In the Slaters' garden, Ruelle sat across from Lucian, her scarf wrapped around her neck and her coat hugging her, while Lucian sat with his coat hanging over his shoulders. Where they sat now in the garden, the snow had been thawed and cleared. Servants placed down the warm dishes on the table before they left.
Her eyes shifted and caught Peyton standing near one of the walls of the mansion, keeping an eye on them from a distance that Lucian approved of.
Lucian watched her look around, his wine-red eyes tracking every shift and breath of hers. The wind picked up just slightly and her hair moved.
"Would you have preferred we stayed inside?" Lucian asked, pulling back her attention to him.
"This is fine," Ruelle murmured, before adding, "It's just… a little unusual."
"We'll have the invitations sent out tonight," Lucian said, serving food on her plate. "Tell me who you would like to invite. I'll have Maude send it along with the rest."
