Page 60 of Tainted Reasoning

The attendant looks at me and I mouth, ‘first time’. She nods with understanding.

“I can assure you women pilots are as safe as men. It’s proven.”

“But I didn’t read that.”

The other passengers arrive, and the attendant tries to turn away to greet them.

“One more thing.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The fuel. Has the pilot used the standard calculation for it? We need to make sure we’ve got enough to get to the Caribbean.”

The eyes of a little boy waiting with the other passengers go wide, and he tugs on his mother’s jacket with worry.

“I can assure you the pilot has had all her calculations checked, and the plane is full enough.”

“Good, I know it’s seventy thousand kilograms of fuel to get to New York, so she’ll need more than that.”

“William”–I tap his arm– “can we go start our honeymoon, now, please?”

He looks between me and the flight attendant.

“Of course. Thank you.”

To a relieved exhale from both the flight staff and the passengers, my new husband finally decides to take his seat.

“You’re suddenly very bossy,” he tells me.

“You can talk!” I roll my eyes at him and put my bag down to pull out my Kindle for the flight. “Wasn’t it little more than seven hours ago you picked me up out of bed, threw me over your shoulder, and carried me to the family church where you demanded?in front of Victoria, Nicholas, and a vicar?that we marry then and there.”

“You didn’t like my proposal?”

I laugh at him and pop my new Marc Jacobs bag into the overhead locker.

“It was a little unorthodox. Put it that way.”

“I thought there was less chance of you saying no, doing it like that.”

“That’s true.” I slide into the seat next to him.

“Are you happy?”

“To be Lady William Cavendish?”

“Yes.” He turns to me with a look of worry in his eyes.

“I couldn’t be happier.”

“Good, because we’re going to spend the next two weeks putting a baby in your belly.”

I roll my eyes at him.

“You’re not joking, are you?”

He shrugs his shoulders and then does his seat belt up.

“When have you known me to joke?”

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