Chapter Ten #2
Making her selections, she took her plate and placed it at her place at the table. To the right were two missives. She immediately recognized the handwriting on one of them. Setting the other aside, she opened the one from Lucien.
In his letter, he mentioned Onyx was no better but had hope in the next week they’d begin to see an improvement. His journey with the Prince of Wales went quite well. So well that the prince ordered two more cars to accommodate his wife and have food prepared in another should he need a meal.
Lucien inquired if Harriet would like to go to the park for a walk and afterwards stop at Gunther’s for an ice. He would await her reply at home.
Of course, she would! She’d have to bring her maid along, but that was fine. The girl knew how to be discreet.
She summoned one of the footmen to bring her paper and a pen in order to reply to Lucien immediately. It didn’t take long before she handed the reply over to a waiting footman.
She took a bite of egg and opened the other note.
She’d known it was probably from Newton.
Her eyes scanned over his words. The flowery words weren’t him.
He was attempting to impress her, telling her how he’d enjoyed the night before and hoped she felt better and would walk with him through Grosvenor Park this afternoon.
She wrote out her reply. There was no way she’d join him.
Last night had been more than enough of Lord Newton’s company.
Knowing she needed to find a dress to wear, Harriet left and returned to her rooms. Her maid was tidying things up. She walked past the girl and into the dressing room.
“Is there something I can help you with?”
“Lord Lucien has invited me out for a walk this afternoon. You’ll of course have to chaperone, but what I need is to choose a dress to wear.”
“May I suggest the periwinkle dress or if you want a fresh look the sage-green cotton?”
“I haven’t worn the sage green. It’s just the right weight for the weather right now.”
The girl nodded. “I’ll take it downstairs to press it. Would you be wanting to take a bath, milady?”
“Yes. While you’re downstairs, I’ll take a bath.”
“Let me get the water going for you,” she replied.
Minutes later Harriett dipped her toes into the warm water. She lowered herself into the tub and sighed as she submerged herself to the neck. The water and the orange-vanilla scent of the bath oil were divine. She laid her head against the back of the tub and closed her eyes.
By the time she was ready to receive Lucien, Harriet felt refreshed and ready to go out. It was an odd feeling to her when she thought about spending time with Lucien. Waiting in the drawing room for him, she visited Sam, handing him a piece of banana which he greedily snatched from her hand.
“If you’re going to be like that, that piece is all you’re going to get,” she said as she turned and walked back to the other side of the room.
Moments later Lucien was announced. Harriet couldn’t believe how handsome he was. He was quite refined in his movement. An elegant man in her opinion.
“Lady Harriet, I’m looking forward to our afternoon,” he said. His baritone sent chills down her spine.
“As am I. The weather seems perfect,” she replied.
“It is. Are you ready?”
“Yes, I am.”
They walked down the stairs and began slowly to walk towards the park. Her maid followed a good distance behind them. It would give them time to talk and not worry about being overheard.
“You look beautiful this afternoon. That color becomes you,” he said, gazing down at her.
“Thank you,” she replied. She hadn’t wanted to make silly chit chat like so many women did. “You said Onyx isn’t doing well?”
He shook his head, his face taking on a completely different persona.
He appeared sad and worried, which was natural.
He cared quite a lot for the stallion. “Not at all or not as well as I’d like to see him.
It’ll take a few weeks until he shows significant healing and even longer before he can be ridden. ”
“What are you going to ride in the meantime?”
“For the time being I’m going to ride a gray gelding we have. After that I may go ahead and look to purchase a youngster. Right now, it’s a matter of wait and see how Onyx does.”
“I still think it was deliberate. You and I both saw shadows in the bush. Not a coincidence,” Harriet said.
“I agree. I sent my man back to see if he might find anything left by anyone. All he found were a couple of sets of footprints and they were fresh.”
“That is indeed interesting.”
“Isn’t it? Nothing I can do, not knowing who it could be,” Lucien said.
“Who knows, maybe someone who’s responsible might accidentally say something,” she replied.
They were nearing the park. The crowds were increasing. It seemed everyone wanted to enjoy the beautiful afternoon. Women and men dressed in their best to be seen by the masses. It seemed all of Mayfair was out.
“True, it’s always possible,” he said. “Have you heard there is going to be a showing of items found in Egypt at the British museum?”
“I believe I heard Arthur say something about it. He really wants to go.”
“As would I. Why don’t we make plans to go? We could even see if Arthur and Daphne would like to join us.”
“Oh yes, I would love that, Lucien,” Harriet replied.
“Then it’s settled. The four of us will make an afternoon of it. We can go out to eat either before or after the museum.”
She smiled broadly at him as they continued to walk. “At least I won’t have to have my maid follow us.”
“Yes, it does make things a tad difficult. We can’t have any time alone,” he murmured.
Giggling, Harriet glanced up at him as they continued walking. “Why would you need time alone with me?”
“To kiss you. I madly wish to kiss you.”
Harriet could feel her face heat up at his words. “There’s a maze on the west side of the park. I’m sure it won’t be filled with people and if you wish to kiss me you can.”
“How would you know about what may go on inside a maze?” Lucien inquired with a smirk.
“I…I’ve heard some of the young ladies speak about such things,” she stammered.
“Well, it seems to be the only way we’re going to have some time without your maid.”
“Yes. She will have to wait for us at the exit,” Harriet replied.
What was she doing? Encouraging a man to take her somewhere without her lady’s maid.
They hadn’t had many chances and until they were betrothed things wouldn’t change.
She hoped they would become betrothed, but the subject of the future hadn’t been spoken about.
The two of them were in the getting-to-know-each-other phase of their relationship.
Walking up to the maze entrance, Harriet turned to the girl, telling her to wait at the exit for them. Surprisingly she got no argument from the girl.
Harriet tucked her hand in the crook of Lucien’s arm, and the couple entered the maze.
She’d gone through the maze with cousins but never a friend or a young man like Lucien.
The tall shrubs that formed the walls of the maze seemed to have grown even taller since the last and only time she’d been in this maze.
“Are you okay?” she heard Lucien ask.
“Yes. It’s different from the time I went through it with cousins of mine.”
He nodded. “Yes, I can imagine.”
“Which way?” she asked.
“Let’s go off to the left.”
They continued until they ran into a third dead end. This time Lucien pulled her farther in. A lot of these were more private than others. There didn’t seem to be a reason to worry about privacy because the maze was almost empty.
Lucien set his hat on a bench they’d been standing next to.
Both his large hands framed her face as he leaned down and kissed her.
His kiss did not linger. He planted little feather kisses all over her face and neck.
This time, his kiss began slowly, then he deepened the kiss, parting her soft lips with his tongue.
They stood exploring the other’s lips and sparring with their tongues.
“That was nice,” he said as he broke the kiss.
“It was,” she replied.
They shared another kiss which was once again long and deep. “I suppose we should walk on.”
“Hmmm,” she replied.
“Now then, we can also take advantage of the time talking about things that really matter.”
“Such as,” she said with a smile.
Lucien stopped and gazed down at her. “I think you know I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“I wasn’t sure, but I had my suspicions. I can say without hesitation that I’ve also fallen in love. At least I believe that’s what these feelings are,” she said.
“And you’d be right,” he said. “I’ll speak with Arthur if you’d like and get his blessing.”
“We might want to wait on that. He’ll think we have to get married and that’s the last thing I want him or Daphne wondering about.”
“The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind.”
“Now you’ve hurt my feelings,” she teased.
“How did I do that?”
She fluttered her eye lashes. “By insinuating I am na?ve in matters of a physical matter.”
“I’d never do such a thing, though your knowledge is limited,” he replied. “Come on, let’s move along before someone happens upon us.” He grinned.
Taking her by the hand, Lucien led them deeper into the maze. They’d run into only two other couples. One was older, and the other consisted of a pair with more intimate intentions. They smiled as the other couple walked past them.
“See, I told you so.”
She giggled again. “I guess you’re right.”
“Of course, I am.”
“Perhaps we should take advantage of this wonderful weather we’re having and try riding again in Hyde Park.”
“We can do that, and I believe there are two balls coming up next week,” he said squeezing her hand as they continued walking.
“You’re right about the balls. I’m looking forward to them. Especially on your arm,” she said.
He grunted. “We’re almost to the exit. I would like to kiss you thoroughly one last time before we rejoin your maid.”