Page 26 of The Duchess’ Modiste

Chapter 10

Leo

“Lord Felton? Miss Green is here to see you.”

Leo turned to the door, with his hands full of the paperwork he had gathered for the day, and they began to slip out of his grasp.

“God’s wounds!” He tried to grab them from the air and stop them from falling, but his butler had gotten there first. The butler grabbed one of the sheets, just as Chloe stepped forward and grabbed the other.

“Is this how you start every day?” Chloe said with humor while she moved around the butler.

“More often than not,” Leo answered with a smile as he turned his gaze on her.

She’s here.

He had been thrilled the night before when she had agreed to come and see him to look at shop locations together, but he hadn’t expected to be so nervous.

Calm yourself, you fool. How often have you and Chloe been alone together? Many times! She and Maeve grew up together, after all.

Yet no amount of logic could quite quell the butterflies in his stomach and the fluttering feeling that kept emanating up into his chest.

“Seems like an entertaining way to start each day. Like fifty-two pick up.” Chloe was humored as she took some of the papers from the butler’s hands. “Thank you.” The butler bowed in parting and left the room, leaving Leo alone with Chloe once again.

His eyes danced over her. She had dressed well for the day and clearly professionally too, for she had opted for a sleek gown, cerulean blue in color, with a modest sleeve-length and a spencer jacket she held over her arm. Her bonnet was a rather more fashionable statement, with the ribbons hanging loosely down from the basket weave, in the same bold blue color.

“I have to admit, you have me intrigued, Lord Felton.” Chloe presented him with some of the papers. He took them, very aware that when his fingers brushed hers, she jumped back from him.

Oh . . . that slight touch did not thrill her as it did me then.

He tried to hide his disappointment and returned to laying out the papers on the table.

“Intrigued? How so?” he encouraged her.

“You say you have found promising shop locations. I can scarcely hold in my excitement! Such things make it seem all very real indeed.”

“Good, for real is what we intend to make your shop.” He clasped his hands together with finality, certain that at least one of the shops he had found would suit her. “Here are the places I intend for you to see today.”

He pushed forward three pieces of paper across the desk. She stepped closer, peering down at the papers with her eyes dancing across the surface. The movement of those eyes reminded him of the dance they had shared the night before.

She had looked at me with such intensity in that dance. For a minute, I could have believed she cared for me too. Yet it was all in my imagination, I know it.

He reminded himself of how she had jumped back from his touch just a few moments ago, then sought to separate himself from her. He placed his body on the other side of the desk, so the expanse of wood was between them.

“My lord, I . . .” Chloe trailed off as she looked over the papers. Her hands fidgeted in front of her as she laid down her spencer jacket on the edge of the desk and looked over the papers.

“Is something wrong?” Leo asked, aware his voice had turned deeper with worry.

“It is just these figures.” She gestured at the papers. “I have some money saved from working as Maeve’s seamstress, and my father has also promised to send me something toward the rental payments, but I fear I cannot afford such places as these.” She slid the papers toward Leo.

“Then allow me to put your mind at rest.” Leo purposefully slid the papers back in her direction. This time when his fingers brushed hers, she didn’t jump away, though he saw her eyes snap up and find his without blinking. “My brother-in-law has intimated his wish to help.”

“The Duke? I do not understand.” Chloe stood straight and slowly retracted her fingers from the papers, leaving Leo’s fingers behind. They felt colder without her touch.

“You helped Maeve with her dream. Now, Benjamin wishes to return that kindness.” Leo reached into a drawer beside him and pulled out a letter that Benjamin had gifted to him. It was addressed to Chloe, and he eagerly passed it to her.

“I seem to remember a time you weren’t so happy at my helping Maeve,” Chloe said wryly as she took the letter, never once taking her eyes off Leo.

“I never begrudged you helping her with her dream, Miss Green. It was more the fact you made a suit for my sister to disguise herself as a man and run around town in.” Leo emphasized his words with a roll of his eyes. “It was a risky thing.”

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