“It’slittle Lucien Taylor,” Phoebe said gleefully.
“Is it now?” Will squinted a little harder. “Not so little anymore, is he?”
“No, he’s just returned from Paris and Alex isconvincedthat Freddie is only paying him attention to annoy her,” Phoebe continued. “But I say she’s simply interested in renewing their acquaintance.”
“Nothing with her is ever that simple, Phoebe,” Alex replied. “That’s the trouble. And then I’m left to clean up whatever mess she’s caused.”
Will hummed, his gaze still on Lucien and Phoebe. “Ericson won’t like it, that’s for sure.”
Phoebe bit her lip in consideration. “You still think of her as our coddled younger sister,” she began gently. “But you underestimate her, Alex. She’s a grown woman now.”
Alex forced her shoulders to remain in place. “I know that. But she could try harder toactlike one.”
As if to punctuate her point, Freddie let out a loud laugh that carried across the dance floor and caused several heads to turn.
Phoebe winced. “Perhaps,” she acknowledged. “I just don’t think your business concerns should dictate her personal happiness.”
Alex arched a brow. “The only one getting in the way of her own happiness is Freddie herself.”
As the orchestra struck up a waltz, Lucien extended a hand to Freddie, which she readily accepted. His broad shoulders flexed as he swept her into her arms. Every eye in the room seemed captivated by the handsome pair as they moved across the gleaming floor.
“Goodness,” Phoebe breathed. “I didn’t know he could dance like that.”
“Must have picked it up in France,” Will quipped and held out his hand. “Shall we join them, my dear?”
Just as Phoebe flashed him a treacly smile, Alex caught sight of the Ericsons entering the room. She let out a curse under her breath as Hank Jr.’s gaze immediately fixed on Freddie and he scowled.
“Excuse me,” she said. “It appears I already have a mess to clean up.”
Alex left the lovebirds behind and drew up alongside her parents, who had just greeted their new guests. But Mrs. Ericson wasted no time.
“Who is Winifred dancing with?” she asked with barely veiled suspicion.
“Ah…” Father shot her a panicked look. He probably couldn’t eventellthat it was Lucien.
“Oh, that’s the coachman’s son,” Alex said with a dismissive wave. “He recently returned from Paris. We all grew up together.”
“Thatis little Lucien Taylor?” her mother unhelpfully put in. Alex shot her a quelling look, which she quickly noted. “Freddie is like a sister to him,” she added.
But Hank Sr. did not look convinced. “I have a sister,” he said. “And we don’t dance like that.”
“No? It’s quite normal here,” Alex replied in a strangled tone. She didn’t even know what she was saying anymore, only that she had to fix this.Now.
Mercifully, the waltz ended and they were forced to break apart. But as Lucien escorted Freddie toward the refreshment table, they whispered to each other just a little too intimately for a pair of old friends.
Hank Jr. cleared his throat. “Perhaps we should leave.”
“Please, do stay—” her father began.
“You have it wrong, sir,” Alex interrupted. “I assure you.”
Hank Jr. arched a brow. “Oh? And howexactlyam I wrong,Miss Atkinson? Because from here it appears your sister has a new suitor. And I don’t appreciate being made to look like a fool.”
Alex’s throat suddenly went bone dry as she frantically seized on an explanation. It was outrageous. Unbelievable, even. But it just might work…
“Mr. Taylor isn’t courting Freddie,” she said, managing to regain some degree of control. “Because he’s courting me.”
The silence that followed was, in a word, deafening. Alex held his gaze, almost challenging Hank Jr. to contradict her. But he was still a gentleman and she a lady. He wouldn’t dare.
