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His eyes were wide. “Are we coming back?”
Were they? Obviously, they would eventually need to return, but she couldn’t think about that now. “When I break a record and show everyone that travel by balloon can do good for the people of England.” Self-doubt reared its ugly head, but she beat it back down. There was no room for that if one wished to change history. “This is but the precipice to a new age, Matthew. We can’t give up now.” Not only did he drive the wagon and load her equipment, he helped set up rigging and move canisters of hydrogen and monitored the filling of the balloon. “Help me do this, and when we succeed, your name will make the papers as part of my team.”
She only needed one other person and they’d be set.
To Matthew’s credit, he packed in an efficient manner and had even packed a handkerchief full of provisions for the trip.
Two hours later, they arrived in Cranleigh, and after a quick stop at a village bakery, they had directions to Worthington Hall. By the time Matthew guided the horses up the lane that led to the manor, Anne’s nerves crawled and the urge to retch from worry grew strong. “Oh, I hope this works,” she said from the bench seat beside Matthew.
“You’re quite persuasive, Lady Anne. Whatever it is that you’ve planned, I’m sure folks will go along with it.” His blind faith in her shored up her flagging confidence.
“Well, there’s nothing for it. I’ll have to try.” When the wagon came to a halt at the top of the circular drive, she sighed. It was time to throw herself onto the viscount’s mercy and hope that he’d take a chance and throw in his lot with her. “Wish me luck.”
The groom snorted. “You don’t need it. Why, you’re the most fearless woman I’ve ever known, my lady.”
“I appreciate that, Matthew.” Before he could jump down, she’d stood and leapt to the ground. It wasn’t as easy doing such a thing in skirts, but there was no choice. She couldn’t arrive on the man’s doorstep looking like she’d done yesterday.
Smoothing her hands along the front of her gown, she approached the manor with vines of ivy creeping up some of the brickwork. It was a nice, tidy edifice and not as sprawling as her father’s country house. Perhaps it didn’t need to be, for it rather reminded her of the viscount himself. Efficient without fanfare.
Her stomach dropped as she knocked on the green-painted door. It felt as she did the first moment she looked down at the world after ascending in the balloon. There was no turning back down.
Seconds later, a man of indeterminate age opened the door, and he looked exactly as a butler should. “May I help you?”
“I’m here to see Lord Worthington. If he’s at home.” Oh, please say that he is!
He looked down his nose at her as if he tried to puzzle out exactly why she was there. “Your name?”
She cleared her throat. “Lady Anne Lewis. My father is the Earl of Doverton.” Her voice broke on the last word. Never had she been more nervous, and in many ways she felt as if she were betraying her heritage by running away from her parents, even for a short while. “I’m afraid this is rather an emergency.”
“Very well. Follow me.” He stood aside so she could pass through into a rather understated entry hall. Once the door closed behind her, he led the way toward a highly polished wooden staircase. Sunlight sent squares and rectangles of illumination over the floors in pleasing, abstract designs.
“Hemsley, is something amiss?” The viscount himself met them at the stairs with two books in hand. Obviously, he was either heading to his library or just coming from it.
“There’s a visitor for you, my lord. A Lady Anne Lewis.”
Anne took her fate in her hands as she stepped around the butler. “Lord Worthington, please say that you’ll help me. You are very much my last hope.” When his dark eyebrows soared above the rims of his spectacles, she sighed. “Oh, bother. I’ve rushed the fences. Patience isn’t my strong suit.”
“No, it’s not.” Amusement danced in his hazel eyes. “And that might prove your undoing more sooner than later.”
“I hope not.” She couldn’t help roving her gaze up and down his person.
Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting guests if his state of undress was an indication, but the buff-colored breeches paired with a white lawn shirt and a plain brown silk vest fit his frame to perfection. There was no ounce of fat or flab on the viscount’s body, and that set her imagination soaring. When her regard encountered his bared forearms, showed to advantage from his sleeves rolled up to the elbow, she openly admired them. The strength in those arms was at odds with his scholarly image of spectacles and books, and it churned her curiosity.
When she met his gaze, a knowing light had sprung into them. “Should I turn about and show my hindquarters for inspection?” he asked in a soft voice despite the presence of the butler.
“That won’t be necessary, Lord Worthington.” Though she made certain her words were cold and clipped, she couldn’t help the shiver of appreciation that skated down her spine. When the butler bounced an interested look between them, she sighed and applied herself to the task at hand. Nothing would come of being distracted by a handsome male. “Perhaps I should explain.”
“Perhaps that would be best.” He glanced at the butler, and his amusement hadn’t faded. “I’ll take it from here, Hemsley, but please bring tea to my study.”
Anne didn’t blame the butler at all for his expression of speculation; she’d become used to it from everyone she’d ever met. “At once, my lord.”
Once he’d departed, she met the viscount’s puzzled hazel gaze, and her nerves crawled again, though not just from anxiety. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t heard your story, and knowing you, I’m not going to like it.”
“No, I don’t suppose you will.” Her lips twitched. “I’m wondering how you know me so well after that little bit of time we spent together yesterday.” He didn’t disappoint, for he was right. No doubt he’d tell her it was too dangerous or risky.
But, if Matthew were correct, she could win him over.
