Chapter Eleven
It was two days later when Arthur came rushing home from Parliament.
He had received an invitation from his esteemed colleague, Lord Simpson the week before, but had set it on his desk and forgotten about it.
Until now. Simpson had inquired about whether or not he was attending since he hadn’t replied to the invitation.
He all but ran to the drawing room where he found Daphne and Harriet doing needle work.
Harriet looked up at her cousin. He was panting, red faced, with a sheer look of terror on his face.
“What’s all the fuss, Arthur?” Daphne asked, putting her needle work aside.
“We’ve been invited to the Simpsons’ event tonight,” he replied as he dropped himself into a nearby chair.
“Tonight? We’ve never received an invitation,” Daphne said.
“Yes, we did. He gave it to me, and I forgot to bring it home and left it on my desk.”
Daphne shook her head and laughed. “Kowing you, I’m sure you told him we’d be in attendance and wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Yes, something like that.” He glanced at Harriet. “You’re coming along as well, Harriet. You were in the invitation as well.”
“Drats,” Harriet replied, putting her needle work to her side.
“Lucien will be there as well. I saw him as I was leaving Parliament. This ball in particular is attended by a lot of businessmen, who are important for his business.”
“Is he accompanying us or will we meet him there?”
“We’ll catch up with him at the ball,” Arthur replied.
It was all Harriet could do to keep herself in control. “If the two of you will excuse me, I need to choose a gown and have my maid ready it.”
“I need to do the same,” Daphne added.
“Again, I apologize for this, ladies,” Arthur said.
“Don’t let it happen again,” Daphne said amusedly.
“Bloody hell, Arthur bad,” Sam, Daphne’s macaw said.
All three of them burst into laughter as Sam walked back and forth on his perch. Harriet took this as a perfect time to take her leave and choose her gown for this evening.
She found her maid in the dressing area of her rooms. “I need a gown for tonight. I’ve just been informed we’re going to a ball.”
“Tonight?”
“Tonight, I’m afraid,” Harriet replied and she began to look at each gown. “What about the periwinkle and purple?”
“I think that’s a good choice. Let me bring it out so we can check it over.”
Moments later the gown lay across the bed. She hadn’t worn it before. It had been one of the first gowns she had commissioned when Daphne took her to her modiste. Harriet thought this particular gown would be perfect to wear. Lucien would be attending and she wanted to make his head spin.
“I’ll take it downstairs to press it.”
“Excellent. While you’re doing that, I’m going to take a bath.”
“Is Lord Lucien going to be attending this evening?” the young girl asked as she lifted the gown off the bed.
“Yes, he is,” Harriet replied.
“Excellent.”
Removing her boots, Harriet made her way to the bathing chamber.
First thing she did was crack open the water to let the tub fill.
She gathered everything she needed. Soap, perfume to add to the water, sponges, and towels.
Once she disrobed, Harriet dipped one foot into the water.
It was quite warm, just the way she liked it.
Knowing there wasn’t time to wash and dry her hair, she tied it up on top of her head and submerged the rest of her body into the scented water.
It was heavenly and she vowed she’d just take a minute to enjoy before washing herself.
By the time Harriet joined Daphne and Arthur in the drawing room, she looked nothing like the young woman who went to ready herself for a gala social event. She was breathtaking. At least, that’s what Arthur and Daphne told her as she twirled around in a circle in the drawing room.
“I take it you approve?” Harriet asked.
“Approve? Harriet you’re going to take Lucien’s breath away. Don’t you think, Arthur?” Daphne said with a smile.
“Yes, I do,” Arthur replied.
Minutes later they were in the carriage and on their way to the ball. The curtains were closed making it impossible to see what was going on outside. But that was the point when one rode in a carriage at night.
The carriage slowed and Harriet couldn’t resist peeking out the curtain.
They’d arrived and were in line to join the others.
It didn’t take but a few minutes until a footman was helping her down.
She looked around at the people dressed in their finest. The house was quite elegant for the evening as well.
Candles lit every window in the front of the house making this Greek revival look classic.
Their host and hostess were in a receiving line inside the grand hall. As she followed Arthur and Daphne, Harriet tried to maintain her composure. She knew Lucien was somewhere and was anxious to see him. Instead, she quietly spoke to their hosts and was announced into the ballroom.
As she accompanied her cousin’s wife towards a group of ladies, she was caught off guard by the sight of Lucien surrounded by a group of young ladies.
They were all fawning over him. Their leader?
Lady Winifred. She had really put together an influential group which included Lady Jane Smith, Lady Agnes Belmont, and Lady Joy Thomas.
Winifred smirked at her, even though she didn’t know if Harriet saw them.
Lucien appeared to be quite uncomfortable by the group and when he saw her with Daphne, he must have been making excuses to leave them to mix with other guests.
Harriet pretended to be interested in the conversation going on around her but kept finding herself gazing back to Lucien.
Since she was seeing Lucien, she could go over and rescue him from the clutches of that bunch of vipers.
She certainly didn’t need to remain the soft, shy young woman a lot of peers thought she was.
Since Lucien came into her life, she noticed little changes in how she dealt with situations.
She was becoming the woman she wanted to be.
Winnie saw her approaching and tried to move closer to Lucien. He caught a glance of her and turned to greet her.
“Good evening, Harriet. You look exquisite in that gown,” he said, guiding her by the elbow into the inner circle of peers he’d been dragged into.
“Thank you,” Harriet replied. She acknowledged the group all the while standing at Lucien’s side.
The group stayed together and spoke of upcoming galas, and of course to acknowledge the gossip that was circulating among them.
“When did you and Lady Harriet become betrothed?” Lady Winifred inquired.
“We aren’t yet. We’re waiting for her parents to return before we make any announcements,” Lucien said.
He was trying to let them know how serious his and Harriet’s relationship was without giving away things that did not concern the young ladies. He didn’t want it to look as though Harriet was hanging on waiting either.
Finally, Lucien found an out. “If you will excuse us, I see Harriet’s cousin beckoning us to meet someone.”
They walked away and Harriet giggled. “Arthur really didn’t beckon us, did he?”
“No, I never saw Arthur. I just thought you might wish to get away from them,” Lucien replied.
Instead, he guided her onto the terrace. The evening was pleasant with a slight breeze. A change was beginning to happen. Before long, coats would be needed to keep a person warm.
“Come, let’s walk in the garden. There won’t be many more evenings like this.”
“I’d love to,” she replied.
Lucien tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and they began walking along the lit path. “Would you like to take a test run in one of the trains? Actually, it’s for six cars we were commissioned for.”
“Where will you go for your test run?”
“We usually run north. There are more long stretches that direction.”
“That makes sense. It’s not populated like it is near London.”
“That’s why.”
“Didn’t you go to Scotland with the prince?” she inquired, even though she knew the answer.
He stopped and walked off the path where they could have more privacy. From the rustling of the bushes nearby, Lucien wasn’t the only one with this idea.
“It’s so hard for us to get any privacy,” he whispered in her ear.
“We’re not supposed to have any.”
“If we’re betrothed, we would have more, or if we married,” he said.
“You’ve been giving this a lot of thought, haven’t you?”
He pressed his mouth against hers until she opened to him. Lucien knew he had to manage some sense of control, but part of him didn’t want to.
Harriet let him devour her in his passionate kisses. Was this what it was like between a man and woman even after marriage? It certainly wasn’t with some couples she knew, like her parents.
His kisses gave her feelings she’d never had, and they became more intense with every encounter they had. Lucien was a gentleman and would maintain control of the situation.
“Lucien?” she gasped, pulling back for a moment. “Don’t you think we should head back? We’ve been gone quite a while.”
“I assure you we are fine, but we can return if it’ll put you at ease.”
“At least to the path?”
Standing in silence for a moment, Lucien finally kissed her one last time before taking her by the hand and stepping back on the path.
Once they climbed the steps to the terrace, he led her back inside. “You’re not upset with me?” she asked.
“Upset? No, my love. Frustrated? Oh yes,” he replied.
She shyly smiled. Looking across the ballroom, Harriet saw a too familiar figure. “Oh my God, my mother is here.”
Lucien was barely able to get turned around when a voice was speaking directly to him.
“Where have you been with my daughter?”
“Mother, what are you doing here?”
“Looking after my daughter it appears.”
“Your daughter and I are about to become betrothed. We plan to marry,” Lucien said.
“Mother, this is Lucien…”
“Yes, I know who he is, but what I want to know is why he’s interested in you.”