Chapter 18

The grand chandeliers of the opera house glittered like a thousand tiny stars, casting a golden glow over the elegant crowd below. The rich velvet curtains, the opulent décor, the hushed murmurs of anticipation… it was a scene of breath-taking splendor. Yet, as Chloe sat beside Lord Frampton in his private box, the weight of her unease overshadowed the evening's magnificence.

Lord Frampton's private box was a symbol of his power and influence, positioned perfectly for an unobstructed view of the stage. His presence beside her, commanding and confident, only added to the sense of entrapment she felt. Despite his courteous demeanor and the attentive way he leaned in close to comment on the performance, Chloe could not shake the gnawing discomfort that plagued her.

"This is one of the finest performances I have attended in years," Lord Frampton remarked, his voice smooth and polished. "The soprano's voice is truly remarkable, do you not think, Lady Swift? It must be incredibly hard to sing in such a way."

Chloe forced a smile, nodding as if in agreement. "Yes, quite remarkable," she replied, though her mind was far from the music.

She could feel Lord Frampton's eyes on her, assessing, gauging her reactions. It made her skin prickle. Especially because he seemed to have an even deeper confidence tonight. She could only hope that had not come with the meeting he'd had with her father today. Chloe knew about it, but she had no idea what had been said, which made her incredibly anxious.

She tried to focus on the stage, but all she could think about was Anthony. The memory of his striking blue eyes— the way they had locked on to hers with a promise of hope and reassurance— haunted her. She longed to be by his side, to feel the warmth of his presence and the sincerity of his love.

If she was watching the opera with him , it would be a totally different experience. Lord Frampton's hand brushed lightly against hers as he pointed out another highlight of the performance, and Chloe fought the urge to pull away.

"It is truly an art form, capturing such emotion," he said, his tone appreciative.

"Yes, it is," Chloe agreed again, her voice distant. "Quite wonderful."

She glanced at the audience below, searching for a familiar face, hoping to catch a glimpse of someone familiar. Hoping for a glimpse of Anthony…

"Are you enjoying the evening, Lady Swift?" Lord Frampton asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her.

Chloe turned to face him, summoning another smile. "Of course, Your Grace. It is a splendid performance."

Lord Frampton's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he returned his attention to the stage. Chloe exhaled quietly, relieved to have escaped his scrutiny, if only for a moment. The opera continued, the music rising and falling in waves of emotion, but Chloe's heart remained heavy, burdened by the lie she was living.

As the final act approached, Chloe's mind was consumed with the events of the day… her father's harsh words, Anthony's unexpected visit, and now this . She knew she was treading on dangerous ground, risking not only her own heart but also the wrath of her father and the disapproval of society. Yet, even as doubt and fear threatened to overwhelm her, Chloe could not deny the strength of her feelings for Anthony. Even this night at the opera could not change her mind.

She only wanted him .

But of course, her father was not going to give her a chance at love. He had made that very clear….

***

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over Chloe's room as she dressed for the day. Her heart fluttered with anticipation, the memory of Anthony's warm smile and tender words from the previous day still fresh in her mind, thankfully overshadowing her terrible time at the opera last night. That she did not want to recall. Nor did she wish to think about how excited her father had been when she got home last night…

As she finished smoothing down her dress, there was a light tapping on her door.

"Come in," she called, turning to see her mother enter, her face alight with excitement.

"Are you ready, my dear?" Lady Swift asked, her eyes sparkling.

Chloe nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, Mother. I am ready. The weather is glorious, it seems like the perfect day for a picnic."

They made their way downstairs and in to the waiting carriage, Chloe's heart racing with excitement the whole time. The ride to Richmond Park was filled with Lady Swift's cheerful chatter about the beauty of the park and the pleasantness of the weather. Much as Chloe tried to focus on her mother's words, her thoughts kept drifting to Anthony and the prospect of spending the day with him.

When they arrived, the sight of the lush greenery and the tranquil Pen Ponds filled Chloe with a sense of peace. A sense of calm that this was going to be an amazing day. The warm sun and gentle breeze created a perfect atmosphere for their gathering. Anthony, his mother Lady Leonora, and his younger twin sisters, Hannah and Caroline, were already there, setting up a beautiful looking picnic. Anthony's eyes lit up when he turned to see Chloe, and he stepped forward to greet them.

"Lady Swift, Lady Chloe, welcome," he said, his smile warm and genuine.

"Thank you for inviting us," Lady Swift replied, her tone cheerful. "It is such a beautiful day."

Chloe's heart skipped a beat as Anthony's gaze locked on to hers.

"I am glad you could join us, Chloe," he said softly.

They settled on the soft grass near the water's edge, the picnic blankets spread out in a colorful array. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and shared stories. Chloe felt a sense of relief wash over her, grateful that her father was too preoccupied with business matters to accompany them for this trip. It was so much easier without him looming over her like a dark cloud. The whole time the picnic continued, Chloe and Anthony found themselves naturally gravitating towards each other. They could not keep away from one another, no matter what. Again, they found themselves talking about all the good times they had shared, before Anthony had left.

It was nice to think about that. It took them away from the darker times.

"Do you remember the time we tried to build a raft?" Anthony asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Chloe laughed, nodding. "How could I forget? We were convinced we would sail across the lake, but it fell apart the moment we pushed it in to the water."

Anthony chuckled. "I have never seen my father so exasperated. He said it was a miracle we did not drown."

"He was probably right," Chloe laughed. "I do not think we had done a very good job of building it at all." She paused thoughtfully for a second. "Although as it turned out, you did not need our raft to cross the ocean in the end. That was something you did all by yourself."

Perhaps she should not have brought up Anthony's Grand Tour, but at the same time, it was not something she could simply ignore. Not any longer. He really did leave her all alone when she needed him in London with her. The dark times were always going to be there if they did not address them.

"I know." Anthony hung his head low. "But I am back now. And I am not going anywhere." He turned to Chloe with a soft smile. "Would you like to join me for a walk?"

Chloe's heart pounded, her cheeks flushing with a mix of anticipation and joy.

"I would love that," she replied, linking her arm with his.

Perhaps this would be the time that she got all the answers that she so desperately needed. They strolled along the edge of the Pen Ponds, the water reflecting the golden hues of the late afternoon sun. Birds chirped softly, and the rustle of leaves accompanied their steps, allowing Chloe to get lost in the gorgeous atmosphere surrounding them.

She did not want to do anything to ruin this beautiful moment, but at the same time, there were so many things that she still needed to know…

As they stood by the pond's edge, Anthony picked up a smooth pebble, effortlessly skipping it across the pond's surface. Each skip created gentle ripples, spreading outwards in concentric circles. Chloe followed suit, picking up a pebble of her own and mimicking his actions. She could not help but smile as she recalled the time she had given him a similar pebble years ago, not long after they had promised to always be in one another's lives. Back when they thought that was a promise that was still possible to keep…

To her surprise, almost as if he could read her mind, Anthony reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, worn pebble. He held it out to her, the stone's surface smooth from years of being carried and touched. The "C" and "A" still scratched into the surface.

"Do you remember this?" he asked, his voice filled with tenderness.

Chloe's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the pebble immediately. "I cannot believe you still have it," she whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.

Anthony's gaze softened, his blue eyes holding a depth of emotion that made her heart ache. "I have carried it with me ever since you gave it to me. It reminded me of you, of us, and of everything we shared. It gave me strength when I needed it the most."

"Even when you traveled?" He nodded. Tears welled in Chloe's eyes, and she blinked them away, overwhelmed by the significance of his words. "Anthony, I had no idea..."

Chloe felt a profound connection to him in that moment, as if the years of separation had melted away, leaving only the bond they had always shared. As if no time had passed at all, and they were still the young and excitable children who had just had an afternoon of fun with no pressure weighing down on them at all.

Anthony took a deep breath, his expression earnest. "Chloe, there is something I have wanted to explain to you for so long. Why I left without even a goodbye…"

Just then, the sound of laughter interrupted them. Hannah and Caroline came bounding over, their delighted exuberance breaking the spell of the moment.

"Anthony, Chloe! Come see this!" Caroline called, her face alight with excitement.

Chloe forced a smile, hiding her disappointment. They were almost there. She nearly learned the truth. Who knew when that moment would come again. The unspoken question hung heavily between them, a promise of a conversation yet to come. She squeezed Anthony's hand reassuringly before turning to his sisters.

"What is it, Caroline?" she asked, her voice bright despite the turmoil in her heart.

"We found a family of ducks!" Hannah exclaimed, pointing towards a cluster of reeds near the water's edge.

Anthony smiled, though a hint of frustration flickered in his eyes. "Let us go take a look," he said, his tone gentle. "We have plenty of time to talk…"

Chloe nodded, grateful for the distraction even though she longed for answers. The walk to the reeds was filled with the twins' animated chatter, their excitement contagious. As they approached the cluster of reeds, the sight of the duck family brought a genuine smile to Chloe's face. The ducklings waddled clumsily after their mother, their soft peeps a sweet melody. Anthony crouched down, beckoning the twins to join him in watching the ducks up close.

"They are so adorable," Caroline whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.

"Yes, they are," Anthony agreed, his voice gentle. He glanced up at Chloe, his expression softening. "Just like certain memories."

Chloe's heart fluttered at his words. She moved to stand beside him, feeling the warmth of his presence. Despite the unanswered questions lingering between them, she felt a sense of peace.

They had time, and for now, that was enough.