Page 58 of Just a Little Daring

“I can understand the impulse. Here we hang suspended between heaven and hell and reality is far away. Is the future so daunting, love?”

Louis’ voice was full of understanding, and Evie nodded, grateful that he knew her so well, that she need not explain.

“Yes,” she said simply. “It is.”

Chapter 18

My Lady,

Me thinks thou dost protest too much. Why fight it? You know you adore me, really.

Rest assured, your secret—your secrets—are safe with me.

―Excerpt of a letter from The Hon’ble Mr Sylvester Cootes to Lady Aisling Baxter (Daughter of the Right Hon’ble Luke and Kitty Baxter, the Earl and Countess of Trevick).

22nd April 1841, Peregrine House, Grosvenor Square, London.

“My word, what a day!” Evie flopped back against the pillows of her bed as Vivien settled beside her. “I thought Mama would never stop crying and hugging me. The poor dear was frightened witless.”

Viv nodded. “Not only your mama,” she observed, for Mr Knight had obviously been beside himself, no matter how manfully he’d tried to moderate his display of relief so as not to overset Evie entirely.

“Still, they were endlessly grateful to Monsieur le Comte and Mr Demarteau for their bravery and quick thinking, which is wonderful.”

“You mean so your father doesn’t fret so much about your friendship with the handsome comte?” Vivien said.

“Yes,” Evie replied with a shrug. “It’s pointless him worrying when there’s nothing to worry about. Perhaps now, after our adventures and Louis bringing me home safely, he’ll realise that.”

Viv decided she was too tired to argue the point. Clearly Evie did not believe there was anything to worry about, but she was an intelligent girl. She’d figure out eventually why her father fretted so. Viv had sent word to her parents that she was well and in the Knights’ care after a slight mishap, and not to worry. They would not yet know about her adventures ballooning, but they would have been worried when the hour had grown late, and August had not returned her. There would be time enough to recount her astonishing day tomorrow, but now she was weary to her bones.

It was very late, for it had taken far longer to return home in a carriage than the distance they had travelled in the balloon. Thankfully, their landing had been smooth, but it had taken time also to arrange transport.

“Well, you certainly completed your dare in style,” Evie observed.

Vivien snorted. “Unintentionally. Though I’ll fight anyone who says it doesn’t count, for I’m not going through that ordeal again.” She stretched and smothered a yawn, making herself more comfortable.

“It was exciting, though,” Evie said. “Strange, really. I truly don’t like the idea of adventures and that kind of excitement one little bit. It always frightens me so. Yet I shouldn’t have missed today for the world.”

“You are a conundrum, Evie Knight.”

Evie nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I know,” she admitted.

Vivien closed her eyes with a sigh. “I feel like I’ve been dreaming, but I don’t want to wake up.”

“Yes. That’s how I felt when we were up there. Like it wasn’t at all real, just a fanciful dream.”

Evie’s voice was pensive. Vivien smiled.

“A dream, but not a dream,” she said. “Instead, my happily ever after.”

“Yes! Oh, Viv, I do like Mr Lane-Fox,” Evie said, taking Viv’s hand. “And he looks utterly besotted, the poor devil. I think you shall be very happy.”

Viv nodded, quite unable to keep the foolish grin from her face. “I think I shall too.”

Evie turned on her stomach, resting her head in her hands and looking pensive. “You knew he was the one, didn’t you? Almost at once, I mean.”

“Yes, I suppose I did.”

Evie frowned. “I don’t have the faintest idea,” she admitted. “I just cannot imagine myself married to any of the young men who have deigned to show an interest in me.”