his lips to hers, Chloe clung to his hand. The kiss was a light thing, delicate, like the brush of a feather against her lips, yet it had such an effect that Chloe felt lightheaded.
When they parted from each other, smiling ridiculously, Chloe was sure the blush on her face made her as red as the roses behind her in the garden.
“So, will you come back to London now?” Leo asked, hovering his lips over hers with the promise of another kiss.
“When do we leave?” Chloe asked and reached up to him again.
* * *
“I can’t believe it,” Chloe said as she looked around the shop.
It was busy. Perhaps not as busy as before, but so many people had returned to the shop and renewed their orders that she’d had to stay open beyond her usual hours.
“I believe it!” Gretchen called as she moved past Chloe, carrying so many bolts of material that she could barely perch her nose over the top of them. “And believe me, I am glad for it.”
“As am I.” Chloe eagerly took some of the bolts out of Gretchen’s hands. “Here, let me, or you’ll end up falling over.” Chloe put out the bolts before having to return to the counter, where some of her new customers were waiting.
Soon enough, she caught sight of one of her most loyal customers.
“Lady Shrewsbury!” Chloe declared as Lady Shrewsbury walked up to the counter, holding up a bonnet.
“Didn’t I say all would be well?” Lady Shrewsbury declared and handed over some coins for the bonnet. “You should have seen the Duchess and I the other day, my friend. Oh! What tales we told of you to our friends. Mark my words, soon enough, there will be such a queue outside of that door, you will need a bigger shop!”
“I hope not quite yet,” Chloe said with a laugh as Lady Shrewsbury clasped her hand with warmth and hurried off. “This is enough of a challenge for now,” Chloe whispered under her breath as she looked around the shop. It was busy enough as it was, and though clearly some people had been persuaded that the scandal sheet printed lies, others were still staying away.
