Chapter Four
The days were busy with trips to the modiste, the milliner, and others as the first official ball of the new season was about to happen.
When she entered the drawing room to meet Arthur and Daphne, she knew she’d done well in her preparations.
Her hair was pulled off her shoulders in an elegant style. She wore her new deep-blue gown.
“You look beautiful, cousin,” Arthur said with a smile.
She knew right then she looked better than before. Her cousin wasn’t one to hand out compliments unless he meant it. “Thank you.”
“Are we ready to leave then?” Daphne asked. She was wearing a gorgeous emerald colored gown. Harriet was sure her cousin’s wife could not look bad, no matter what she wore.
“I know I am,” Harriet said.
“Ladies, shall we?” Arthur inquired. “The carriage is awaiting us.”
Harriet was awestruck as they pulled up in front of the Duke of Northumberland’s home.
Candles were lit in every window of the house, along with torches lining the walkway.
To her it looked like a magical place, something out of a romance novel, leaving her to feel the night was going to be special.
She could have spent more time admiring the house, but before she knew it she was entering the ballroom, which was already filling up fast. She recognized more people than she thought she would.
As before, Arthur signed her dance card in hopes of encouraging other young men into doing the same thing.
Recognizing Winifred standing in a small group of young ladies, she made her way to her new friend.
As Harriet neared, she noticed a couple of the girls were the very ones who mocked her during her debut season.
The other one she knew by sight but had never spoken with.
A part of her wanted to flee, but she was determined that this season was going to be different.
Nearing the group, a pale-blonde in a bold yellow smirked. “Back for another disappointing season?”
Harriet placed herself next to Winifred, thinking she would be her savior again. “I’m back but it’s going to be far from disappointing.”
She glanced at Winifred and said hello, but Winifred pretended to be deep in conversation with the woman she wasn’t familiar with. Harriet dismissed any thoughts of friendship.
“I imagine no one has signed your dance card?” another snickered. This young lady had buttercup-colored hair and wore a moss-green dress.
“Only my cousin,” Harriet replied.
“Pity,” the pale blonde said before turning her attention to the girl next to her.
Now Harriet was seriously considering leaving and hiding for a while. Before she could, Daphne walked up to the group.
“Here you are, Harriet. Come with me. There’s someone Arthur wants to introduce you to.”
The group appeared confused because they still thought Harriet could not gain the attention of any man. Daphne and Harriet walked quietly until they were out of hearing distance of the women.
“I don’t understand. I thought Winifred and I got along well. She wouldn’t even talk to me just now.”
“Don’t concern yourself with that. You’re about to be introduced to the Duke of Northumberland’s son and heir. He asked Arthur to introduce you to him.”
“What?” Harriet stammered. “What is his name?”
“Lucien.”
“He’s not that young man talking with Arthur, is he?”
“That’s him,” Daphne replied, indicating a tall, black-haired young man. His hair fell to the bottom of his collar.
“Why would he ever want to meet me, let alone speak to me?”
“Why wouldn’t he?”
A moment later she was standing in front of Lord Lucien Kingston, heir to the Duke of Northumberland.
His striking good looks took her breath away.
He asked her all the usual questions before asking her for a dance later but inquiring if she’d like to dance the one that had just started.
She looked towards Arthur to make sure it was acceptable.
He quietly nodded and Lord Lucien took Harriet’s hand and placed it on his forearm.
Trying not to smile, Harriet walked alongside him.
This had to be a dream. It couldn’t be real.
From the faces of various young ladies they passed, she realized it wasn’t a dream and they were green with envy.
He took her in his arms once on the dance floor just before the musicians started playing a lively dance. She tried not to stare, but being this close to a man as breathtakingly handsome as Lord Lucien was made it near impossible.
“Your cousin tells me you’re staying with them through the season.”
“Yes, they were kind enough to volunteer to help me through the season,” she replied. “Have you known Arthur long?”
He nodded as he whirled them around the dance floor. “I’ve known him since our first year at Eton. We became fast friends because back then we were two uncoordinated young men.”
“I can’t imagine either of you uncoordinated.”
“It’s true, we were.” He paused. “How does Lady Harriet pass her time?”
Harriet felt a strange sensation run through her when she heard his baritone. There was something special about it. “I’m an only child, so I spent much of my childhood alone. I had to make up games to occupy my time when I wasn’t reading or painting.”
“Do you ride?”
“My mother would only allow me to ride sidesaddle. I find that dangerous, so I learned in secret to ride astride. I don’t get much opportunity because the stable manager was under strict orders to only allow me out using a sidesaddle.”
“Perhaps we could go riding in Hyde Park one afternoon. I promise you can ride in whatever saddle you wish.” He looked down at her with the most amazing set of dark-gray eyes. She’d never seen anyone with eyes that shade of gray.
“I would like that, Lord Lucien,” she replied. Harriet noted young debutantes along the side still watching in envy. Perhaps Daphne was right. This was going to be her year after all.
The dance ended way too soon. Lord Lucien was the first man outside of Arthur who actually engaged in conversation with her and spoke to her as though she had a brain.
“Would you care for some punch?” he asked after he led her off the dance floor.
“Yes, that sounds wonderful.”
He walked her to a couple of chairs nearby while he went to get refreshment for them.
While she was waiting, she noticed that same group of young ladies watching her closely.
Their faces said it all. They were unhappy.
Harriet pretended she hadn’t seen them. Winifred was still with them which puzzled her.
When Lord Lucien returned, he handed her a cup of punch and sat down next to her. “This is quite refreshing,” he said.
“It is. May I ask what you do for a living?”
“Of course. When I’m not traveling to my family estates to check on them, I can be found at my factory. I make rail cars for private and public use.”
“That’s fascinating. Do you do custom cars for important people?”
“I do. The Prince of Wales commissioned us to build two cars for his personal use.”
“That’s amazing. I’d love to see one someday,” Harriet said.
Just then when they were having a pleasant conversation, a young man approached them.
Lord Lucien seemed to know the young man well by the way he greeted her dance partner.
As it turned out, there were some guests he wanted Lucien to meet.
Harriet wasn’t sure if this was the truth or a way to rescue their friend.
Lucien seemed unsettled about leaving her alone, but Harriet promised him she’d find Daphne if nothing else.
There were a couple of dances before her one dance with Arthur.
She saw Lady Edwina, the Countess of Somerset beckon her.
As she was walking towards the countess’s small group of ladies, she noted her instinct had been right.
Winifred and her friends had managed to lure Lord Lucien their way.
They were all acting like giggly schoolgirls.
The Countess of Somerset was a friend of her mother’s so Harriet knew anything she said would be reported back to her mother. “Lady Edwina, how nice to see you.”
“Harriet. It is so nice to see you. Your mother mentioned you were staying in London with your cousin. Perhaps you can come for tea soon.”
“That would be very nice indeed,” Harriet replied.
“I saw you dancing with Lord Lucien. He’s up to his usual stunts I see.”
Harriet arched a brow. “What stunts? I found him to be quite refreshing compared to a lot of the gentlemen here.”
“He dances with one and moves on to another, or in this case a group of young ladies. He can’t be trusted,” Lady Edwina trilled.
“I thought that’s what men were supposed to do at functions such as these.”
Lady Edwina sighed. “Poor Harriet. You’re still na?ve as ever. I suppose your father is going to have to arrange a marriage for you because you simply cannot do it on your own.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to judge me so soon. This is one of the premier balls of the season.”
She didn’t know how she was going to get out of standing here and listening to Lady Edwina put her down. If her mother could have a twin, it would be Lady Edwina. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Arthur coming her way. He was smiling. It was time for their dance. Her savior.
“Good evening, ladies,” he said smartly. “If I may steal Lady Harriet for a few minutes, we have a dance.” He held out his arm to her and waited for her to put her hand on it.
“Yes, she needs to be seen more. Poor thing will never land a husband if she isn’t seen in the company of a man,” Lady Edwina said, in a judging tone. “Perhaps you and your duchess will have more luck than her poor mother did.”
“I have every faith in Lady Harriet,” Arthur said as he led Harriet in the direction of the dance floor.
“Thank you for rescuing me. If anyone could be my mother’s twin, it would be Lady Edwina.”
He grunted and the two of them began the waltz in the center of the room. “I noticed you danced and spent time talking with Lord Lucien. He rarely does that.”