“No, these are completely different. There’s enough room for a small family to hide in one of these.”
Harriet arched her brow. “Do any of the staff know about all of this?”
“Not that I’m aware of.”
It would be an adventure for the next time they were in residence. Harriet loved the fact that they both found things in common to do together. It was a great way for them to spend time together and strengthen their growing bond.
Chapter Nineteen
Not entirely surehow her mother would act at the dinner with both sets of parents, Harriet’s stomach flipped. She hoped it would be the softer, quieter side, and not the obnoxious persona. Her thoughts ran in a hundred different directions as she and Lucien returned to London. Her husband was sitting next to her sound asleep. She tried not to move so as to disturb him.
The day after tomorrow they would head to the coast to board a ship heading to Calais, where they would begin their wedding journey. She was excited having only been to Paris. This time, without her parents, Paris promised to be a special visit.
She felt her eyelids growing heavy. It wasn’t a long journey back to London, but it could be tedious. Deciding she needed to rest she let sleep take over. It had been a time since she’d traveled and wasn’t sure what was in store for her when they boarded the ship.
That was the last thing she remembered until she felt Lucien’s hand stroking her cheek, gently trying to wake her. She opened her eyes and was aware they were near London. Buildings were more frequent, trees were still plentiful; it wasn’t the same as farther out.
“Are you awake?” a deep baritone inquired. She loved the sound of Lucien’s voice. It was so masculine and with authority.
“Yes, getting there,” she replied.
“We made good time. There wasn’t as much of the usual traffic of merchants and such.”
“Do you have trouble sleeping on a ship?” Harriet asked her husband.
“No, but then I can pretty much sleep anywhere,” he snorted.
“So I’ve noticed,” she replied trying desperately not to smile. “I wish I had that gift.”
The sky seemed to look as though it was darkening. If a storm must pass through Harriet hoped it would do just that—pass through. A storm staying around would mean a longer and slower journey to Dover. Even coming through at night meant muddier, slicker roads.
“Perhaps this journey will change all that,” Lucien said.
“We’ll see. Sleeping in strange places has never been easy for me.”
“You seemed to sleep quite well in the country.”
“Perhaps because someone kept me awake for late hours on end,” she replied with a grin.
“Who is this scoundrel?” Lucien asked with a most serious look on his face.
Harriet giggled. “I have no idea as he only comes at night.”
“I’ll have to be more vigilant in the future.”
Looking out the carriage window, Harriet recognized in a second where they were. They’d arrived home. “We have arrived,” she said as the carriage ground to a halt.
The door opened and the steps were put in place. Lucien, not wanting anyone except himself to help his wife out of the carriage, rushed out and extended his hand to Harriet. She flashed him a smile as she stepped down.
Once she stepped down, Lucien patted her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. They began to walk forward, towards the house. In the grand entrance, Lucien removed his great coat, gloves, and hat and handed them to a waiting footman.
Harriet walked across the marble flooring and to the stairs with Lucien following her. In no time, they were in the sittingroom of their suite. The fire made it warm and inviting. Harriet pulled off her gloves and removed her boots.
“I’m going to find Rex to get my things ready while I’m taking a bath,” she said.
“Very well. I’m going to change as well,” he replied. He neared and gave Harriet a firm kiss on the lips before she smiled, turned, and began walking to the bed chamber and bath.
Harriet found Rex in the dressing room fussing with a deep-sapphire gown. “If you’d help me get out of this, I can go take a bath.”
