Her fingers hit a few sour notes in response to his sudden appearance, but Alexandra continued to play. “My father taught me.”
“Your father played?”
“Painting wasn’t his only skill.”
His quiet approach stirred the air around her. “Do you have any of his paintings?”
“I had to sell them to pay for my parents’ burial, and to settle their outstanding accounts.”
He seated himself on the other end of the bench, facing opposite her. “Do you have any family remaining on your paternal side?”
“I believe I have a few second cousins in the North, but I wouldn’t know where to begin looking if I were inclined to do so.”
“So here we sit, two orphans, all alone,” he mused.
Alexandra glanced at his profile, quiet and sensuous as sin in the half dark. “You seem to be able to tolerate Rose.”
He shrugged. “She’s hardly anyone I could confide in.”
“It’s lucky you don’t require a confidante, then.”
For a moment he was silent, while the music danced in the shadowy corners of the room. “Yes, I suppose it’s lucky neither of us needs anyone else.”
She pretended not to hear his soft comment; with Lady Welkins in London, Lucien’s company was rather comforting. Tonight she was content not to argue with him. The dance ended, but she began it again with barely a pause.
“Rose and I had a little chat this evening,” he said in the same quiet tone.
“I’m glad you’re becoming slightly more civilized.” At the same time, a large, lonely portion of her heart wished he and his cousin hadn’t begun to get along so well.
“She mentioned that you saw Lady Welkins today.”
Her fingers faltered.
“Keep playing,” he murmured. “‘Mad Robin,’” isn’t it? I haven’t heard it for a long time. And never played so well.”
He was only trying to flatter her, but she didn’t mind all that much. “It was a family favorite.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Alexandra. I just wanted to make certain you were all right. Lady Welkins didn’t see you, I assume?”
“No, she didn’t.”
“And you are all right?”
Alexandra closed her eyes, letting the music flow through her fingers. “I’ll make do. After all, I’ll only be in London another few days.”
She expected a protest, but he remained silent for a minute. “I could have done without that being added into the conversation,” he finally said.
“Then we won’t speak of it.”
“Alexandra, if I hadn’t asked you to marry me, would you have stayed longer?”
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “Virgil and Lady Welkins would have been in London anyway, but…Lucien, it’s not only because of you. I just shouldn’t be here.”
“I think here is exactly where you should be.”
She didn’t know what to say to that, and after another few minutes of silence he rose and moved to the door. “Good night, Alexandra.”
“Good night, Lucien.”
