Page 29 of Is This Real or Just Pretend?

The soft note of concern in his voice struck a place deep within her belly and Alex had to swallow before she answered. “Yes. Well, no. I don’t know,” she added miserably.

He began to respond but she shook her head. They couldn’t talk about this. Not now. Her sisters were approaching.

“Let me fetch you all some champagne,” Will said as Phoebe and Freddie joined them.

“Thank you, my love,” Phoebe said with a smile sweet enough to hurt Alex’s teeth.

“And do be quick about it, Will.” Freddie gestured to her half-full glass. “I’ll soon be in need of another.”

Alex resisted the urge to frown in disapproval as Will gave a mocking bow. “I am ever at your disposal, Freddie.”

Phoebe followed his departing figure before shifting her gaze to Alex. “You’re looking well.”

“Because she’s actually been spending a few hours a week outside the office,” Freddie interjected.

Phoebe’s lips curved. “With Lucien?”

“He paid her a rather late visit there the other evening,” Freddie added with a ridiculous eyebrow waggle.

Alex turned sharply to her. “How did you hear about that?”

But Freddie only lifted a shoulder. “I have my sources.”

It had to be Potts. Freddie was the only person in the world who could turn that man into a simpering fool. It was damned annoying.

“A pity you don’t use them for something useful,” Alex groused.

Before Freddie could parry back, their mother interrupted. “Girls,” she warned through a tight smile. “We have company. Can you at least try to be civil to one another?”

Alex and Freddie exchanged sheepish looks. “Sorry, Mother,” they grumbled in unison.

“I must say, I’m quite enjoying being the golden child for once,” Phoebe said with a highly irritating smirk after their mother moved on to circulate.

Freddie rolled her eyes. “I think you owe them that after the last few years.”

Alex snorted a laugh. At least that was something they could agree on.

Phoebe’s insistence on working as a schoolteacher in a rather rough neighborhood while sharing a derelict flat with a colleague had caused their parents an endless amount of worry until she became engaged to Will—and that had only been a couple of months ago.

“But never fear,” Freddie continued lightly as she looked around the box. “Alex will reclaim her crown as soon as she strikes a deal with the Ericsons in exchange for my hand and earns Father another million.”

Alex pursed her lips at the sarcastic comment while Phoebe cleared her throat, but Freddie simply took a long sip of champagne, seemingly oblivious to the tension she had caused. Or perhaps simply enjoying it. One could never tell with her.

When their father came to join them, Alex let out a sigh of relief. “Good evening, Bee,” he said, giving Phoebe a friendly kiss. “Where is that fiancé of yours?”

“He went to fetch us some champagne, but he should be back soon.” Phoebe craned her head as her gaze caught on something else. “Is that Inspector Holland?”

Alex turned around in time to see the man enter their box. “What is he doing here?”

“I invited him,” their father said.

“How egalitarian of you, Father,” Freddie said with a fiendish smile as her eyes locked on the inspector. “I think I’ll just go say hello.”

“And I’ll come with you,” Phoebe said as she shot Alex a look and took Freddie’s arm.

Once they were gone, Alex turned to her father with a raised eyebrow. “The inspector got to you, did he?”

He shrugged. “Holland was so certain that you all were in grave danger that I asked him to come along tonight and see for himself.”

“I’m surprised he agreed to that,” Alex said. She was mystified as she watched the man tug on the collar of his evening suit, clearly uncomfortable.

“Yes. It didn’t take much convincing either,” her father replied. “Though now I’m beginning to understand why,” he added with a subtle nod.

As Freddie greeted the inspector, he seemed to have forgotten his discomfort and was smiling —or at least what passed as a smile for him. Most other people would probably mistake it for a kind of grimace.

Alex groaned. “You’ll need to hire another daughter to fend off Holland.”

Her father chuckled. “I doubt that. The inspector doesn’t strike me as the kind of man to put up with Freddie’s nonsense. Besides, Hank Jr. came to me just yesterday to formally ask for her hand.”

“Did he?” That was a huge step. Hank Jr. was known around New York as the Slippery Bachelor, for no one could catch him. But it seemed he couldn’t resist Freddie.

“I gave my consent, of course,” her father continued. “And he seems certain that she will accept him. If he hurries up, we can hold a joint engagement ball for them as well as Phoebe and the duke at the end of the month. Save your mother and me a bit of coin,” he said with a wink.

Alex hummed in approval. This was excellent news.

Nothing could impede a deal with the Ericsons now.

Her plan had worked even faster than expected.

Why, both her sisters could be engaged and married within the year.

Just as a strange heaviness began to settle in her chest, Lucien finally entered the box.

And all I have is a fake paramour who can’t stand me.

Their eyes immediately locked and any relief she might have felt at his appearance dulled considerably at the thought.

“You know, Alex,” her father murmured, “you could end your little agreement sooner, if you wished.”

She managed to tear her gaze from Lucien. “Why?” she asked sharply. “Did he say something to you?”

“No, not at all.”

“Because I do still need his help to convince the board that I can take over one day.”

“Yes, but…” Her father hesitated. “I’m worried that you might get hurt the longer this goes on.”

Alex let out a laugh that sounded too loud to her ears. “That’s absurd.”

“Is it?” Her father glanced over at him. “He’s a good-looking lad with a sharp mind and plenty of drive. You’ve a good deal in common.”

Alex shook her head. “We’re only—” Lord, she couldn’t even say they were friends . “We both understand the situation,” she finished.

He watched her for a moment. “Not everything bends to logic. The heart least of all. And yours is still made of flesh and blood, my girl. Just like the rest of us.”

She followed Lucien as he moved through the crowd toward her, all while his gaze never left her own.

“But his heart was spoken for long ago.” Alex hadn’t realized she’d said the words aloud until her father chuckled.

“Do you mean Freddie?” Alex gave a reluctant nod and his gaze turned thoughtful.

“I remember he would follow her around the estate with stars in his eyes. But the affections of boyhood rarely endure the realities of adulthood. And it is rarer still for it to blossom into real, lasting love. Remember that,” he murmured before addressing Lucien.

“Hello, there. So glad you could join us.”

“Sir, my apologies,” he said in a rush. “The omnibus I was waiting on took nearly an hour to arrive.”

Her father shot her a frown. “I thought you were finding him a flat nearby.”

“I did,” Alex insisted. “There is one available in The King’s Arms.”

Which wasn’t very far from their offices. She had found it days ago but hadn’t had the chance to tell him yet.

He then looked between her and Lucien. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

For him to respond to me.

“That is my fault, sir—”

“Get it sorted by tomorrow,” her father insisted. “We can’t have you traipsing in from the country three times a week. This won’t work.”

“Yes, of course,” Lucien said hastily.

Just then Aunt Winifred came to her side and murmured by her ear. “Who is that large, terrifying man talking with your sisters?”

“Inspector Holland,” Alex replied. “He is an acquaintance of Margrave and Phoebe.”

Her aunt’s eyes gleamed with interest. She didn’t look the least bit terrified. “Hmm. I’d better introduce myself.”

Alex smiled as her aunt hurried away. It appeared Freddie had some competition from her namesake.

The theater lights then flashed. “You should take your seats,” Father said as he gestured to a pair of chairs at the end of the row. “The show is about to begin.”

Lucien nodded and dutifully pulled out a chair for Alex.

“Thank you,” she murmured as she took her seat. Due to the placement of the chairs, they were a little apart from the rest of her family, though still fully visible to the entire theater.

Because you also have a show to put on.

Alex bit back a sigh and glanced over at Lucien. He was watching her closely, his expression unreadable. She managed a tight smile, but he did not return it before the lights went out.