“Everyone pitches in to help. Like with the apples, it’s important to get them when they’re ready. Boys from the tenants’ households help pick them and put them in baskets. For their hard work, they’re each given a bushel of apples to take home.”
Harriet nodded in quiet reflection. There was much to learn about being mistress to so many people. Lucien’s mother had offered to assist her and school her. Harriet’s own mother was one of those women who left everything to the men or her staff to take care of. Harriet knew she met with the staff on a nonspecific schedule. The housekeeper ran the house and if her mother had any comments or questions, she’d contact the woman.
“A new roof will be going up after we leave. It’s lead and I’ve scheduled it for when we are not here.”
“Ah, okay.”
“I try and keep up on the maintenance. After I purchased the estate, I found a lot of things neglected. Nothing serious, but they could have turned that way if not taken care of.”
She nodded and leaned into him as they continued to walk. Harriet had learned just how relaxed and at ease she was with Lucien. She had indeed been blessed when they met.
Chapter Sixteen
Arriving back inLondon and in particular Lucien’s family home, Harriet felt slightly overwhelmed. Now that they’d returned, she was no longer the mistress of the house which she’d found satisfying.
The butler had given Lucien a note from his mother. She stated one of her sisters was quite ill and she’d gone to Cambridge to spend time with her.
“What about your father?” Harriet asked.
“He remained behind because of Parliament.”
“Being an MP takes a lot of one’s time,” Harriet said.
“It does. Come, I’ll show you where our suites are. I think you’ll be pleased with them,” Lucien said quietly.
“Yes, I’d like that. It’s been a long and busy day.”
“It has been,” Lucien replied taking her hand and leading her up the stairs, down a short hallway to another wing. There he stood in front of a door and opened the door leading into their suite.
Suddenly Harriet pushed the door wide open and ran with all her might through the opening, around the sitting room, and to the bed chamber, where she jumped up on to the bed, giggling the whole time.
“This feels nice,” she sighed. She arranged her head on a mountain of pillows and watched her husband as he stood at the foot, shaking his head.
“Would you care for tea, madam?” he said with a smile.
“Let’s wait. I want to see the rest of our suite,” she replied.
Sliding down and off the bed, she took his hand for support. Harriet left her shawl on the bed and followed Lucien. First place he showed her was their individual dressing rooms that led into the bathing chamber. Everything was meticulous and shined. Next, they found themselves in the main hall and the small dining room.
“A dining room?” Harriet asked walking around the rectangular piece of furniture.
“Yes, if we wish we can have dinner served here or we can order something else from what my parents might be eating.”
“That doesn’t seem right, ordering an entire separate meal. A lot of work for the staff,” Harriet noted.
“On nights my father is detained or running late, Mother usually has a tray sent up to her.”
“Maybe us all eating together on nights your father is not here would be agreeable with her.”
“She might enjoy that,” Lucien replied.
“Well, come on. Let’s order tea with all the trimmings, but I think we should go to the kitchen to do it. That way you can introduce me, and we can find out more about the menu,” Harriet announced.
He followed her back down the stairs, letting her find the way to the kitchen. After several wrong turns, he pointed her in the right direction to the hall that led directly into the kitchen.
After introducing his bride to the kitchen staff, including the housekeeper, Lucien had Harriet order tea for them. Dinner would be just the two of them, as his father was eating at his club.
The butler came up and handed Lucien a small stack of mail. “I was just going to take these to you. They came this afternoon.”
