Page 88 of The Duke of Daring (The Untouchables)
“Thank you,” Lucy called after her. She turned to Ivy. “I hope we’re not too late.”
“You won’t be,” Ivy said, smiling. “You’ll save him.”
She only prayed he wanted to be saved.
Andrew stood with Sadler amidst the roaring crowd at Burlington House. The parachute device, consisting of a framed canopy with a small basket, was affixed to the balloon. Once they were at the proper altitude, Andrew would climb into the basket from the balloon’s gondola, and Sadler would cut the parachute free.
The feelings of anticipation and excitement that he’d felt before his first ascension were there, but strikingly diminished in comparison. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go up. It was that there were matters holding him down.
He’d done an excellent job of drinking himself into oblivion the night before last. So much so, that he’d spent most of yesterday cursing his very existence. Last night he’d found sleep, but he’d also dreamed. Vividly.
Erotic encounters, and every single one of them with Lucy. Until the darkness had crept in and served him another nightmare. It had been different, however. He typically saw each of his family die as he stood there, helpless and alone, the hollowness inside of him growing with each death until he was certain it must swallow him whole.
Instead, he’d seen Lucy. She was sick, and he’d held her hand while life slipped from her body. He’d woken in a cold sweat, a desperate fear gripping him and leaving him breathless. Despite the horror of it, he hadn’t felt as terrified as after his other nightmares. He’d pondered it for a great while—it wasn’t as if he’d been able to sleep again.
The only conclusion he’d reached was that Lucy was still alive. Whereas he’d always come out of the nightmares about his family knowing they were lost to him forever, Lucy was still here. She was still a dream that could come true. If he let himself pursue it.
That meant confronting his fear and acknowledging the fact that hecouldlose her. There were no promises in life, save those they made to each other.
He thought of the promises he’d made to Bertie. Before he’d died, he’d sworn to protect him, and he’d failed. Afterwards, in more recent years, he’d promised Bertie that he would fly for him. Today was about that—flying for Bertie. Carrying out the promise he’d made and doing the only thing he could for his long-dead brother.
But what of the living?
He thought of Charles, who was on his way to northern England. He’d written Andrew a letter thanking him for his kindness and generosity. He’d said,“You saved my life, and not just because you prevented Gin Jimmy from killing me.”
Andrew had understood. He hadn’t saved Bertie, but maybe, just maybe, he’d lived so that he could save Charles.
He also thought of Tindall and his mother, who’d made a full recovery. Tindall credited Andrew’s intervention, thanking him for his kindness and his generosity. He’d said,“You saved her life—I believe that.”
For the first time, Andrew had been grateful that he’d survived, instead of feeling guilty.
Which in turn made him feel less guilty for being glad that he hadn’t died. Since he’d met Lucy, he’d begun to think of a future of love and contentment—a future he hadn’t thought he deserved or wanted. To admit that he wanted to live—to love—somehow seemed to dishonor his family. But that was foolish. His mother, his father, and especially Bertie would want him to be happy.
“Are you ready?” Sadler asked, his dark gray brows arching high on his forehead beneath the brim of his hat.
Andrew looked at the balloon and saw Bertie’s face. The sound of the crowd faded, and in his mind, he heard the voice of his brother, clear again as if Bertie was beside him. He told him to go—but not into the air.
Angling toward Sadler, Andrew shook his head. “No. I’m not going. My apologies. I need to do something.”
Sadler looked surprised. “If you’re certain. There won’t be another chance. At least not with me.”
Andrew knew that. Sadler was past sixty now, and didn’t ascend as often as he used to. His sons, however, went up, and Andrew could probably go with one of them. He didn’t think that he would.
“I know.” He clasped Sadler’s hand and shook it firmly. “I thank you. You’ve given me the experience of a lifetime. And prompted me to pursue the adventure I really want.”
Lucy.She would be his greatest risk, and his most fulfilling reward.Ifshe accepted him. He’d botched things quite badly and wouldn’t be surprised if she refused him completely.
He stepped away from the balloon and started into the crowd. Beaumont stood near the front. He grabbed Andrew’s arm as he went past. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you going up?”
Andrew shook his head amidst the cacophony of noise around them. “No. Why don’t you go?” He grinned at his friend and clapped him on the shoulder. Yes, they were friends. “See you later.”
As he picked his way through the throng, the anticipation and excitement that heshouldhave felt about parachuting coursed through him, driving him to move more urgently. He couldn’t wait to get to Lucy.
The crowd surged, and the noise grew. He turned his head and saw the balloon ascend. His task became harder as he now sought to go against the wave of the throng. They moved forward as he tried to reach the back.
Finally, he broke free and stopped dead in his tracks. Standing there, with her head tipped back, staring at the sky, was Lucy.
He strode toward her and saw the look of anguish on her face. “Lucy!” he called and started to run.
