Page 25 of Is This Real or Just Pretend?

Alex was grateful for the distraction provided by the treasures of the Egyptian Gallery, as this conversation had become vexing.

Was Lucien really suggesting that she was foolish enough to be taken in by a scoundrel ?

It would be highly insulting, except she couldn’t deny that she was rather touched by his obvious concern.

They came to a stop before the colossal statue of King Ramesses II.

“Extraordinary,” Lucien breathed. “And I was only here last week,” he added with a surprised laugh.

“Yes, but it is hard to grow tired of marvels,” Alex said. “I saw parts of his funerary temple in New York when I visited their Metropolitan Museum. Strange to think the pieces are now scattered across an ocean. To parts of the world he didn’t even know existed.”

Lucien turned to her in surprise. “When were you in New York?”

“The spring. I accompanied Father on a business trip. That was how we met the Ericsons. Hank Sr. and my father got on immediately and they came back to England with us.”

In fact, it had been Hank Sr.’s barely veiled comments about Alex’s role in the company that had spurred her father’s insistence that she find a suitor. But she needn’t bother Lucien with that.

“I’ve always wanted to visit New York,” he said softly.

“Really?” Alex hadn’t minded the place, but it wasn’t until she returned to London that she realized just how much she missed home. “I suppose it’s exciting. And everyone is always in a great rush there.”

Lucien smiled. “Yes, I’ve heard that. But it’s more the sense of possibility. The knowledge that you can be anything if you try hard enough. Social class doesn’t dictate one’s path the same way it does here.” He seemed to catch himself then and gave her a bashful look.

“Ah, but they have an aristocracy all their own,” Alex replied. “Have you heard of Mrs. Astor? The upper class all curry her favor as if she were the queen.”

Alex had been introduced to her at some stuffy soiree and they were both left mutually unimpressed.

“My aspirations are hardly so lofty as that,” Lucien said with a winsome smile.

“But you would like to go there and try your luck,” Alex offered.

She couldn’t deny that New York didn’t seem as beholden to the old guard as London.

The people there were more open to ideas and ingenuity, no matter where they might come from.

And yet, the thought of Lucien in that bustling metropolis across an ocean made her strangely uneasy.

“Someday, perhaps,” Lucien replied, entirely unaware of her thoughts. Then he turned to her with that impish smile. “I suppose I should make a go of it in London first.”

Alex forced herself to look away and gazed into the granite eyes of the long-dead Egyptian king. “About that. How is your business proposal coming along?”

She needed to steer the conversation back to something she could control. Something that was safe. All the while she could almost feel his heavy gaze on her profile and warred against the urge to look back.

“I’ve been working on incorporating the suggestions you and your father made. It will be ready for our meeting tomorrow.”

“Excellent.” That foolish sense of excitement began to kindle in her belly once more and she moved on to a display of Egyptian jewelry in a desperate bid to snuff it out.

When she had finally looked over every single piece in the display case, she glanced up and found Lucien watching her once again.

“What is it?” she demanded.

The corner of his mouth tipped up. “Nothing. I… I like watching you observe things.”

“Oh,” she said, dumbfounded by this response. Then she forced her brow to relax. She had been practically glowering in her concentration.

Lucien stepped closer. “You sound surprised.”

“Well, yes.” Alex resisted the urge to step back. “Usually, I’m told I need to smile more.” Or people asked what was wrong when all Alex was doing was simply existing.

“You were concentrating on the display,” Lucien said easily. “It would look rather odd if you were smiling at it.”

Her eyes widened. “Yes, exactly.”

She couldn’t remember the last time someone had seen her so clearly. As they stared at each other, that unique kind of understanding seemed to pass between them once more and Alex was certain she wasn’t the only one who felt it.

Lucien offered her his arm. “Come. Let us look at the sarcophagi.”

The rest of the visit passed by in a bit of a blur. At one point Phoebe and Will slipped off into a darkened alcove to do God knew what but managed to reappear just before they were due to meet Aunt Winifred. Alex had pulled Phoebe aside and repinned the loose curl hanging down her back.

“Thank you,” her sister whispered with a sheepish smile.

Alex frowned. “Tell Will to be more discreet next time, unless you intend to be caught.”

“Oh, but that’s all part of the fun,” Phoebe responded with a cheeky wink and moved to greet their aunt.

Alex stared after her, completely unable to hide her shock. When Lucien approached her with a curious look, her cheeks flushed and she moved ahead.

“Let us see Lord Elgin’s spoils, shall we?”

And if he noticed her discomposure this time, he did not comment on it.

Lucien returned to the flat that afternoon in something of a muddle. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice Alain until the man was practically under his nose.

“Where have you just come from? You look as if you were just released from the clutches of some fairy king.”

Lucien gave himself a shake. He did feel rather dazed. “The British Museum.”

“Weren’t you there only last week?”

“Yes, but the Atkinson sisters invited me this time.”

“Oh?” Alain raised a brow. “Tell me everything .”

Lucien huffed a laugh. “There isn’t much to tell. We walked around and looked at very old things that don’t belong in this country.”

“Such a radical!” Alain said with undisguised delight. “I had no idea.”

But it was Alex of all people who had made the observation while they were staring at the Elgin Marbles.

An English lord pried them off the Parthenon and we have the audacity to display them as our own.

Lucien’s mouth curved up at the memory. She continued to be one of the most confounding people he had ever met. Prickly one moment, understanding the next. Sharp, insightful, and wryly funny.

Alain suddenly snapped his fingers. “Lucien! Where have you gone?”

“Oh, sorry. I was just—”

“Thinking of Miss Alexandra?” Lucien happily shrugged at his knowing tone. There was no use denying it. Alain let out a low whistle. “You are in trouble, my friend. When will you see her again?”

“Tomorrow.” Though that was strictly business. Lucien wilted a little in disappointment. At least during their social outings he had the pretense of their arrangement to explain his behavior. But it would be much harder to justify his staring when they were going over his proposal.

He thought again of her adorable little frown as she took in the various displays.

How nothing, not even the smallest detail, seemed to escape her notice.

Why would anyone criticize her for it? He wanted a direct line to that mind of hers.

To see exactly what she was thinking of.

It shocked him how much he longed to be the sole focus of her attention, even for a little while. Even if it brought him to his knees.

“Ah, then you must make the most of it,” Alain continued.

And for one crazed moment Lucien considered asking him about his seduction techniques.

But Lucien knew very well that his friend lacked as much experience with women as he did.

If Lucien was lucky enough to ever have the opportunity, he would just have to follow his instincts and hope to God it was enough.

“Yes,” he said with a decided nod. “I intend to.”