Chapter 21
Ah, Piper, why am I still here?Are you as angry with me for it as I am with myself?Is that why you are not returning my letters?”
~From the correspondence of the Marquis of Aylesbury—Apr 1893
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The Empire of India Exhibition
The Earl’s Court
London, England
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As Hobbes suspected, the exhibition was a carnival—a sprawling cavalcade covering the vast grounds of the Earl’s Court in freshly built exhibit halls, pavilions, and bandstands.Vendors and jugglers dotted the wide thoroughfare, and the crowds were as thick as the smells of dozens of different foods filling the air.
They split into groups much as they had in the carriages.The four younger lads, Tam, Ian, Connor, and Dorian, were off before the carriages even stopped at the gates.Doubtless heading straight for whatever trouble might be found, they were unlikely to see them again until dusk.A tight quartet, Eve, Kitty, Moira, and Abby tended to group together.Their husbands, close in age and close since birth, were of the same inclination.The women led the way, their heads already together.
Grouped among the “younger set” of couples, Fiona had little choice but to take Aylesbury’s arm or walk alone.It would have been foolish and spiteful to ignore his offered arm as they followed behind the others simply because their astonishing ardor in the soft glow of gaslights had her struggling with awkwardness in the bright light of day.
“What should we see first?”Ilona asked, thumbing through the exhibition catalogue.Pointing to the north, she said, “Over there are the Imperial gardens and fountains.”Immediately, Sean and Colin began to hem and haw, and Ilona laughed.“Very well, that way,” she said, indicating an area to the southeast.“There is the Indian Jungle and Carpet Factory exhibition.Also, a mosque and the Imperial Palace.Oh, that sounds nice.Shall we try that way first?”
Everyone nodded in agreement and they were off.Fiona enjoyed the day in Aylesbury’s lively company despite her perpetual blush.However, even with all the excitement surrounding them, she was acutely aware of his presence.The strength of his arm beneath her hand.The brush of his shoulder across hers.The roll of his hips as his legs skimmed her skirts with every step.
Each light contact sent her senses soaring as effortlessly as his more blatant caresses had two nights past.It wasn’t easy to bolster her defenses against him, especially when the charming marquis kept her laughing helplessly at his sharp wit.He entertained her with lively, droll commentary as they roamed the exhibits of the Indian city, people, and jewels.
Even though his smile had grown deeper and easier over the past weeks, it wasn’t until today that Fiona could see the deviltry of old return to his blue eyes.Once again, they danced with humor, his lips parting with laughter.
Given that those qualities had been the first to attract her so long ago, it was difficult to shield against their effectiveness now.Damn, but she simply liked that about him.
After having luncheon with the other two couples at one of the many restaurants dotting the Earl’s Court, the men played games, winning small tokens for the ladies in feats of strength and skill.
Colin and Sean handily won the Strong Man game after striking the platform with a large hammer and sending the metal weight shooting upward to strike the bell.Both insisted that Aylesbury, a puny English nobleman, could not match their Highland brawn, but Aylesbury proved them wrong, ringing it soundly.
Holding out the shiny metal whistle he had won, he bowed low with a devastating smile.“My lady?”
Fiona accepted his reward with a gracious nod.“How kind, my lord.”
“What else shall we see?”Colin asked as the afternoon slipped away.
“I guess there will be no avoiding it any longer,” Sean answered, and they all looked up at the great steel wheel silhouetted against the bright blue sky.
“The Great Wheel,” Aylesbury said, studying the structure.“A near duplicate, I’ve read in the papers, to the giant Ferris Wheel from Chicago’s World Fair.Three hundred feet high.”
“Steam-powered,” Colin noted.
“Isn’t it magnificent?”Ilona gushed, holding her hat so that she could tilt her head way back.“We’ve ignored its existence all afternoon, but I’ve seen you all considering it.Shall we all give it a go then?”
Coline was already shaking her head.“I couldn’t possibly be seen partaking in such a vulgar bit of entertainment.”
Sean smiled down at his wife.“It’s all right to say you’re too afraid, my dear.”
“I’m not afraid,” she protested, slapping his hand from her waist.“It’s simply insane!Everyone says so.”
“Well, I, for one, would love to try it,” Ilona said in raptures.“Imagine being so far up!It would feel like an eternity, I imagine.Shall we go, Colin?May we?”
