Page 8 of The Countess's Awakening (The Lovers’ Arch #3)

CHAPTER 8

“ W hy are we going to Hyde Park?”

Esther peered through the edge of the drawn carriage windows at the gaslit darkness outside, no doubt trying to guess the surprise he had in store for her. She wouldn’t be able to guess it, but that didn’t stop her from trying. He had never seen her so enthusiastic about something. It made her eyes sparkle and her whole face glow. And she hadn’t even seen the surprise. When she did, would she recoil in fear or jump ahead full of excitement? He hoped it was the latter.

She had changed so much in the few short weeks they had been working together. He doubted she noticed the changes, but he could see them plain as day. She was bolder, more daring. A youthful exuberance bubbled in her, ignited perhaps by the hope of regaining her mobility. He prayed to God he’d be able to help her achieve her goal, because he couldn’t bear for that light that glowed in her eyes to be extinguished.

“You’ll see soon enough,” he replied to her earlier question.

“You are the most vexing man, did you know that? I’m perishing with curiosity here, and you give nothing away.”

He chuckled. She was so adorable when miffed.

“It won’t be long now, Esther. I promise. In fact…” He peered through the curtains himself.

“What?” She leaned forward, bracing a hand on his knee to place her face next to his by the window, attempting to see what he was seeing. Did she realize how comfortable she was touching him? She did it with the absentmindedness of long familiarity, whereas for him, the innocent touch had him hardening all over.

“If you look farther down that lane, you’ll see the object in question.”

The huge round shape was barely visible, a darker shadow amid the predawn darkness, illuminated by the fire used to make it fly.

She looked in that direction and then gasped at the mammoth balloon perched in the middle of an open field. “Oh! Is that a hot-air balloon?”

“Indeed, it is, my lady.”

“How marvelous!” She exclaimed, clapping her hands. “You brought me to witness a balloon ascent, since we missed the one at Cremorne the day we visited.”

His smile avoided correcting her. He hadn’t brought her here to see a balloon ascent, but to ascend in said balloon. He wanted her to experience flight and see the world unfurl at her feet. She wanted her to have the exhilaration of soaring.

The coachman turned down the lane, heading towards the balloon. Wang jumped out as soon as the coach stopped, a mere few yards from the balloon, and reached in to help Esther descend.

“Oh, I can watch it from here. My wheelchair is going to get stuck in the lawn.”

“That is why I’m going to carry you,” he replied smoothly, still extending his arm.

“I know, Kai. You have carried me everywhere my clunky wheelchair cannot navigate. But there’s no need to inconvenience you further. I have a pretty good view from here.”

“The thing is, I did not bring you here so you could watch. I arranged for us to ride in the balloon.”

If her eyes opened any wider, they would pop out of her face. Her mouth moved, but no words came out, as if the faculty of speech had deserted her.

“Kai… You can’t be serious.”

“I am. You said you wanted to ride in a hot-air balloon. You said that’s what you looked forward to the most.”

“But… I was only half jesting. It’s not like I had thought it through. Besides, I said when I regained my ability to walk. That hasn’t happened yet. I couldn’t possibly.”

“You don’t need to walk to fly in the balloon. I’ll carry you there, and I arranged for a chair to be placed inside the basket. I’ll be there with you to hold you and protect you. Don’t you want to fly?”

She didn’t respond, but her gaze shifted towards the balloon, observing it with longing apprehension.

“Is it safe?”

“Nothing is entirely safe, my lady. Accidents happen every day while doing the most mundane things. But I made inquiries and found the balloonist to be experienced and reliable. He’s never had an accident or mishap.”

“Are you sure I will be able to ride? With my limitations?”

“Mr. Coxwell, the balloonist, said he doesn’t see why not. As long as you can hold on to the basket.”

She contemplated the balloon again for the space of several heartbeats, while he waited patiently. He had done all he could to reassure her. Now it was up to her, and he wouldn’t pressure her to ride if she wasn’t ready.

Her chin came up in that way he had learned to recognize as determination, and she declared.

“Very well then. Let us soar together, Kai.”

His joy at her answer spread all the way to his heart. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her towards the looming shape of the balloon.

“We’ll be ready to lift in a few minutes, sir,” the balloonist called out, not even lifting his gaze from his preparations. A couple of younger men scurried about, assisting him.

“That’s quite all right, Mr. Coxwell. Just let us know when you are ready,” Wang replied. Looking down at Esther, he offered her a small smile. “Shall we find a place to sit while we wait?”

She looked around. “We could go back to the carriage or… Oh, would you look at that arch over there?” She pointed towards a point to his left and he turned his head in that direction.

Sure enough, an ancient-looking, massive stone arch stood there in the middle of the park, almost hidden away by vegetation and illuminated by the timid glow of sunrise.

“Would you take me there? There might be a bench or somewhere to sit nearby.”

“Certainly.” He would take her anywhere she wanted. Helping her explore and expand her horizons was one of the greatest pleasures of his life.

“I can’t believe I’ve been coming to Hyde Park for years and never knew this was here. Never heard anyone mention it, either.”

“And yet it seems as if it’s been here forever,” he observed.

Esther peered at the top of the arch, where some characters were visible.

“If I read the date correctly, it’s been here since Roman times.” She transferred her gaze to him and pinned him with those beautiful hazel eyes. “Put me down.”

“Where?”

“Right here, under the arch.”

He looked around. “There’s nowhere to sit.”

“No, I mean, let me stand on my own, Kai. I think I’m ready.”

His brave, indomitable little kitten. He wouldn’t have recommended it yet, but her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm and the thirst for adventure. If she insisted she wanted to stand, who was he to curtail her wings? He would be here beside her to make sure she didn’t come to harm.

With the utmost care, he bent his knees and lowered her legs to the ground, supporting her with his arm around her waist while she transferred her weight to her legs.

She leaned heavily against him, tightened the grip of her arm around his shoulders. He relished the feeling of having her be so comfortable with him that she would lean against him without a second thought, seeking his aid as she tested her legs. They were a little wobbly at first but soon firmed with her determination. The weight he supported became lighter as she transferred it to her own two legs.

Her face turned to him, radiant with joy, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I’m standing, Kai. I’m standing again.”

He was sure his face reflected her joy, for his cheeks ached from smiling. He was so proud of her. She had worked tirelessly and made more progress than he had thought possible in the short amount of time they had been holding the therapies.

“Yes, you are. You are doing great. I’m so proud of you.”

The smile she gave him stole his breath. “It’s only thanks to you. You made this possible.”

He shook his head. “It’s all you. Your determination, your tenacity. I merely showed you the way.”

Esther opened her mouth as if to protest but then closed it. No doubt surmising her effort was better channeled towards standing. She transferred one of her hands to the arch.

“Isn’t this amazing? This arch seems to have been here for over a thousand years. Can you imagine how many people have seen it, touched it, walked through it? The history that it has witnessed?”

He contemplated the impressive structure. “It makes one think about time, permanence, and legacy,” he mused. “And about how limited our time on this world is, that a structure made of stone has seen several generations of us fragile mortals come and go.”

A shadow passed over her eyes, and he wondered if she was thinking about her late husband. The previous earl had been dead for only a year. His death was what precipitated Colin’s return to England, and Wang had accompanied him for moral support, and also because he had been curious about this country. Now he regretted his words. He had been reflecting on his own life, but Esther was just out of mourning. Did she still grieve for her husband? His own losses had taken place much longer ago, over two decades, but were no less painful for the time passed.

“What is this?”

While he was lost in the past, she had leaned forward to scrutinize a set of faint characters. The slide of her delicate fingers over the grooves in the stone made him jealous of the inert material.

“There’s an inscription. ‘Sub arcu amor fulget, sussurri dulces, cor evolat’ “

Wang shook his head at the strange words. “Do you know what it means?”

“It’s in Latin. I’m not an expert, but I think it says something about love shining under the arch, and the heart taking flight.”

“Interesting. Is it a love inscription, then?”

“It would appear so,” Esther said as she straightened, one of her hands still holding onto the wall, while the other one was safe in his grasp.

“I would have thought that if the arch was part of a fortification, it would proclaim a message of power and might. And if it was part of a religious building, such as a church or temple, it would have a divine message or a warning against wickedness.”

“That’s true. I wonder what type of building it belonged to,” she said, her head tilted to the side.

She started to turn. He wasn’t sure if she tripped or if one of her legs gave out, but suddenly she was falling forward. He reacted without conscious thought. His arms hugged her to him with such speed that it was as if they had been designed for the sole purpose of catching her. The next instant she was flush against him, held securely in his arms.

It was not the first time he had held her against his body. He had carried her innumerable times, but this time was different. She remained upright, and something about the way her entire body fitted so snuggly against him ratcheted his desire to dangerous levels. His arm circled her slim waist. Supporting her to prevent her from falling, he told himself. In truth, his arms never wanted to let go.

Not that she was trying to escape his embrace. With one arm draped around his shoulders, her hand cupped the back of his neck. While her other hand came up and settled against his cheek, her fingers sliding up to brush a lock of hair from his forehead. The butterfly caress of her fingers on his brow was more sensual than an intimate caress, her touch a balm and a brand at the same time. He had to force himself not to lean into her hand, to rub his face into her palm like a cat.

Her eyes flared, the hazel depths shining green with the reflection of the vegetation. Her rosebud lips were a feast he longed to taste. He had deprived himself of the pleasure until now, but the temptation had become greater than he could withstand. There were solid reasons not to go down this path with her, but at the moment, he couldn’t remember a single one.

He wasn’t sure who moved first, or maybe they both moved at once and met in the middle, but in the end, it didn’t matter. Their lips melded with exquisite relief, and he was sampling the sweet nectar of her mouth.

They had been hurtling toward this moment from the time they first met. Since then, every gaze, every touch, every shared word and secret whisper had been a step towards this. Na?ve of him to think he could avoid this outcome.

S he had been right about his lips. They were soft. Pliant. Delicious. But that alone did not account for the warm waves of sensation his kiss was sending through her body. It was the way those lips moved on hers, gliding, sucking, molding, and possessing. It was the intensity behind his actions, as if he was pouring a lifetime of desire into their kiss.

Esther was breathless and didn’t care to draw breath. It was less urgent than savoring him. She was breathing through him. He was the rhythm of her heart, the life force in her veins. The structure that supported her.

Her legs had gone weak, but she suspected her infirmity had nothing to do with it. She would have crumbled to the ground if it weren’t for his unflinching support. He would never let her fall, she was sure of that. As her limbs had become the consistency of warm wax, his legs had braced on either side of hers, anchoring them to the earth, while his arms had become a sanctuary of steel and velvet. Strong and unmovable, yet cradling her so gently.

Within the protection of his embrace, she was free. Free of fear. Free of limitations. Who said one needed a hot-air balloon to soar? She was soaring right now. She could reach up and twine her arms around his neck, tunnel her fingers into the warm silkiness of his hair, devour his mouth as she had been craving to do for so long.

Needy sounds floated around them like skittish butterflies. Her light moans and mewls mixed with his deeper groans. She loved the strength of the body pressed to hers. They fit together so well.

“Sir, madam, we are ready to go now,” Mr. Coxwell called out, puncturing their pleasure bubble.

Sunrise was only a promise, a glow outlining the top of the trees. But a different kind of awakening was dawning in her heart, its power as unstoppable as the rising sun. And just like the sun, bringing warmth and life to long dead places.

T he world transformed the moment the balloon lifted from the ground. Suddenly they were rising above the treetops, Hyde Park at their feet.

The basket swayed beneath her, the sensation unlike anything she had ever known, but not unpleasant—weightless, yet steady, as though the air itself had reached up and was tugging the balloon hither and yon. She clutched the edge of the basket until her knuckles turned white, but still she peered down and around, fascinated by the sights of the awakening city.

How to describe the feeling of flying? Esther couldn’t find the words. For years, she had been bound to her chair, viewing life from a single, unchanging perspective. Her world had reduced until it became the four walls of a room. Now, for the first time, the world was open, limitless, lying at her feet as she rose above it.

She was glad Kai had warned her to wear something warm, for the air up here was cool, carrying the faint scent of smoke from the balloon’s burner. The flame roared above, a stark contrast to the serene silence that surrounded them. It was a curious thing—being so high up, away from the noise of daily life, feeling entirely at peace.

The basket jolted slightly as a gust of wind caught them. Esther laughed, a little nervous, but exhilarated. She leaned back and found the solid presence of Kai at her back. His hands clutched the basket’s edge on either side of her, creating a protective cocoon with his body. Cradling her in safety and warmth, grounding her even as they floated higher.

The narrow streets and magnificent buildings of London gave way to open fields spread out beneath them like a patchwork quilt, stitched with hedgerows and streams that glittered in the rising sun. Villages appeared as miniature models, their tiny rooftops glinting like jewels.

This was pure, unbridled joy. Even seated, she was flying, untethered from the limitations that had defined her life for so long.

He pointed to the horizon, where the sun was rising, casting golden light over the landscape. “Look. The world is awakening. Isn’t it magnificent?” he murmured against her ear, his voice carrying the awe she felt but could not yet put into words.

Esther looked, but not towards the rising sun. She was looking at Kai’s face next to hers. So close that she could lean in and brush a kiss on his cheek. For a moment, she forgot the chair, the pain, the years of longing. Up here, none of it mattered. Up here, she was free.

Lured by the need to be closer to him, she leaned in. At that moment, he turned his head. Their gazes collided, and she sucked in her breath at the desire she saw in the brown depths of his eyes. Was he remembering their kiss as she was? Was he wanting to repeat the experience?

Or maybe it was just her own desire reflected back at her? No, he was about to kiss her, she was sure of it. His austere features seemed carved out of granite. The high cheekbones, the square jaw. His was the face of a warrior, no softness except for his lips. Those lips seemed more suited to love than to war. She parted her own lips, hungry for another taste of his mouth. His face dipped—

A loud throat clearing interrupted them, reminding them that although above it all, they were not alone. “We are about to begin our descent. I advise you to hold on tightly. It can get a little rough,” the balloonist said without looking at them, busy as he was handling the balloon.

“Of course, Mr. Coxwell,” Wang said, loud enough to be heard over the roaring of the fire, and then more softly to her. “Are you ready? I’ll hold you and protect you from any impact.”

“I’m not worried, Kai. How could I when I have you here beside me?”