Chapter 7

I can not do this.

Chloe's thoughts were a whirl wind as she stared at Anthony, his presence so familiar yet so foreign after all these years. She had not been given any warning that he was home, back in London, until his mother had mentioned it mere seconds before he was standing right in front of her. It was too much. She was utterly overwhelmed. Chloe knew that she needed to be calm, and to not allow any of her emotions to shine free, but it was getting increasingly difficult. Trying to have a calm and collected conversation with Anthony was just too much.

Her heart pounded in her chest, a physical ache that matched the turmoil in her mind. Her hands trembled slightly, and she felt a flush rising to her cheeks. She could barely breathe. She ran her eyes over him, taking in the changes time had wrought. He was more handsome than ever, his features sharpened by maturity. His eyes, still the same deep shade of blue, now held a depth and intensity that made her heart skip a beat. His strong jaw line, the slight stubble that only added to his rugged appeal, and the way he carried himself with a confidence born from experience… all of it was too much.

Feeling the weight of expectation pressing down on her, Chloe forced a polite smile, but her heart raced with a tumult of emotions she could barely contain. Every word exchanged felt like a carefully measured step on a precarious tight rope, and the more they spoke, the more difficult it became to maintain her composure. Her head was absolutely throbbing with anxiety. It was a relief when Hannah eventually tugged their mother away, excited about another store that she had seen. It was time to say their goodbyes, for now. With Anthony back in the country, she was not going to be able to avoid him as much as she liked.

"Well, I am sure that we shall see you soon, Lenora."

"Oh yes, Lady Swift, we must catch up properly…"

As the group began to part ways, Anthony caught Chloe's eye one last time. His blue gaze held a mixture of hope and uncertainty that tugged at her heart strings.

"It was good to see you again, Chloe," he said, his voice carrying a softness that made her ache.

"Yes, it was," she replied, barely managing to keep her voice steady.

Perhaps it was, maybe it was not. Truth be told, she could not be sure. Chloe needed some time to get her head in order after this unexpected meet up in the middle of her shopping trip. Not that she wanted to shop any longer…

She curtsied politely, turning away before he could see the tears welling up in her eyes. What was she going to do now? This Season, which was already challenging enough, had just gotten a whole lot harder. She could not shake the fear of seeing him court other women through out the Season, the dread of watching him smile and laugh with someone else. The mere thought made her stomach twist in knots. She truly felt sick to her stomach. The Duke of Fladbury was nothing to worry about compared to this . Losing Anthony and not knowing what had happened to him was one thing… having to see it with her own eyes was going to truly be something else entirely.

"Oh, I have been looking forward to visiting this perfume shop," her mother declared as she tugged on Chloe's arm, completely unaware of her inner turmoil. "Come on, Chloe. Let us step inside."

Chloe used this as an opportunity to get a moment alone.

"I shall just stay outside for a moment, Mother. I need some fresh air," she said, her voice strained but controlled. "I will not be far."

Her mother paused, scrutinizing Chloe's face with a concerned frown. "Are you sure, dear? You look a bit pale."

"I am quite alright," Chloe insisted, offering a reassuring smile. "I just need a moment."

Her mother hesitated before nodding. "Very well, but do not wander off too far."

Chloe watched her mother disappear into the shop, her smile fading as soon as she was out of sight. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside her. She needed a walk, to burn off some of this nervous energy, before it swallowed her up whole. Rose followed her, giving her some distance to catch her breath. Chloe was not sure if her ladies maid understood her upset, but she was grateful for a moment to think. Not that she could control her thoughts at all. Anthony… the duke… the Season… she truly did not know how she was supposed to navigate any of it.

As she and Rose stepped out onto the bustling street, Chloe's thoughts continued to race, a cacophony of confusion and heart ache. Her mind was so preoccupied that she failed to notice the rising commotion around her… the frantic shouts, the terrified gasps of pedestrians scattering in all directions. It was not until a piercing scream cut through her reverie that Chloe looked up, her heart jolting as she saw the massive horse barreling towards her, its eyes wild with fear, hooves striking the cobble stones like thunderclaps.

Time seemed to decelerate, each second stretching into an eternity. The street around her blurred into a haze of movement and noise. Chloe's body locked up, her muscles rigid with terror. She could not move, could not think. She could only watch in helpless horror as the enormous animal bore down on her with unstoppable force.

Everything narrowed to the pounding of her heart and the approaching doom. She could see the whites of the horse's eyes, hear the desperate cries of those trying to get out of its path. Her mind screamed at her to move, but her limbs refused to obey. She braced herself, knowing with a dreadful certainty that she was about to be trampled…

***

Antony, he still had his eyes upon her.

He could not drag his gaze away, which was why he spotted the nightmare unfolding. The horse… it was out of control, barreling down the street. But worse than that, it was headed towards Chloe. His heart lurched. Without a moment's hesitation, he sprang into action, his only thought to protect her. The world around him blurred, and all he could focus on was reaching her in time.

"Chloe!" he shouted, his voice getting lost in the chaos of the street.

His legs moved faster than he thought possible, every stride bringing him ever closer to her. The horse, wild and uncontrollable, charged forward, its eyes wide with fear. Anthony's heart pounded in his chest, each beat a count down to disaster. He was running out of time.

He could not run out of time.

With a burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, Anthony leapt and reached out to Chloe. He wrapped his arms around her waist, yanking her to safety at the very last second. The animal thundered past them, missing Chloe by inches. They tumbled to the ground, rolling away from the horse's lethal hooves. Breathing heavily, Anthony held Chloe close, his heart still racing with fear and relief.

"Are you alright?" he asked urgently, his eyes scanning her for any sign of injury. "Oh, Chloe…"

Chloe looked up at him, her eyes wide and filled with shock.

"Yes... yes, I think so," she stammered, trying to catch her breath. "I did not know…"

Their hearts were racing in unison. He could feel her pulse pounding just as his was. Rose, who had been pushed aside in the chaos, rushed to Chloe's side, her face struck with sheer panic.

"My lady! Are you hurt?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"I am fine, Rose," Chloe assured her, though her voice was still shaky. She turned back to Anthony, her gratitude and confusion mingling in her eyes. "Thank you, Anthony. I did not see it coming until it was too late. I could not seem to move no matter how much I wanted to. You saved me."

Anthony's grip on her waist loosened slightly, but he did not let go entirely. He needed to be sure she was truly safe.

"What happened?" he gasped out.

Chloe managed a small, shaky smile. "I suppose I was lost in my thoughts."

As the shock of the moment subsided, Anthony helped Chloe to her feet, his hands lingering on her arms a moment longer than necessary. The crowd that had gathered around them filled the air with hushed whispers. Lady Swift and Leonora rushed to their side, their faces etched with concern and relief.

"Chloe, my dear, are you alright?" Lady Swift asked, her voice trembling as she clasped Chloe's hands. "What happened? I heard all the chaos."

"Yes, Mother, I am fine," Chloe replied, her voice steadying. She turned to Anthony, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thanks to Anthony."

Leonora looked at Anthony, her expression a mixture of gratitude and suspicion. "Thank you, Anthony. We are indebted to you."

Anthony nodded, still keeping a protective hand on Chloe's arm. "I am just glad I was here. A runaway horse came out of nowhere. I do not know what has happened to it…"

At that moment, the sound of hurried footsteps drew their attention. The carriage driver, out of breath and disheveled, was chasing after the runaway horse, weaving through the throngs of people who had gathered. His face was a mask of determination and worry.

"Make way! Make way!" he shouted, his voice strained with effort.

Anthony glanced back at Chloe, ensuring she was steady on her feet, before turning to the driver.

"What happened?" he called out.

The driver slowed to a halt, bending over with his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"The horse... it got spooked," he gasped. "A dog... a loud bark... lost control."

Anthony's brow furrowed with concern. "Is there anything we can do to help?"

The driver shook his head. "I need to catch it... before it causes more trouble. Thank you, sir, for helping the lady."

With that, the driver took off again, his pursuit of the horse resuming. The crowd began to disperse, the excitement dying down, but the incident left a lingering tension in the air.

Lady Swift, still clutching Chloe's hands, turned to Anthony. "This is too much excitement for one day. We must get Chloe home to rest."

"Indeed," Leonora agreed, her voice firm. "Anthony, would you accompany them to the carriage? I feel safer knowing you are with them after this… incident."

Anthony nodded without hesitation, his concern for Chloe overriding any social propriety. "Of course I will."

Chloe glanced at him, her eyes still wide with residual fear and gratitude. "Thank you, Anthony. I do not know what I would have done if you had not been there."

Anthony's heart swelled at her words, but he kept his expression calm. "It was nothing, Chloe. I am just relieved you're safe."

They made their way to the waiting carriage, the tension from the incident still hanging in the air. Anthony kept a watchful eye on Chloe, ensuring she did not falter. His protective hand remained lightly on her arm, a reassuring presence she seemed to lean into.

"Be safe," he told her before he closed the carriage door. "Please, Chloe."

After all that had happened, Anthony also felt like it was time to go back home. Thankfully, once he returned to his family they agreed with him. The carriage ride was filled with his sister's chatter about the day, but Anthony could not say a word. His thoughts were far too consumed by Chloe and the day's harrowing events. Even as Hannah and Caroline discussed the near miss with concern and relief, Anthony remained silent, staring out the window, lost in his reflections.

Upon arriving home, Anthony excused himself immediately, his mind still reeling. He went straight to his study, where he hoped to find some solace among his books and letters. But as he sat at his desk, the correspondence and business matters that usually demanded his attention seemed trivial. He could not focus on anything but Chloe and the intense emotions that had been stirred within him.

The image of Chloe in peril haunted him… the fear in her eyes as the horse charged towards her, the desperate urgency with which he had reached out to pull her to safety. He remembered the rush of adrenaline, the pounding of his heart drowning out all other sounds except for her name on his lips. The memory of holding her close after the danger had passed was vivid. Her body pressed against his, her warmth seeping into him, had brought forth a wave of emotions he had buried deep within. The relief that she was unharmed mingled with a profound longing, a longing he had tried so desperately to suppress over the years. Anthony had convinced himself that distance and time would dim the intensity of his feelings for Chloe.

Yet, seeing her again, in such a vulnerable moment, had shattered that illusion. The years apart had not diminished his love for her; if anything, they had amplified it, reminding him of all he had left behind. He had left for the Grand Tour to escape the pain of their separation, to carve out a future that did not revolve around the ache in his heart. But Chloe had never truly left his thoughts. Her laughter, her smile, the way she looked at him with those eyes that held a universe of emotions… those memories had stayed with him, even across oceans and continents.

Now, fate had brought them together again, under circumstances that felt both miraculous and agonizing.

Anthony rose from his desk and paced the room, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. He knew that his feelings for Chloe had never truly faded, despite the years of separation and the obstacles that had kept them apart. The memory of her father's stern warning echoed in his mind, a painful reminder of the class divide that stood between them. Yet, as he reflected on the events of the day, Anthony could not help but feel a glimmer of hope. The way Chloe had looked at him in the after math of the incident, the gratitude and something more profound in her eyes, suggested that perhaps her feelings for him had not entirely vanished either.

But what on earth could they do about that?

The more that he thought about it, the more helpless he felt. He knew he had to tread carefully. The societal expectations, the disapproval of Chloe's father, and the complexities of their own emotions created a labyrinth he was unsure how to navigate. But he also knew that he might regret it forever if he let her slip through his fingers.

The last thing he wanted was a lifetime of regrets.