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Titters and laughter moved through the crowd.
Anne smiled, and for the first since she’d met him, she felt… free. “I’ll still be odd. Rumors will fly.”
Benedict shrugged. “Then we’ll be that together, for I don’t intend to let public opinion sway mine.”
She released a breath of relief. He truly was the best of men. “One thing more.”
“Yes?” His expression was guarded as if he braced for rejection.
“If you think to run out on the morning of our nuptial ceremony from fear, I will drag your arse back. See if I don’t. I want all of London to know that a woman not in the usual style can still manage to bring a lord up to scratch.”
More laughter filled the crowd. The force of Benedict’s grin could rival the morning sun. “I’m not afraid of my future any longer. Not with you there at my side—”
“—and you there to catch me if I fall,” she added, not caring that she’d interrupted him.
“Exactly. Partners.” He rose to his feet.
“Partners.” Her cheeks hurt from grinning so wide.
“Then there’s nothing else to say except, please be my wife.”
“Yes, of course I will marry you, and I’ll be happy to do so.” She threw herself into his arms as the gathered crowd clapped. In a low whisper intended only for his ears, she added, “I’m marrying you because I need you and everything you are. Your support is amazing and the way we come together in passion is sublime, but at the end of the day, I need you alone.”
“Those are the best words I’ve heard in quite a while.” He gently kissed her. When she curled her hands into his lapels and a surprised moan escaped her, he claimed her lips with more authority that had heated pleasure pinwheeling through her chest.
Eventually, common sense returned. Anne pushed him slightly away before she became drunk on him. “There’s too much risk to continue this in public,” she whispered.
“Just when I thought I couldn’t love you more, you surprise me.” Affection danced in his eyes as he resettled his spectacles high on the bridge of his nose. “There is also this.” From the pocket of his leather waistcoat, he pulled a ring that twinkled.
An oval-shaped peridot sparkled in the sun, as did the smaller round diamonds surrounding it. The delicate gold work and band spoke of high craftsmanship.
Anne gasped. “It’s beautiful.”
“And reminds me of that night when you stole my breath in that gown, when I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt you had every piece of my heart and soul, and they’ve been in your keeping ever since.”
“Oh, I had no idea you harbored such romance behind that caution.” She let him tug the glove from her left hand in order to slip the ring onto her fourth finger.
“There’s much you don’t know about me, nor I you, but I look forward to years of discovery.”
Before she could respond, the dowager joined them, offering congratulations. Then Anne’s parents came forward, both wearing matching expressions of delight.
“Come now, Anne, there will be plenty of time to celebrate the engagement after your flight.” Her father bussed her cheek as she stared. “You have a reporter to give a comeuppance to, remember?”
Benedict nudged her arm as she replaced her glove. “Your parents and I talked at length during our separation. I think you’ll face no more opposition from them.”
“So I’m coming to see.” Then she gawked at her new husband-to-be. “How did you manage it?”
He winked. “New man, or perhaps the old one finding his courage.” He knitted his hands together and offered them to her. “I’ll give you a boost into the gondola, love. Let’s show Mr. Davies for the arse that he is.”
How much did she love this man? Grateful, and with a heart full of love, she put a foot into his hands and squealed when he assisted her up and over the basket’s rim. Once she’d gained her balance and while Benedict joined her, she waved to her parents and to his mother. “Thank you all for your support, your encouragement, and your love. I’ll endeavor to make you proud today.”
“You already have,” her mother said with tears in her eyes. “Good luck!”
Anne beamed as she went through the final checks on the balloon’s instruments and gadgets that Matthew had no doubt instructed Benedict to include. It didn’t matter what happened next, for she would enjoy all she could from the present.
However, showing Mr. Davies exactly who was the better balloonist would certainly be a crowning glory, but the sweetest victory of all was winning her viscount and knowing that giving her heart away didn’t mean being grounded as she’d thought all along.
When she looked at Benedict, a tremble of need edged down her spine. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.” He waggled his eyebrows and then set his goggles down over his spectacles. “For everything.”
“So am I.” And she couldn’t wait to meet her future… with him.
