Ada & The Queen (The Woodhouse Series #3)

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23

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*Marlborough House, Westminster/Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Burlington House, Piccadilly*

Mabelle Conway - Adelphi's Angel.

She truly was an angel - a gift from the heavens.

She had such a strong stage presence that even though there were seven other girls on the stage, he noticed her.

All the men noticed her.

But she noticed him, glancing at him as she danced and sang with the chorus. When she gestured to the audience, she made direct eye contact at him, pointing to him and referencing him.

Bertie had to meet her.

When the actresses walked out into the audience as per custom for each show, she avoided him for the four days he came, only glancing at him.

By day five, she came to him and greeted everyone, specifically choosing to greet him last despite his high status.

She was playing hard to get and it was a thrill for him.

On day seven, she gave him all of his attention and by day eight, she was all his.

"Beautiful...beautiful...Mabelle..." Bertie ran his fingers through her thick, black hair, as they lay together, the smell of smoke and wine fresh in the air. "Oh, I wish our time together could be longer."

"Our time together can be as long as you wish..." Mabelle replied, with her feigned posh accent, picked up on many years observing the upper class.

"Oh...how I wish..." Bertie groaned, lying down on the large bed. "We will meet again...and I will come to you. You must not come to me..."

Mabelle frowned. "You make it seem like you have no choice?"

"Not with Venetia..." Bertie grumbled as Mabelle perked up.

"Another woman?"

"Unfortunately..."

Mabelle grabbed his smoking pipe and took a puff, handing it back to him. "You can choose who stays and who goes."

Bertie smiled at her, gently stroking her arm. "You would think but it is not that easy..."

"Nothing is complicated unless you make it so..." Mabelle explained. "There are a lot of things you have no control over in your life, Your Royal Highness...so do not let the things you can control, control you instead..."

Bertie thanked her and took her hand, pulling her towards him before he had to let her go.

An inconspicuous carriage waited by the doors of Marlborough House as Mabelle stepped in, incognito with Bertie close behind her as the carriage quickly left the grounds.

But all of their secrecy was not enough.

Someone had seen them and rage and jealousy rocked through them.

***

The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition was an art lover and critic dream - so it was the perfect place for Louis and I to attend another event together.

This time, we were joined by Emily Dickens, Ambrose Lisle-Twickenham, Lord Rupert Magnum and Lucrezia Bianchi.

Rupert had some art on display for everyone to admire, some pieces being sold once the exhibition was over and as I loved art, hoping one day one of my art pieces would grace the walls of Burlington House. There were old favourites, classics we all know and love and many new pieces too of up-and-coming artists.