Free Under An English Moon by Bess McBride Page B

the twenty-first century. Luckily, he hadn’t heard the wistful note in her voice. She plastered a smile on her face, promising herself to make his visit a pleasant one.
    “I think we should get moving just in case Annie comes out. So, the immediate plan is to get you to a store, find some clothes, and get you dressed before we meet Annie for breakfast. I’ll have to give you some sort of scenario for this supposed photo shoot that I lied about.” Phoebe tugged at Reggie’s arm. “Reggie? Are you listening? Come on, you can stare while we walk down the street.”
    Reggie dropped his bemused eyes to her face and nodded.
    “Is life always so complicated for you, Phoebe?”
    Phoebe laughed. “No, no. I lead a very dull life. That’s why I’m not very good at this subterfuge thing.”
    “Let us proceed then. I put myself in your hands for the time being.”
    While they walked in the direction of Sinclair Publishing—and some stores—they discussed how best to convince Annie that Reggie had gone to her office for a photo shoot. Or at least Phoebe discussed and Reggie listened with half an ear while studying his surroundings with wide eyes.
    “Reggie, are you listening?” she asked, feeling much like a long-time couple with her hand in his arm and asking the age-old question that women always would.
    “Yes, yes, I am. Well, I am attempting to listen,” he muttered. “What in blazes is that noise?” He nodded toward a multitude of taxis as they jostled each other on the now busy streets, the drivers fighting for position via blaring horns. Phoebe hardly heard the noise anymore, but she remembered being shocked when she first arrived at the amount of noise in the city.
    “Taxis. Horns. They’re only supposed to use them in emergencies, but the drivers use them to communicate, to say, ‘Watch out! I’m mad as heck! Take that! Get off my rear!’” She looked up at him. “You all have hansom cabs in London, right? I’ll bet they’re noisy. Same drivers—different century?”
    Reggie grinned and nodded. “You may be right about that, Phoebe. Certainly, there is a great deal of shouting amongst the cabs.”
    “Here we are!” Phoebe said with a flourish. She dragged him into the chain department store, doing her best to ignore the curious glances of passersby toward Reggie. Her lips twitched as several women in the cosmetics department eyed him with appreciation. Yes, indeed, ladies, feast your eyes. Isn’t he handsome?
    “Let’s see.” Phoebe stopped to read the store directory. “The men’s clothes are upstairs.”
    “Shall we take the elevator?” Reggie asked.
    “Nope, escalator this time.” She paused in front of the escalator, dropping her hand from his arm. “No, let’s not,” she said with misgiving. “Let’s take the elevator. I don’t think they have any real stairs in this place. I don’t want you to fall.”
    “Nonsense,” Reggie said, eyeing the escalator with appreciation. He watched people ascend and descend. “I believe I can negotiate these moving steps with ease. If you please?” He bowed elegantly and gestured for her to precede him. Several ladies behind them waiting to step onto the escalator giggled. Phoebe hung back to let them go ahead of her.
    “Oh my,” one of the little silver-haired women said. “Well, if you aren’t just the cutest thing. Isn’t he a doll, Mary?”
    “Yes, indeedy. Do you work here, young man?”
    “Not at all, madam,” Reggie said with a grin. “I am here to purchase men’s clothing.”
    Phoebe covered her mouth with her hand. She agreed with the ladies. He was the cutest thing, but he wasn’t going to be too happy to see her laughing.
    “Allow me,” he said as he took the hand of each lady and helped them onto the escalator to the sound of their continued twitters. He turned to Phoebe.
    “Shall we?”
    Phoebe smiled and stepped onto the escalator, turning immediately and holding her breath to see Reggie hop lightly onto the