Southern Belle by Fiona Hood-Stewart

Author:Fiona Hood-Stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

18

At the center of Kentucky’s bourbon and whiskey country, the Seelbach Hilton stood as a landmark to a golden era. The grand old structure had been Louisville’s premier luxury hotel since its opening in 1905, inspiring F. Scott Fitzgerald and, in the days of Prohibition, attracting notorious figures like Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz. The king of bootleggers, George Remus, became Fitzgerald’s model for the character of Jay Gatsby.

Over the years, its refined Southern hospitality had attracted many famous faces, including eight U.S presidents and, in his heyday, Al Capone. Now, as it did every year, the hotel buzzed with the contemporary rich and famous, rubbing shoulders amid turn-of-the-century artwork and antiques, come to witness the most legendary race of the year, the Kentucky Derby.

But as she walked through the lobby next to Harlan, Elm had no eyes for the past glories of the hotel as she smothered her increasing irritation. How hadn’t she noticed before that Harlan never missed a chance to engage complete strangers in conversation, so long as he thought they might prove useful to him? Leaving him talking earnestly in the middle of the marble-floored lobby, she made her way to the reception desk and smiled at the attractive black receptionist. “We have a reservation under MacBride. A two-bedroom suite?”

“Just a moment, Mrs. MacBride, I’ll pull that right up for you.” The young woman glanced at the computer screen, then frowned. “I show a one-bedroom suite, Mrs. MacBride, with a request for a king-size bed and—”

“Excuse me?” Elm laid her handbag and white gabardine jacket on the desk and turned to Harlan, now approaching, still in deep conversation with two younger men. Incensed, she turned back to the receptionist. “There must be a mistake. Perhaps you could move us to a two-bedroom suite?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m afraid there aren’t any other suites available. We’re sold out for the Derby, ma’am.” The woman smiled apologetically.

Elm flexed her fingers, finding it increasingly difficult to mask her anger. She should have been on her guard and checked the damn reservations herself. But the past few days, once she’d begun feeling better, had been solely dedicated to catching up on her paintings for the upcoming exhibition.

Harlan reached the desk. “Everything okay, honey?”

“Actually, no, it’s not okay. There seems to be a mistake with the reservation.”

“Oh?” He raised a brow and turned to the woman behind the desk. “What’s wrong, Betsy?” he asked, glimpsing her name badge and giving her his best grin.

“Well, it seems Mrs. MacBride wanted a two-bedroom suite, but I’m afraid—” She looked at them, embarrassed. “I’m afraid there’s no more availability.”

“Oh. That’s too bad. I’m sure that we reserved a two-bedroom.” Harlan frowned, turning to Elm with a dismayed, apologetic look that made her want to slap him. “I’m so sorry, honey. What’ll we do?”

“Right now we’d better go up,” she said between gritted teeth. “I don’t think you want to hear what I have to say here in the lobby.”

Harlan smiled easily at Betsy as Elm stalked toward the elevators, barely containing her fury.

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