Chapter Seventeen #2
Harriet heard her maid back already and folded the letter and readied it for delivery. Rex in the meanwhile had laid the blue dress and all its accessories neatly across the bed.
“Thank you. I agree with your assessment. I love that dress. The color, the style. It’s just well put together.”
For the next half hour her maid helped her into the dress until Harriet stood in front of a mirror.
Perfection. All she needed was a sturdy pair of boots and she’d be set.
Her hair didn’t take long as she didn’t like to overdo the styling for going out during the day.
If she were going to an affair women might have, she would, but for the museum she was comfortable with it pulled up like this. Simple but elegant.
Rex handed her a shawl and reticule that matched.
“I suppose I should go find my husband. I’m sure he’s sitting patiently waiting on me,” she said. “Thank you, Rex.”
“You’re very welcome, my lady. I think you’ll find his lordship in the drawing room.”
“Ah, that means he’s finished all his work.”
Rushing through the house, Harriet easily found the drawing room. Inside she found Lucien pacing the floor, stopping in front of a picture of mixed flowers. It was colorful with the blooms inside a crystal vase. He turned upon hearing her walking across the floor.
“My grandmother painted this,” he said.
“Your father’s mother?”
“Yes.”
“She was a very talented woman,” Harriet replied.
“Yes, she was. There are a few more hanging throughout the house.”
Harriet smiled at him and lay her hand in the crook of his arm. “You’ll have to show me sometime.”
“I’d like that, but we need to get going.”
“Before my mother shows up?” she giggled.
“Yes.”
They walked outside to the carriage and Lucien helped his wife in as a footman held the door open. He then spoke to the driver before climbing in beside her. After they were both settled in, Lucien knocked on the roof of the carriage with his walking stick, and it creaked forward.
Traffic was London’s finest. Everyone seemed to be out to enjoy the fleeting good weather.
They came close to the museum and that’s where the traffic seemed to get worse.
Surely, not everyone was going to the museum.
It was a new exhibit, and the subject matter was quite popular.
Everyone wanted to see the artifacts and jewels, not to mention a mummy or two.
“Lucien, why don’t we get out and walk the rest of the way. We just need to walk across the park and the museum entrance right there.”
“Excellent idea,” he replied.
They got out of the carriage and crossed the busy street to the park and began walking towards the building which housed the museum. Once they reached the end of the park and were facing another street, the pair crossed with a small group who were obviously going to the museum.
Climbing the steps was something Harriet remembered quite well from each prior time she’d visited. There was a steady crowd, and Lucien was able to navigate them to the front door.
Inside there were signs guiding people to the Egyptian exhibit. There were also young men in place to answer questions. Everything was quite efficiently run.
“Where would you like to start?” he asked.
“I don’t think it matters, but the crowd seems to be going that way,” she said pointing to the right.
Lucien nodded and turned them that way. In glass cases were items used in the process to build and shape the various monuments. They finally came upon hieroglyphics. It was fascinating to try and figure out what they all meant. Not even the experts were one hundred percent sure what they meant.
“Would you like to sit down for a moment on one of the benches?” Lucien asked. They’d been on their feet for a while, and he didn’t want to wear her out.
“Yes, I would. There is so much to see. I had no idea how much had been brought out of Egypt.”
“From what I understand, what they’ve got on display here is only a tiny portion of what they brought. I believe the idea is to rotate the items at some point.”
“What a clever idea,” Harriet replied.
“I thought so,” Lucien said. He motioned farther down the room. “I believe the mummies are down there along with a couple of sarcophaguses with more mummies inside.”
“Do they have the mummies under glass?”
“Yes, I believe they do,” Lucien replied. “Why do you ask?”
Harriet arched a brow. “It seems to me that if a mummy is removed from its sarcophagus, after being out of the air for who knows how long, the air it now finds itself exposed to could do harm to the wrappings and the body beneath it all.”
Lucien didn’t say a word for a moment as he took in what Harriet had just told him. “You’re right. What made you think of such a thing?”
“I don’t know. It just made sense to me.”
“I’m sure they have experts on the team that went who figured that out.”
“I’m sure they do. Just an observation, that’s all.”
His wife certainly was observant. Most wouldn’t think of something so complicated.
Harriet constantly surprised him. She was smart but never let on because women weren’t supposed to be clever.
Obviously, she was comfortable with their relationship for her to open up and tell him her observations about something most men probably couldn’t figure out.
He took her hand and they walked down to where the more interesting items were, the mummies and sarcophaguses. People seemed to linger longer here, fascinated by something they’d never seen or may never see again.
“The Egyptians were way ahead of their time,” Lucien observed.
“Yes, they were, but mummification only seemed to be used for royals or very high and important people. What about the everyday person? The merchant, the farmer?”
“I imagine they were buried in whatever the custom was at the time,” Lucien mused.
Finally, they moved on past the popular part of the exhibit. “Have you seen enough?” she asked.
“Are you bored?”
“No, but we’ve been here for quite some time and I’m getting a little hungry.”
He smiled that gorgeous smile he had been gifted with. “I am as well. It’s the middle of the afternoon. We could grab fish and chips or go have an early tea.”
“Fish and chips it is,” she replied.
Making their way through the crowds they got out the door and Lucien spotted their carriage. Once they were on their way, they both relaxed.
“Do you think my mother showed up at the house?” Harriet asked with a smirk.
“You know she did, and she’s probably still there waiting for us.”
“She would leave if she’s been there a while or if your father might return home,” Harriet replied.
He leaned in and kissed her smartly. “Let’s not worry about her. Let’s enjoy our time together and fish and chips.”
“I’d certainly prefer to do that,” Harriet said with a grin. God, how she loved this man.
*
By the time Harriet and Lucien arrived home, it was late afternoon. The butler met them and handed Lucien a stack of letters. Lucien stared at them in disbelief.
“These are all for me?”
“Yes, my lord. For you and the lady.”
“Why don’t we go to the drawing room and go through these together?”
“Yes,” Lucien replied.
“Would you like a pot of tea?” the butler said.
“Yes, that would be nice,” Harriet said.
They sat down on a white brocade couch with a marble-topped table in front of them. Lucien opened all of them and stacked them in a neat pile. Harriet picked up the first and read it.
“What is it?” Lucien questioned.
“It seems we’ve been invited to a ball given by the Marquess and Marchioness of Wix on the 6th of September in honor of our recent marriage.”
She went through the entire pile. Every single one was a social function in honor of their recent nuptials. After that there was more of the same thing: people doing something for them to introduce them to society as a newlywed couple.
“I imagine my parents got their own invitations, as well as yours,” Harriet said.
“I’m sure. We’ll be sure to ask my father,” Lucien replied.
Harriet smiled briefly. “This could be part of the reason my mother came today. I’m sure both sets of parents would be invited, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll write down the dates of each party.”
This wasn’t uncommon. People of society married, and others gave balls, soirees, and other ways to welcome the new couple into society. Harriet understood that and knew they needed to attend these since now they weren’t going to be able to hold their own with Lucien’s mother unavailable.
Tea had been brought in, and Harriet rose and walked over to the cart to make them both a cup. “I’m sure my parents got these as well, so either my mother will be here first thing or I’ll get summoned,” she said.
She set her husband’s cup down in front of him, then turned and picked up her own. Harriet waited for him to say something, but he remained quiet and pensive, like there was something weighing on his mind.
“Lucien, is everything okay? You seem so quiet suddenly.”
“It’s nothing. I was thinking about my father and getting him to attend. I’ll speak with him about all of these soirees and make sure he’s on board with going to them with us.”
“Why wouldn’t he?” she asked. It was curious that a man who was an MP and admired would hesitate attending something given for his son and new daughter-in-law.
“He may be a popular MP, but when it comes to social situations such as these, he seems to freeze. Especially without my mother.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “I think I understand. Sort of the opposite of my mother. She thrives on social events with or without my father, and your father does not, especially without your mother. Am I correct?”
Smiling, Lucien was quick to point out a difference. “Pretty much, yes. My father does do well on his own if it’s something relating to parliament. A dinner, a party…”
“I take it your mother isn’t into going to those sorts of things?”
“On the contrary. She loves to go, saying some of the people attending are simply fascinating.”
As they both took sips of their tea, the drawing room opened and in walked her father-in-law.
“There wasn’t much going on so I decided to come home,” the duke said.
“Would you like tea? I’ll get a cup for you,” Harriet said.
“No need, my dear. I asked the butler to make sure one got here immediately,” he replied.
Harriet hadn’t noticed before how much father and son looked alike. Lucien was a younger version of him. The elder was quite distinguished with his silver-gray hair.
“We were just going through some invitations that arrived this afternoon,” Lucien said.
“Yes, I was informed I had a stack in my study.”
“Just let me know which ones you want to attend, though under the circumstances we should attend all of them,” Harriet said.
Lucien nodded. “That’s what we thought.”
“Once your mother returns, we’ll throw a ball the likes of which London has yet to see.”
“Have you heard from Mother? Does she have an idea as to when she might return?”
“I heard from her yesterday. She said she was waiting on her sister, Irene, to arrive. Irene is going to relieve your mother and stay so your mother can have a break,” the duke replied.
“I know she doesn’t want to leave, but I’m glad she will, even if it’s only for a couple of weeks,” Lucien said.
“I suggest we attend these festivities and if the duchess feels up to it, I’ll help her with planning the ball she had in mind for us,” Harriet said.
“That sounds reasonable as long as we don’t overwhelm her. I’m sure her mind is going to be elsewhere,” the duke said, adding, “I will leave you two. I’ve got a few things of my own to finish. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Watching the duke quit the room, both Lucien and Harriet let out a sigh of relief.
“It was good to see him,” Harriet said. “He’s been so busy with Parliament lately.”
“Yes. I agree. I’m happy to hear Mother is coming home for at least a couple of weeks.”
“Why don’t we retire to our suite and get ready for dinner,” Harriet said with a sly grin.
He shook his head. “It’s a bit early to dress for dinner.” Then Lucien realized what his wife meant and barked out a laugh.