Page 73 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous
“She’d have every reason to faint, after what she’s endured,” Charlotte said quietly, then moved off at the warning in his eyes.
It wasn’t far to the supper table, but she took a detour towards the balloon, fascinated. The massive silk envelope strained against its moorings, billowing gently in the evening breeze. The wicker basket beneath looked absurdly small—fragile, even—for something meant to carry people into the sky.
Could it truly float into the heavens and away from all this?
She imagined herself drifting high above the garden party, all her troubles shrinking into nothing. When had her life become so entangled with fear and compromise? Barnaby had seemed charming once—her parents had approved. When had that charm turned cruel? And how had she let him twist her into someone so afraid, so unsure, so silent?
“Can I help you, miss?”
Charlotte startled. The aeronaut stood beside the balloon, a weathered man with kind eyes and a face browned from the sun.
“Lost your way? Or are you one of the young people I’m meant to take up tonight? Miss Playford, perhaps?”
Charlotte stared. “Miss Playford? Is she one of the people going to the moon?”
The aeronaut laughed warmly. “Not quite. The moon’s a long way off. But we might reach Gretna Green—that’s only a few hours’ plain sailing, by my reckoning. Are you excited? Onceyour young man arrives, I’ll cut the rope, and off you’ll go.” He gestured to the basket, neatly outfitted with blankets and what looked like a small hamper.
Charlotte’s heart pounded. “There’s something I must do first,” she said, and turned quickly, slippers sinking into the damp grass as she hurried towards Venetia.
At the supper table, Venetia sat like a porcelain doll—still, pale, unreadable. Lord Windermere loomed beside her, casting a shadow despite the dozens of flickering candles. Mrs. Pike sat across from them, ever watchful.
“Barnaby sent me to see if you were feeling better,” Charlotte said, approaching with a bright smile that felt painfully false. “Perhaps a little air would help?”
Venetia began to rise, but Windermere’s voice slithered across the table. “Venetia has all the air she needs. Soon, she’ll have even more.” The silky menace in his tone sent goosebumps across Charlotte’s arms.
“Then perhaps she’ll accompany me to the retiring room,” Charlotte said smoothly. A perfectly acceptable pretext.
She extended her hand. Venetia’s fingers trembled as they closed around hers.
“Don’t be long,” Mrs. Pike snapped.
Once they were out of earshot, Charlotte hooked her arm through Venetia’s and leaned close. “The aeronaut mistook me for you. He’s been instructed to take you and a gentleman to Gretna Green. Venetia—Windermereisplanning to abduct you, and your aunt is helping him. Barnaby too. He’s lied about Henry, forged evidence—I know it now. But if you don’t escape tonight, you’ll be Lady Windermere by morning.”
Venetia said nothing. She only stared up at the stars.
Charlotte gave her a shake. “Youdon’twant to marry Windermere. I know you don’t.”
“I don’t,” Venetia said, her voice flat. “But what choice do I have?”
“You haveus. Henry will help you escape. I’ll take you to the balloon right now. You can fly away to safety. To freedom!”
Venetia’s expression remained unchanged. “But I won’t go to Gretna Green with Henry.”
Charlotte recoiled. “Youbelievethe lies about him?”
“No. I know they’re lies. And I know he’s a good man. But he doesn’t love me. I think he never did.”
“He’d marry you in a heartbeat if you met him at the balloon and said you would.”
“Yes. Because he’s honorable. But he’s in love with someone else, Charlotte.”
Charlotte blinked. “That’s not true. I’d know. He’s my brother.”
Venetia tilted her head. “Have you not seen how he looks at Caroline?”
Charlotte frowned. “They grew up like siblings. You’re imagining things.”
“I thought so too. Until I intercepted a look between them.” She drew in a shuddering breath and shook her head as she murmured, as if to herself, “How did I miss it before? And yet, it was so… revealing. The tenderness in their expressions—Charlotte, it was as if the world melted away. I saw it in their eyes. True love. And how did I know? Because that is how I have always wanted the man I love to look at me. And that certainly isn’t Henry.” She drew herself up and her look was sharper this time as she added, “Because Henry is in love with Caroline.”
