Page 21 of Is This Real or Just Pretend?
But since thiswasAlex, the moment quickly passed before she resumed her usual stoicism. Still, the feeling had lingered even through his anger over her duplicity and any embarrassment over being caught without a stitch on.
He fully believed that she had inadvertently stumbled upon him because the idea that she might haveintentionallyfollowed him there was simply too silly and her own embarrassment far tooobvious. However, it was harder to accept that she hadn’t deliberately spread the news of their courtship for her own advantage. Until he saw pain flash across her face. It was perhaps the truest emotion he had ever seen from her. As those fathomless dark eyes stared once again, betraying nothing, Lucien began to have an inkling of what lay beneath the mask she showed the world.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
She scoffed. “You most certainly did.”
“Only that you did it withintention.” He ran a hand through his damp hair in frustration. “Nothing about you has ever struck me as desperate.”
Alex stared at him intently for a long moment, then seemed to conclude he was telling the truth. “Fair enough.” Then she lifted her chin. “So then, what have you decided?”
It was back to business as usual. He should have known their little moment of shared vulnerability wouldn’t last, and yet he still felt disappointed.
“I can put an end to all of this within an hour, if you wish,” she added at his silence.
Lucien took a breath. He didn’t know why he was even hesitating about this. He needed a path forward, and right now Alex offered him the best option. Theonlyoption. All he had to do was play the doting beau for a few weeks until Alex was satisfied. That also meant he could be closer to Freddie than he would ever be allowed otherwise. And if she reallydiddecide not to wed that American fellow, Lucien would be in a prime position to declare himself to her. He would have to explain his little arrangement with Alex, of course, but they would have a good laugh over it. And Freddie would understand completely. As if anyone would ever chooseAlexover her.
And yet, something about this entire scenario remained vaguely unsettling.
Perhaps because you’re still a little frightened of Alexandra Atkinson.
He pushed the ridiculous feeling aside and extended his hand. “That won’t be necessary.”
Alex stared at it and looked up. “Excellent. I look forward to working with you.” But instead of taking his hand, she pulled something out from her pocket and placed it in his palm. “You’ll need to stay in London, of course.”
“That won’t be a problem,” he said as his fingers closed over the card. “I already planned to go there as soon as possible.”
“Good.” She gave him a stiff nod. “Come and see me on Monday. First thing.”
As she brushed passed him, Lucien turned over the business card she had given him. It was made of expensive cardstock, but otherwise quite plain, with just her name and the address of Atkinson Enterprises embossed in black ink. My God, the woman walked around her own home withbusiness cardson her person.
“And Lucien,” she began as she looked over her shoulder. “You’ll need to make it look real.”
He drank in the hint of uncertainty in her gaze and tucked the card into his breast pocket. “I think I can manage that.”
She swallowed in response, another subtle betrayal of nerves, and his eyes were hopelessly drawn to the movement of her pale throat. Then she turned back and headed into the woods. Lucien watched until she disappeared from view.
No, he thought as the sense of unease returned.That won’t be a problem at all.
Eight
It was still rather early when Alex returned to the house. Since Mother’s party had gone on into the wee hours of the morning, she hadn’t expected to see anyone else until closer to noon, but there was Aunt Winifred, her sister’s namesake and her mother’s favorite aunt, tucking into a plate of kippers at the breakfast table. “Ah, good morning, Alexandra,” she said brightly. The previous evening’s festivities had clearly not dampened the older woman’s usual vivaciousness. “Join me, will you?” She held up a forkful of fish.
Alex managed to hold back a grimace. No one else in the family dared touch the stuff, but her mother always made sure to have them on hand whenever Aunt Winifred stayed with them.
“I’m afraid I have work to do.”
Aunt Winifred raised an imperious eyebrow. “Atthistime of the day? No, I don’t think so. At least have a Bath bun.”
Given that it would take longer to convince Aunt Winifred than consume the bun, Alex relented and took a seat.
“Are you enjoying your visit?”
“Oh, yes,” Aunt Winifred said with an easy smile. “I love my solitude of course, but it’s always great fun coming here.”
She lived on a rambling estate in Cornwall and had largely retired from society since the death of her husband nearly a decadeago. “As a matter of fact, I’ve decided to extend my visit. Last night your mother asked me to come to London to help with planning Phoebe’s engagement ball next month.”
“It’s to be aballnow?” Alex groused as she slathered her bun in butter. “So much for a small family party.”
