Chapter 18
The next step was simple. Lucien intercepted the Delacroix ladies in the hallway. “Aunt Fiona, might I have a word with my cousin?” he asked politely, despite the urge to spit in his aunt’s face every time he set eyes on her. He was going to have to deal with her, but he had to time it just right or he could bring the rest of his carefully laid plan down around his ears.
“Of course, nephew. Don’t be long, though, Rose. Don’t forget—we are all going to the opera tonight, and you will need your rest first.”
“Yes, Mama.”
At his gesture, Rose preceded him into the morning room. He closed the door and paced to the window and back. The urge to skip steps and end the damned game so he could spend every moment with Alexandra was overwhelming, and he fought it sternly. Jumping ahead could cost him Miss Gallant.
“What is it, Lucien?”
He sat by the window. “I spoke with Robert.”
She practically pounced on him, her blond curls bobbing as she knelt at his side. “And what happened? Is he angry with me? How—”
“He wants to marry you.”
Rose threw her arms around him, and even kissed his cheek. “Oh, thank you, Lucien! I’m so happy. I don’t have to marry you now!”
Lucien lifted an eyebrow. “Well, thank you very much.”
“You don’t want to be married to me, either. You told me so.” She backed away, her expression suddenly suspicious. “You did give him your permission, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I did. With bells on.” He stood as she swooped at him again. “For God’s sake, don’t smother me.”
Still smiling happily, she folded her hands in front of her. “What happens now? How will you get word to Lex? Will she come back to London?”
Lucien hesitated. He’d spent so long detesting his relations that the idea of trusting Rose even for a moment, much less including her in his plans, bothered him. But he needed an ally. More to the point, he neededher. “Actually,” he said slowly, “Alexandra is still in London.”
“She is? Where is she staying? Oh, I have to go tell her about Robert!”
“Remember, this is not a subject for theLondon Times.” He grabbed her hand before she could go flailing and dancing about the room again. “This is important, Rose. We need to help one another.”
Her smile faded, and she nodded. “What do we do, then?”
“First, we need to go tell your mother that we are engaged, and that we will announce it next Wednesday, at a dinner party.”
“But—”
“And then, at the party, I will announce that it is you and Robert who are engaged.”
Rose put her hands over her mouth. “Mama will be furious.”
“Yes, I know.” That, though, was where he would implement the second part of his plan. “I’ll deal with her.”
“Does Robert know about this?”
“He does. Do you agree?”
“Y-yes. It’s very odd, but I think it’s romantic. What about you and Lex, though?”
“Alexandra is…” He took a deep breath. “She’s in the wine cellar.”
“What? The wine—”
“Perhaps you might visit her. As long as you saynothingto Fiona.”
“Oh, I won’t. But why—”
