Page 56 of Just a Little Daring

With a sniff of irritation, Anna flounced away—though not very far in the confines of the gondola—and picked up a small sack. Sending August a wicked grin, she tipped the contents over the side.

Pink bits of paper fluttered in the breeze, hundreds of leaflets rushing about them and then fluttering down, to fall upon the expanse of Vauxhall Gardens like rose-coloured snow.

August snatched one as it sailed past and let out a bark of laughter.

“What is it?” Vivien asked, taking it from his hand. She stared at it, smiling and reading aloud. “’Virtue can only flourish among equals. Educate our girls and free them from poverty and vice.’ Well said.” She grinned at Anna and held out her hand.

“We meet again,” Anna said, clasping it warmly. “I knew I liked you. Are you the reason August was so wretched the last time he was home?”

Vivien regarded him with interest.

“Yes,” he replied for her. “She is.”

“Do you really like it?” Anna asked, gesturing to the leaflet in Viv’s hand. “Of course, the first bit, Virtue can only flourish among equals isn’t mine, it’s—”

“Mary Wollstonecraft. I know.” Viv grinned at her.

“Oh. I do like you. You ought to marry this one, August,” Anna said loftily.

Before August could reply, the balloon gave a lurch as a current of wind caught at it and August held Viv closer to him. Anna clung to the side of the gondola, staring down at the tiny figures of the people below who were running about, catching her leaflets. She smiled happily.

“You’ve met before?” August asked her, deciding it was better to concentrate on conversation than the fact the ground was disappearing at an alarming rate.

“Yes. I… er…. Well, actually, I hid her from a policeman,” Viv confessed apologetically.

August stared at her in consternation for a long, silent moment, and then he began to laugh. He laughed and laughed until tears streamed down his face and he was fighting for breath.

“Are you all right?” Vivien asked, an uncertain look on her face though her eyes glittered with amusement.

“I am,” August agreed, gasping. “I am better than all right. I’m happy. And you… you are marvellous, magnificent, and….”

“And?” she prompted as he stared at her, realising that here, now, hundreds of feet in the air and flying like a bird, was the perfect moment. He took both her hands in his.

“And would you do me the very great honour of becoming my wife, Miss Anson?”

Viv gasped, a dozen different emotions crossing her face at once, all of them variations of joy. “Yes,” she whispered, before adding rather louder. “Yes, yes, yes!”

She flung herself at him and kissed him, and August realised he really did know how it felt to fly.

22nd April 1841, High Above The Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, London.

“Dear me, I cannot understand how the balloon got free when it was so securely tethered. It’s never happened before.” Mr Green looked most indignant. “And no doubt there will be the devil to pay from my customers. It costs a pretty penny for a flight like this, you understand.”

Evie wondered how much a pretty penny was, but did not like to ask. Anna Lane-Fox had no such scruples.

“How much?” she demanded with interest.

“Twenty-one pounds for men and ten pounds ten shillings for women,” Mr Green replied.

Mr Demarteau whistled in appreciation of the small fortune. Louis glowered at Mr Green. “I will pay you double that, provided you get us down in one piece,” he said darkly.

Mr Green’s eyebrows went up. “Done,” he said at once.

Evie laughed.

“I believe it might be worth even that price, for it is glorious,” Mr Demarteau breathed in wonder as he gazed down at England spread beneath them like a beautiful patchwork in every shade of green known to man. “Look, Louis,” he said, turning back to his brother.

Louis shook his head and didn’t budge from the centre of the gondola. He looked rather green himself. Evie felt embarrassed and somewhat foolish now for the way she had mauled him, but honestly, she had been terrified. The shock of finding herself airborne had been bad enough, but watching Louis holding on to a rope over the side had been simply appalling. The relief of seeing him whole and beside her had been so overwhelming she’d quite forgotten herself. Now, though, the terror was fading somewhat, replaced by awe at the beauty surrounding them. It was, as Mr Demarteau had said, perfectly glorious. They floated in utter peace, as gently as the tiny wisps of cloud in an otherwise blue sky. If not for the fact it was exceedingly cold, it was wonderful.