Leaning in, he nipped her ear. “Trust me, you’re going to love it.”
She had no doubt of that because he would be with her.
After all the excitement from the day before, she must have been more tired than she realized, wasn’t even aware of drifting off, but suddenly Matthew was nudging her shoulder. “We’re here, sweetheart.”
Covering her mouth, with a yawn, she straightened away from him. “Sorry.”
“You’ve nothing for which to apologize.”
The carriage had come to a stop. He opened the door, leapt out, and reached back for her, handing her down. And that was when she got her first real look at where they were. She could see green and cliffs and nothing else save—
“That’s not for us, surely.”
“It’s for you,” he said, his voice thrumming with excitement. “It’s our vessel.”
In wonder, she stared at the hot air balloon.
So many times, before she knew of his title, he’d thought of taking her in a balloon, but had wondered how to explain a common man having access to such a remarkable creation.
“We’re taking this to Calais?” she asked, hesitantly.
“We are.”
“Across the sea?”
“That is where we’ll find Calais.”
She turned to him. “What of our trunks?”
Trust a woman to worry over her clothing, not that he planned for her to be wearing much once they were settled in the cottage he’d let. “They’re on the ship, and Jenkins will see them delivered to us in Calais.”
“You present me with the most wonderful surprises.”
He could say the same of her, as she leapt at him, flung her arms around him, and kissed him with exuberance. Making her happy had become his favorite thing to do, and it was so easy.
Stepping back, she smiled brightly. “Oh, what a grand adventure this is going to be. Shall we give it a go?”
He introduced her to Mr. Green, the balloonist and pilot, who he’d flown with before and trusted to get them to their destination. Then he lifted Fancy up, settled her in the gondola, and joined her.
“Oh, this is wonderful,” she exclaimed a few minutes later. “So much better than flying the kite.”
He couldn’t disagree with her assessment, not when her arms were wrapped tightly around his waist as she peered out over the gondola’s edge at the rapidly receding ground. Soon they were floating out over the sea, leaving England behind.
She looked up at him. “You spoil me.”
“Whenever possible.”
If he were skilled at working the mechanics that kept the gas filling the silk balloon so they stayed aloft, he might have dispensed with having the balloonist in the gondola with them. But it was more important they have a safe journey, even if they had company.
Gently Matthew turned Fancy around and held her gaze. “Whenever I’m with you, Fancy, this is how I feel. As though I’m floating on air.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her tenderly but thoroughly while the nearby clouds looked on.
Epilogue
One year later
Fancy walked gingerly amidst the debris scattered over the ground. Erecting buildings was such a terribly messy business, although she did enjoy the scenery, especially when it was her husband walking about shouting orders, overseeing the construction. He’d taken a personal interest in ensuring all was done to her specifications. The building was a gift to her, would be a gift to a good many others. When finished, it would be a school where classes would be held for adults during the day and at night. Not only reading and writing would be taught, but other skills as well, skills that might lead to jobs with better working conditions.
