Chapter 12

"Good boy, Sir Winston," Seraphina cooed as the women walked around Hyde Park. "You are such a good boy."

The morning was bright and clear, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the ancient oaks that lined the pathways. It really was the perfect day for a stroll, and Seraphina's pug seemed to agree with that. He trotted happily beside Chloe and Seraphina, his little legs working hard to keep up with his mistress. Their lady's maids followed at a respectful distance, allowing the two friends some semblance of much needed privacy.

Chloe's heart raced as they strolled along the picturesque path. The serene beauty of the park did little to calm her nerves. She had been rehearsing what she needed to say all morning, but now that the moment was here, her words seemed to catch in her throat. Seraphina, blissfully unaware of Chloe's turmoil, chatted animatedly about the ball, recounting various bits of gossip and the latest fashions. Chloe listened with half an ear, her mind occupied with the weight of her secret.

"Did you see Lady Abigail's dress?" Seraphina continued, oblivious to Chloe's inner struggle. "I swear, she must have hired a magician to fit her into it. And the color! Who wears chartreuse to a ball?"

Chloe managed a weak smile, her thoughts still racing. She knew she had to tell Seraphina about her plan with Anthony. Seraphina was not just her closest friend; she was also her confidante. If anyone could offer advice or support, it would be her. Taking a deep breath, she seized a pause in Seraphina's monologue.

"Sera, there is something I need to tell you," Chloe said, her voice trembling slightly.

Seraphina, sensing the gravity in Chloe's tone, stopped and looked at her friend with concern. "What is it, Chloe? You look as though you have seen a ghost."

Chloe glanced around to ensure no one was within ear shot, then began. "It is about Anthony and me… There is something you need to know."

Seraphina's eyes widened with curiosity and a touch of apprehension. "Go on," she urged gently.

Chloe took another deep breath and launched into her confession. "Anthony and I… we are going to embark on a fake courtship. A ruse, a pretense to keep my father at bay preventing him from securing a match with the Duke of Fladbury."

Seraphina's eyes widened with each revelation. She stopped in her tracks, turning to face Chloe directly. "How will that work? Will your father not simply forbid you from courting Anthony?"

Chloe shook her head. "I am sure that he will not be too happy about it, but I am hoping that my mother will help me out and root for me. I am hoping that he will see that I could be so much happier with someone else."

"Chloe, do you realize what you are doing? This could ruin you if anyone finds out. A fake courtship is dangerous, and it is bound to end in heart break or scandal."

Chloe nodded, her hands twisting together in anxiety. "I know, Sera. But I did not know what else to do. Father is relentless, and I can not bear the thought of being forced into a marriage with someone I do not love."

Seraphina's brow furrowed with worry as she considered the implications. "Chloe, you are playing with fire. If your father discovers the truth, he shall be furious. And what about Anthony? How does he feel about this arrangement?"

Chloe's heart ached at the question. She looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I do not know."

Secretly, she hoped that by spending time with Anthony that he would see how much they belonged together and that his feelings for her were far from fake. But she was far too nervous to say that aloud. She feared what rational response her friend might have for her.

Suddenly, Sir Winston began barking anxiously as he strained against his leash, making it impossible for Chloe to get the advice that she so desperately needed. Chloe and Seraphina turned to see someone dismounting from his horse and approaching them.

Lord Frampton.

Chloe felt her stomach twist in to knots, and she took a moment to compose herself, plastering a polite smile on her face as she greeted him. "Good morning, your grace," Chloe said, her voice steady despite her inner turmoil.

"Lady Chloe, Lady Seraphina," Lord Frampton replied with a charming smile, though his eyes held a predatory gleam. "What a pleasant surprise to find you both enjoying this fine morning."

Chloe noticed Seraphina tightened her grip on Sir Winston's leash, her expression wary. " What brings you to Hyde Park today?"

Lord Frampton's smile widened, but there was something calculating in his gaze as he looked at Chloe. "I was out for a ride. It is merely lucky that I ran into you. How have you been, Lady Chloe? And you, Lady Seraphina? The weather is quite lovely today, is it not?"

"Yes, indeed," Seraphina replied, trying to sound cordial despite her growing unease. "It is a perfect day for a walk."

Lord Frampton's charm was as polished as ever, but as he spoke, Sir Winston continued to growl and bark at him, much to Seraphina's embarrassment and Lord Frampton's annoyance. The pug's behavior was unusual, and it only added to the tension in the air.

"Sir Winston, hush now," Seraphina admonished softly, trying to calm the little dog. "I am terribly sorry. He is usually so well behaved."

Chloe had to muster all of her will power not to show her amusement at Sir Winston's apparent disdain for Lord Frampton. The pug's incessant barking and growling were almost comical, and Chloe could not help but feel a small sense of satisfaction at the animal's judgment of the man.

Lord Frampton, seemingly growing increasingly irritated by Sir Winston's behavior, shot the pug a glare. "Really, Lady Seraphina, it is quite alright. Perhaps Sir Winston just needs to get used to my presence."

As if in response to Lord Frampton's words, Sir Winston suddenly lunged forward, his small body propelled by a surge of canine determination. The pug's muddy paws landed squarely on Lord Frampton's pristine breeches, leaving dark smears across the fabric.

Seraphina's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Oh, I am so terribly sorry!"

She bent down to retrieve Sir Winston, who seemed quite pleased with himself.

Lord Frampton's jaw clenched with barely concealed frustration. He forced a tight smile, though his eyes betrayed his annoyance. "It is quite alright, Lady Seraphina. Just an unfortunate… accident."

Chloe could see the tension in Lord Frampton's posture and knew that his patience was wearing thin. She decided it was best to end the encounter before things could escalate further. "Thank you for your understanding, your grace. We should be on our way now."

Lord Frampton inclined his head, his eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and calculation. "Of course. Ladies, enjoy the rest of your morning."

With that, he turned on his heel and strode back to his horse, his movements stiff with irritation. He mounted with a swift, practiced motion, and without another word, rode off, leaving Chloe and Seraphina standing on the path.

As soon as he was out of sight, Seraphina let out a sigh of relief. "That was mortifying. Sir Winston has never behaved like that before."

Chloe finally allowed herself to laugh, the tension of the encounter melting away. "Perhaps he senses something about Lord Fladbury that we do not."

Seraphina shook her head, her expression torn between amusement and embarrassment. "I sincerely hope that does not happen again. But, Chloe, about your plan with Anthony…"

Chloe's laughter faded as she returned to the seriousness of their earlier conversation. "Yes, Sera, I know it is risky, but I do not see another way. You have seen what he is like. He is an unpleasant man, who I do not know. He does a lot of talking about himself, but I still do not know a thing. Plus, he does not know anything about me either, and he does not care to know."

"But you have the opera…"

"I honestly do not see anything changing." Chloe offered her friend a one shouldered shrug. "I just can not imagine taking that further. It is worth the risk."

Seraphina sighed, her expression softening. "I understand, Chloe. But we need to be smart about this. Let us plan it thoroughly so we minimize the risks. We must ensure your father and Lord Frampton are convinced of your courtship with Anthony. Until…"

"Until?" Chloe asked.

"Well, until the end of it, of course. What is the plan then?"

Chloe looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the lace of her gloves.

"The plan is to end it amicably, of course. To make it seem as though we discovered we were not suited for each other. Anthony has agreed to support this narrative."

Seraphina nodded thoughtfully. "And what if... it does not end as planned? What if your feelings for him…"

Chloe's heart skipped a beat. The question brought to the surface the hope she had been trying to suppress.

"I suppose we will cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, we must focus on convincing everyone of the authenticity of our courtship. I cannot worry about more."

But of course, that worry was not really going to go anywhere. She could not truly shake it off.

***

Anthony sat at his mahogany desk, the papers in front of him detailing the latest updates on their international trade ventures. His business partner and close friend, Lord Trevor Walcot, was pacing the room, deep in a rant about the recent fluctuations in the market. Despite the important matters at hand, Anthony's thoughts kept wandering to Chloe and the fake courtship they had embarked upon. He could not quite believe that had happened.

He was still in shock.

Trevor, pausing in his analysis, glanced at Anthony and seemed to finally notice his friend's far away expression. He leaned against the desk, crossing his arms and staring deeply at Anthony. "Anthony, you seem miles away. What is troubling you?"

Anthony let out a heavy sigh, pushing the papers aside. "I am sorry, I know that I am distracted at the moment. But I have a lot on my mind."

Trevor took a seat opposite him and clasped his hands together. "Go on."

Anthony smiled, grateful that at least he could be honest with Trevor, and hopefully get some much needed advice. "It is Lady Chloe Swift," he admitted, running a hand through his short, dark brown hair. "She has asked me for a favor. A big one."

"Well, you know that you can not leave it there," Trevor chuckled. "I am going to need much more information than that."

Anthony sucked in a sharp breath before continuing. "Well, she has asked me to embark on a fake courtship with her, to help her escape the Duke of Fladbury."

Trevor's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "A fake courtship? That does not sound like you, Anthony."

Anthony stood up and moved to the window, looking out at the bustling streets of London below. The sunlight cast a warm glow over the city, but it did little to ease his deep inner turmoil. "Chloe's father, Lord Swift, is determined to see her marry well, preferably to someone like Fladbury. Chloe proposed the idea of a fake courtship to buy herself time and avoid the Duke's advances because she does not like him. Not one bit."

Trevor gave a low whistle. "That is quite the gamble. How do you feel about it?"

Anthony turned back to his friend, his eyes clouded with emotion. "I will do anything to help her. I know that this is unconventional, but I cannot allow someone that I care so much about to be put in such a position."

Trevor nodded thoughtfully. "And what of your own feelings? This could complicate things."

Anthony sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know, but…"

"And you must consider the risk to yourself here," Trevor continued. "Both your and Chloe's reputation could be utterly ruined if this ruse is unveiled. Have you thought about that? And have you considered the fallout when you call off your fake courtship?"

Anthony could not catch his breath. Of course he had not thought about any of these things. He had just wanted to help Chloe out. All these doubts now gnawed at him and made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.

Anthony ran a hand through his hair, admitting, "I have not quite thought everything through. When Chloe asked, it was a highly charged emotional moment. I just… I could not bear to see her suffer."

Trevor's words weighed heavily on his mind, and he found himself grappling with the consequences of his actions. The thought of losing Chloe forever, of watching her wed another man, filled him with a deep ache that he could not shake.

"I know what you are saying, Trevor," Anthony admitted, turning back to his friend. "But the thought of Chloe being forced in to a loveless marriage is unbearable. I had to do something."

Trevor studied him for a moment before responding. "Anthony, I understand your intentions, but you need to be prepared for the worst. If Lord Swift discovers the truth, it will not just be Chloe's reputation on the line… it will be yours as well."

Anthony nodded slowly. "I know. I just… I did not think about the consequences. I was so focused on helping Chloe."

"Do you love her?" Trevor asked bluntly.

"I…" Anthony's words trailed off. "I should not. I left to escape those feelings because I know that I can not pursue them."

"But that does not answer my question."

Anthony felt a pang of vulnerability as Trevor's question hung in the air. He took a deep breath, meeting his friend's steady gaze.

"Yes, I love her," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I have loved her for as long as I can remember. That has not changed. I was not able to escape my feelings, no matter how far I traveled."

"Then this is going to be dangerous, do you not think?"

Anthony nodded, the weight of Trevor's words settling heavily on his shoulders. "Yes, it is dangerous. But like I said, I cannot stand by and do nothing while Chloe is forced in to a marriage with a man she does not love."

Trevor leaned back in his chair, his expression contemplative. "You need a plan, Anthony. A way to navigate this without ruining both your lives. Have you thought about how long this charade will last? What will you do if the Duke starts to suspect, or if Chloe's father demands an explanation?"

Anthony sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know we cannot keep this up indefinitely. Chloe and I need to discuss how we will proceed, and what our end goal is. I need to make sure she is fully aware of the risks and prepared for any consequences."

Trevor was not exactly giving him support. But then he was probably asking the questions that Anthony should have been asking himself. Questions that he perhaps should have asked before he agreed to this fa?ade. But truth be told, he knew that he would have agreed to this no matter what. Because it was Chloe who had asked him, and he could never turn his back on her.

Not again.