“I enjoyed getting to know more about you, Lord Lucien, and I too look forward to our outing tomorrow.”
She sighed quietly as he left the room. Harriet felt like her heart was going to burst at any time, she was so full of joy that this man seemed to have an interest in her. Not only was he going to call on her again tomorrow, but he was taking her somewhere very public. If he had any hesitation about being seen with her, he would have suggested they stay here. Instead, they were going to take a ride through Hyde Park. It would be impossible not to be seen.
“I think Lord Lucien will be calling on you on a regular basis after today,” Daphne said with a lopsided grin.
“You don’t think it’s too soon, do you?” Harriet asked.
“No, not at all. You go and enjoy your time with him,” Daphne replied.
“I will.”
Things this season, at least so far, were quite different from last year’s disaster. Men were actually talking to her and dancing with her. She was beginning to believe it was because her mother wasn’t around to embarrass her. The tacky dresses, the condescending remarks, the general interference by her mother in every move she made. Now she felt relaxed and more confident. Oh, her mother did love her in her own strange way, but Harriet found out in a short time, her life was better without being constantly put down or treated like she couldn’t think for herself. This was going to be her time, her year. No one was going to tell her otherwise.
“Harriet?”
Harriet looked around and saw Daphne looking at her, so she nodded. “Yes? I’m sorry my mind was elsewhere.”
“I would say so. I just asked you if you’d like to accompany me to the orphanage? A few of us ladies are meeting at the one outside Whitehall. From there we’ll take a tour.”
“Ordinarily I would, but I need to see what I have that might work as an ensemble for when Lord Lucien calls tomorrow,” Harriet replied.
“Yes, you do want to look your best. You can join us next time.”
“Thank you. I promise to accompany you the next meeting.”
Daphne stood. “I’m going to get ready to go.”
“Yes. I’m going upstairs to go through my dresses and choose something for tomorrow. I want to try it on to make sure nothing needs to be adjusted and that it fits as it should.”
Harriet’s mind went directly to a peach-colored confection she had brought from her parents’ home. It was one of the least offensive dresses her mother insisted she have made. It was plain, but with some jewelry and perhaps a scarf it might be perfect for her outing. She’d never worn it so today was perfect to try it and others on to see what might work. She was glad Daphne was so understanding. Her mother would have dragged her to the meeting kicking and screaming. Harriet knew she would never have done either of those things, but it was nice to know she had that choice.
Chapter Five
Having tried onthree dresses since last evening, Harriet finally selected on a deep-plum cotton dress with black piping on the collar and sleeves. Rex handed her a matching bonnet and reticule. Her maid had fashioned her hair into an upswept style and one last look in the mirror confirmed all the time she’d taken getting ready for this first outing with Lord Lucien was well worth it. Daphne and Arthur had even approved when she’d gone in search of Daphne to get her opinion. The pair had been on the terrace enjoying tea together before Arthur left for his trip to Parliament.
A knock on the door of her rooms had her maid scurrying to see who was on the other side. She closed the door and squealed. “Lord Kingston has arrived.”
“Oh my. You’re sure I look good?”
“Perfect. Now stop making excuses and go downstair and meet him. He’s going to be in awe of your beauty,” Rex said as she pushed Harriet to the door. “Have a wonderful time with Lord Kingston.”
Harriet was at a loss for words. She simply nodded and left to meet him.
Finding him standing inside the drawing room talking with Daphne put her at ease, but what was she going to do when it was just the two of them? She couldn’t afford to resort to her shyness. It would scare him away for sure. She didn’t need to be chatty, just act interested in what he had to say and what hemight ask her. That was all. Everything would fall into place if it was meant to be.
The man was so incredibly handsome, and he didn’t act like some men and flaunt it in front of others. He wasn’t a dandy. “Good day, Lady Harriet.”
“Good day,” she replied.
“We should get going. There’s usually a good crowd on days the balloons are there.”
“I’m excited to see the balloons.”
It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust as he led her to the landau he’d come in. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue with only a few clouds lazily rolling along. It was going to be a magnificent day for a drive through the park to watch the balloons.
“I thought the landau would be perfect for the day and for looking at the balloons as they launch,” he said.
She nodded. “It’s perfect for a day like today.”
