Page 11 of Captive Bride

He’s sipping a dark liquid the shade of amber, and I know it’s gotta be stronger than what I’m drinking. So, I take his glass from his hands and help myself to a heavy sip of what I find out is scotch.

Like I said, the more alcohol, the better.

“Be careful, Isobel. Your father is watching. Don’t get too drunk tonight,” he says.

“Daddy dearest is watching? What else is new?” I say sarcastically. “Hey, Theo, you know what would make me really happy?”

He looks at me like he doesn’t want to know.

“Let me guess. You want me to bust you out of here tonight?”

I nod playfully.

“Tonight, Isobel? Has it got to be tonight of all nights? Come on, your father’s gonna have even more security on you now that they’ve made the announcement.”

I continue to drink his scotch, thinking of what to say to convince him.

“Come on, Theo. I really, really need to get out tonight. It’s more important than ever. I’m feeling like the walls are closing in on me here.”

He looks around the room, gauging the crowd, trying to study anybody who might be looking at us or paying attention to our conversation. He’s always careful.

Too careful if you ask me. But with a man like my father breathing down your neck, I guess you can never be too careful.

I would never run away under Theo’s watch. I know my father would kill him, so I never even consider it. But slipping past the bodyguards to have a night on the town?

That’s something I consider doing every day or as much as Theo will allow it to happen.

He’s like the best big brother or cousin a girl could have.

“God, Isobel, you put me in such a precarious position,” he says, and I study his face, waiting for an answer. “But yes, I’ll try to get you out tonight. I’ll come knocking on your door if I can make it work, okay? Just make sure to be the one who answers,” he says, and I’m thrilled.

“Okay, Theo, anything you say. One more time out together before the Governor puts me under lock and key.”

He looks at me with a saddened expression. He and I both know it’s not a joking matter.

“Don’t say it like that, Isobel. Thelma will be there, and like I said before, you might have more freedom, remember?”

I kiss him on the cheek, hand him back his drink, and say, “Thank you. You’re the best.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he says, walking away.

I know he’ll do it. He’ll do whatever he can to bust me out of her tonight, and that’s all I can ask of him. The thought of making a small escape tonight is enough to get me through the evening.

I sit at a table that has the most ostentatious centerpiece of flowers I’ve ever seen in my life. My mother no doubt chose these. Her taste is flashy, to say the least.

She likes to scream to the world, We have money, so much money.

People are looking at me like I should be happy. In truth, I’m hiding here behind this massive centerpiece hoping the Governor won’t find me.

This isn’t a good beginning to married life.

I guess you could say I looked pretty stunning tonight. I’m not afraid to say it.

My beauty team put serious effort into my look. I’m wearing the white lace dress that my mother picked out, and it reveals my long, tanned legs. I’m also wearing a white silver mask that does nothing to make me look incognito.

People still recognize me. And of course, I’m still dripping in the diamonds that my father gave me.

He doesn’t give me little luxuries to make me happy.

---