Chapter Sixteen
Arriving back in London and in particular Lucien’s family home, Harriet felt slightly overwhelmed. Now that they’d returned, she was no longer the mistress of the house which she’d found satisfying.
The butler had given Lucien a note from his mother. She stated one of her sisters was quite ill and she’d gone to Cambridge to spend time with her.
“What about your father?” Harriet asked.
“He remained behind because of Parliament.”
“Being an MP takes a lot of one’s time,” Harriet said.
“It does. Come, I’ll show you where our suites are. I think you’ll be pleased with them,” Lucien said quietly.
“Yes, I’d like that. It’s been a long and busy day.”
“It has been,” Lucien replied taking her hand and leading her up the stairs, down a short hallway to another wing. There he stood in front of a door and opened the door leading into their suite.
Suddenly Harriet pushed the door wide open and ran with all her might through the opening, around the sitting room, and to the bed chamber, where she jumped up on to the bed, giggling the whole time.
“This feels nice,” she sighed. She arranged her head on a mountain of pillows and watched her husband as he stood at the foot, shaking his head.
“Would you care for tea, madam?” he said with a smile.
“Let’s wait. I want to see the rest of our suite,” she replied.
Sliding down and off the bed, she took his hand for support.
Harriet left her shawl on the bed and followed Lucien.
First place he showed her was their individual dressing rooms that led into the bathing chamber.
Everything was meticulous and shined. Next, they found themselves in the main hall and the small dining room.
“A dining room?” Harriet asked walking around the rectangular piece of furniture.
“Yes, if we wish we can have dinner served here or we can order something else from what my parents might be eating.”
“That doesn’t seem right, ordering an entire separate meal. A lot of work for the staff,” Harriet noted.
“On nights my father is detained or running late, Mother usually has a tray sent up to her.”
“Maybe us all eating together on nights your father is not here would be agreeable with her.”
“She might enjoy that,” Lucien replied.
“Well, come on. Let’s order tea with all the trimmings, but I think we should go to the kitchen to do it. That way you can introduce me, and we can find out more about the menu,” Harriet announced.
He followed her back down the stairs, letting her find the way to the kitchen. After several wrong turns, he pointed her in the right direction to the hall that led directly into the kitchen.
After introducing his bride to the kitchen staff, including the housekeeper, Lucien had Harriet order tea for them. Dinner would be just the two of them, as his father was eating at his club.
The butler came up and handed Lucien a small stack of mail. “I was just going to take these to you. They came this afternoon.”
Lucien nodded and beckoned his wife to come along.
They made their way back to their rooms and Harriet moved through the room to sit in front of the fire.
She wanted to look around at everything.
The walls were covered in a cornflower-blue silk print with white as the accenting trim.
It worked well with the gold-and-navy furniture pieces.
Once she could add her own touches along with Lucien’s, it would be perfect for them.
Harriet sat and watched him as he went through the correspondence the butler had given him.
“This is for you,” he said with a sardonic smile as he passed it to her.
She looked over the writing and snorted. “This is from my mother and father, and it’s addressed to both of us.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
Opening the letter, Harriet scanned the contents quickly and let out a loud, unladylike snort. She reread the letter one more time to be sure she’d read it correctly.
“I don’t know if that noise you just made is good or not or is it humorous?”
“My mother is informing us of a party she and my father are giving in our honor to celebrate our marriage,” Harriet replied.
“How can she do that when she doesn’t know if we’ve returned.”
“You catch on quickly, Lucien. Your father may have mentioned something to my father, who in turn told my mother.”
“That’s feasible,” he replied.
She shook her head. The last thing she wanted was for her mother to do something like this. It would be turned into a spectacle. Her mother didn’t know how to do anything halfway. For some reason that Harriet didn’t know, her mother seemed to need to prove herself to her peers.
“I’ll send her a reply and insist we meet before she goes any further,” Harriet said.
“She should be amenable to that. It would give her a chance to see you alone.”
Nodding, Harriet considered how she could do this. “I’ll ask her to come to lunch here. That way if she wants to pull one of her theatrics, she can without embarrassing herself.”
“Good. Let me know what you decide,” Lucien replied.
“I suppose I should write out a reply now so she will get it promptly. I saw a writing desk in our sitting room. I think I’ll go there.”
“That would be a good idea. I’ll join you so I can read these and decide how to respond.” He held up paper in his fist that was holding on to the correspondence addressed to him.
As she sat at the writing desk, Harriet knew her mother would probably show up in person, unannounced once she realized she and Lucien had returned. There would be no stopping her, except perhaps having the butler lie when she did arrive like that.
Turning to glance at her husband and what he was up to, Harriet scanned his face. He was deep in thought, making notes in a book he carried. It appeared he’d read a couple of missives already and had moved on to the next.
“You know as much as I am looked at as a fair and honest businessman, the more I cringe. There are a few who simply don’t listen and want to be in charge. They’re sort of like your mother; they don’t take no for an answer. And I’m certainly not supposed to have any sort of personal life.”
“You must be speaking of the prince,” Harriet said.
He barked out a laugh. “Am I that obvious?”
“He’s the only one who can ruffle your feathers.”
“That’s because everyone else is normal and respects the protocol.”
“Remember,” Harriet said, “he makes you a lot of money and refers you to his friends and colleagues.”
“I keep telling myself that.”
“Should I write Daphne and Arthur and let them know we’ve returned?” Harriet asked.
“Or I can. I have a couple of things I need to ask Arthur.”
“Perfect,” she replied.
Harriet sat back in the chair after finishing her letter to her mother. The trip had really been more than she thought it would be. She thought maybe if she lay down she could get a second wind.
“Lucien, why don’t you sit at the desk and finish your correspondence. I’m going to go lie down for a while.”
He jerked his head up. “You’re feeling all right, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m just tired. That’s all.”
“Would you like some company when I finish what I’m doing?”
She smiled at him. “I always cherish your company.”
Watching him as he picked up his papers and moved over to the writing desk, Harriet kissed him on the cheek in passing.
Without a word she continued to the bedroom and after taking off her boots, she climbed up on the bed and covered herself with a blanket.
Her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep, not to awaken until the next morning.
Lucien didn’t have the heart to wake her before then.
*
“My lady, Lady Churchill is here,” the butler said from the door of the small breakfast room in the main part of the house.
Harriet sighed. “Lady Churchill is my mother in case she didn’t already inform you of that fact.”
The older man nodded. “She did, my lady. She’s waiting for you in the drawing room.”
“Please bring us tea. I have a feeling this won’t be a short visit.”
The butler left and Harriet finished her last bite of blackberry toast and swallowed the last of her tea. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she rose from her chair and turned to walk to the drawing room and her mother.
She entered the dark-green-and-white room only to find her mother walking around looking at things rather than sitting down waiting. Her mother saw her and immediately hurried over to her. She hugged Harriet tightly.
“I came as soon as I could.”
Uninvited like you always do. Harriet nodded. “You look good, Mother.”
“I was just going to say the same thing about you. Marriage seems to agree with you. That color however does not suit you, Harriet. What were you thinking?”
Harriet took a quick peek down at the apricot day dress she wore. There was nothing wrong with it. It was quite fashionable with dark-gray trim. It was simply that her mother didn’t like the fact Harriet had chosen it herself.
“I rather like it,” she replied.
“You also need to do something about this room.”
“Mother, let me stop you right there. This is Lucien’s family home. His parents spend a lot of time here. Lucien and I have a suite of our own for use when we’re here in London.”
“You need a place of your own,” Lady Margaret replied.
“There is no need. We’ll be going to the country before long, and one day this will be our home.”
“That’s the point—one day.”
“Very well, Mother. I understand what you’re saying.”
Walking over to a pair of gold brocade chairs, Harriet bid her mother to sit down with her. Lady Margaret extended a hand to Harriet, squeezing Harriet’s tightly and got straight to the point.
“Your father and I are going to give you and Lucien a ball in honor of your marriage. It will be two weeks from tomorrow, and it’s going to be a masquerade ball.”
“Not a masquerade ball, Mother.”
“It’ll be perfect. You and Lucien are going to go as Antony and Cleopatra. I’ve got everything you’ll need.”
“Lucien will never agree to this,” Harriet said dryly.
“He will, you’ll see,” Lady Margaret replied.
Harriet bit her tongue. She knew her husband would never agree to this, let alone a masquerade ball. “There has to be another couple we could go as, Mother.”
“No,” she replied.
“So we have to attend a ball given in our honor and none of the guests will know who we are?”
“Don’t be so dramatic, my dear. Everyone will reveal themselves at midnight.”
Thank goodness right at that moment the butler and a footman brought in a tea tray.
It would give her a few minutes to think things through.
Lucien’s parents—they were obviously invited—but with her mother-in-law out of town, she may not be able to make it back in time. It would depend on her sister.
“You are aware Lucien’s mother is out of town visiting her ill sister, don’t you?”
“I invited both of course. We’ll just have to hope his mother will be able to attend.”
“Lucien will not attend if both his parents aren’t in attendance,” Harriet replied.
“Then I suggest you write the woman and convince her to return. I’ll not have my ball canceled for any reason. If she can’t attend, we’ll still go on.”
“As I just told you, Mother, Lucien will not attend unless both are present,” Harriet replied. She knew she had to start keeping a close eye on what her mother was doing or this soiree would turn out to be all about her mother.
“What are you and Father going as?”
Lady Margaret beamed. “Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. I had thought of Catherine of Aragon, but she was too serious.”
“That’s an interesting choice. Perhaps we could switch out. You and father go as Antony and Cleopatra.”
Harriet finished fixing tea for the two of them and passed her mother a cup. She picked up her own cup and took a swallow as she watched her mother.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Your father was quite specific that he wished to dress as Henry.”
“He’ll make a good king,” Harriet replied.
“Yes, he will,” she said. “By the way I’ve been invited to the Duchess of Leeds for her semiannual afternoon soiree tomorrow. Just women and she thought to ask me to see if you’d like to accompany me.”
Harriet knew she wouldn’t be able to get out of attending. She had nothing going on and her mother would surely figure it out. On the other hand, it would be an ideal situation for her to meet some of her peers.
“Yes, I’ll accompany you. It sounds interesting,” Harriet said.
Lady Margaret hadn’t been expecting that her daughter would agree without some sort of discussion or confrontation. She appeared surprised.
“Wonderful. I know you’re going to enjoy yourself.”
“My life has changed now. I’m married and I must represent my husband to the best of my abilities.”
“And hopefully bring some grandchildren soon,” Lady Margaret replied with a sly smile.
“Mother!”
“It’s only a matter of time if you two enjoy bed sports as much as I imagine the two of you do.”
“And this topic is something you shouldn’t be discussing with me. When it happens, you’ll be one of the first to know,” Harriet replied. She knew her face had to give her away. It was a subject she and Lucien hadn’t really discussed, and it would happen when it was meant to.
“Your husband’s going to need a male heir, you know.”
Harriet shook her head in frustration. “Yes, I’m quite aware of that.”
She watched as her mother set her empty cup down on a table next to her. “I hate to rush along, but I’m meeting Lady Hampton. We’re going to a flower exposition and then lunch. With traffic in this part of London…well, you know.”
“That sounds like fun. I know you’ll enjoy it.”
“You’re welcome to join us,” her mother said.
“I’d love to, Mother, but I’m still settling in. Another time perhaps.”
“Of course.”
Lady Margaret stood to leave and Harriet followed her actions. “Be sure to say hello to Lady Hampton for me.”
“I shall.”
“We’ll have you and Papa over for dinner one evening. Right now, Lucien’s trying to catch up on business.”
“That would be lovely. I’ll be in touch in a day or so about the ball.”
Nodding, Harriet stood to walk with her mother to the front door. “Of course. I’m going to write the date down and I’ll be sure to discuss it with Lucien when he comes home later.”
A few minutes later her mother had walked out the door, leaving Harriet reeling. How was she going to convince Lucien to go along and dress the part of Antony. Perhaps she could or she and Lucien could come up with another couple they could be.
At least her mother hadn’t fought with her about it and just let her explain her reasonings she didn’t want to be Cleopatra.
Why she thought this soiree had to be a masquerade rather than a regular ball was something she’d yet to find out, but she’d keep probing and would find out what was behind it.