His wife certainly was observant. Most wouldn’t think of something so complicated. Harriet constantly surprised him. She was smart but never let on because women weren’t supposed to be clever. Obviously, she was comfortable with their relationship for her to open up and tell him her observations about something most men probably couldn’t figure out.
He took her hand and they walked down to where the more interesting items were, the mummies and sarcophaguses. People seemed to linger longer here, fascinated by something they’d never seen or may never see again.
“The Egyptians were way ahead of their time,” Lucien observed.
“Yes, they were, but mummification only seemed to be used for royals or very high and important people. What about the everyday person? The merchant, the farmer?”
“I imagine they were buried in whatever the custom was at the time,” Lucien mused.
Finally, they moved on past the popular part of the exhibit. “Have you seen enough?” she asked.
“Are you bored?”
“No, but we’ve been here for quite some time and I’m getting a little hungry.”
He smiled that gorgeous smile he had been gifted with. “I am as well. It’s the middle of the afternoon. We could grab fish and chips or go have an early tea.”
“Fish and chips it is,” she replied.
Making their way through the crowds they got out the door and Lucien spotted their carriage. Once they were on their way, they both relaxed.
“Do you think my mother showed up at the house?” Harriet asked with a smirk.
“You know she did, and she’s probably still there waiting for us.”
“She would leave if she’s been there a while or if your father might return home,” Harriet replied.
He leaned in and kissed her smartly. “Let’s not worry about her. Let’s enjoy our time together and fish and chips.”
“I’d certainly prefer to do that,” Harriet said with a grin. God, how she loved this man.
*
By the timeHarriet and Lucien arrived home, it was late afternoon. The butler met them and handed Lucien a stack of letters. Lucien stared at them in disbelief.
“These are all for me?”
“Yes, my lord. For you and the lady.”
“Why don’t we go to the drawing room and go through these together?”
“Yes,” Lucien replied.
“Would you like a pot of tea?” the butler said.
“Yes, that would be nice,” Harriet said.
They sat down on a white brocade couch with a marble-topped table in front of them. Lucien opened all of them and stacked them in a neat pile. Harriet picked up the first and read it.
“What is it?” Lucien questioned.
“It seems we’ve been invited to a ball given by the Marquess and Marchioness of Wix on the 6th of September in honor of our recent marriage.”
She went through the entire pile. Every single one was a social function in honor of their recent nuptials. After that there was more of the same thing: people doing something for them to introduce them to society as a newlywed couple.
“I imagine my parents got their own invitations, as well as yours,” Harriet said.
“I’m sure. We’ll be sure to ask my father,” Lucien replied.
