Alex lifted a brow. “And what ofmywork?”
“Why? Do you have something pressing to do tomorrow afternoon?” Phoebe asked sweetly.
The sisters stared at each other for a long moment, but Alex was the first to break. “Fine,” she relented with a huff. “If that works for the rest of you, I suppose I can make do.”
“Not to worry, Alex. You’ll have all morning to dash the hopes and dreams of London’s business elite,” the duke put in.
Alex did not look amused by this remark, but Lucien couldn’t help smiling as he recalled the crestfallen expressions of the men leaving her office.
“Splendid! Shall we meet out front at two?” Phoebe suggested.
Everyone nodded their ascent and Lucien looked directly at Alex once again. “Until tomorrow, then.”
“Yes. Until then,” she said, ducking her head like a shy debutante as that becoming blush once again stained her cheeks. Perhaps Alex wasn’t as unaffected as he thought. And Lucien was determined to find out.
Seventeen
The next afternoon, Alex alighted from the carriage at Great Russell Street and raced across the courtyard of the British Museum—or rather, as fast as her blasted skirts would allow. She was late, and Alexhatedbeing late. But it couldn’t be helped. Just as she was preparing to leave the office, Mr. Tompkins, her father’s good friend and a key member of the board, had stopped in to see her. That had never happened before. Granted, he only came to ask if Lucien was still looking for investors, but still. It was a welcome development that Alex would have relished if she hadn’t also been trying to leave at that exact moment.
Nevertheless, she forced herself to concentrate on him and not the clock. When she finally answered his litany of questions, the man made a not-so-veiled reference to an impending engagement, complete with a shocking eyebrow waggle, and bid her good day.
Alex could have done without the inference, but otherwise her plan was beginning to work perfectly. And if Lucien really did make a success of his supper club, that could only help her own reputation. All in all, it had been a productive morning at the office. Yet the satisfaction she usually felt at a job well done paled in comparison to the nervous excitement bubbling in her belly. But there was no accounting for it.
She had just seen Lucien yesterday.
And she came to this museum all the time.
But not with him.
Alex pushed the unhelpful thought from her mind and mounted the steps.
Aunt Winifred, Phoebe, Will, and Lucien were waiting by the entrance and she could see them between the columns all smiling and talking. For a moment Alex felt out of place, as if she were watching a scene in a play rather than participating in her own life. The uncomfortable sensation came over her every now and again, usually followed by a compulsion to escape. But just then Lucien glanced over and spotted her.
His handsome face split with a grin and he waved. The compulsion immediately vanished, replaced instead with the unfamiliar warmth of acceptance.
Alex felt herself smiling back as she joined the group. “Sorry I’m late,” she said in a rush.
“Only by a few minutes,” her sister replied kindly.
“Terribly out of character for you, though,” Will quipped. “I was considering sending a search party.”
Alex rolled her eyes, though she was still smiling. “I was held up by Mr. Tompkins. He stopped by my office to ask about Lucien’s supper club.”
Will raised his eyebrows. “That’s excellent news.”
Lucien frowned in confusion. “Who is he?”
“One of our board members,” Alex explained.
“And filthy rich,” Will added. “If you’ve already caught his interest, more will soon follow.”
“Ah,” Lucien replied, looking a little nervous.
“Enough business talk,” Aunt Winifred groused.
“Yes, I want to see some mummies,” Phoebe said.
“Then see some mummies you shall,” Will said gallantly as he offered her one arm and Aunt Winifred the other.
