Harriet sat back in the chair after finishing her letter to her mother. The trip had really been more than she thought it would be. She thought maybe if she lay down she could get a second wind.
“Lucien, why don’t you sit at the desk and finish your correspondence. I’m going to go lie down for a while.”
He jerked his head up. “You’re feeling all right, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I’m just tired. That’s all.”
“Would you like some company when I finish what I’m doing?”
She smiled at him. “I always cherish your company.”
Watching him as he picked up his papers and moved over to the writing desk, Harriet kissed him on the cheek in passing. Without a word she continued to the bedroom and after taking off her boots, she climbed up on the bed and covered herself with a blanket. Her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep, not to awaken until the next morning. Lucien didn’t have the heart to wake her before then.
*
“My lady, LadyChurchill is here,” the butler said from the door of the small breakfast room in the main part of the house.
Harriet sighed. “Lady Churchill is my mother in case she didn’t already inform you of that fact.”
The older man nodded. “She did, my lady. She’s waiting for you in the drawing room.”
“Please bring us tea. I have a feeling this won’t be a short visit.”
The butler left and Harriet finished her last bite of blackberry toast and swallowed the last of her tea. Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she rose from her chair and turned to walk to the drawing room and her mother.
She entered the dark-green-and-white room only to find her mother walking around looking at things rather than sitting down waiting. Her mother saw her and immediately hurried over to her. She hugged Harriet tightly.
“I came as soon as I could.”
Uninvited like you always do.Harriet nodded. “You look good, Mother.”
“I was just going to say the same thing about you. Marriage seems to agree with you. That color however does not suit you, Harriet. What were you thinking?”
Harriet took a quick peek down at the apricot day dress she wore. There was nothing wrong with it. It was quite fashionable with dark-gray trim. It was simply that her mother didn’t like the fact Harriet had chosen it herself.
“I rather like it,” she replied.
“You also need to do something about this room.”
“Mother, let me stop you right there. This is Lucien’s family home. His parents spend a lot of time here. Lucien and I have a suite of our own for use when we’re here in London.”
“You need a place of your own,” Lady Margaret replied.
“There is no need. We’ll be going to the country before long, and one day this will be our home.”
“That’s the point—one day.”
“Very well, Mother. I understand what you’re saying.”
Walking over to a pair of gold brocade chairs, Harriet bid her mother to sit down with her. Lady Margaret extended a hand to Harriet, squeezing Harriet’s tightly and got straight to the point.
“Your father and I are going to give you and Lucien a ball in honor of your marriage. It will be two weeks from tomorrow, and it’s going to be a masquerade ball.”
“Not a masquerade ball, Mother.”
“It’ll be perfect. You and Lucien are going to go as Antony and Cleopatra. I’ve got everything you’ll need.”
“Lucien will never agree to this,” Harriet said dryly.
