Even though Alex had a well-earned reputation for being prickly, this reaction seemed a bit extreme as she was still an attractive, intelligent woman. If this were a real courtship and not a sham based on mutual gratification, hewouldbe a lucky man. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
The first display showcased plans for a portable printing press. Alex quickly scanned the documents and frowned. “Hmm.”
“What is it?”
She tapped a finger to her chin in consideration. “I don’t think this will work.”
Lucien stared at the plans but they didn’t make any sense to him. He might as well be trying to read hieroglyphics. “Why do you say that?”
She pointed to something that looked like a very small Ferris wheel, or possibly a millstone. “There are far too many pieces here. It will take a number of days just to get it up and running—and that’s assuming nothing is lost. What’s the use of calling something‘portable’ if it is so arduous to put together? Better to work on making it more convenient first, I think.”
Lucien furrowed his brow and pretended to have the faintest idea what she was talking about. “Hmm…”
While he tried to formulate a response, a man came up beside her. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with thick, dark hair, and held himself with the kind of innate confidence Lucien had worked very hard to master these last few years.
“Because the inventor hopes that the benefits of such a machine will far outweigh the numerous inconveniences,” he said smoothly. Alex glanced over at him and immediately stiffened.
“Or so I’ve heard,” the man added with a charming smile before extending a hand to Lucien. “Hello, I’m Benjamin Chisolm.”
“Lucien Taylor.”
He squinted in recognition and Lucien couldn’t help thinking the reaction seemed forced, like the man was playing a part. “Ah. People have been talking about your supper club. Marvelous idea. They’re very popular in New York. I’d love to speak to you about it further, if that’s all right.” Mr. Chisolm gave Alex an imploring look.
She stared back at him in frosty silence. Lucien wasn’t sure if she disliked the man or did not know him from Adam—either was a possibility.
“Of course,” she finally said with a terse nod. “How are you?” Though the question itself was friendly enough, Alex’s tone was almost accusatory.
Mr. Chisolm looked nonplussed. “Very well. And yourself?”
She lifted her chin. “Never better.” Then she released Lucien’s arm. “Please excuse me. There is someone I must speak with.”
Mr. Chisolm stared after her with a half smile as she stiffly walked across the room and shook his head. “Miss Atkinson doesn’t change, does she?”
Before Lucien could answer, the man let out a heavy sigh. “We met at Oxford. I was her tutor, actually.”
“Oh.”
Then Mr. Chisolm’s smile turned rueful. “But she went and fell in love with me, poor thing.”
Oh.
“Wasn’t the first time that happened, of course. You can imagine what those university girls are like,” he said with a chuckle. “Most of them spend all their time with their noses in a book. If a man simplylookstheir way, they think it’s true love.” He chuckled again, but Lucien frowned. That didn’t sound at all like Alex. “Inevitably, I had to let her down,” Mr. Chisolm blithely continued. “And she refused to have anything to do with me after that. Then I went off to New York and only just returned last week. But that’s all ancient history. I did have a feeling she would be here tonight, though,” he added with a knowing little smile that set Lucien’s teeth on edge.
“Now then,” he said brightly, as if he hadn’t just relayed highly private and rather embarrassing information about her to someone he had only just met. “Are you planning to open a supper club here in London? If you’re looking for investors, I’m interested.”
“Uh, yes,” Lucien stammered. Mr. Chisolm then peppered him with questions, which Lucien answered rotely while his mind spun.
Alex had been inlovewith this man? And actually declared herself to him?
It sounded far-fetched, to put it mildly. But then, he washandsome, charming, and clearly successful. If she were to fall in love with anyone, Lucien supposed it would be with a man like him.
“You won’t mention I said anything about our past to her, will you?” Mr. Chisolm asked with the barest hint of concern. “She’s clearly still upset and I wouldn’t want to embarrass her.”
“No,” Lucien replied. “Of course not.” Though it seemed the man could have avoided that altogether by not saying anything in the first place.
Mr. Chisolm grinned and patted his shoulder, already moving on. “Good lad. Send a note to me at my club, Bedivere’s, and we can set up a time to meet next week and discuss things further.”
Lucien nodded. “Absolutely.”
