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“It’s not you I’m worried about.” He eyed the rose-and-cream balloon askance as he approached the basket. “Are you certain this is safe?”
“Quite. Safer than riding a horse, where you have to factor in the horse’s mood, whether it’s hungry or cranky, the condition of its hooves as well as the road, and—”
He held up a gloved hand, palm outward. “Enough. Using my own assessment and reasoning against me isn’t helping your cause.”
Anne couldn’t contain her grin. “Are you coming aboard or not?” She stood aside and gestured to the spot next to her. “The longer you wait, the more cool air we lose out on.”
“What difference does it make?”
“The warmer the air, the more the hydrogen in the envelope warms, which means quickly climbing altitude, and that often means more trouble in controlling the balloon.”
“But it’s tethered,” he countered as he awkwardly climbed into the basket, nearly losing his balance twice before planting his feet.
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean the rope can’t snap if too much weight tugs on it,” she couldn’t resist teasing him. He was rather adorable when he clutched onto one of the ropes that secured the netting to the side of the basket. She giggled. “Please relax. I won’t let harm befall you.”
“Fall being the key word?” he asked in a rather horrible stage whisper.
“I’m going to ignore that.” She lowered her leather-bound googles onto her face, being sure they sealed properly around her eyes. “Because you’re skeptical and ready to be scandalized like the tabbies at Almack’s, I shall explain everything I do in detail to hopefully set your mind at ease.”
He harrumphed, which caused her to snicker. “Why do you wear the goggles?”
“Safety, of course. Should we crash land, I’d rather not have branches and twigs poke out an eye.” She shrugged as if it didn’t matter. “Also, on regular flights, there are bugs and other creepy, flying things I don’t fancy picking out of my face.”
Was it her imagination or did he glance about with a fair amount of anxiety in his expression? As if the bugs were merely waiting to prey upon him as soon as they were underway.
“I understand the leather helmet, but why do you don the jacket?”
“Also for protection. Leather holds up better in a crash than other fabrics. Being scraped by gravel, tree branches, or other assorted debris is uncomfortable, and the scratches and scabs unsightly when I’m forced to don ballgowns.”
“You truly have thought of everything.” A certain amount of awe wove through his voice.
“Indeed. As I’ve mentioned before, this isn’t merely a hobby.” She glanced at Matthew, who’d stood silently by during the exchange. “Tether checked?”
“All is well, my lady,” he replied with his usual grin.
“Thank you, Matthew.” Anne looked at the viscount. “Are you ready?” she asked as she tugged at the bottom hem of her jacket.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Absolutely not. After all, you did acquiesce to being my assistant.”
He snorted. “I rather did not. You merely assumed and kept talking.”
“Either way, you’re the most handsome assistant I’ve ever had.”
“Why do I have the feeling I’m the only assistant you’ve ever had?”
“Look at it this way. At least I didn’t lose one in the field.” As she talked, she undid the knot on first one sandbag and let it drop over the edge of the basket. Then she did the same to a sandbag on the opposite side.
The balloon lifted perhaps three feet off the ground.
“Lord have mercy on our souls,” the viscount whispered. One of his hands curled around the rope while the other dug fingers into the edge of the basket.
“Again, I know what I’m doing, and you will not come to harm.” She exchanged a frustrated glance with Matthew, who shook his head. “Incidentally, tethered gas balloons were used for observational purposes in a limited capacity during the war with Boney.”
Lord Worthington looked rather green about the mouth. “I heard rumors that they were quickly shot down and the men aboard taken prisoner or killed.”
“Yes, well, it was war, and none of those tragedies were the fault of the balloons.” Again, she let another two sandbags fall over the edge, and slowly, the balloon rose higher off the ground.
