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Elain hadn’t been this relaxed in ages. Lucien had surprised her last night by saying he had booked a spot for her at her favorite spa. He had signed her up for all her favorites, a hot stone massage with aromatherapy, a facial, a pedicure and manicure, and a foot soak.
At first, she had tried to convince him that it was way too much money but then he reminded her that they had plenty of money to spare. Elain was still getting used to that idea that she had married into wealth: the diplomat husband and his solar-energy company owning father and famous musician mother, not to mention his billionaire half-brother and whatnot. Also, Lucien wanted to spoil her.
So she stopped protesting and accepted his gift on the condition that next time they would get someone to babysit so they could both go. She didn’t think her and Lucien’s almost three-year-old daughter Cersi would mind visiting an aunt or uncle or her grandparents and getting everything she asked for.
Elain felt like she was floating on a cloud of lavender, jasmine, and honey as she stepped into the house. Farther inside, she could hear instrumental music playing. Was that the Bridgerton soundtrack? Amused, she stepped out of her sandals and wandered through the living room and breezy, bright hallway.
Giggles burst out of the kitchen entry. Elain stopped outside of it, hand resting on the wall.
“And would you like one lump of sugar or two?”
“This many.”
“I regret that I must inform her highness that seven is too many. How about two?”
“Ten?”
There was a little clinking sound. “Try that.”
Loud sipping made Elain grin. “Is demicious.”
Lucien laughed, and Elain had to peer around the entryway. She grinned at the sight.
The breakfast nook table was fully decorated. Lucien had gotten out the lacy tablecloth and the delicate tea set his mother had given them as a wedding present, saying it might be useful one day. Elain wondered if Eurydice had been hoping fondly for days like this. Flowers from her home garden sat in a glass vase, pale yellow dahlias, pink gerberas, and white daisies like the ones she had painted on her fingernails. Lucien had even covered Cersi’s booster seat with a white cloth, making it also “fancy.”
Their daughter wore one of her floofiest dresses, her flower girl dress from Lucien's brother Ruari's wedding a few months ago. Cersi’s strawberry blonde hair was styled into perfect curls. She also had on the flower crown from the wedding, the one Elain had carefully dried for her. Lucien had on a black three-piece suit with a yellow dahlia tucked into the pocket. He had pulled his hair back into a ponytail with one small braid wrapping back and around the hair tie.
“Do you want a cake?” Cersi asked.
“Just one more,” Lucien said, holding out his plate. Cersi picked up a tiny square cake with pink icing and set it on his plate. “Thank you, your highness.”
“You are welcome very much, Mr. Dipomax.”
It looked like they had also gone on a shopping adventure. Little platters of finger sandwiches, petit fours, and macarons were on the table, along with vegetables chopped with the crinkle cutter so they looked like flowers.
“Daddy, I saw a bunny at school, do you like bunnies?”
“I do. I think they’re cute.” Lucien sipped at his teacup, one pinky finger extended. Cersi tried to copy him but she had to hold the cup with two hands. Therefore she stuck out both pinkies. Lucien grinned. “But not as nearly cute as you.”
“That’s silly,” Cersi said, giggling again, “They’re fluffy, I’m not fluffy, I’m pretty.”
“I thought you were Cersi?”
“I am Cersi,” she said, nodding. “And I’m pretty.”
“Very pretty,” Lucien said. “Just as beautiful as your mother. Your mother, who is gorgeous and wonderful and impossibly kind, the one who I would paint if I could wield a brush, who I would write sonnets for if I was a poet, who I would sculpt if these hands had the skill, but alas, I am but a humble diplomat—”
“One with a flair for flattery,” Elain said, stepping into the room.
“Mommy!” Cersi beamed at her, all sunshine.
Lucien smirked at her. “Oh, did you hear all that?”
“Yes, amazing how I was just standing there eavesdropping and happened to catch all of it.”
“Yes, yes, very amazing,” Lucien said, "I had no idea you were there. So embarrassing for me." He stood up from the table and crossed over to her. Bowing, he extended an arm to her. “May I escort you to the tea party?”
Elain curtsied and put her hand on his arm. “Am I invited?”
“Of course,” Lucien said, leading her over to the table. He stopped and presented her, one hand on the small of her back. “Your highness, may I introduce you to my wife, your mother, the Queen of the Household, Elain?”
“Hi, Mommy,” Cersi said, climbing out of her chair and darting over to hug Elain’s legs. She stepped back and then tried to curtsey as well. “Hi! You want to have tea with us? It’s good, Daddy made it.”
Elain knelt down to wrap Cersi up in a hug, kissing her cheeks. “I’d be delighted.” She smiled at Lucien over the top of their daughter’s head, and he winked back at her before sliding out a chair just for her.