“Would you go along?” Daphne asked.
Lucien nodded. “He’s very particular and won’t deal with anyone else but me. I tried having an associate deal with a meeting because I was in another meeting, and he was not happy. To answer your question, probably.”
“I know your mother is probably waiting so I won’t keep you,” Daphne said and turned to look at Harriet. “Enjoy yourself.”
He watched Harriet nod shyly and turn towards him. “Shall we?” she asked.
“Yes.” He turned to Daphne. “I thought we might go for a walk in the park down the street when we’re done, if that’s all right.”
“It’s a gorgeous day for a nice walk. Enjoy yourselves.”
Once in the carriage, Lucien sat next to Harriet. “Are you nervous about meeting my mother?”
She nodded slightly. “Yes. I vaguely recall meeting her at something my mother took me to.”
“Don’t be nervous. I promise my mother will do everything she can to make sure you’re at ease.”
“I’m sure she will,” Harriet replied. She turned her head slightly to get a better view of Lucien. She smiled ever so slightly at him before focusing on the landscape outside the carriage.
He sat back, continuing to watch her. She wasn’t at all like the hot-house flowers vying for a husband of the ton. Harriet, while painfully shy at times, was morphing into something more. He understood her own mother to be quite overbearing and expected her daughter to seek perfection. Arthur and Daphne, both, had told him that much and not having her mother control her every move was helping transform Lady Harriet into a woman he was falling madly in love with, and a young woman her own mother wouldn’t recognize.
“The house should be coming up around the next corner,” he said.
The carriage turned the corner before Harriet sat back near him. “Is your family home the one in the middle of the block? The deep-red brick home?”
“Yes, yes it is,” he replied. “Have you been here before?”
“I remember coming here years ago with my mother for a tea your mother gave.”
He put his hand over hers and patted his hand. “Yes, my mother loves to do teas for the up-and-coming debutantes.”
At that point, the carriage pulled into the circular drive in front of the house. The coach came to a stop and a second later the door opened. Lucien exited first, holding a hand out to assist Harriet.
“You’ll do fine,” he whispered.
He led her into the house to the massive receiving hall. It boasted two identical staircases that met together at the top. The butler and a footman took their outerwear, and Lucien led them to the stairs. They walked up to the first level which was where the public rooms were. He took her to a large oak door. A footman opened it and the inside held a small parlor where his mother liked to entertain guests. It wasn’t as overwhelming as the larger drawing room. The parlor was more intimate and welcoming. Done in shades of blue with white accents, the room was soothing.
Before Lucien could get them seated, his mother entered the room. She was elegant, graceful, and welcoming as she walked straight to Harriet and took both Harriet’s hands in hers. “Lady Harriet, you have grown into a beautiful young woman since I saw you last.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you remember coming here with your mother for one of my teas? I hold them in the drawing room where the terrace can be used on beautiful days.”
“I did remember the house when we arrived, and I do remember you. You helped rescue me from my mother’s harsh words if I remember correctly,” Harriet responded.
His mother started to respond, but Lucien took the time to interject a proper introduction. “Mother, Lady Harriet’s the young woman I was telling you about, but it seems you two have already met.”
“Come, let’s stop being so formal and sit down. Tea ought to be here momentarily,” she said.
She led them to a group of gold-and-white damask chairs and a couch sitting in the center of the room. Lucien knew his mother had taken a liking to Harriet when he told her he was interested in her.
Lucien made sure both women were seated and comfortable before he sat down across from them. “The Prince of Wales now wants me to accompany him on a ride to Edinburgh to test his new train car out.”
“That man certainly is demanding of your time. Why can’t one of your associates go instead?” his mother asked.
He shook his head. “I’ve tried that tactic. He won’t work with anyone but me, but I haven’t committed to the Edinburgh run just yet. I’m hoping he’ll reconsider.”
In the background the door opened, and a footman appeared with the tea service. The footman left it on a table near Lucien’s mother and disappeared as quickly as he’d appeared. His mother looked but didn’t make a move as she and Harriet had engaged in some topic of conversation.
