“Where are we going?”
He smiled. “That’s the mystery, my love. You will have to guess,” he said.
“I’m not good at guessing and if we need to get started, I suppose we should.”
Lucien stood up and picked up his glass of champagne. He thanked everyone for coming on their behalf and explained they had a journey to start.
Harriet and Lucien separately said their goodbyes to everyone. She noted her father speaking with Lucien. At about that time her mother came up to her, and Harriet held her breath for the worse.
“You should have called on me to help.”
“Sorry, Mother, it was short notice,” Harriet tried to explain.
“It doesn’t surprise me. You never listened about the correct way to do things.”
“I’m going to ignore that comment. Thank you for coming, Mother.”
“That’s all I get?”
“What are you talking about? Harriet inquired. She was going to lose her patience if they didn’t get out of here.
Rather than get penned in, her mother chose to change the subject. “I don’t know why you wore that dress when I’m sure you have a more appropriate one available to you.”
Her mother suddenly took her hand and stared at the dark-green, emerald ring Lucien had given her, along with a thin band of gold. “I can’t see why he gave you this ring. There’s nothing likeable about it.”
“The ring belonged to his paternal grandmother; that’s why he gave it to me.”
Her mother was about to say something, but Daphne approached. “I’m supposed to be taking you to your husband. He’s ready to go.”
“Yes, and he’s being very mysterious about where we’re going,” Harriet said.
She kissed her mother on the cheek. “I’ll let you know when we’ve returned.
“We can catch up over tea,” she replied.
Harriet acknowledged the invitation with the nod of her head, turned, and began walking towards Lucien. Her husband. That sounded so strange, something she never anticipated would ever happen to her, but now here she was—married.
Lucien met her halfway. “We need to get going.”
“Yes, I’m ready,” she replied.
They climbed into the carriage and said their goodbyes once more out the open window. Once they pulled away, Lucien closed the window and sat down next to her.
He gazed at her for a moment before leaning over and kissing her passionately. It left them both breathless. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look today, wife?”
“No, but keep the compliments coming.”
He snorted and smiled. “You do have a wit about you.”
“You think so?”
“Yes.” He pulled her closer. She smelled so feminine. “You might as well remove your hat and get comfortable.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” She removed the hatpins keeping it secure. Taking the hat off, Harriet threw it across the carriage to the empty seat.
“I have something to confess,” Lucien began, “because of the Prince of Wales’s new order and one other we’re going to spend time together at my estate in Gloucestershire rather than go to the coast. Are you okay with this?”
“Yes, though I’m disappointed you’re going to work.” She stuck out her bottom lip as though she were sulking.
