CHAPTER 4
Careful Restraint
It wasn’t that Leo cared all that much for his appearance, but that particular morning, he was utterly distracted as he was getting ready for the day. He really wished he could stay in for the day and work out the threat that loomed over him, but he had to attend Parliament.
Well, he didn’t really have to, but his best friend, Edwin, the Duke of Blackwell, was proposing a bill, and in a frenzy of generosity and misplaced allegiance, he had promised to support it.
Leo shook his head. Once, he and Edwin were called the Unholy Duo behind their backs, spreading panic in the hearts of mamas of the ton and indulging themselves in debauchery. But Edwin met his match in Abigail, and now the Duo was a solo act.
“Prepare the carriage. I am going to the Parliament,” Leo alerted his staff.
“Your Grace, about the Dutch landscape,” his butler said. “The art dealer sent a message.”
Leo had no time to deal with that. He had seen that moody piece in the gallery at Bond street and expressed some interest and nothing more.
“It’s not important,” Leo said as he took his gloves.
“Perfect then, Your Grace,” the butler seemed relieved. “The painting is no longer available. The matter is settled.”
Leo stood still. Then resumed putting on his gloves with a stony expression.
“Why?”
“The Viscount of Terry seems to have made an irresistible offer and got the piece.”
Leo’s jaw tightened. Suddenly that snowy landscape held a significant importance to him. All else fell apart around him, but he would be damned if he allowed Terry to have that painting.
“Contact the dealer. I triple the offer. I want that painting in the study tonight.”
Not long after, he was walking through the long corridors of the Parliament to meet Edwin in his office.
“There you are!” Edwin greeted him, pouring coffee. “I have the usual remedy. Try not to slur too much. Just nod whenever I speak.”
“I am sober, Edwin,” Leo clipped.
“A novelty. Very well, drink the coffee to wake up. I need you at least conscious to vote for the bill.”
“I have slept well.”
Edwin put the pot down and studied his friend. They’ve known each other for a long time. And Edwin was the only person who really knew him, not exactly easy to hide from him.
“Don’t tell me you are turning into a saint because of the sheet. I thought you-”
Leo laughed and took the cup of coffee, shaking his head. A flashing image came to him without warning. Miss Jenkins looking up at him with that deep, startled, heated look and her sharp inhale. Leo ground his jaw, pushed image away and drank the bitter liquid to cling onto the present. Miss Jenkins’s stares had no power over his carefully curated, daily schedule.
“Sainthood, Edwin, will forever be elusive, rest assured. Now, the bill.”
“You have no interest in the bill, Leo, so spare me. But I will allow it because this is certainly not the time, nor the place to talk about it. Even so, Leo,” Edwin approached and placed one hand on his friend’s shoulder, “I will do everything in my power to help you. You know that. We are always the Unholy Duo.”
“You went and got married. That unqualifies you.”
“You like Abigail!”
“That is not the issue.”
“Leo,” Edwin said seriously, “married or not, I am still your friend.”
“And I am still bored. Let’s go get this bill on agriculture reform…”
