Free Seeds of Love: Prequel to Lily in Bloom by Tammy Andresen Page A

smile, “a soon-to-be wife I need to take care of. But I will come back in a week and convince your father that I am the man you should marry.”
    “I don’t want to wait that long. My father can be tricky, he is stubborn about getting his way.”
    “Regina, he will not marry you off in a week. I promise to take care of it.” His hand touched hers. She sighed inwardly. Apparently James could be as stubborn as her father. Well, she was finding her own stubborn streak and she was not going to wait for either of them to act. She knew what she had to do.
    Over the course of the next three days, Regina began stashing clothes in a sheet. Nothing fancy. She packed serviceable clothing only. James visited her every day. She knew he was worried by her silence but she couldn’t help it. If she told him what she was planning, he might try to stop her and she wouldn’t have that. It was going to be her way now.
    He came on Wednesday and instead of inviting him into the library, she brought him to the music room. She played several pieces of music on the piano to avoid talking. Finally, his hands covered hers on the key board. “You are angry with me.”
    “No, I’m not.”
    “You still want to marry me?”
    “Yes, I do.”
    “Then why do you grow more silent with each passing day?”
    Regina looked into his eyes. “Now is not the time for words. It is the time for action.”
    His pierced back into hers, “What do you mean?”
    “Regina,” her mother called. “We must leave for tea soon.”
    “When does your ship sail?” She could only hope it was later. That would make it easier.
    “Ten tonight, so that we might catch the tide.”
    “When will you return?” She looked away then.
    “A week from today. Try not to worry.” His hand brushed hers.
    She grabbed both his hands and gave them a squeeze. “I’m not worried. Have a safe journey.”
    “Regina, you will wait for me won’t you?” Worry tinged his voice.
    “I’ll marry no one else, I swear it.”
    He smiled then, relief relaxing his face.
    He left shortly after and Regina went to tea with her mother. She ate dinner with her family and played the piano before retiring at eight o’clock.
    Her maid helped her undress and then braided her hair. Regina dismissed her saying she was tired. Quickly, she shimmied into a pair of breeches and a shirt she snitched from the stable that must have belonged to one of the stable boys. Regina crammed a hat on top of her head. She fastened the bundle of clothes around her back and headed out onto the balcony. She climbed down the lattice, finding it exceedingly easy in the pants. She headed for the back alley, nerves fluttering in her chest. She had written to a hansom company, offering a double wage to have a carriage waiting for her. If it wasn’t there, she would have to try to flag one on the street. She didn’t want to miss the boat.
    She breathed a sigh of relief when the carriage stood waiting at the back gate. She handed the driver the normal wage. “I’ll give you the rest when we reach the docks.”
    He gave her a suspicious look. She had tucked her hair in her shirt and pulled the hat low but he must still suspect she was a woman. But she climbed in, and he snapped the reins.
    They reached the boat in less than fifteen minutes and she handed the driver the rest of her fare. Now she needed to get on the ship unseen.
    She climbed up the plank just behind four other sailors. The ship was a bustle of activity with cargo being loaded and sails being rigged. It was far easier than Regina expected to slip through the crowd. No one noticed one small woman dressed as a boy.
    She saw James standing, talking with the captain. Her heart fluttered wildly. What would he do when he found out he had a stowaway? The question now was where to hide? She stood out of the way and watched the scene for fifteen minutes before one of the sailors called. “Take that there to Mr. Carter’s quarters.”
    Regina smiled to herself.