“Is the Prince of Wales the most well-known of your custom orders?” she asked.
“Yes, he is, but as word gets around about where he ordered his private car from, I expect more to come to me.”
“Sounds like you have it all figured out.”
“Just a good solid business plan,” he replied.
“That’s important. I’ve heard my father say something similar before.”
He set his cup down. “I understand you have no siblings?”
“You would be correct. I’m an only child.”
“Do you find growing up to be harder?”
“Yes, at times. I had no one to play with,” she replied.
The door to the drawing room opened and Lady Daphne entered. By all accounts, she should have been there in the corner during Lord Lucien’s visit. “Harriet, I know Lord Lucien has a passion for plants and flowers. Why don’t you two take a walk and you can show him. It’s much too nice a day to sit inside.”
“Lord Lucien? Would you like to walk with me?” Harriet asked.
He stood and held out his hand to her. “Yes. I have a passion for peonies and roses.”
Harriet gracefully put her hand in his as she rose from the settee. She managed to gaze over at Daphne who was smiling gleefully. Harriet didn’t know whether to be happy or not with her meddling.
“Where’s Sam?” she asked Daphne as she walked across the room with Lucien.
“I had him moved. I didn’t think Lord Lucien would care to be cursed at by a parrot.”
“A parrot?” he asked.
“Yes, Daphne has this beautiful macaw named Sam. He likes to use naughty words.”
“No, I’d love to meet him. I’ve never seen a parrot up close,” Lucien replied.
“Very well. I’ll have him returned to the drawing room, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Lucien walked behind Harriet as she led them outside and on to the terrace. Nothing was said between them, and she further led him down the stairs leading to the gardens. She took the pathway to the left as it would get them to the roses first. As they came upon a bed of roses, she noticed all the bushes were in bloom.
“It appears everything is in full bloom,” she said.
“Gorgeous. Someone put a lot of thought into the layout and arrangement of the colors,” Lucien said.
“I believe Lord Hightower’s grandmother was the one responsible for laying everything out. She also had a passion for flowers like you.”
“She did a fine job. These roses have been well taken care of. Some of them are quite old,” he replied.
They continued to get a view from another angle. From what she could tell, Lucien was fascinated by what he saw. He was respectful of the beds and the gardeners’ hard work and didn’t leave the path.
His brow arched and he stepped back beside her. “Lady Harriet, I thoroughly enjoy your company and would like to call on you again. I was thinking a ride through Hyde Park tomorrow. Does that suit you?”
Looking up at him, Harriet thought she was going to have to pinch herself to make sure this was real. “I like your company as well, and yes, I’d love to go to Hyde Park.”
She saw a hint of a smile on his handsome face. “Wonderful. I understand there are hot air balloons there as well. Have you ever seen one up close?”
Shaking her head, Harriet responded, “No, I’ve never seen them on the ground. Only in the air. I find the concept of flying fascinating, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
