Chapter 2

Leonard rose from his seat, a smile playing on his lips as his eyes fell upon Lady Sally Blackmore. He'd recognized her voice the moment she called out for her sister but now that she stood before him he was reminded of how lovely she looked. It had been almost months since last he'd laid eyes on Sally or any of her sisters and he'd almost forgotten that twinkle in her eyes that always seemed to be there. Although in this very moment she wasn't smiling.

Quite the opposite. She looked flabbergasted. Leonard grinned.

"I have been called many things, Lady Sally, but a Duchess is not one of them," Leonard remarked with a grin, the teasing words hanging in the air. His gaze lingered on Sally's gown for a moment too long. It wasn't because he was taken in by her beauty, he already knew she was a lovely looking woman. No, it was her gown. He didn't know Sally, the sister of his best friend's wife, very well. But he knew her well enough to know such dazzling attire was not something she usually wore. Though it suited her very well indeed.

He looked away when he noted that his stare was driving a rush of color rise to her cheeks.

"Your Grace," she said, a little breathlessly. "I hadn't expected you here."

"Here in the library? Or here in town?" he asked, stopping a few steps away from her. A sweet lemony scent entered his nostrils and he smiled for it invoked memories of the last time he'd seen Sally, a year ago at his godson Peter's sixth birthday celebration. He'd been in England for a short period before setting off on his travels again and they'd spent a wonderful evening playing games in the garden of Kenneth's estate.

"Both," she replied without moving. "You have been rather illusive these last two years or so. Indeed, at times I have to remind myself that you are in fact real and not just a figment of the scandal sheets imagination."

Leonard grimaced, not keen on the stories he'd read about himself in the broadsheets.

"I assure you, I am quite real and you will be seeing more of me, that is a promise."

They looked at one another without speaking for a moment and he noted the way she was standing with her back against the wall, as if she had thought him a robber of some sort.

"Is that so?" she replied, head dipped to the side.

"It is so, I assure you."

"Well, then I will be better prepared next time. Pray, you have not answered my question. What are you doing here?" she asked, licking her lips so that a shimmer remained on them.

Leonard leaned in slightly, narrowing the distance between them. "Why, my dear, I've been invited. Isn't that what people commonly do when graced with an invitation? They show up," he replied, his tone light and filled with a mischievous charm. "How could I decline an invitation to your mother's birthday celebration? It would be downright rude not to come. Besides, Kenneth would have given me a hiding."

Sally blinked, her eyes reflecting a mixture of emotions. "I mean in the library. Guests do not customarily lurk in dark corners to frighten their host's daughters," she fired back with a bit more spirit than he was used to from her.

"You did not seem particularly frightened by me," he replied with a smile.

"How dare you tell me if I am or am not frightened?" she asked and Leonard could not help but find some intriguing amusement in their exchange. This wasn't how he'd imagined his return to London's society to go – an odd argument with Lady Sally in the library.

"Well, for one you did not go running out of the room while calling for help. That is typically how one reacts when frightened by an intruder. And number two, there is a perfectly handy weapon right beside you and you did not see fit to use it," he nodded his chin toward the fireplace poker that leaned against the wall. She looked at it, a lock of hair falling into her face. It grazed her sharp jawline for a moment before she banished it back behind her ear.

"You seem well versed in the ways a lady might fend of unwanted advances, Your Grace," she replied. Leonard detected a hint of cheerfulness in her voice now. Perhaps he had indeed frightened her. Or perhaps she simply remembered their prior conversations, none of which had been hampered by misunderstandings or animosity. "Perhaps what the scandal sheets say is true and you have turned into a rake."

This elicited a sarcastic laugh from him. "I am wounded you should think this of me, Lady Sally. I did not think you were so easily swayed by what is written about people, especially when you yourself do not know them well." He looked at her intently. He wasn't sure why it bothered him that she'd mentioned the unfortunate rake stories that had been circulating around him, but it did. He didn't generally like it when people passed judgment without knowing the subject of their ire, but with her it bothered him even more.

"Be that as it may," she replied and crossed her arms. "You still have not answered my question. Why were you up here in the library instead of downstairs with the guests?"

"I might ask you the same thing as well. Why were you not downstairs with the guests? This is your home after all and I was unaware sections of it were declared off limits to visitors," he replied. There was a strange enjoyment in vexing her, he noted.

"It is my home, my library," she replied, incredulous now. "And I asked first, in any case. Therefore, you ought to answer me first as well." Her tone told him she'd brook no argument and he shrugged, raising his shoulders and letting his arms drop.

"Very well. I like to hide away in libraries. I do not much care for the crowds downstairs and I have no desire to dance or be pushed into a dance. I prefer to wait until everyone has had a few drinks and the conversation flows easier without pressure. Besides, your father has a most excellent library that I am rather fond of. Now, your turn," he said and raised his eyebrows, waiting for her reply.

"I was looking for my sister, as you might be able to comprehend, given I called you a Duchess," she replied and Leonard smiled at her.

"Point well made. Well, I am not the Duchess of Wells, as has been established. In fact, one of the reasons I escaped to the library was that I arrived before Kenneth and thus sought to hide myself away," he said. This seemed to puzzle her and she pursed her lips.

"They are not here yet? Kenneth and Joanna?"

"No, not that I saw. I left word with your butler to tell Kenneth where I am so that he can find me when he arrives and he has not. Thus, I argue that your sister is not here either since they seem to be attached at the hip no matter where they go," he replied.

Just then, a voice sounded outside and Sally frowned as she looked at the door.

"Lady Sally? Duchess? Your mother is looking for you." The voice faded again then and Sally exhaled.

"It is Lady Millstone, my mother's friend," she said quietly. "My mother seeks to have my sister Rosy and Lady Millstone's son united and it seems she now seeks me as well. And Joanna." The last part came out with a hint of confusion though Leonard did not understand why.

"Well, you had better make your escape before she finds you. It was good to see you, Lady Sally," he said and bowed, and she likewise curtsied before turning.

Alas, she made it only two steps before another shout escaped her, this one accompanied by a ripping sound followed by a gasp. Leonard blinked and watched in shock as a fashion calamity unfolded before him. The intricate braided straps that held up her gown had somehow become detached, causing the front of her dress to fall forward.

Sally caught it just as it slipped and pressed it against her chest as her face drained of color. Leonard quickly closed his eyes so as not to embarrass her further.

"Pon rep, this silly gown," she muttered, and he heard her move before him, feeling the light movement as she turned. She grunted and gasped, apparently trying to affix her gown again when he opened one eye partially, peering at her. She was struggling it was easy to see. The dress, while striking, appeared to take some effort to close up.

"Your Grace!" She called when she saw him looking at her and he raised his hands, now opening his other eyes as well.

"I am only looking to see if I can help. You seem to have a predicament on your hands." He meant this quite literally because one of the issues seemed to be that she had to hold the front up with one hand while looking to close the dress again with the other.

A two-person job, no doubt.

"I do, Rosy helped me close it earlier," she said miserably while fiddling with her hands for something behind her. Then, she raised her head at him. His eyes met Sally's, and without missing a beat, he stepped forward, for it was clear she needed assistance.

"May I?"

Her nod was almost imperceptible, a silent plea for aid in the midst of her mortification.

"Turn around, Lady Sally," Leonard's said, ensuring his voice was both soothing and commanding. As she did, he stepped closer to her, the lemon scent from earlier unmistakable in the air now. She complied, though he saw her cheeks which had grown pale were now aflame with embarrassment. The room seemed to pulse as Leonard delicately worked to disentangle the straps. His fingers brushed against her soft exposed skin and an involuntary shiver ran down his spine. This was silly, he knew it. He should not be feeling any sort of excitement at this situation. Shaking his head, he chased away the thoughts clouding his attention and focused on the task at hand.

Lady Sally bit her lip as Leonard fumbled with the intricate knot of her gown, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. The awkwardness of the situation hung in the air, and to diffuse the tension, Leonard offered a lopsided grin.

"Well, this is where having a sister would have come in handy. I might have been able to practice and would not take such a long time."

She let out a nervous laugh in reply. "It was difficult for me and Rosy earlier as well. I suppose I ought not to have selected such a challenging gown."

"It suits you very well, I will say that," he said through gritted teeth as he looked at the closed loop. It wasn't right. There was no traction and if she let go, the front of her gown would slip. "I have to undo it again, I am sorry. It isn't right."

"Very well," she said thought the strain remained in her voice.

Time seemed to pass impossibly slow as he undid the straps again, retrying them with care. As Leonard finally neared success in retying the gown, the subtle click of approaching footsteps interrupted them. A gasp followed, and both of them looked up to find Lady Millstone standing there, her eyes wide with shock but a glint of amusement beneath the surface.

"Lady Sally!" The woman's voice boomed and Leonard was certain all of London could hear her. His hands remained frozen in place, one piece of rope still in hand while he stood behind Sally.

This looks most incriminating, there's no way around that.

"Lady Millstone, this is not at all …." Sally started but the woman shook her head and departed, one hand clutching her pearl necklace. "Faith, what are we going to do?" Sally muttered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment when she looked back at him. "We need to explain before she spreads tales like wildfire."

Leonard knew this was very possible, but he had to maintain his composure for the sake of Sally. "Do not fret. I'll make sure it's understood that this was a completely innocent mishap."

Sally shook her head, her eyes wide with worry. "I cannot believe it. Why did I wear this foolish dress? Why?" Her shoulder drooped forward, and she let out a puff of air as if it was her very last one on earth, as if this somehow was the end of everything.

"Please, do not worry. I said we will explain, and we will. Nobody …. Nobody need to know," he said again but there was no reasoning with her. Lady Sally shook her head.

"You do not understand. Lady Millstone loves nothing more than gossip and she will momentarily spread it all around the ballroom that she saw me with my dress half off and you behind me with the …." Her words trailed off as if the true magnitude of the situation finally impressed upon her. Leonard could do nothing but watch as the young woman before him turned from a witty lady who'd kept pace with his challenges to a heap of misery – and all because one nosy woman had walked in on them at the wrong time.

But surely, it could not be as bad as she made it out to be. Could it? From outside, raised voices filled the hall and the footsteps that followed told him he'd have his question answered sooner rather than later.