Chapter Eight
Harriet slept late the next morning. Daphne had instructed Rex not to wake her mistress as she knew it was going to be a long day preparing for the upcoming evening at the theater.
It was important Harriet look her absolute best as this was her first public appearance with Lord Lucien.
They were courting, and Daphne felt it was just a matter of time before the couple was betrothed.
When Harriet did wake, she went into panic mode seeing the heavy drapes still closed, making the room dark. She climbed out of bed and went in search of her maid. Rex was in the dressing room pulling out a sapphire velvet gown she’d yet to wear.
“Good day, Rex,” she said eyeing the maid and then the gown. “Why did you not wake me sooner?”
“Lady Daphne thought you needed the rest, what with the big evening tonight.”
“Is that the dress I’m to wear?”
Rex nodded. “Yes, milady, it is. I’m going to take it downstairs to press.”
“Would you bring me a tray when you go?”
“I already got one from the kitchen. It’s sitting on the table in front of the window. I’ll get a fresh pot of tea as I’m sure the one sitting there is cold,” Rex replied.
“Thank you. I’ll go eat and answer some correspondence before I dress.”
“Very well, milady.”
Harriet walked over to the table to see what the cook had included for her breakfast. She didn’t like to eat heavily on days where they were going out at night.
There were some toast, jam, and marmalade, plus butter.
Fresh fruit sliced into a bowl also awaited her.
She fixed two pieces of toast to her satisfaction, took it and the bowl of fruit and sat down at the writing desk.
In moments she was rereading a letter from one of her cousins who had returned from the Continent a couple of weeks back.
Harriet wished she could be so lucky as to get such a trip.
Someone knocked on the door. It was her maid with a fresh pot of tea which she placed on the table.
Harriet poured a cup for herself and returned to the desk where she’d been sitting.
She sat back in the chair and listened. There was a hum of the household working in the background.
In here there was quiet. No sound of her maid in one of the other rooms. Perfect for her to enjoy her tea and respond to some correspondence.
Tonight was an important one. She and Lucien would be attending their first public affair.
An opera. Yes, they’d be with Arthur and Daphne, but they would be there as a couple.
She began to write her letters, mentioning in passing she was seeing the most wonderful man and hoped it turned into something more without mentioning Lucien by name.
She wanted to keep it mysterious for now.
It would give her a chance to see if she and Lucien became the center of gossip.
Harriet knew there were some women who were simply unpleasant and would rather say something mean than to be happy for her.
Since she found out from Daphne that Lucien was considered one of the biggest catches of the season, Harriet could only imagine what would be said after their evening. It made her smile at the very thought.
She finished up her letters before sitting back and finishing her cooling tea.
So much had happened since she arrived. None of this would have happened if her mother had taken on the responsibility because she would find fault with Lucien or any other man.
She was thankful every day she had this reprieve from her mother.
She loved her dearly, but had she stayed the probability of Lucien pursuing her would have diminished.
Daphne had become her first and only role model.
Her cousin’s wife was fearless, not some quiet, unassuming young woman.
It was difficult, but Harriet was determined not to be that person this year.
If all went the way it seemed to be heading, she and Lucien would be married before the end of the season.
She pushed away from the desk and headed to the dressing area. Hopefully Rex would have returned from pressing her gown and the maid could help her dress for the day.
*
As Harriet entered the drawing room that evening, she saw Lucien engaged in conversation with Arthur. The two men glanced in her direction upon hearing the door close behind her. Her eyes met Lucien’s as she neared the mantel.
“Good evening, Harriet,” Arthur said. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she replied, turning her attention to Lucien.
“Good evening,” he said taking her hand in his. “Arthur’s right. You look gorgeous this evening.” He kissed the back of her hand.
“Thank you. Thank you both.” She glanced around the room. Neither Daphne nor Sam were in the room.
“Daphne should be here momentarily,” Arthur said. “And Sam is in the small room next door. Evidently, he’s had quite the mouth on him today because there was no one to entertain him, so Daphne thought he didn’t need company for one evening.”
“Perhaps it’s because Lucien is a stranger to him still and he’s showing off his many talents,” Harriet replied with a smile.
“Most likely,” Arthur concurred. “Would you care for a glass of wine while we wait on my wife?”
“A small glass, perhaps,” she replied.
While Arthur went over to the sideboard where various decanters and bottles were kept, Lucien neared. “How did you come to know the music of this woman?”
“I heard her perform years ago in Vienna when my parents and I were on holiday there. It was a private party of a diplomat.”
“You were awed, I take it.”
“Yes. Whenever she’s visited London, my mother always tells me I’m too young to appreciate her music.”
Arthur handed her a small wine glass. “I don’t think anyone can be too young to appreciate good music.”
Harriet nodded slightly. “I agree.”
“It is said music is a universal language. Therefore, it can be liked by any age,” Lucien said.
The door opened and in walked Daphne in a stunning emerald-green silk gown. She had showed it to Harriet earlier in the day so they could compare what they were each wearing. Harriet’s own gown was simple and done in a lighter green with the emerald-colored trim.
“Ah, we have another beautiful woman in our midst, Lucien.” Arthur walked over to his wife, who met him halfway, and kissed her on the lips.
“Thank you for the flattery, but I think we need to get going. There’s no way to avoid the crowds, and leaving later will only make it worse,” Daphne said.
Harriet deposited her wine glass on a nearby table and walked with Lucien out of the drawing room behind Arthur and Daphne. It was really happening. She was going to the theater, and she was being accompanied by a man who was interested in her.
She climbed into the carriage after Daphne.
Lucien followed and sat down next to Harriet.
She could smell his wintergreen shaving soap being this close to him.
Arthur came in last, and the door shut behind him.
Making sure everyone was comfortable, Arthur tapped on the roof and the carriage rolled forward. They were on their way.
No one said anything during the ride to the theater.
As soon as the carriage rolled out, it was obvious by the traffic of carriages something big was happening close by.
Normally the ride to the theater didn’t take that long, but if someone like this opera singer was scheduled, the area was a mass of carriages, horses, and people.
Lots of people rethought how they arrived at the theater.
Walking was faster, rather than waiting in a queue for their turn at exiting their vehicles in front of the prestigious theater.
Arthur was peering out the carriage window as best he could and came to the same conclusion. “I think we’d be better off to walk the rest of the way.”
With no one objecting to his suggestion, Arthur tapped on the roof. The carriage came to a stop, and he stepped out to speak with the driver. Harriet wasn’t surprised when he immediately returned and held out his hand to Daphne.
“We’re going to walk,” Arthur said.
Harriet was the last to step out of the carriage. Lucien assisted her and as they turned to follow Arthur and Daphne, he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. She smiled up at him as they began to walk.
“Quite the crowd this evening,” she said. “I’m glad Arthur chose for us to walk the rest of the way.”
“Yes. We’d be in line waiting for quite some time. We’ll be inside far quicker than if we’d waited in the carriage.”
The walk was even slowed down with all the people doing the same thing they were. Harriet glanced around as they walked in case she saw someone she knew. She didn’t see anyone, but that meant little.
Once they arrived at the theater entrance, Arthur led them directly to the family box.
It was larger than Harriet thought it would be.
She walked to the edge and looked out at all the other private boxes and down at the general seating.
The theater was going to be full by the time the performance began.
“Can I get you some lemonade or wine?” a familiar baritone asked from next to her. Lucien was close to her, something she found soothing. No other man had stood this close, except perhaps her father or Arthur. Lucien was an entirely different matter.
“Perhaps after we get seated,” she replied. She wanted to see what Daphne chose, though being married Daphne had more freedom of choice than she did.
Lucien steered her to two seats at the front.
She sat in the one more in the center so she could see everything that transpired below.
Once he sat down beside her nothing else mattered.
He pointed out prominent people as his eyes scanned the various boxes.
Harriet listened carefully to his comments as he directed her gaze to the various people.