“Oh, all right.” The girl nodded. “What sort of bird is a flamingo, anyway?”
Ah, academic curiosity, after all. “A…tall, long-legged, pink one. It gets its unique coloring from eating shrimp found—”
“Does it look anything like a swan?”
She sighed. “Somewhat. With a slightly larger beak. They are known to—”
“A largerbeak?” Rose shrieked, and began crying again.
“Damnation,” Alexandra muttered, and scooted her chair closer to pat the girl on the back. “There, there, don’t fret now.”
“Where is my nephew?” Fiona demanded, sweeping into the breakfast room. Her orange hair, tied into ribbons to promote curling, stood out in every direction, eclipsing the faint sunlight peeking in through the window.
“Good morning, Mrs. Dela—”
“It isnota good morning. Where is Lucien?”
“He left nearly an hour ago, I believe,” Alexandra answered when Wimbole vanished out the door. “Is something amiss?”
“Of course something is amiss. My maid has informed me that he’s gone off to have a picnic today, with some marquis’s daughter!”
“Yes?”
“Yes! He leaves my poor Rose here all alone so he can go spend time with complete strangers! I am shocked. Shocked and aghast!”
“Well,” Alexandra began slowly, “I’m certain he—”
“No! Do not try to comfort me! Rose, you must work harder if we are to soften Lucien’s heart.”
“Yes, Mama.”
With that, Lucien’s aunt fled back upstairs, calling for muffins and chocolate to settle her nerves in time for her luncheon. Alexandra was ready for a stiff brandy herself.
Despite what the earl had told Wimbole, he showed no sign of returning home in time for dinner. Alexandra spent another two hours after the evening’s meal with Mrs. Delacroix, listening to her new-gathered gossip and an accompanying diatribe on scandalous Paris trends and the shameful new fashion of dampening one’s chemise to make the dress fabric cling to one’s curves.
Finally she escaped into the library with a glass of warm milk and an edition of Byron’s poetry. She could just as easily have retreated to her bedchamber, but she knew very well why she didn’t.
Just why she felt the need to wait up for the earl required a much more complicated answer, one she wasn’t quite ready to think through. All day she’d caught herself staring off into space, remembering the caress of his mouth on hers. His shocking propositions didn’t seem quite so outrageous when she thought of how very well he kissed. She would never do anything about it, of course. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but feel warm and even flattered. Lord Kilcairn knew much more of the world than she did, and still he claimed to desire her.
“I wasn’t aware that young, single ladies were supposed to read Byron,” his low voice mused from the doorway.
She jumped. “Most gentlemen don’t seem to be aware that women should read at all.” Alexandra took in his impeccable dress and the intelligent gray eyes that seemed to study every gesture she made, and felt herself growing warm and fluttery all over again. “How was your picnic?”
He scowled. “Hellish. How was your day with the harpies?”
“I assume you refer to Mrs. Delacroix and Miss Delacroix? Very productive, thank you. And Mrs. Delacroix has become acquainted with Lady Halverston, who shares her negative views on the trend of dampening chemises.”
“It’s the best damned trend since bare breasts on Amazons.” He sat in the chair opposite her. “Is Rose ready for dinner tomorrow?”
“You might have asked me that before you accepted the invitation,” she said, closing the book and setting it aside.
“I don’t intend to design my social schedule to accommodate my cousin’s governess,” he said without heat. “If it matters, I have been selective in my choices for my dear cousin. And for my aunt, though you might not believe it.”
“Yes, I had noticed,” she answered, annoyed at his arrogance and knowing he was deliberately behaving that way. Kilcairn apparentlylikedbeing insulted by her, so not obliging him would simply be rude. “I wouldn’t have expected someone of your reputation to know so many staid peers.”
The earl made a face. “How else am I supposed to avoid them?” He leaned his head back, watching her through half-closed eyes. “Have you thought about my little speech this morning?”
A shivering rush ran clear down to her toes. She’d barely been able to think of anything else. “You want an answer?”
