A Gentleman of Mystery (The Bluestocking Scandals Book 8) by Ellie St. Clair

Author:Ellie St. Clair [St. Clair, Ellie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prairie Lily Press
Published: 2021-04-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Leo’s family filed out of the room — well, all except for Sarah, who stayed put on her corner of the sofa, staring away from them all and out the window, as though if she tried hard enough, they wouldn’t notice her presence in the room.

Leo stood in wait for them to leave and for Lady Anne to enter. Georgie was the first out the door, and while she didn’t turn around to look at him, Leo could read the tense set of her shoulders.

“Sarah,” Leo’s mother finally hissed, and Sarah had no choice but to look over, although she pouted when she saw her mother waving to the door. “Out.”

She left, but Leo’s mother stayed, standing just inside the door as Lady Montrose and Lady Anne walked in.

Anne smiled at him tremulously, nodding as she slightly curtseyed to him, while Lady Montrose looked at him in horror.

“My apologies on my attire,” he said, looking down at himself. “Secrecy was of the utmost importance. I cannot share the entirety of what has occurred, but I am still concerned that there may be some danger.”

“I… see,” Lady Montrose said, her thin eyebrows rising so high that Leo was concerned they might disappear right into her hairline.

Anne recovered more quickly.

“I am so glad to see you well, my lord,” she said, to which Leo nodded in return.

“And I must apologize for causing so much distress and confusion.”

“I am sure it was not your fault.”

“Even so.”

It was only now he realized that in defending his own family’s honor, he had put Anne’s at risk. It was something he had never considered as he began to perceive just how selfish he had been prior to his unplanned exile. The air grew tense with the silence between them as they stood there, staring at one another.

Despite the fact he had regained his memories, Leo felt as though he was staring at a stranger. Had such formalness always existed between them? Perhaps they had never had a great love affair, but they had considered themselves in love.

Had they been so wrong? Did Anne still feel the same? And what would he do if she did?

“It is wonderful to see the two of you together again,” Lady Montrose said, clasping her hands together. She was an older version of Anne, and evidence that Anne would most likely retain her innocent beauty throughout her life.

Only… it was a beauty that didn’t call Leo. Not like the beauty of another.

“Lady Montrose, Mother, do you suppose that Lady Anne and I could have a moment alone?” he asked, raising a brow. “We will leave the door open.”

The two matrons looked at one another as though deciding together, before finally Lady Montrose turned to the pair of them and nodded. “Yes, if Anne’s maid remains.”

“Of course,” Leo murmured, as Anne’s maid nodded from her place in a chair near the window, where Leo hadn’t even noticed her.

The women left the room, and Leo hoped that his mother would remind Lady Montrose just how important it was that they keep this meeting to themselves.

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