Chapter Six #2
She took some of each to try. The asparagus had been baked a lot less than the potatoes, carrots, and onions.
Everything was perfect. She then poured a glass of wine and continued to consume her meal.
Deciding she had had enough, she picked up the generous portion of cake that sat on its own plate.
Daphne was right. The cake was something to behold.
She’d never had such a rich piece of cake.
She could see why Arthur loved it. She knew the cook would never give away the recipe for the cake.
She’d have to find another recipe for it.
Or maybe it was something simple like the type of chocolate used. She’d figure it out.
A knock on the door leading to the dressing area opened, and the maid called out to her. “I apologize, milady. This came for you just now.”
“Thank you,” Harriet replied. As she began to open the envelope, she noted the maid was still in the room. “Is there someone waiting for a response? If not, you may go.”
“No, there’s no one waiting. Just told to make sure you got it.”
Harriet opened and unfolded the letter. She was not sure of the sender, but once she began reading, she realized it was from Lucien.
He apologized for having disappeared earlier like he did.
Explaining that it was the prince who’d manipulated his time by wanting to go through the car, showing Lucien what and why he wanted things redone.
The Prince of Wales also wanted to take a test run in the railroad coach to see how smooth it rode.
They’d be leaving in the morning after next and head towards Scotland, weather permitting.
Lucien mentioned his mother invited them both to tea. She was anxious to meet Harriet and thought tea would be easier on Harriet’s nerves than dinner would be. Harriet nodded to no one in agreement and continued reading. Lucien would let her know what time his mother would want them for tea.
She would have to pick what she’d wear. The two gowns she’d seen earlier might work.
The fabric was cool and would make things comfortable.
Harriet was excited as she had never done this before.
Oh, she’d been to teas with her mother, but had always disappeared into the background.
Going to tea with Lucien to introduce her to his mother meant she would have to shine and make a good impression.
This woman could possibly be her future mother-in-law.
*
Waking to the sound of her maid opening the drapes, Harriet groaned and turned away from the window. Surprisingly she wasn’t greeted by the bright sunshine; instead, she awoke to the sound of rain hitting the window. An even better reason to remain in bed until later.
“Lady Harriet, flowers arrived for you. If I didn’t know better, I’d say they’re from Lord Lucien,” her maid Rex said with a sly grin on her face.
“Where are they?”
“In your sitting room.”
Throwing her legs over the side of the bed, Harriet stood and accepted a pale-pink robe her maid handed to her.
As she walked through the bed chamber, Harriet cinched the robe shut.
In front of her on a large marble-topped table was a huge vase of flowers.
Tulips greeted her in a variety of shades of purple, pink and white.
There was an envelope with a card. Lucien certainly knew how to make himself shine. He’d returned late last night and wanted to call on her this afternoon. That made her smile.
She turned to her maid. “Why don’t we have these moved downstairs where they can be enjoyed by others. There are several places I can think they’d be placed.” Taking the note, she placed it in the pocket of her robe. She’d put it somewhere private when she was alone.
Harriet turned and left her sitting room for the dressing room and bathing chamber. “I’d like to take a bath before I dress. While I’m doing that, please make sure the pale-mauve dress is pressed and ready for me to wear.”
“Yes, milady.”
She watched as the maid disappeared into the closet and she continued to the bathing chamber.
Cracking the faucet for the hot water, Harriet gathered towels, sponges, soap, and anything else she knew she’d want.
She put her hand in the water and turned the cold on and closed most of the hot water.
Once she undressed, she immersed her body into the water.
It felt so good that she sank farther into the tub.
Having readied herself for the day, Harriet walked downstairs to the breakfast room.
No one was in the room but a lone footman.
Picking up a plate, she began making her selections.
Not a whole lot, but coddled eggs, bacon, and toast were a good start to the day.
Her thoughts wandered to Lucien, wondering when he would arrive.
Hopefully the rain would cease and it would dry enough so they could take a walk.
The footman brought her some fresh hot water for her tea.
She added her tea and let the pot steep for a few minutes before she poured a cup.
It smelled heavenly and tasted even better.
The tea was some Daphne had found at her favorite tea shop in London.
Pouring a cup, she let it sit to cool some, but not before she took a sip of the hot beverage.
Deciding to take her tea with her to the drawing room, she finished a piece of toast with strawberry jam and rose to quit the room.
The rain was still coming down at a steady pace, but Harriet knew that meant nothing in London. In minutes the sun could come out from behind the clouds and begin drying up the ground.
The first thing she noticed upon entering the drawing room was the huge flower arrangement from Lucien.
It had been placed on a table, a mahogany sideboard.
The colors from the tulips brightened the room.
He was a thoughtful man to take the time to choose the flowers.
She knew it was Lucien responsible for it because he said gifts were not meant to be chosen by staff, but by the sender themselves.
Sam was making noises on his perch nearby, obviously wanting attention. He began nodding his head and turning it in strange motions.
“Good morning, Sam. Are you a good bird today?” she asked. Hearing him respond always made her giggle because one never knew if he truly understood what you said or not. Harriet thought, like Daphne, that Sam was a lot smarter than anyone would admit.
“Sam good. Sam want apple,” he replied.
Walking over to his perch she noted no apples but there was an orange. “I’m afraid an orange will have to do for now, Sam.” She picked up a slice and let the parrot pick it up with his claw.
Sam nibbled it once and immediately threw it to the floor. “Sam want apple!” he demanded.
“I’m afraid there are none, but if you get hungry enough you can climb down your ladder and get the orange.”
“Bloody hell!”
“Sam, that’s not nice,” Harriet said. “It’s the orange or nothing I’m afraid.”
Talking to a parrot. She understood Arthur. Smart or not, he was simply a bird. Instead of continuing, Harriet went to sit down near the windows to finish her tea. The rain still hadn’t stopped. She watched it as it plummeted down from a dark-gray sky.
Hearing the door open, Harriet watched as her cousin’s wife ignored her pet parrot and sat down across from her. All the while, Sam was squawking in the background, cursing, and demanding “apple.”
“Are those the flowers from Lord Lucien?” she asked. “They’re even more gorgeous than my maid told me.”
“Yes, they are. He’s got exquisite taste, doesn’t he?”
Daphne nodded with a sly grin. “He certainly does. I’d say he’s a keeper.”
“I hope so.”
Her cousin cut a look over to Sam who was continuing his tirade for apple.
“Someone woke up with a case of the uglies. You were correct not to give into him. He’ll get tired soon enough and will come down off his perch and eat the orange.
Just because apple is his favorite doesn’t mean he’s going to get it every time. ”
“He certainly has his own opinions and doesn’t care if it doesn’t match the other person’s.”
“You’re very observant,” Daphne replied, before adding, “Is this what you’re going to wear to meet Lord Lucien?”
“Yes. Is there something wrong with it?”
“It’s fine. The color is quite becoming on you.”
“Thank you. I’ve discovered lots of colors I’ve never worn before that look good on me.” She sighed, louder than intended. Daphne understood what it meant. Her mother had never allowed her to choose anything for herself. Now she could.
Her mind kept wandering to Lord Lucien and the fact that he would be there soon.