“On customs taxes,” Edwin corrected.
“On custom taxes passed.”
“Fine. We will talk about it over Brandy tonight.”
Leo huffed, finished his coffee, and left the office.
Leo reached the gentleman’s club first and went straight for the private room, reserved for boxing. He walked through the main hall of the club, already unbuttoning his jacket.
The moment he entered the private room, all eyes turned to him. He nodded in greeting and shook off his jacket, leaving it with the servant present. Most men looked away as he took off his gloves. Leo was mostly laid back. Not when he entered the ring.
“Your Grace,” the trainer there bowed.
“John.”
“I haven’t seen you in a while, Your Grace.”
“I need to unleash some repressed energy,” Leo said as he rolled up his sleeves.
It was true. There was something itching under his skin that he couldn’t scratch, something that drove him mad. It wasn’t the sheet and the declaration of war on him. That he was dealing with it slowly and methodically.
No, this was something else entirely. It stole the concentration from his thoughts, the precision of decisions. It was like a hum that kept interfering with his life, and he couldn’t block it out. Punching things helped.
Leo was getting dressed when Edwin entered the room.
“Am I late or early?”
“Late,” Leo said as he wiped his sweat.
“I didn’t think my delay would lay waste to the trainers,” Edwin glanced at the men in the ring. “I will refrain from tardiness.”
Leo ignored his friend. He had but to look at his friend’s stupid smile and healthy glow on his face to know exactly what kept him in his estate. Edwin always had a hard time keeping his hands off his wife, even before she became one.
“Brandy,” Leo demanded.
“I know,” Edwin said as he poured two glasses, “believe me, I know how it is to deal with the ton’s frenzy for gossip.”
Leo drained the glass and poured more.
“This is a nasty business that you are entangled with,” Edwin continued. “Of course, anyone close to you would know that you wouldn’t be caught dead calling a womanmy roseor anything else with a possessive pronoun. But you keep no one close. Except for me, that is.”
“Is there a point to this rumbling? Or else you had better stay entangled in Abigail’s skirts.”
“I would appreciate it if you never spoke of entanglements regarding my wife,” Edwin hissed.
“Understood. To your point.”
“Who do you think forged that letter?” Edwin asked.
Leo swirled the liquid in his glass.
“Do you think that this girl, Miss Jenkins, had anything to do with that?”
The moment her name was mentioned, Leo looked up, his body tensing. There were many who believed that she was one behind the scandal. Leo still remembered that night when she came to his home, to his study. The way she looked away when she thought she was one of those people, the shame and vulnerability.
“She has nothing to do with it.”
“How can you be so positive about that? You and I know well about the lengths some of these ladies would go to secure a good match. And you, my friend, despite their better judgment, are considered a good match.”
