Read Online When a Rake Falls by Sally Orr - Free Book Online Page A

her. I’d like to think so.”
    â€œI’m the very likeness of my mother too. Whenever I meet one of her old acquaintances, their first words are about her. I think we are lucky in that regard.”
    A minute or two passed in silence.
    â€œFunny thing, ballooning,” he said. “Up here in this glorious firmament, I feel happy. For the first time I can remember, there is no one to please. My journey is in the hands of God, and even I cannot influence that.”
    She nodded under his chin. “Up here I’m happy too. I work with the hope that women can be more than…more than our established roles in society—more than a daughter, governess, or our husband’s housekeeper—and that we too can contribute new knowledge to the world. I always lose that optimism once on the ground. Then my duties as a daughter return.” She became silent.
    Her head rested heavily upon his chest, so he figured she was probably asleep, poor lamb. A quick glance revealed her eyes were open. He kissed the top of her head and expected her to pull away, but she remained. Now guilt and self-recrimination overwhelmed him. If she were to die by his actions, what would he say to her father? From this moment on, his goal must change. As a gentleman, he had to right the situation he had created. He needed to do everything within his power to restore her to her father. This objective became his first priority.
    After all, he had a whole month to reach Paris, so he could easily see to her welfare first, then return to the race. Looking at wisps of her hair dancing in the slight breeze, he remembered her warning about losing consciousness. Her eyes were now shut, but her breaths continued to be strong. He just could not bring himself to shake her awake—too uncaring and violent—so he first tried to waken her by murmuring, “If you asked me before now, I’d say nighttime in a balloon would be quiet as a cathedral, but it’s not. The soft whistle of the air, the basket creaking as it sways, and the sounds traveling up from below…that racket I did not expect. Cowbells, dogs barking, the entire countryside is alive every minute, and all that noise travels to heaven. And look at that heaven. I never thought anything could be as remarkable as the sunset today, but this inky vault overwhelms me. Heaven is magnificent.”
    She murmured something incoherent before lifting her head off his chest. “I have an idea,” she said. “Hold your gloves out.”
    His spirits lifted with the knowledge she was awake and well. If her request would make her happy, then why not? The gloves were not his best pair, but old ones still decent enough to be worn by a gentleman with his sartorial reputation. He had chosen them for the journey because they were warm and soft like kitten fur. Pulling out his gloved hands, he held them before her nose for approval.
    She grabbed a hand and pulled it down close to hers. Then she took off her gloves and slipped her bare palm on top of his. “My hands are cold. I believe if we put our hands in the same glove, they will become warmer.” Her frozen little fingers slid smoothly between his, but there was not enough room for them to reach the fingertips. She attempted to slide her other hand into the other glove, but the second was tighter than the first.
    He whispered into her ear. “Push.”
    She pushed.
    Electricity shot through him, and his breathing quickened. For heavens sake, he might as well be running.
    She wiggled her fingers as far as they would go.
    Her touch felt unbearably intimate. They spent the next several minutes with their joined hands resting on her belly, both breathing loudly.
    He closed his eyes. An inescapable urge made him slide his right hand out an inch and shove it back in. To his surprise, his hand felt warmer, and his body felt warmer too. He continued this pleasing gesture. His fingers encircled hers. Then he pulled out