Wondering if she’d somehow awakened in the wrong household, Alexandra set down her cup. “I had intended on another lesson in ballroom etiquette today,” she said. “The Bentley ball is tomorrow night, as you know.”
“You can do your etiquette lessons on the way to the Museum.” Fiona said dismissively, “not that I’ve seen any change in my Rose’s good manners. Do you think dear Lucien will wish to accompany us?”
Wondering when Lucien had become “dear” and trying not to frown at the insult to her teaching skills, Alexandra shook her head. “I…doubt it, Mrs. Delacroix. He mentioned attending the horse auctions today.”
“Mama,” Rose finally broke in, her expression as confused as Alexandra knew hers must be, “why are we going to a smelly old museum? Lex was going to take me shopping for gloves and hair ribbons this morning.”
Fiona laughed, reaching across the table to pinch her daughter’s cheek. “Nonsense. You know we’ve been wanting to see the sights of London.”
“No, we—”
“And the weather is so pleasant, what could be more fun?”
Alexandra could think of several things that would be more fun than accompanying Mrs. Delacroix anywhere in public. Since Kilcairn failed to appear in time to put a stop to the nonsense, though, she reluctantly acquiesced.
Before she’d left the Fontaine household, the British Museum had been on her list of places she wanted to explore in town. The educational foray would undoubtedly be beneficial to Rose, if the girl paid any attention—though it wouldn’t help her find a husband.
Still, as Alexandra stood in the Grecian wing two hours later, she was glad they’d come. The drawings she’d seen of the Elgin Marbles were flat, pitiful renderings compared with the works themselves. While Fiona and Rose read aloud every information placard in the room and tittered at the scantily clad statues, Alexandra stood and gazed, her fingers curling with the desire to touch the cool marble forms.
“You are the reason men build monuments,” a deep, familiar male voice said from behind her.
“And why is that?” she asked, her gaze still on the sculptures and friezes.
“To see that look of reverence and awe on your face.” Lord Kilcairn drew even with her, close enough to touch but not doing so.
Without looking, she knew his eyes were not on the artworks. “I must urge caution, my lord, or you’ll further damage your reputation as a cynic.”
“I imagine my secret is safe with you.”
She turned and looked at him. He had the look of a dark-haired Greek god, and Alexandra wondered if beneath his fashionable clothes the smooth contours of muscle and bone matched the splendor of the statues. As she met his gaze, she blushed. “I thought you were going to the horse auctions today,” she said, dismayed that her voice shook a little.
“I was. What do mummies and marble friezes have to do with preparing for a grand ball?”
“Lucien!” Fiona scurried over to join them, Rose in tow. “I knew you would wish to join us.”
“I didn’t wish to join you,” he countered. “I wish to know what in damnation you’re doing here.”
His aunt’s expression became offended. “Dancing and balls aren’t everything, you know. My Rose has a particular fondness for history and the arts.”
Lucien glanced at his cousin, skepticism in every line of his lean, powerful body. “She does?”
“Indeed. If you ever bothered conversing with her in a civil manner, you might realize that.”
If Fiona didn’t recognize the hostile look in Lucien’s eyes, Alexandra did. She stepped forward, blocking his view of his aunt and cousin. “Well, since we’re all here and we’re all so fond of history, perhaps we should continue. We were about to head into the African area, my lord.”
“You were about to return to the carriage and Balfour House,” he stated, folding his arms.
Fiona’s chin lifted, and Alexandra steeled herself for a fracas in the middle of the staid British Museum. Enough people had noticed Lord Kilcairn’s entrance that keeping a family riff quiet would be impossible once Fiona let loose, but Alexandra glanced about for the nearest escape route for Rose and herself, anyway.
“As you wish, Lucien,” his aunt said, and flounced toward the entrance.
With a look between her mother and her cousin, Rose hurried after Fiona. Stunned at the quiet resolution, Alexandra blinked and turned to leave, taking one last look at the Marbles as she passed. The air stirred beside her, and her pulse fluttered in response.
“The next time you feel the urge to look at naked men, do let me know,” Lucien murmured.
She blushed furiously. Hehadknown what she was thinking earlier, and she didn’t know why that should surprise her. Almost from the moment they’d met, he’d seemed able to read her thoughts. Still, she couldn’t allow him to think he’d bested her so easily, or she would never have another moment’s peace.
“No doubt you would be pleased to indulge me,” she returned with as much cynicism as she could muster.
