Alex nearly laughed. That was it. She was nervous. And more than a little worried that she wouldn’t be able to do this. Before she could check the impulse, she covered her aunt’s hand with her own and gave it a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said honestly. Just as a look of surprise crossed her aunt’s face, Alex turned to Lucien. “Good afternoon. I see you managed to find the place,” she quipped.
Lucien laughed. “Yes, and I only got lost once on the way. I suppose that counts as progress.”
Alex’s smile grew as they stared at each other for a moment. His eyes really were the most beautiful shade. In this light they looked more green than hazel. Her aunt cleared her throat then and Alex blinked. Goodness, she had actuallyforgottenabout Aunt Winifred. “Oh, my apologies,” Alex said abruptly. “Do you remember my aunt, Mrs. Winifred Bailey? Perhaps you met at the party the other night.”
Lucien took Aunt Winifred’s offered hand and bowed with perfect politeness. “Yes, we did. A pleasure to see you again, Mrs. Bailey.”
“You as well, Mr. Taylor,” her aunt preened. “And don’t worry. I won’t interfere too much. I know how young people are these days.” Then she turned to Alex. “Shall we move on to the park?”
Alex nodded and together they walked toward the nearest entrance. After a moment, Aunt Winifred pried Alex’s hand off of her own and tilted her head toward Lucien, who was a few stepsahead. Alex had been gripping her aunt’s hand rather tightly and immediately released her.
“Sorry,” she murmured.
“It’s fine,” her aunt gently replied. “But go on. I’ll hang back and give you a bit of privacy.”
Alex swallowed and nodded, then she moved next to Lucien, who waited for her by the entrance. She flashed him a small smile as she was beset by nerves once more, but Lucien looked perfectly at ease as he offered her his arm.
“Shall we?”
Alex stared at it for a moment as the strangest sensation washed over her. It felt as if she stood at the edge of some great precipice and, once she stepped forward, she would not be able to return.
She glanced up at Lucien and found him watching her intently. Briefly, she wondered if he felt it too but something in his gaze set her at ease.
And then, she took it.
Thirteen
Lucien and Alex walked along in companiable silence for a few minutes. He sensed that Alex was far more comfortable behind her desk than on his arm, so rather than force her to talk, he let her take the lead. Meanwhile, he was perfectly happy to enjoy their quiet stroll. It was a lovely afternoon. One of those rare moments when the English weather was close to perfect. A light breeze ruffled his hair and Lucien closed his eyes and tilted his head toward the sky, enjoying the faintly warming rays of autumn sun.
“What did you do after you left the office?”
Lucien blinked at the abrupt question and glanced down at Alex, but she was still looking ahead. “I went to the British Museum.”
She turned toward him in surprise. “What did you see?”
“The Anglo-Roman Gallery. I didn’t have time for much more than that. I’ve been wanting to visit since I was a boy, but I never had the chance before now.”
Her mouth curved in a small, delighted smile. “I’m glad you were able to go. That’s one of my favorite places,” she added shyly.
“It is?”
Alex nodded. “I try to visit at least once a week.” Then she turned back toward the path and for one wild moment Lucienconsidered asking her to keep looking at him. He liked when she looked at him, he realized.
“It’s quiet,” she continued hesitantly. “I like that. I like that I can simply go and look at things and no one expects me to talk. I can just… be.”
Something twinged in his chest at this admission. “Yes, it seems like an excellent place to do just that.”
Alex turned to him once more then, her dark eyes full of surprise, and the twinge deepened. She swallowed and his eyes were drawn to the movement of her pale throat. “Perhaps we… we could go there. Together.”
Lucien forced his gaze to meet her own and nodded. “I would like that,” he answered honestly.
But Alex frowned and looked away once more. “No one would see us there, though. Not the right sort, anyway.”
It took a moment for her meaning to penetrate his woolly brain.
The courtship. Right.
Lucien had forgotten about that.
