Chapter Six
“What do you mean he had to leave?” Harriet asked, trying to keep a neutral appearance on her face.
“He received an unexpected message from the Prince of Wales insisting they meet at his factory now. He had some requests for his car,” Arthur replied.
He knew Harriet would be confused. She hadn’t had to deal with something like this before because she had been sheltered all of her life by her parents.
“Why now? That seems a little rude.”
“He’s the Prince of Wales and Lucien’s biggest client to date. If the man wants to meet in person in an hour, you make sure you’re there before the allotted time.”
“I suppose that’s true, but why today of all days?”
“You’d have to ask the prince,” Arthur replied. “Besides, Lucien and I talked about the two of you seeing each other. I agreed. Lucien is perfect for you.”
“You did? He mentioned he was going to speak to you. I had no idea it would be today.” That wasn’t entirely true, but she didn’t want her cousin to think she and Lucien had already agreed to a courtship and that he would speak with Arthur today.
No, men had a habit of not wanting a woman involved in a conversation like that.
There were important things to be discussed that ladies needn’t concern themselves with.
“Things will now change for you. You and Lucien will be able to attend soirees and the like together or with Daphne and myself.”
“Lucien’s not here?” Daphne asked even though Harriet had spied her near the doorway.
“No, Arthur says the Prince of Wales summoned him to Lucien’s factory so he could discuss some changes he wanted made to the car he’s making for the prince.”
“It’s well known the prince is quite demanding,” Daphne added. She walked towards the drawing room, motioning Arthur and Harriet to follow.
While they were sitting down, Daphne ordered tea before joining the other two. “Did you and Lucien have a nice meeting?”
“Yes, it seems we’re going to see a lot more of Lord Lucien. He wishes to court Harriet and I agreed they may.”
Clapping her hands together, Daphne squealed in approval. “I’m so excited for the two of you! Did you know what he was going to speak with Arthur about?”
“We had discussed it, but I didn’t know today would be the time he did,” Harriet said.
Daphne glanced at her husband. “Do we tell Harriet’s parents or should we wait and let them have some time together before that’s done.”
“Please don’t. Mother will demand my father bring her back to London. Let Lucien and me have some time to enjoy this before my mother’s unleashed.”
Arthur snorted. “I couldn’t agree with you both more.”
“You find it humorous?” Daphne asked her husband.
He grinned. Arthur was able to delay his reply for a moment as the tea service was brought in. When the footman left the room, Arthur responded. “You must admit it is funny. We all know how my aunt acts. She will bathe in the glow of Harriet’s beau.”
“She’ll act like it was all her. That she was the one who got us together. Mother must take credit for everything, even if she had little or nothing to do with it,” Harriet replied.
Daphne handed her a cup of tea and then one for Arthur. She sat down next to her husband while placing her saucer down on the table in front of them. “Arthur and I have a dinner to attend this evening. I hate to leave you by yourself.”
Arthur groaned loudly. “Not the Mitchells?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. You’ll be fine,” Daphne replied.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll just have Cook prepare a tray.”
“What’ll you do?” Daphne inquired.
“I do have some correspondence I need to catch up on, and I have a book I’ve almost finished.”
“Just maybe Lucien will stop by if his meeting with the prince goes well and finishes early,” Arthur said.
“Perhaps, but I’m not going to stop breathing and wait on him. I understand from what I’ve learned about the Prince of Wales is he thinks of no one but himself and his wife. It would be nice to see Lucien, but I know he won’t be able to leave until the prince is satisfied.”
Arthur arched a brow. “Shouldn’t we just cancel or reschedule tonight’s festivities?”
“We can’t. I’ve already rescheduled it once. We’re going, and you’ll pretend to enjoy yourself. I’m sure you and the baron have something in common.”
Arthur sipped his tea for a moment before responding. “Yes, we do. It’s just his wife’s shrill, loud voice I can’t stomach.”
Harriet chuckled. “Worse than my mother?”
“Your mother is nowhere as shrill as the baroness,” Daphne injected.
Harriet didn’t think anyone could be worse than her mother.
There would always be people like that. The ones who had to be seen and heard about the rest of the crowd.
Her mother helped out at an orphanage once a month.
She acted as though she was martyring herself by doing one day.
Outside of that, her only other purpose was to go to meet ladies of society at teas and other fun functions so they could indeed gossip about others.
A lot of the time she held teas herself at their London home, inviting a dozen or more ladies.
One thing that made Harriet smile now was the fact that she didn’t have to go to them.
If things worked out with Lucien, she wouldn’t ever have to participate in one again.
“No one knows a thing more than my mother. She is always right, and others are either wrong or have a slightly different opinion of the matter they speak about,” Harriet replied.
“If you ladies will excuse me, I’m going to start to get ready for this evening as it’s later than I thought,” Arther said.
“Yes, I suppose I should as well. You’re going to be all right, Harriet,” Daphne trilled, in an attempt to copy the baroness or even Harriet’s own mother.
“Go. Both of you. I am perfectly able to take care of myself.”
“We’ll see you later, or in the morning. Ask Cook for a piece of her chocolate cake. It’s divine and she only makes it for Arthur. Or so she says.”
“Thank you. I’ll be sure to ask her for a piece. Now go have a good time.”
Once they had left, Harriet walked to the kitchen.
Even though dinner wouldn’t be served for the duke and duchess the kitchen was still busy.
Her presence startled a few of the kitchen maids and footmen, but she pretended as though she didn’t see their shocked faces.
Finding the cook wasn’t hard. She was sitting at a small table reviewing the meals for the following day.
“Lady Harriet, what can I do for you?” she asked in a firm voice.
“Lady Daphne suggested I come speak with you about a dinner tray since they’ve left for the evening,”
“I was just about to send someone to ask you when you’d like a tray,” Cook said.
“I’d like it in my room as soon as it’s ready and for dessert I’d like a piece of your chocolate cake. His Grace said to ask you because it’s so delicious.”
The older woman smiled. Harriet thought the woman was remembering times when Arthur was considerably younger. “Yes, it’s one of his favorites.”
“You’ve been with His Grace for many years I understand.”
“Yes, my mother worked for the family as well. I grew up on the country estate and started working in the kitchens as a girl,” the woman replied.
Harriet nodded and started to turn. “I’ll not keep you. I just wanted to inform you where I’d like to eat.”
“Very well, Lady Harriet.”
Harriet made her way to her rooms and found her maid in the dressing area putting away gowns she had just pressed. “Did this come from the modiste?”
“Yes.” The girl nodded.
“Show me what she sent.”
A moment later Harriet found herself looking at two elaborate gowns, one in a foamy light green and a second in periwinkle blue.
Both took her breath away and she couldn’t wait to wear them, nor could she wait for Lucien to see her in them.
She nodded to the maid to put them up. Returning to the sitting room she sat down on a dark-green chair while she waited on her meal.
Her relationship with Lucien was new and she was looking forward to learning about the man since they shared so much in common.
Where would he take her next or would they spend some quiet time getting to know each other?
She had the feeling that until the Prince of Wales’s railcar was finished to the prince’s specifications, she would have to be patient.
He was a prince, and she was a mere mortal and since he expected he was more important than any other client, she would have to sit back and bite her tongue.
How many other people she knew could say they had the prince as a client?
None, she imagined. Her mother would be impressed with that.
Hearing a knock at the door, Harriet stood up and walked towards the door.
Two footmen stood on the other side with a brass trolley and her dinner.
She showed them to a table that sat against one of the windows.
Plates were uncovered revealing her meal.
As soon as the two left she sat down at the table.
There was asparagus, fresh potatoes, onions, and carrots all cooked to perfection.
A small roasted and sliced hen sat on another plate.
There was a basket of rolls along with a bottle of wine and piece of chocolate cake.
It was more than she thought she’d receive but was grateful for the meal.