“Yes, of course, my lady.”
Harriet stepped into the bathtub moments later. The water had been perfumed with a vanilla-and-orange scent. Sitting back in the tub, she closed her eyes. She was surprised her thoughts hadn’t gone to her mother and issues. Instead, she found herself with thoughts about the ship and their short voyage to Calais. She was excited they were going. They may not have another chance for the foreseeable future if they didn’t go.
Picking up a bathing cloth, Harriet filled it with orange scented soap and began to clean herself. As much as she wanted to lounge around and enjoy her bath, Harriet knew she must be ready for her parents’ arrival. It would be her last time seeing them for a few months. Her father had always been the one consistent parent. How he put up with her mother for as long as he had was simply a mystery. He deserved a medal for enduring her. Perhaps with herself and Lucien being away, it might help her mother focus on other things that interested her.
She called out for Rex who immediately entered the bathing chamber quickly and helped her step out of the bath, handing her a nice fluffy towel to warm and dry herself. It felt good and she wrapped it around her once she finished. The hard part was done.
Once Harriet was dressed and ready, she found herself in their sitting room. Lucien was sitting in front of the fire with a glass of spirits in his hand. He turned, hearing her footfalls across the wood floor.
“Are we late?” she asked as she neared.
“You look breathtaking, my love. And to answer your question, no, we’re not late.”
He swallowed the remainder of his drink and put the glass on the mantel. Walking to her, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her hard. “The color of that gown is meant for you.”
“Thank you,” she replied. “Shall we get started downstairs?”
“Yes.”
They slowly walked downstairs to the drawing room. When they arrived, a footman opened the door. Inside both sets of parents were seated near the fire. The men drank an amber liquid Harriet assumed was whiskey, while the two mothers each drank a glass of wine.
Upon seeing her so close, Harriet’s mother was the first to acknowledge them. “My dear child. You look radiant. I would have never thought that shade of blue would look so good on you.”
“Thank you,” Harriet replied.
She accepted a glass of claret from Lucien before sitting in a cream-colored damask chair. Lucien took the chair next to hers. He wanted to be near in case her mother’s conversation and questions got too out of hand.
“Are you ready to leave for the Continent?” Harriet’s father asked Lucien.
Lucien nodded. “Yes, sir, we leave tomorrow morning, and the ship is scheduled to depart Dover the next day.”
“It’s the perfect time to go,” the duchess said.
“Yes, it is,” Lucien replied to his mother’s comment.
“Where all are you going?” Harriet’s mother asked.
“Paris, of course. Vienna, Brussels, Italy. We’re going to go to Provence after we leave Italy,” Harriet replied. She glanced at Lucien for support. He slightly nodded his head to let her know she’d done well. Her mother wasn’t easy to speak to on anything but the societal gossip and things. Women, especially young women, weren’t supposed to know the ways of the world—at least according to her mother.
“You have a great-aunt who lives in Provence,” her mother said. “She married a Frenchman and has lived there all her adult life.”
Luckily for Harriet the butler chose that moment to announce dinner. Everyone rose from their seats and walked to the dining room. Lucien sat next to her mother, while Harriet was seated next to Lucien’s mother. Harriet could tell by watching her mother that she’d much rather be seated next to her daughter rather than her new son-in-law. She was sure the duchess did it on purpose, and with what society dictated her mother knew not to question the choice.
Dinner began, wine was poured, and the first course was brought out. Harriet was grateful not to have to carry on a conversation with her mother. She was getting ready to leave on holiday with her husband and didn’t need her mother to ruin it by trying to make her feel guilty. That wasn’t happening.
Conversation at the table consisted mainly of things they needed to see while on the Continent. There was so much to see that Harriet figured she and Lucien would have to spend more than a year there. That meant not spending any quality time in any one spot and she didn’t want that. They would have to make more than one holiday there to be able to see each and every attraction.
Looking across the table at her husband, she noted he was engaged in what appeared to be a serious conversation with her mother. She imagined she was merely trying to get to know hernew son-in-law better. Then again, her mother’s tone often came across a different way than how it was intended.
Her mother-in-law, the duchess spoke to her, dragging her attention back to where it should be.
“I’ll give you the names of some dressmakers and other places I’ve purchased or ordered from in Paris. In fact, I’ll send a missive to my favorite dressmaker and let her know you’ll be reaching out to her. She always has some remarkable gowns already made up you can look at if you don’t have time for a new commission.”
“Thank you. That will be a tremendous help,” Harriet replied.
The main course was served. Scottish salmon in a dill sauce. The fish had been poached, and the sauce made the flavor of the salmon pop. The duchess had a remarkable cook, and Harriet hoped the one she had in the country was as good as this one. Lucien had inherited the staff when he purchased the estate, which he thought to be a lifesaver because hiring an entire new staff would have been a huge task. This way, everyone already knew the house and how it ran.
“The salmon is delicious,” Harriet said to the duchess.
