Capturing the Viscount (Rakes and Roses Book 1)

by Win Hollows

  "Rem..." Laura said faintly, taking a step towards the balloon.

  "What do you think?" He murmured, stepping closer with her.

  "It's wonderful," she sighed, her eyes wide. She looked up at him. "Is it-" Can we-?"

  "We're going up in it, yes," he told her, thoroughly enjoying her look of rapture.

  "Come this way, please." The man beckoned them towards the balloon.

  "I've always wanted to try this," she told him, her excitement palpable. "I saw one once, on a trip to Edinburgh, but it was already so high. How did you know?" she demanded, her step quickening.

  Rem matched his pace to hers as they neared the balloon. "I didn't, really. But I know you like inventions and trying new things, so I thought you'd enjoy this."

  Laura stopped a few feet from the balloon, where four men on horses waited. She looked up into his eyes with an expression that made Rem's breath catch. "It's perfect. No one but my father would ever have let me do anything like this. I thought no one but him really understood me. Thank you."

  Rem wanted to kiss her. Although he wasn't sure being compared to her father was a good thing, he knew what she was trying to say. Before he could put his thoughts into action, the man in yellow cleared his throat.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the Dragon of Honeymoore Estate. This hot air balloon will let you soar above the world powered by flame alone. These fellows here," he indicated the men on horseback, will be guiding your trip from the ground. Your balloon will be attached to sandbags by extensive ropes that are on these horses." Rem saw the bags piled on either side of the horses' flanks. "They will guide your balloon through the countryside while you enjoy the experience, which is like no other, I guarantee you."

  "Oh, Rem, this is so exciting!" Laura squeezed his arm. "I do hope I don't become airsick. I've read about that, you know. It's like seasickness, tossing your accounts, only-"

  "Yes, I get the point," Rem interrupted, not wanting to think about it, lest he have the problem.

  The man in yellow coughed into his hand, Rem suspected, to hide a laugh. He opened a gate in the waist-high basket that was made of thatched wood. Laura stepped in first, making a sound of exclamation. Rem followed her and saw that, sitting on the floor of the basket, there was a bucket filled with ice chips holding a bottle of champagne, as well as two glasses, a bowl of strawberries, a blanket, and two pieces of cloth, one red and one white.

  Their escort began speaking again. "If, at any time, you wish to stop the ride and be lowered back down, please wave the red scarf so that the guides will see it. If they stop moving the balloon, and you wish to begin moving again, wave the white scarf. The flight will last as long as you wish it, provided the sun is still up. As it gets dark, I'm afraid the balloon gains a buoyancy that we cannot hold with just four horses. Do you have any questions?" He looked expectantly at them.

  "Only a few hundred," Laura told him. "How does-" she began.

  Rem cupped a hand over Laura's mouth. "We'll be fine," he assured him.

  This time, the man smiled openly as Laura continued to try and speak through his fingers. He nodded. "Enjoy your experience, My lord, Madame."

  Rem uncovered Laura's mouth, earning a glare. He shrugged, smiling.

  The man in yellow backed away from the balloon and began to unlatch the grounded arches so that the ropes fell free. There was a slight listing to one side as the balloon began to rise. And once the final rope had been let loose, the basket gradually began to lift off the ground.

  Laura gasped, emitting a tiny squeal as she looked over the side, watching their ascent.

  Rem let out a laugh as the balloon rose higher and higher above the ground. He might not have an obsession with contraptions like Laura did, but he could certainly appreciate this particular invention. The breeze became more pronounced as they surpassed the manor in altitude, Rem noticed; Laura was smiling goofily and rubbing her arms with her hands. He snatched the blanket from the floor of the basket and placed it about her shoulders. She gave him a grateful smile and wrapped it tighter around herself.

  “Oh, Rem, look. They’re waving!” Laura pointed towards the ground where several of the manor’s guests were waving up at them.

  They were high enough now that it was difficult to make them out, but Rem joined Laura in waving back at them. He felt a tug and realized that the horsemen were pulling the balloon down the gently-sloping hillside, letting out more rope so that they maintained their current altitude. Laura scurried from corner to corner in the basket, looking at everything as it became visible. The countryside was laid out before them in stunning color, everything for miles around set out like a highly detailed landscape painting, except for movement here and there. There were extensive green pastures bordered by farmland and interrupted by patches of forest or groups of thatched houses. There was a flock of sheep moving through a green patch, but they were just pinpricks of white fluff from where they were. A flock of tiny black birds rose up suddenly out of the trees in the distance and came towards them, their erratic flying patterns drawing his gaze. He held a hand up to shield his eyes from the sun, which was beginning to turn a more golden hue in its slow descent on the horizon.

  “It’s so beautiful up here,” Laura commented, tendrils of her hair flying in wisps around her face. “It’s hard to believe that we’ve made something that lets us float high in the sky like this, isn’t it? But it’s all just mechanics. I know it’s nothing magical, and yet, every time I look at the horizon, I know there has to be something glorious at work, don’t you think?”

  Rem looked at her, his smile growing of its own accord. Her back was to the sun, creating a halo effect around her silhouette. Laura’s cheeks bloomed with color from the wind, and Rem wanted to capture her just like this forever. Perhaps there was something to her camera idea. “I think you’re glorious.” He watched her cheeks heat up even more.

  She was silent for a little while, and he liked the way she simply looked at him, as if truly trying to see him for the first time. “I want to thank you for this,” she said quietly, her words almost carried away by the wind and the sound of the gas burner above them. “I have underestimated you, it seems.”

  “So am I no longer the villain trying to steal your virtue?”

  “Oh, I still think you’d steal my virtue, given half a chance,” she responded with her head cocked to the side, smiling.

  “Smart girl,” Rem replied, grinning. “But, remember, I hold the cards in that particular deck, and I only intend to use them to…sweeten the pot, as it were.”

  “Are we gambling, then, Lord Rothstone?” Laura inquired, holding his gaze.

  “Oh yes, Miss Parrington,” he said with gravity. “Every second.”

  She didn’t seem to mind his answer, her small smile remaining. “And what cards do I hold?”

  “All the rest.” He shrugged. “I can entice you, surprise you... But you always hold the ace, Laura. You can put a stop to my play any time you wish.” He paused. “I hope you don’t, though.”

  She nodded slowly. “I think you’ve won this particular hand, Rem.” She gazed past him at the wide open scenery.

  “I’m glad to hear you say that.” He took a step towards her. “Do I gain a forfeit for it?”

  She raised her brows in incredulity. “What could we possibly do that we haven’t done already without…you know,” she swallowed.

  Rem threw his head back and laughed. Her innocence delighted him. It made her that much more attractive that he was the one educating her. “Lots of things, sweeting,” he told her softly, bringing his hand up to cup her cheek. Whether her flush was from embarrassment or desire, Rem couldn’t tell, but she was definitely fascinated by his pronouncement. He didn’t want to push her right now, though. They had done enough exploration for the day, and Rem knew he might scare her away if he took her any further in such a short time period. Besides, she was partly right. If they did end up giving into their desires before Rem had secured her hand, what
would he have left as an incentive for marriage? He thought she might be beginning to value him for his unique qualities recently, but Rem knew not to try and predict anything where she was concerned. So he placed a soft, chaste kiss on her pink lips and then dropped his hand from her face. When he pulled back, she looked at him curiously, clearly wanting more, but accepting his restrained gesture. He smiled and broke eye contact to reach down for the bottle of champagne, handing the glasses to Laura as he popped the cork. Pouring them both a full glass, Rem smiled and clinked his glass against hers. Silently, they sipped and turned to view the countryside.

  Their balloon was making slow, but steady progress through the meadowland, the sound of periodic explosions faint in the background now as they neared the forest bordering Honeymoore Estate. Laura sighed, her eyes squinting as she looked into the bright sunshine surrounding them. The view really was breathtaking, Rem had to admit.

  After several moments, Laura chirped, “You know, I’ve never been allowed to have champagne.” She giggled. “I suppose I should have said that sooner.”

  Rem turned to her sharply, grinning. “Really? Yes, you should have,” he admonished her, brushing her shoulder playfully. A slightly tipsy Laura might be incredibly amusing. But he made a mental note to not let her have more than one more glass. He didn’t want to bring her back to Eliza drunk. He needed her maid on his side if he was to continue doing things like this with her.

  “I wonder how we’re going to go over the forest,” she said in puzzlement, looking down at the trees ahead.

  “There’s a cleared path for the horses, look,” Rem told her, pointing to a wide path that meandered through the trees.

  “Oh, I do hope the ropes don’t get caught on anything.”

  “I imagine they’ve had lots of practice,” Rem assured her.

  “You’re probably right.” Laura tone still conveyed doubt though, as the balloon began to float over the vast blanket of trees below them.

  “Would you like some more champagne?” he asked politely, seeing she had finished hers. She nodded, and Rem poured her another half glass, declining to refill his own.

  “I like this stuff,” she said, peering at the bubbles as they made their way to the top of the golden liquid. “I don’t see why I wasn’t permitted to drink it.” She tapped her pointer finger against the side of the glass, trying to detach more bubbles.

  Rem smiled, watching her frown at her glass. “I have no idea, little one.”

  She smiled up at him, her eyes beginning to develop a warm, glazed look. “I like you too, I’ve decided.” She took another gulp.

  “I’m flattered.” Rem attempted to subtly take the glass of alcohol from her hand, but she didn’t let go.

  “No, you have your own, silly,” she told him, emitting another giggle.

  “Well, look at that, I do,” Rem grimaced. Apparently, Laura was a lightweight, and one and a half glasses was enough to demolish her reserve. Not that he didn’t appreciate seeing this side of her. She was really quite adorable like this, flirtatious and carefree. He wondered if she was prone to be like this with everyone while tipsy, or just himself. He sincerely hoped it was the latter. Many an innocent girl had been rushed to the altar after an indiscreet moment brought on by the effects of alcohol. And he wanted this part of Laura all to himself.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy,” Laura said with a noisy sigh. “Well, except for when Henry and I- that’s my dog- are out in the forest. Or when I’m in a steaming hot tub with a good book. Or when-”

  Rem put his fingers to her lips. “I really don’t think I can take any more comparisons.”

  Laura’s brows puckered. “It was a compli-”

  Suddenly, the basket holding them dipped violently to the side, causing both passengers to nearly topple over and the glasses in their hands to fly over the side of the conveyance. Laura gasped as Rem grabbed her shoulders to steady her.

  “What’s happening?” Laura demanded, her eyes panicked.

  Rem’s breathing was heavy from shock. “I don’t know,” he said, daring to look over the side of the basket to the ground. The sun’s rays were too bright from where he was positioned, coming straight at him from the line of the horizon as it set. He couldn’t make out anything more than blurry trees and faint movement of small shapes on the dirt path below. “It’s probably nothing,” he said after a moment. “I’m sure one of the horses just tripped or some such. We’re fine now.” He rubbed his hands over Laura’s arms, which had goose bumps risen all over them.

  She nodded and breathed out slowly.

  Rem’s heartbeat was beginning to slow again when a loud explosion sounded from below them. Not more than a second later, a sharp hissing sound erupted not far above them.

  “What was that?” Laura squeaked, jerking out if his grip. She backed into the side of the basket, looking up. The hissing turned into a blowing, and the balloon began to sink, first very slowly, and then faster and faster towards the tops of the trees. “Rem? Rem, do something! We’re falling!”

  He gathered her against his side, looking frantically up at the mechanism above their heads and the balloon that was deflating by the second. “I know. I…I’m-” But Rem didn’t know what to do. His screaming instinct was telling him that he had to protect Laura at all costs, but how was he supposed to protect her from this? What was he supposed to be doing? All his brute strength couldn’t help them now. His skill with firearms. The power he held, both socially and financially. None of it mattered a farthing.

  The basket began to list to the side as the balloon deflated unevenly. Their angle was now such that they were crouched in the corner of the basket, one foot on the bottom, one on the side. The pace of their descent began to increase rapidly. Stomach clenched, Rem saw that wasn’t their only problem now. The flames from the gas burner were licking at the material of the balloon that had sagged around it, catching it afire quickly. Remington knew that, at this point, it would be a miracle if either of them survived the inevitable crash.

  Laura’s breathing hitched, and Rem could see tears streaming down her cheeks. She was close to hyperventilating, her fingers clawing into his arms. She looked like he felt, but he couldn’t give in to panic right now. He had to think of a way out if this. He knew they had only a minute or less before they hit the ground, but his brain was frozen, picturing Laura’s broken body on the forest floor. He couldn’t let it happen. He just couldn’t.

  The basket pitched to the side again, this time at too steep an angle for them to stay inside. Laura’s soft-slippered feet couldn’t gain traction on the uprighted wicker, and she slid downwards away from him towards the open mouth of the basket. Rem’s stomach rose into his throat as Laura’s scream pierced his consciousness. He began to slide too, unable to fight the gravity that pulled at them. Laura grasped at the wood slats with her fingers, but the weave was not loose enough for a handhold.

  “Rem!” she shrieked, sheer desperation infused into the plea.

  Rem lunged for her outstretched hands, managing to grasp only one with his as he slid out of the basket himself. He caught the lip of the basket, but could already feel his grip was not going to last for longer than a few seconds. The balloon above him was now almost completely engulfed in flames, and he could feel them falling quickly, but it was as if everything was in slow motion. Looking down, he glimpsed Laura, hanging below him above the sharp points of the trees by nothing but the grasp of his hand over hers. Her fear-widened eyes reflected the flames burning above them, shredding their hope.

  “Rem, I can’t hold on,” she sobbed. “We’re going to die, aren’t we?”

  “No,” he called out sharply. “Hold on just a little longer, Laura. Trust me.” That was the problem. She had trusted him, and look where they were. They very well might die in the next few moments. The trees below were coming into sharper focus as they rose up to meet them, which was both good and bad. Rem needed to see if there was a way to land safely, but there were only seco
nds now until they made contact. Seeing no other option, Rem instructed Laura, “You need to let go when I tell you to, understand?”

  “No!” she protested.

  “Just do it. Please. For me.” He begged, hoping her trust in him still warranted this last request.

  “Alright,” she choked out, but Rem could only see her mouth the word. The roar of the wind and the inferno drowned out her soft whisper.

  Now, to judge where and when the best time to drop her was… The sky had darkened in the last few minutes, but there was still enough light to see the distinct outlines of the trees below. Laura’s hand was sweating, making it more difficult to keep his hold on her. And his other hand on the basket was beginning to lose its grip as well. Five, maybe seven seconds, he estimated, and one of his hands would give out for sure. As he frantically raked the tree line with his eyes, Rem saw a gap in between two large sycamores that looked promising. Of course, he had no way of knowing that she wouldn’t be skewered by a pointy branch on the way down, but at least she wouldn’t hit the spiky tops of the trees or crash with the balloon, as he might have to do. The thought of Laura being dead before she even hit the ground made him sick.

  Rem’s shoulder burned as he attempted to swing her slowly from side to side, gaining momentum. Her eyes took on an even more panicked cast, the movement causing her hand to slip a little in his. The sharp trees loomed closer, and though Rem didn’t want to, he focused on their shape, trying to help her land in the best way possible. Her hand was slipping, and he couldn’t hold onto her anymore, even if he wanted. He had to drop her in three, two one…