Chapter Fifteen
Two days later the sun finally came out. To their surprise, the draperies in both rooms had been opened recently. Lucien sat straight up, his face going from a sleeping cherub to a thunder cloud.
“Lucien? What’s wrong?”
He swung his legs over the bed, his manliness giving him away. “I gave specific instructions that no one was to enter our room until I gave the word. Today’s the day staff returns, but I was quite clear the master suite was off limits for the next two days.”
“Why, may I ask?” Harriet innocently asked.
“I want to have all the time in here to us for as long as possible. Whoever came in to open the draperies, might have caught us making love. I intend to find out who it was.”
“Lucien, is that necessary? I’m sure it’s just an innocent mistake.”
“I don’t accept mistakes,” he replied.
She tried to ease the tension she felt in him. “Could it have been your valet?”
“No, he’s not due until tomorrow along with your lady’s maid.”
Harriet pointed to the window. “The sun is finally out! You can show me around the estate.”
“So I see. I’m glad to see it too.” He pulled on his trousers and shirt and went to the rope pull and rang it. “Get under the covers. I’m going to see where breakfast is.”
“I would rather eat here if you don’t mind,” she said.
“Me too,” he replied with a naughty grin.
He left her in bed and went to where the tub was located. The house had been fitted with hot and cold running water and water closets. He knew this was where the footman would come in answer to his call.
When the young man came, Lucien asked him if things had been set up in the smaller dining room or if it would be brought up.
The footman answered that the room had been set.
Hearing that, Lucien informed him he and his bride would be taking all their meals for the next two days in the master suite as he had instructed.
Nodding, the flustered footman left promising Lucien their breakfast would be placed outside the sitting room door when it was brought.
Returning to the bed, he found his bride very close to sleep. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Come on, sleepyhead. You might want to put a robe on. Breakfast will be here shortly.”
“I can stay here until they leave,” she replied without moving.
“Of course, you can, but I really think it would be appropriate if you had some form of clothes on.”
“You wicked man. Your mind seems to be staying on one subject, isn’t it?”
“I’m guilty as charged.” He playfully spanked her on her behind. “Now please put something on.”
Harriet found her robe and put it on but stayed perched on the bed until breakfast arrived.
She snuggled into the pillows and pulled a blanket over her as she waited.
She felt her eyes get heavy and felt herself give way to sleep.
Surely, breakfast would be brought in a matter of minutes.
She only woke when Lucien gently shook her shoulder and whispered to her.
“Breakfast has arrived, my love.”
“How long have we been waiting?” she asked.
He arched a brow, as though he were deciding how to answer. “Almost an hour.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out what’s going on,” he said. “I can bring the cart in here if you’d like,” he said.
“No, we probably should eat at the table.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he replied. “Once we’re finished, I’m going to dress and go down. I want to find out what’s going on. It’s as though I gave instructions to a deaf staff.”
“I’m going to take a bath and then dress. I thought we should do something since the sun is out.”
“The roads will be too muddy to drive safely. In a day or two. We can always walk to the stables and check on Onyx,” he said picking up a small stack of letters that he’d placed next to his place at the table.
Harriet picked at a sausage before cutting it up and popping a piece in her mouth and realized just how hungry she really was. She gazed at him, then the letters. “Is there anything for me?”
“Yes, one. It appears to be from Daphne,” he said. “I received one from Arthur.”
He opened the missive from Arthur and began to read. “It seems your mother is asking about our whereabouts. Arthur says she and your father made a trip to Somerset and she couldn’t find where you were staying.”
“She never gives up. I was hoping since we married, she might calm down. Surely, she can remember back to when she and Papa first married. I’m sure they didn’t want to socialize for the first week or two.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” He kept reading to the end. “Ha! Seems the prince is also seeking us out.”
“Let him look. That’s why you have others to help you. You told him we were marrying and would contact him as soon as you returned to London.”
“What can I say? He’s the bloody Prince of Wales. He’s used to getting what he wants when he wants.”
“Which is all the more reason to not give in to him,” Harriet said. “I’m going to read Daphne’s and see if she says anything different.”
Before she did, Harriet ate a forkful of egg and took a sip of her still hot tea. “I must commend the cook. She’s quite good.”
She began to read Daphne’s letter. Pretty much the same as Arthur’s but a more personal edge about it.
Warning Harriet about her mother’s ongoing antics and her failed journey to Somerset.
Daphne saw no reason for the disruption Lady Margaret wanted to cause her daughter on what was suppose to be a very special time in her life.
Finding her daughter and her new husband were not at the seashore, Daphne went on to say that her mother was demanding to know where her daughter was as she was sure Daphne and others knew but were keeping it from her.
“What does Daphne say?” Lucien asked. He picked up a sausage with his hand and bit into it.
“Much the same as Arthur. Mother is being impossible. She wants to know where I am so she can call on us, because she’s my mother and it’s her priority to visit whenever she feels the need to. She’s not going to change, and it makes me angry.”
“I know it does. Arthur and Daphne are really the only ones who know our whereabouts and they’ll never tell her.”
“No, they won’t. I hate they’re having to deal with her,” Harriet replied.
Picking up the missive from Daphne, she read it this time to the very end.
In it were some news she was asked not to share with Lucien just yet.
Daphne, it seems, was with child, but it was so new she didn’t want to tell her husband just yet.
Once another month passed, she would give him the news.
She couldn’t help but smile at the joyful news Daphne shared with her.
“What are you grinning about?” Lucien asked.
“Something personal I can’t share with you,” she replied.
“Now I’m even more curious.”
“You’ll have to be satisfied with my answer for the time being.”
“I see. Very well, I shall dress and be off to speak with the housekeeper.”
“You are taking a bath first, aren’t you?” Harriet asked.
“I hadn’t planned on it. I was going to wash up. I’ll bathe in the tub later so you can help,” he said with a smirk.
“Very well. I plan on soaking in hot water for a very long time.”
“You may find yourself taking more than one bath then, my dear,” he said, laughing as he walked towards the bathing chamber.
“Promises, promises,” she replied.
She was grateful for the effort Lucien had put into planning all this.
So far, everything had been perfect. It also gave them the opportunity to spend some quality time getting to know each other better.
Now that the rain had appeared to have left, they’d be able to explore the estate, perhaps even go for a picnic or two.
They had no set time for returning to London and if they did it would be for a short period of time, and they’d stay with his parents in the family home.
His mother had mentioned she was going to have a suite of rooms cleaned for them that were farther from the rest of the family to give them privacy.
Right now, she had no wish to go back to reality. Harriet could spend forever on the estate, just if Lucien were with her.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Lucien whistling as he walked through the rooms. When he joined her, he was in a dark-brown pair of trousers and a white shirt.
“The bath is filling just for you. Don’t dally or it shall overflow.”
“Where are you off to?” she asked as she headed towards the bathing room.
“To talk with staff.”
“I’m off to bathe,” she replied arching a brow. She didn’t think she’d like to be in anyone’s shoes if Lucien was going below stairs to reprimand staff.
She thought he’d normally overlook such a matter, but since it was their wedding time, and he had given specific instructions, a dressing down was in order. Those instructions had been broken.
Shutting off the taps on the tub, Harriet stuck her hand and arm into the water. It was perfect. She went in search of some soap and towels. The soap was orange vanilla, one of her favorites.
Finally, she submerged herself in the water and watched the steam around her.
Laying her head against the back of the tub, Harriet closed her eyes and began to relax.
This certainly had been a time she’d never forget.
Lucien had been a most caring and sensitive lover, making sure she wasn’t scared by what was happening between the two of them.
Still, her body was just getting used to him and she would never tell him if she hurt anywhere.
Actually, she hadn’t been that sore, but the water certainly felt good on her body.
Harriet began to think of things she’d like to do since the weather had cleared. Besides touring the estate, she’d like to see the village. If this was to be their country residence, then she needed to become familiar with the village and what sort of shops it contained.
The water was beginning to cool, so Harriet let some of the water out in order to replenish with some hot water.