[ An interesting bit of local trivia. He'll have to seek her out for herself, make sense of the connection Chloe is drawing, but that's for another time.

For now, he has a more immediate misapprehension to correct. ]

You mistake my intentions, Chloe.

[ He does a remarkable impression of wounded innocence for someone hauling a corpse through the woods for its imminent mutilation. ]

I'm not relying on you for secrecy, although I am grateful for your discretion. As for my reputation - whose is not improved by the breath of scandal? I'm concerned for how Louis might take it if he thought he was being gossiped about. I'd intervene on your behalf, of course, but is it not better to avoid it?