Lady Isabella by Vicki Hopkins

Author:Vicki Hopkins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Romance 20th Century, New Adult, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance Series
Publisher: Vicki Hopkins
Published: 2017-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

WHEN THURSDAY ARRIVED, I called a cab to pick me up at our home, but my escape hadn’t gone as planned without a confrontation with Mother.

“Where are you off to?” she said, accosting me by the front door.

“Shopping,” I replied. “Don’t you remember that I mentioned last night I’d be shopping today with the allowance that Father gave me?”

“Well, I should come with you,” she firmly declared.

“No!” My voice echoed in the foyer. Mother jolted at my unladylike command.

“What are you up to, young lady?” Her eyes narrowed at me, and she took an intimidating step closer.

“Nothing,” I said, softening my tone. “I would prefer to shop on my own. After all, I’m no longer a child.” Mother cast a wary look in my direction.

“Fine,” she relented. “Well, you might as well shop for a dress and hat. The Royal Ascot is next week, and Father wishes you to attend.”

The Royal Ascot. I had never been, and a surge of excitement coursed through my veins. Being admitted to the Royal Enclosure was an honor, to say the least. Naturally, I wondered what their plans were for allowing me to attend such a high-society function.

“All right, I will keep that in mind,” I replied.

She turned and walked away, thankfully without a further word. After she had disappeared, I exited the house to my waiting cab.

“Where to, miss?”

“Harrods.”

Since I had a few hours before my rendezvous, I thought that I would at least begin a shopping spree. If I came home empty-handed, it would raise suspicion.

When the taxi dropped me off, I entered the store headed straight for the women’s dresses. As instructed, I should have shopped with the purpose of purchasing clothes for my upcoming social activities, but I only had Reginald in mind. I wondered what his preferences were in female clothing and remembered his shy wife who came to dinner years ago. She dressed conservatively that evening, matching her personality, while I, on the other hand, wore crimson red.

Deciding to choose the route of maturity to show Reginald that I was a woman and no longer a silly girl, I tried on a few dresses that attained that goal. When I found two that I liked, I paid the bill and hired another cab to take me to the pub. With bags in tow, I decided to search for a hat at a millinery store after lunch.

When I arrived and exited the cab, I examined the exterior of the establishment. Soho had not been an area of London that I frequented, so I doubted anyone who knew my family would recognize me in the area.

After pushing my way through the heavy wooden front door, I halted. It took my eyes a few moments to adjust because of the dark interior. My nose wrinkled at the smell of cigarette smoke and food aromas. When I finally made out the landscape of my surroundings, I glanced around and caught sight of Reginald, sitting at a table off to the left. He waved at me, and as soon as I started walking in his direction, he rose to his feet.

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