“That sounds like fun. I know you’ll enjoy it.”
“You’re welcome to join us,” her mother said.
“I’d love to, Mother, but I’m still settling in. Another time perhaps.”
“Of course.”
Lady Margaret stood to leave and Harriet followed her actions. “Be sure to say hello to Lady Hampton for me.”
“I shall.”
“We’ll have you and Papa over for dinner one evening. Right now, Lucien’s trying to catch up on business.”
“That would be lovely. I’ll be in touch in a day or so about the ball.”
Nodding, Harriet stood to walk with her mother to the front door. “Of course. I’m going to write the date down and I’ll be sure to discuss it with Lucien when he comes home later.”
A few minutes later her mother had walked out the door, leaving Harriet reeling. How was she going to convince Lucien to go along and dress the part of Antony. Perhaps she could or she and Lucien could come up with another couple they could be.
At least her mother hadn’t fought with her about it and just let her explain her reasonings she didn’t want to be Cleopatra.Why she thought this soiree had to be a masquerade rather than a regular ball was something she’d yet to find out, but she’d keep probing and would find out what was behind it.
Chapter Seventeen
“No, absolutely not!”Lucien roared hearing the news his bride’s parents were going to have a masquerade ball in honor of their marriage.
“I told her no. I told her you wouldn’t attend, and she still refused to make a concession.”
“Why on earth do you suppose she’s insisting on a masquerade ball? Celebrating their daughter’s nuptials shouldn’t be one where you’re trying to guess who everyone is.”
Harriet shook her head. Her mother was simply being herself. “I was unable to get a true reading on her motive.”
“I believe I’ll go ahead and write her, sending our apologies.”
“Yes, please do so. Maybe she’ll listen to you and agree to changing it away from a masquerade.”
Lucien nodded. “I’ll remind her that we won’t be attending if she insists on making what’s supposed to be an introduction ball a masquerade. No costumes.”
“If she just asked first. I’d have told her no then and helped her with the planning. But she’s already started. The invitations are out, caterers have been lined up. She would not take no for an answer.”
“There’s still time to inform her guests that it’s no longer a masquerade,” Lucien said.
“Yes, there is. If she insists on not changing it, I think we should refuse to attend.”
“Or, we show up as ourselves,” Lucien replied.
Giggling, Harriet, had to agree with him. But she didn’t want to embarrass her mother. “Not a bad idea, husband. First you talk to her and see if you’ll change her mind. If not, we’ll try something else.”
“She should have consulted with my mother. They could have done a joint ball. Does she know Mother is out of town?”
“Yes, and she wants us to get her to return.”
“I’ll not do that, and I know my mother is not going to leave her sister’s sick bed for a party.”
“I tried telling her that and got nowhere with her,” Harriet said.
“Very well. Rather than spend hours trying to sort this thing out, let’s just agree I’ll go speak with your mother.”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Harriet replied.
