Page 55 of Just a Little Daring

“Christ!”

August hurried up to the gate that separated the crowd from the gate to the private area immediately around the balloon where several burly guards kept the riffraff from causing mischief by interfering with the delicate contraption.

“I must get though,” August said. “That’s my fiancée,” he added, which was jumping the gun rather, but he doubted Viv would mind in the circumstances.

“I don’t care if that’s your maiden aunt or the Queen of Sheba,” the guard replied dryly. “Mr Green has all the guests with him. Ain’t no one else gettin’ in.”

“Hell! But you don’t understand,” August said, and then snapped his mouth shut before he could explain. He could hardly give Anna away and cause a great scene. What the devil was he to do?

Murmurs among the crowd gradually turned to screams as the balloon swayed gently and began to rise.

“Merde!” Louis said, leaning over the fence. “There’s no one with them.”

August turned back to see Mr Green running for the balloon with Mr Knight beside him. Without another word, Louis had vaulted the fence, his brother following close behind. August did likewise, though perhaps less gracefully, dodging the guards who lunged after him.

“Viv!” he shouted. “Anna!”

Viv and Evie were clutching the sides of the basket, their eyes wide with horror as Mr Green tugged ineffectually at one of the dangling ropes, yelling for help as Mr Knight struggled, tugging on another. But the balloon was too heavy and too intent on its course.

“I must get up there!” Green shouted, clearly panic struck.

“Nic!” Louis shouted, leaping to catch hold of one of the dangling ropes. His brother did likewise. They were soon off the ground as the balloon continued to ascend, and the two men shouted for Mr Green, who caught their meaning and jumped. The brothers grabbed a hand each and heaved the man up until he could catch hold of the basket and clamber in.

“Wait for me!” August shouted, running full pelt. He jumped, relieved when the brothers caught him by the hands. A little less so when he looked down and saw the ground disappearing at an alarming rate.

“Don’t look down,” the brothers yelled in unison.

For a moment, August hung suspended, entirely reliant on the strength of the two men not to drop him. From this height, he’d likely break a bone or two at the very least.

“On three,” Louis shouted at Nic before looking at August. “Ready?”

August nodded.

“Un, deux, trois!”

The two men hoisted him higher, and August let go of Nic’s hand for long enough to grab Mr Green’s, who was hanging over the side of the gondola. August grasped it with relief and climbed, helped over the side by Anna and Vivien.

“August, oh, August!” Vivien cried, clinging to him. She was trembling hard, and August clutched her to him, feeling entirely too shaky for comfort himself.

“It’s all right, love. It’s all right.”

“Louis!” Evie shrieked in distress.

He turned then, remembering the comte and his brother were still on the wrong side of the damned basket. Mr Demarteau’s dark head appeared, and he helped the man in. August’s stomach lurched as he saw how high they were now.

“Monsieur!” he called down.

Louis looked up, not moving until he saw his brother safely in the gondola. He climbed then, with the same ease he had seen the man exhibit at the Fancy Fair.

“Oh, Louis! I was so frightened.”

Evie flung herself at him and held on tight, which was a little shocking but hardly surprising in the circumstances. August was only amazed the lot of them weren’t hysterical. He felt a little hysterical himself as he turned on his sister, who had emerged from beneath the sacking she’d hidden under.

“You little wretch! Was this your doing?” he demanded furiously.

“No!” Anna retorted, indignant at the accusation. “I was only a stowaway. I’m not fool enough to think I can navigate the dratted thing by myself, am I, you great lummox?”

August subsided, too exhausted by the excitement and anxiety of the past hour to protest further.