A Heart in Flight Read Free

Earl said, returning to her side. “Alvanley’s a bore.”
    “I would have thought you had much in common.” The remark escaped her unaware, and only the Earl’s raised eyebrow showed her her mistake. Now she’d gone and insulted the man.
    “Touche,” he said, smiling pleasantly.
    She flushed. “I didn’t mean ...”
    “Yes, you did.” His smile didn’t waver. “You have wit as well as looks. Don’t deny it.”
    There wasn’t much she could return to that. It was certainly pleasant to have someone think her intelligent. Uncle Arthur was discouragingly prone to treat her like some half-witted child, especially when she mentioned going up in the balloon.
    Again she found herself looking into the Earl’s eyes. Their magnetism pulled at her; deep dark pools, inviting, beckoning. Warmth trembled over her, and she fought to control the sudden shaking of her knees. Oh, these hero-types were patently dangerous.
    “There you are.” Harold’s voice broke the spell. Aurelia and the Earl turned together.
    “Listen, Reely, the men need me.”
    “Harold, you ...”         .
    “I know!” Harold grinned. “Ranny can take you to the Minerva.”
    For a moment, Aurelia could not find her tongue. She admitted to herself that the prospect of more time in the Earl’s company was pleasing. But the man had been imposed upon enough. He would be wanting to get away.
    But to her surprise, the Earl said, “I’d be greatly pleased to escort Miss Amesley to the lending library.” He actually sounded like he meant it. And he offered her his arm.
    “Harold, I can’t ...”
    But Harold wasn’t listening. “Thanks, Ranny. See you later.”
    Aurelia stared after him in utter frustration. Harold was such a nincompoop. How could he just walk off and leave her like that? This man had other things to do.
    She swallowed hastily and forced herself to turn back to the Earl. “There’s no need for you to put yourself out,” she said, schooling her voice to calmness. “I shall take a hackney to the Minerva.”
    The Earl straightened and his jaw tightened. It was really quite a handsome jaw. “You shall do no such thing,” he said.
    “Really, milord.”
    “Miss Amesley, I will brook no resistance in this matter. Your cousin left you to my care. I would be remiss to neglect my responsibility.”
    She was perfectly able to take care of herself. But it was kind of him. “Really, milord, I am not your responsibility. I am scarcely a green ...”
    The Earl took her hand and drew it through his arm. “Miss Amesley, you are wasting your breath. Come, my carriage is waiting outside the gate.”
    It would be nice to have a carriage ride. They seldom bothered with niceties like that. Uncle Arthur said walking was good for the constitution and the pocket. And he was quite correct. After all, air flight was not a pursuit to be financed on pin money.
    In spite of herself, she glanced down at her clothes. The Earl was quite a pattern card of perfection. Not ostentatious, of course. But just so nicely turned out.
    While her gown ... But her clothes were quite presentable. Just because she didn’t look like the ladies around her ... After all, the Earl of Ranfield was talking to her, not to any of those fashionably dressed females.
    Ranfield frowned. “I apologize for Alvanley. The man has no tact.” He smiled. “But really, being seen with me is not the worst fate in the world.”
    Indeed, it was not. It was turning into a rare treat. So she let him guide her through the crowds and out to a carriage that was, quite as it should be, the highest stare of fashion.
    The tiger up behind gave her one slightly bemused look. No doubt he was accustomed to more fashionably turned out ladies. But she gave him a smile anyway.
    Then the Earl handed her up with all the consideration any woman could desire. In fact, his fingers lingered around hers for so long that her heart started getting those funny notions again.
     

Chapter Two
     
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